Just over a year ago, a small piece of Lego, a shark, was landed by Devon fisherman Richard West after recognizing it in his trawl net whilst working at sea; recognized straight away as being a piece from a lost consignment washed off cargo ship Tokio Express by a freak wave off the Cornish coast nearly thirty years ago. After interest in the find from local, national and international media, the little shark, now covered with marine worm tubes, has been included in Eldreds collectors’ sale catalogue, to be sold on behalf of two charities, Cancer Research UK and The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. When the Lego shark was found, it was the first of its kind to be reported to the Lego Lost at Sea Project, from a consignment of nearly 52,000 Lego sharks and a total of some 4.75 million examples of mainly sea-themed Lego play pieces. The project was set up to help monitor finds from the ship to understand how plastic pollution behaves in the oceans and anyone finding Lego washed up on beaches for example, is encouraged to report it to the Lego Lost at Sea Facebook page. ‘Our’ little shark has been on his travels since being rescued from the sea and has been photographed atop a Routemaster bus, conversing with a polar bear on an ice floe, having a scary ride on a hovercraft and making a new friend on Kashyyyk. Now looking for a new home and new adventures, the shark will be offered for sale as part of our specialist Collectors’ Items, Books, Stamps, Coins, Medals & Toys auction on 30th October, with viewing on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the sale.

Eldreds forthcoming sale of Collectors’ Items in February is building up well, with model railway, items of military interest, diecasts and an extensive one-owner collection of lead soldiers already consigned. One of the highlights of the auction will undoubtedly be a Naval General Service Medal awarded to a John Williams, with two clasps: Egypt and Acre 30 May 1799. Whilst being instituted in 1847, the medal was awarded retrospectively, mainly to officers and men for service in naval actions 1793-1840, including the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The recipient had to have survived until 1847 and then to actively apply for the medal but owing to various factors including illiteracy and lack of publicity for the medal, many qualifying men did not apply, adding both to its rarity and subsequent value. John Williams served aboard captured French battleship HMS Tigre in both the defence of the Ottoman city of Acre (now Akko on the Mediterranean coast of Israel) during Napoleon Bonaparte’s unsuccessful siege of 1799 and also during the Egyptian campaign between 8th March 1801 and 2nd September the same year. Only forty-one medals with the ‘Acre 30 May 1799’ clasp were awarded in total, with twenty-seven of those to the ship; thirty-three clasps being awarded to the ship HMS Tigre for the Egyptian campaign. The medal carries a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-5,000. To consign your collectable items for this special sale, contact Eldreds for free valuation and professional advice. Images (with contact telephone number) can be sent to: info@eldreds.net

A large collection of vibrant and colourful ceramic pieces by artist Lorna Bailey has been consigned for Eldreds March auction of Antiques & Art, including many Collectors’ Club limited-editions and several prototype 1/1 examples. The collection showcases chargers, teapots, vases, sugar sifters, wall plaques, candlesticks and figurines, with two limited-edition models “Ozzie The Owl” and “Stanley The Stork” heading up the collection. Themed pieces also feature with several “Arabian Nights” Open Day models, a teapot, jug and three vases in the “Toadstool” pattern and four ‘Creature’ sugar sifters: Dragonfly, Snail, Worm and Ladybird. Of the prototype one-off designs, lots on offer include an Art-Deco-style charger with applied female figure and a stylised animal teapot in blue, green, peach, yellow and purple colours. Split into 38 lots, estimates start at £30-40 for a miniature teapot and rise to £150-200 for a prototype charger.

Eldreds collectors’ sale in early March is shaping up well with plenty of interesting and eclectic lots on offer. Early entries include a huge one-owner collection of over 800 Beatrix Potter items, including an unused 1950’s nursery frieze by Frederick Warne & Co. in very good condition and various Steiff characters. The largest collection of medals and medallion awards seen in the saleroom for some time will also generate good interest amongst bidders and collectors. Two quirky items have found each other ‘again’ and are keeping each other company until the March sales. One is an unusual 19th century Black Forest nutcracker in the form of a Border Terrier wearing a fur-trimmed cloak, to be offered in our antiques and art sale on 26th March and the other a first edition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, published by George Newnes Ltd, Southampton Street, Strand in 1902, the third of the four crime novels featuring Sherlock Holmes, to be offered in the book section of the collectors’ sale on 5th March. Complete with gilt-decorated cloth cover, fifteen illustrations and “The Shadow of Sherlock Holmes” frontispiece, this favourite tale set in late-19th century Dartmoor has found a suitable companion in the nutcracker, with it has to be said, a stern but less than demonic expression on its face. Buy them both to keep them together and crack some nuts by a roaring fire whilst having a good read! The collectors’ sale on Tuesday 5th March will also include stamps, coins, militaria, model railway, diecasts and other toys, textiles, photographs and postcards and a good selection of musical instruments. For free valuation to include items, please telephone Eldreds Roborough office on (01752) 721199, or email images with contact telephone number to: info@eldreds.net

