Memorabilia
For many people, memorabilia is simply a case of going to a concert and buying
the t-shirt, but it covers a much wider range than that! In the truest sense, the
definition of memorabilia is "any objects kept or collected because of an association
with a memorable person or event," so aren't all antiques memorabilia of some
sort?
A lock of hair from the mane of Copenhagen, the horse ridden by Wellington at Waterloo,
with a contemporary provenance in the hand of Lord Fortescue of Castle Hill (BK14/149).
Copenhagen carried the Duke of Wellington for 17 hours continuously and was uninjured
during the battle. He was retired to the Duke's estate at Stratfield Saye House.
A marbled headstone marks his grave.
Well yes they are, but in terms of auctions and collectors there are distinct recognised
fields. The first of these is perhaps Rock & Pop memorabilia which
has the strongest personal links for many collectors. Those who were lucky enough
to see the Beatles, Rolling Stones or other classic artists may
have obtained autographs or first issue copies of albums that had a significant
cultural impact on a generation. Pristine records and signatures with good provenance,
even sections of guitars smashed by Jimi Hendrix, are fetching several
thousand at auction, even into the millions if once the personal property of any
of the FAB Four.
A Beatles autograph album signed by John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney
and Ringo Starr together with a letter from Louise Harrison (SC19/1286).
The same is true of many sporting events and notable sportsmen and women. While
there are enthusiasts for all sports, the main area for collectors is football or
motor racing. Once again, signatures of famous drivers, photographs of early races
and programmes are eagerly sought after by dealers and collectors from the 'Golden
age of motorsport'.
A 1980 Arsenal FA Cup Final signed away shirt (SC21/472).
Collectors of football memorabilia also collect signatures and programmes of their
favourite teams or players. One word of warning though. Even though footballers
may have had a well-documented career on the field, they are often around a long
time after the event still signing autographs, increasing the number available and,
therefore, reducing the overall market value. Consider Geoff Hurst and
Stirling Moss who both finished their careers in the 1960s.
A Plymouth Argyle/Santos programme from 1973, signed by Pele and a group of 1950s
and 1960s World Sports and The Climber magazines (SC20/645). .
Royalty is another area that many people recognise under the umbrella of memorabilia.
Each event is an historic occasion and many items are produced that can fall under
the scope of other fields in the auction world. Ceramics, glass, silver, stamps
and even pieces of wedding cake commemorating a royal event have all been in an
auction at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood at some point.
A framed single sheet film poster for 'Fangio' by AG & Associates. The 1980
film, directed by Hugh Hudson, chronicled Fangio's life with his own testimony (SC20/641).
Today one of the growing areas of memorabilia is film and television, which has
exploded thanks to one particular film from 1977: 'Star Wars'. Changing the way
that films are promoted and the spin off toys and collectables that are produced
after a film is released has turned into a multimillion industry for both the toy
makers and film makers equally. So much has this happened that films have actually
been put together about specific products in order to generate more sales demand.
While there is obviously a huge range that can be covered, the more significant
the event or the person involved or the impact on the culture of a generation, the
greater the overall value will be at auction. Nelson and Bonaparte
along with Wellington are perhaps the leaders of the market in the terms
of historical figures and events but overall 'each to their own' would seem to cover
the tastes of all collectors under the definition of memorabilia.
Specialists
 | Brian Goodison-Blanks
Joint Department Head
|  | Martin McIlroy
Joint Department Head
|