Antiques letters
Limited Edition
Regarding your feature on Beatrix Potter, I enclose photos of a book I have: The Tailor Of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter, privately printed in 1902, inscribed ‘For the Gloucester Infirmary Bazaar From Beatrix Potter’. I put it in a special book sale two years ago and it was marked at a high price. Given its poor condition it is no wonder that it didn’t sell. What do you think I should do? EKF, Shropshire
FS What a wonderful book. It is signed by Beatrix Potter herself and is a ‘privately printed’, ie, self-published edition.
Her first few titles were selfpublished in a very limited edition (500 for The Tailor Of Gloucester) and demand for them is high. Unfortunately, as you said, it’s not in very good condition but, even so, it’s still worth around £800 to £1,200 in today’s market.
A perfect, unsigned book in that edition sells for £8,000 to £10,000. I would recommend selling it in a specialist auction such as Bloomsbury Auctions in London – 020-7495 9494, www. bloomsburyauctions.com – or Cheffins in Cambridge – 01223- 213343, www.cheffins.co.uk
Selling Your Goods
Having read the query about a collection of lace/embroidery, could I suggest that it is taken to a local antiques’ fair or gallery. Quite a few dealers specialise in such textiles and if the lace cloths are handmade (not Nottingham), they may be able to find a home for them. The problem is that the young do not have the time or skill to launder old textiles.
Sadly, I see collections of these items wilting in charity shops and it is tragic that so much patient hand work is neglected. RW, by email
FS Thank you for getting in touch. I never recommend that people sell their goods direct to dealers as, invariably, they won’t get the best price. Dealers are in business to make money and I’ve seen members of the public offered a fraction of the worth of their goods. The person buying your goods should never be the one valuing them. However, if the seller has a good relationship with the dealer and is aware of market value, they could speak to them elsewhere – for instance, at an antiques centre, not the fair itself – to sell their goods. In most cases, I would avoid selling direct to a dealer unless you know the market value – and never take goods to sell at fairs, as dealers don’t want to be distracted and they have to pay a fee to sell their own goods at the venue.
Antiques Tip
When buying at fairs or antiques centres, many dealers will mark the goods ‘A/F’ meaning either ‘all faults’ or ‘as found’. However, goods can get damaged in transit so always take time to check goods carefully, even if the dealer says that they’re perfect.
How To Deal In Antiques by Fiona Shoop is published by How to Books, priced £16.99.
Send your antiques questions to Fiona Shoop, Antiques, The Lady, 39-40 Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ER (please enclose an SAE for a reply) or by emailing her at TheLadyAntiques@lady.co.uk
Please send an image of the item, including a backstamp if possible. If emailing, please do not send more than two images in the same email.
The popular series has led to many collectables, including a Noddy car by Corgi – the most wanted has a Golly sitting in the back, and is worth £300 to £500 in good condition. The version with Master Tubby Bear sells for £100 to £200. In the 1950s, Wade produced a set of four figures (Noddy, Big Ears, Policeman Plod and Miss Fluffy Cat). Noddy is the most valuable, but his legs and the bell on his hat are often damaged. He’s worth £200 to £300, and the policeman sells for £75 to £100. There is also crockery, money boxes and a clock featuring Noddy. Why not write and tell me what Noddy collectables or books you have and share your memories with other readers?
Next month: Christmas collectables. Do you have old favourites you use every year – Christmas-tree ornaments or even the tree itself? Write in to share your stories and get your pieces valued.
Regarding your feature on Beatrix Potter, I enclose photos of a book I have: The Tailor Of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter, privately printed in 1902, inscribed ‘For the Gloucester Infirmary Bazaar From Beatrix Potter’. I put it in a special book sale two years ago and it was marked at a high price. Given its poor condition it is no wonder that it didn’t sell. What do you think I should do? EKF, Shropshire
FS What a wonderful book. It is signed by Beatrix Potter herself and is a ‘privately printed’, ie, self-published edition.
Her first few titles were selfpublished in a very limited edition (500 for The Tailor Of Gloucester) and demand for them is high. Unfortunately, as you said, it’s not in very good condition but, even so, it’s still worth around £800 to £1,200 in today’s market.
A perfect, unsigned book in that edition sells for £8,000 to £10,000. I would recommend selling it in a specialist auction such as Bloomsbury Auctions in London – 020-7495 9494, www. bloomsburyauctions.com – or Cheffins in Cambridge – 01223- 213343, www.cheffins.co.uk
Selling Your Goods
Having read the query about a collection of lace/embroidery, could I suggest that it is taken to a local antiques’ fair or gallery. Quite a few dealers specialise in such textiles and if the lace cloths are handmade (not Nottingham), they may be able to find a home for them. The problem is that the young do not have the time or skill to launder old textiles.
Sadly, I see collections of these items wilting in charity shops and it is tragic that so much patient hand work is neglected. RW, by email
FS Thank you for getting in touch. I never recommend that people sell their goods direct to dealers as, invariably, they won’t get the best price. Dealers are in business to make money and I’ve seen members of the public offered a fraction of the worth of their goods. The person buying your goods should never be the one valuing them. However, if the seller has a good relationship with the dealer and is aware of market value, they could speak to them elsewhere – for instance, at an antiques centre, not the fair itself – to sell their goods. In most cases, I would avoid selling direct to a dealer unless you know the market value – and never take goods to sell at fairs, as dealers don’t want to be distracted and they have to pay a fee to sell their own goods at the venue.
Antiques Tip
When buying at fairs or antiques centres, many dealers will mark the goods ‘A/F’ meaning either ‘all faults’ or ‘as found’. However, goods can get damaged in transit so always take time to check goods carefully, even if the dealer says that they’re perfect.
How To Deal In Antiques by Fiona Shoop is published by How to Books, priced £16.99.
Send your antiques questions to Fiona Shoop, Antiques, The Lady, 39-40 Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ER (please enclose an SAE for a reply) or by emailing her at TheLadyAntiques@lady.co.uk
Please send an image of the item, including a backstamp if possible. If emailing, please do not send more than two images in the same email.
Did you know? Enid Blyton’s Noddy
Enid Blyton brought joy to millions but alienated the establishment with her fanciful stories and accusations of violence in her books, including Noddy. They were banned from my school because Noddy was beaten up, but we took them at face value and they’ve charmed generations of children. The first book in the series, Noddy Goes To Toyland, was published in 1949 and is worth £80 to £120, depending on condition. It was illustrated by Harmsen van der Beek, the first Noddy illustrator; on his death in 1953, he was followed by Hove-based artist Robert Tyndall, who died in September this year. A first edition of Noddy Goes To The Fair (1960), in good condition, is worth £40 to £60.The popular series has led to many collectables, including a Noddy car by Corgi – the most wanted has a Golly sitting in the back, and is worth £300 to £500 in good condition. The version with Master Tubby Bear sells for £100 to £200. In the 1950s, Wade produced a set of four figures (Noddy, Big Ears, Policeman Plod and Miss Fluffy Cat). Noddy is the most valuable, but his legs and the bell on his hat are often damaged. He’s worth £200 to £300, and the policeman sells for £75 to £100. There is also crockery, money boxes and a clock featuring Noddy. Why not write and tell me what Noddy collectables or books you have and share your memories with other readers?
Next month: Christmas collectables. Do you have old favourites you use every year – Christmas-tree ornaments or even the tree itself? Write in to share your stories and get your pieces valued.