Sporting and Collectors Sale Review

Published 9th October 2012

An early Carrette tinplate De Dion style car fetched £900, despite its poor condition. (SC15/949).

Many of the items that had generated a great deal of pre-sale interest fulfilled their expectations in a crowded Honiton saleroom during the Sporting and Collectors sale on 26th September 2012. However, there were still a number of surprises amongst the 1,000 plus lots on offer.

A small student violin bearing the label 'Antonio Mariani' reached £7,800 after two Internet buyers duelled for the instrument. (SC15/995).

A small student violin bearing the label 'Antonio Mariani' showed obvious signs of restoration and re-varnishing, but did not deter online bidders. Even with the restoration and the split to the bottom of the body, bidders in the room were reduced to onlookers as two Internet buyers pushed the bidding to £7,800.

Internet bidding was once again responsible for the interest generated in the large oversize gramophone. Standing nearly a meter and a half high and being almost three times the size of a normal gramophone, international bids eventually helped the gramophone to the tune of £3,300.

An unusual pair of early 20th century binoculars by Carl Zeiss sold for £900 in our Sporting and Collectors Sale in September 2012. (SC15/147).

An unusual pair of early 20th century binoculars by Carl Zeiss, with black lacquer and aluminium body, also showed signs of wear. In their original shaped leather case and with the optics still in good working order, they saw strong bidding in the room as well as via the telephone and Internet to sell for £900.

Easily overlooked because of its poor condition and originally placed in a box with other toy vehicles, the early Carrette tinplate De Dion style car, despite having a loose running board and three tyres missing, still trundle rather quickly to £900.

The unique archive of Motor Racing photographs from the Max Werner collection delivered on all its pre-sale expectations. The collection eventually reaching a total of over £10,000. Among the highlights were the Heuer Rally master time clock at £1,250 and a collection of photo that include two signed photographs of Mike Hawthorn at £1,500.

Entries for the next Sporting and Collectors sale have already begun and currently include a 1902 Steiff teddy bear and several interesting Arctic themed magic lantern slides.

For further details, please contact Brian Goodison-Blanks.

Auction Insights