The first of our regular monthly on-line 200 lot auctions held on 20 February was a huge success. Originally scheduled for 6 February but postponed for Covid 19 reasons, the auction achieved top prices in many categories.
Top billing went to a totem from the closed London terminus BROAD STREET which made a staggering £11,200 followed by other totems LOCH AWE from the Callander & Oban line (£5,000), the Cambrian Lines MACHYNLLETH (£3,000) and the closed terminus WOLVERHAMPTON LOW LEVEL (£2,500). Enamel station direction signs from the closed station BRADFORD (FORSTER SQUARE) (£2,200) and SHAP STATION (£1,550) also created much interest. London Transport target signs from WOOD GREEN (£2,300) and TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD (£1950) were keenly contested.
Modern traction nameplates, always one of our strong areas, did extremely well with Class 91 QUEEN ELIZABETH II (£6,000) doubling its pre-sale estimate followed by the Class 57 TINTIN (£5,600), IN SUPPORT OF HELP FOR HEROES from a HST power car (£2,700) and the Irish diesel EAGLE (£3,700).
Among steam plates, the A1 BALMORAL made (£6,500), cabside 6843 from POULTON GRANGE (£2,000) and cabside 1646 from one of the two pannier tanks which latterly worked the Dornoch branch (2,500). A rare Beardmore worksplate from a LMS Jinty made £4,100 and an industrial nameplate JOHN (£1,550) was hotly contested by two collectors of that name.
Two exceptionally fine timepieces stood out, an LBSCR wall clock making £3,400 and a GER free standing clock from one of the company’s hotels selling for £2,500. One of our signature categories, single line tokens, included some desirable examples with a staff MIDDLETON TOP-HOPTON TOP from the Cromford & High Peak Railway making £1,700 and a tablet AWE CROSSING-LOCH AWE from the Callander & Oban line selling for a strong £1,500.
A fine selection of good quality posters sold well with ON EARLY SHIFT (£2,500) and THE DAY BEGINS (£2,300) both by Terance Cuneo, selling for top prices.
In other categories, a cast iron North London Railway bridge restriction sold for a strong £1,750, an old fashioned platform ticket machine was well contested up to £2,800 and a rare tipstaff found a new home with a specialist GWR collector who paid £2,500.
We are looking forward to our next 200 lot auction of similar quality on Saturday 6 March.