A trio of three pretty rings has made its way into Eldreds spring jewellery sale catalogue and has already generated significant interest from visitors to the saleroom. First on offer is an Edwardian diamond flower cluster ring of seven millegrain-set diamonds in 18ct yellow & white gold mount, being very typical in design of the first ten years of the 20th century. The popularity of diamonds in rings increased during this period and motifs for pieces of jewellery were feminine, intricate and creative with bows, flowers, horseshoes and hearts being some of the most popular designs. An unusual pink spinel stone takes centre stage in the second of the three rings. Often misidentified as rubies, pink and red spinels have very good wearing properties, resist scratches and take on good brilliance, making them very suitable as gemstones in their own right but often with a much-reduced price tag when compared to rubies. Eldreds Edwardian example is surrounded by ten Swiss-cut diamonds making a flower shape and is set in 18ct yellow gold. Finally of the three rings is a modern bespoke diamond engagement-style ring with central pendeloque-shaped diamond within halo of brilliant-cut diamonds, on diamond-set twisted shoulders. An extremely pretty and wearable ring with rose gold mount and shank, which will be sure to catch the eye of bidders. Amongst the small silver in the sale and also from the Edwardian period are two novelty Vesta cases for dog lovers, one with Cocker Spaniel design and a slightly smaller case with a Collie. Estimated at £50-70 each, these would make lovely presents for someone with a fondness for either breed, or for dogs in general. For free valuation of jewellery, gold coins, silver and watches to include in the March sale, please telephone Eldreds Roborough office on (01752) 721199, or email images with contact telephone number to: info@eldreds.net

Hard on the heels of Eldreds’ last highly successful collectors’ sale, Eldreds are now cataloguing their March specialist sale which includes a collection of Corgi TV-related diecast cars. One of the most iconic is the Batmobile, brought out by Corgi in 1966 when Batman Fever was at its peak. With details including a chain-cutting blade at the front and pulsating flame exhaust, the best feature was the rocket launcher! Also included with the original model was a secret Batman sticker that could be placed behind a shirt lapel – like Bruce Wayne himself. These stickers are almost impossible to find and sadly absent from this example. It does, however, have its box, inner fold-out packing, rockets and instructions in the original envelope. Owing to some biro marks on the box the estimate is £50-80. Other TV diecasts in the sale include the original gold James Bond Aston Martin D.B.5, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s “Thrush Buster” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, all boxed. The medal section includes an impressive WWI and WWII Military OBE group of twelve medals, plus miniatures and a plethora of photographs, Buckingham Palace invitations, letters, etc. which always help to enhance the value of any medal group. Estimate £400-600. Other collections in the March sale include model railways, diecast, militaria, coins, stamps, postcards, wines and spirits. For valuation or to include items in this sale please call (01752) 721199 or email info@eldreds.net

Eldreds Auctioneers first specialist sale of 2024 looks set to hit the right note with a one-owner collection of electric and acoustic guitars and an impressive anthology of vinyl LP records. Amongst the fourteen guitars can be found three Mexican-made Fender Stratocasters, in different colours, two with synchronised tremolos, four Fender Telecaster electric guitars, a Fender Jaguar with pink and cream body and a limited-edition Epiphone Sheraton semi-acoustic Sunburst guitar, with internal label “Epiphone Inc, Nashville Tennessee”. The collection also offers several amplifiers by companies such as Vox, Blackstar and Marshall. All Jeff's Christmases came at once when tasked with cataloguing a wonderful collection of approximately 300 vinyl LP records from the late-60’s and early-70’s that will have bidders excited and in which much interest has already been shown. The LPs span mainly the progressive rock and early heavy rock/metal genres and include examples from bands such as Hawkwind, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Ten Years After, Neil Young, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, King Crimson and Budgie. A raw sounding original copy of the one-off rock album “Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends” is included, with contributions by Jimmy Page and John Bonham, Noel Redding and Jeff Beck. Many of the album covers still contain a “Peter Russell Ltd, Hot Record Store, 24 Market Avenue, Plymouth” label inside, a link which will bring back happy memories of a favourite music shop for Jeff and many local rockers. A full catalogue listing will be available before the sale and Eldreds welcomes consignments of other musical instruments for the auction, as well as stamps, coins, medals & military interest items, antiquarian books & first editions, toys, diecasts & model railway, photographs & postcards, antique & vintage textiles and collectables of all kinds. Please contact our Roborough office on (01752) 721199 for advice about selling, or send images with contact telephone number to: info@eldreds.net

