It was another busy day in the Penkridge saleroom for our Summer Antiques Auction, as a diverse 565-lot catalogue drew bidders from far and wide. From barn-find motorcycles and wartime heroism to gold jewellery, nostalgic toys and rare Pokémon cards, the catalogue reflected the breadth of interest across the collecting community.
Among the standout lots was Lot 543, a 1949 Vincent HRD Series C Rapide Motorcycle which, despite being in barn-find condition, raced ahead to hammer at £11,500. Equally impressive was Lot 407 – a group of medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to local lad William Joseph Willshaw for bravery during WWII. Accompanied by photographs and ephemera documenting his story, the collection fetched £5,000. Meanwhile, the popularity of Pokémon cards showed no signs of waning, with Lot 466 – an excellent 98-card collection featuring names like Charizard, Tyranitar and Suicune – achieving a final hammer price of £2,000.
Gold & Jewellery Section Sparkles
Buyers showed a keen interest in the jewellery section, particularly in pieces with intrinsic gold value.
Lot 217, a hallmarked 9 carat gold charm bracelet adorned with fourteen individual charms, sold for £1,300. Wristwatches also performed well, with Lot 239, a hallmarked 9ct gold Omega automatic wristwatch (sold as spares/repairs), fetching £1,100.
Also achieving strong prices were Lot 229, a hallmarked 9ct rose gold graduating Albert chain and T-bar at £1,100, and Lot 238, a classic 18ct gold open-faced manual wind pocket watch which went for £900. Continuing the trend was Lot 215 – a novelty yellow metal pendant modelled as a witch on a broomstick, which sold for £350, while Lot 220, a stylish pair of 18ct gold cufflinks, hammered at £290.
Football Memorabilia SCORES!
Interest in football collectables remains strong, especially those tied to landmark matches and local teams.
Lot 164, a fascinating assortment of mid-20th-century football programmes, featured classics like the 1966 World Cup Final and 1956 FA Cup Final, alongside signed Blackpool and Preston North End photographs. It sold for £350.
More locally-focused, Lot 166 offered a Wolverhampton Wanderers collection of European home match programmes from 1954-1962, including fixtures against Honved and Real Madrid. Accompanying items such as a 1938 letter signed by Major Frank Buckley and a Billy Wright-era autographed photo helped the lot reach £300.
Toys Old & New
In addition to the top-performing Pokémon cards, model railways and nostalgic toys brought out collectors in force.
Lot 455, a boxed L.H. Loveless & Co. O gauge Evening Star steam locomotive and tender, steamed ahead to £1,700, while Lot 456, a boxed Hattons Model Railways O gauge Flying Scotsman, fetched £300. Nostalgia for 1980s toys made its presence felt with Lot 480, comprising three unboxed early ‘Glow Worms’ by Hasbro/Playskool and a boxed Mattel Rainbow Brite Red Butler and Romeo doll set, which sold for £95.
The Quirky & the Curious
Quirky and charming lots added character to the day’s sale.
Lot 322, an Elkington novelty mustard pot shaped as a fly with blue glass body, sold for £200, and Lot 324, an Edwardian silver-plated dragon table cigar lighter by Walker & Hall, caught bidders’ attention at £320.
Meanwhile, Lot 332, a bronze Bonzo dog car mascot, brought in £220 and Lot 383, a delightful Japanese Kobi carved wooden automaton toy of two musicians in a wheeled boat, made £320.
Vehicles Section ‘motors’ along
The vehicles section was particularly robust this summer, showcasing a wide range of transport types from motorcycles to mopeds and Land Rovers.
Joining the Vincent HRD at the top was Lot 550, a 1965 Velocette Viper 350cc Motorcycle, which sold for £3,000, and Lot 542, a 1946 James Comet motorcycle, barn-found but still promising, that fetched £1,300.
For fans of smaller wheels, Lot 544, a 1975 BSA Ariel 4 Moped, hammered at £550, while Lot 554, a barn-find Sinclair C5 in need of attention, achieved £190. A highlight for Land Rover enthusiasts was Lot 555, a 1959 Land Rover Series II complete with assorted spare parts, which saw the hammer fall at £2,100.
The full illustrated catalogue and results from this Summer Auction are available to view online at www.cuttlestones.co.uk.
We are now inviting consignments for our upcoming sales. For a free, no-obligation valuation, please email images to valuations@cuttlestones.co.uk, WhatsApp us on 07949 603872, or call the saleroom on 01785 714905.
