I would like to thank you all for the great response I have had to this valuation section. I do respond to everyone through this column, some items taking a little more research than others but all will be answered when I have the relevant information. Please keep sending them in. You never know what might be discovered!
Dear James,
Thank you for your email and photos of your Palitoy Dan Dare Cosmic Ray Gun from 1954. It is battery operated and finished in red, yellow and chrome plastic with secret compartments for messages and microfilm.
Subject to viewing its condition and box, it would sell between £80 – 150.
Your collection of Matchbox cars is very interesting. The ambulance could prove the most valuable, but the most interesting is the car and caravan. You state the condition is not good for these, so viewing would be essential to value. Many cars of these years have been repainted and would need to be inspected. I would put an estimate of your vehicles between £500 – 700 subject to viewing, but could be worth more.
Dear Jenny,
Thank you for your email and image of your Brother sewing machine. This machine is an LMR model, which means it has 3 needle positions and the cam produced pattern can be altered using the needle position lever. All electrical items sold today have to conform with strict regulations and it would be necessary to have your machine PAT tested before it could be sold. I have seen these machines on sale in the region of £50 – 80.
Dear Debby,
Thank you for your email and enquiry about your Royal Worcester model of Napoleon Bonaparte. This model is from the series of Famous Military Commanders modelled by Bernard Winskill in 1969.
The last example of one of these models selling at auction was for £600.
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your email and enquiry about your Rolling Stones LP record. At the moment, there is a boom in the industry in the sale of vinyl records. We are very proud to recently get a record price for a Jimi Hendrix LP and a Led Zeppelin LP with a blue label for over £4000. Your Sticky Fingers album from 1971 was one of the Rolling Stones best-selling albums. Consequently there are lots of examples of this album selling between £20 – 50. The most expensive Rolling Stones album you can purchase is the 1969 promotional album, of which only 200 were pressed (100 in the UK and 100 in the US) and they are valued at £2000 each. Your album may be one to put away for the future.
You may be sat on a treasure trove! It is often the items that you think are worthless that can turn out to be the most valuable.
Not sure? Then send an email to antiques@yorkshirereporter.co.uk. I will answer everyone.
Look forward to valuing for you
Gary Don