A beautiful and ornate practical accessory worn by a lady of the house has been consigned for sale in Eldreds fine art and antiques auction in March. With its origins in pre-Medieval times, châtelaines were worn by both men and women, usually hooked from a pocket or chain/belt around the waist and were a symbol of a person’s status within the house and authority over its contents. Originally made for practicality and convenience, châtelaines often carried useful tools and trinkets that would be needed during the day’s work, such as scissors, keys, thimbles, lorgnettes, vinaigrettes, small penknives and writing implements. During the 18th and particularly 19th centuries however, these adornments became a popular fashion accessory, made from brass, silver and gold and sometimes decorated with gemstones, cameos or enamelling, often depicting flowers or religious scenes. Those made in silver or silver plate were often worn by the housekeeper of wealthy European houses, but gold châtelaines are rarer and would have been worn by the lady of the house, with attachments that only she would be allowed to use and often with additional charms for decorative purposes only. By the later 19th century, changes in fashion styles and social arrangements for women had made the châtelaine largely obsolete and other jewellery designs such as brooches and pendants became more popular, but pretty and ornate châtelaines from a bygone age still hold a fascination and charm that bidders will be keen to add to their collections. Eldreds châtelaine is fashioned from 18ct yellow and rose gold chains, with a watch key and crest seal on lyre charms and two chain-linked bells for added decoration, denoting the very high status of the owner. Beautifully-understated with a simple floral design accented with baroque and seed pearls, this classy piece will be a popular auction find and is estimated at £1,500-1,800.

A fascination for all things photographic and a career as a cameraman for a local tv station has led to the largest collection of antique and vintage cameras ever seen at Eldreds. The huge collection of literally 100’s of cameras, lenses and accessories consigned for sale by auction, spans the full date range of the production of commercial photographic technology from the 19th century onwards and comprises a vast assortment of quality examples, from the earliest mahogany and brass plate and bellows cameras to sub-miniature models, including two by Minox, often associated with espionage. Particularly interesting examples include a mid-1930’s Zeh Zeca-Flex folding TLR camera with Compur-Rapid shutter and Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=7.5cm lens, a wide-angle Rolleiflex TLR camera with Carl Zeiss Distagon f4 55mm lens, hood and leather case and a Graflex Century Graphic 2¼'' x 3¼'' press camera, with red bellows, Rodenstock - Ysarex f4.5 105mm lens, Synchro-Compur-P shutter and Kalart Synchronised Range Finder. Also in the collection is a quantity of charming actual-size camera models, scratch-built mainly from wood, which would look superb on display in a shop or with a collection and the full range will be offered for sale in Eldreds auction of Antiques, Art, Clocks, Ceramics, Glass & Works of Art on Tuesday 23rd May, from 10.00am. Viewing for the sale will be on Saturday 20th May 9.00am-12 noon and Monday 22nd May 9.00am-5.00pm.

Eldreds Antiques & Fine Art sale on 28th March is shaping up nicely with an interesting selection of silver and jewellery on offer. Amongst the silver section of the sale can be found a “castle top” box; a Victorian souvenir at the height of their popularity between 1830 and 1860 and depicting well-known castles, stately homes, monuments and cathedrals. Usually in the form of a card case or vinaigrette, the location is embossed in high relief or engraved on the lid. Card cases became extremely popular during the late-18th and 19th centuries; calling cards were the social media and etiquette of the day amongst the wealthy and fashionable, with a strict set of rules to follow and would express such sentiments as condolence, congratulations and the wish, if timed correctly, for an invite to tea. Owing to the fact that castle-top items were manufactured over a limited time, these treasures have become highly collectable and makers to look out for include George Unite, Alfred Taylor and Nathaniel Mills. The example in Eldreds sale of silver and jewellery is by George Unite and is of St Pauls Cathedral viewed from the North West. The card case measures 10.5 x 7cm, is hallmarked for George Unite, Birmingham 1845 and carries an estimate of £800-1,000.