Ming vases or antique diamond jewellery may elude most of us but some fairly common vintage items could net you an auction surprise, writes Charles Hanson.
Often they belonged to parents, aunts and uncles in years gone by. They languish for decades in cupboards, drawers, garages and roof spaces. Some of us hang on to them for sentimental reasons but they easily get completely forgotten.
Others vintage objects are cast aside as worthless but remain, seemingly forever, in nooks and crannies around homes. If, like me, you find it hard to throw anything away give yourself a pat on the back. It’s not such a bad thing, especially if the household oddities you’ve held on to could be worth something now.
Hobbies are key to everyone’s enjoyment of life and – before internet domination -many a happy hour was spent caring for stamp or cigarette card collections.
Photography has always been a major hobby, too, and though mobile phones make us snap happy there is a push back. The quality of traditional cameras and lenses is appreciated by many, heralding a renaissance in demand at auction.
Bidders abound and though these items may not always spark huge hammer prices they have a value. If you found a £50 note on the floor would you throw it away?
In Hansons’ summer sales, cameras outshone estimates to deliver sunny results. For example, a splendid Ross London stereo wet half plate tail board camera, circa 1875, with a pair of 4567 lenses together with a Yashica 44 camera and a Bolex Paillard B8L cine camera achieved £580 from a £200-£300 guide. Original cases and instructions heightened the attraction of a lot awash with nostalgia.
Then there was the Contax RX 35mm camera, number 015212, with Zeiss Planar 85mm f4 lens which smashed its £80-£120 guide to reach £380. The same May sale saw a Contax 137 MA Quartz 35mm camera, number 040192, Planar 50mm f1.4 lens, Yashica 80mm-200mm f4 zoom lens and Contax Polaroid make £60.
In addition, a Contax RX 35mm camera, number 005553, with Disatagon 35mm f2.8 lens reached £90 and a Graflex Speed Graphic large format folding bellows camera with f4.5 lens snapped happy at £80.
Contax began as a German camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932 and later became a brand name. The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality Zeiss interchangeable lenses.
The final products under the Contax name were a line of 35mm, medium format, and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by Japanese multinational Kyocera and featuring modern Zeiss optics. In 2005, Kyocera announced it would no longer produce Contax cameras, hence the brand now has rarity value.
As well as cameras, clients often come to us with inherited stamp or cigarette collections. It’s important to have them assessed because valuable gems may emerge. Hansons’ March Stamp Auction saw two Penny Black stamps on an envelope dated 1840 achieve £100. In addition, a stamp/letter collection relating to the army in Crimea made £400 – double its £200 estimate.
Meanwhile, a general stamp collection soared to £120 in an Attic Auction at Bishton Hall in Staffordshire. Smaller sums were achieved for a large array of tea and cigarette cards, £28, and a postcard/stamp collection, £55.
I’m keen to help people ensure items like these, so often tucked away in attics and drawers, deliver an auction reward. It’s also heart-warming to know they will enjoyed again thanks to our ultimate recycling service.
Consultant valuer Alan Stead assesses stamps, cameras and cigarette cards, a specialist area destined to grow. His passion for stamps began at the tender age of six. His father used to take him to stamp fairs and auctions. He fondly remembers his first auction, proudly holding his own bidding card under his dad’s watchful eye.
He began with bird stamps. As his hobby developed, he firmly followed in his father’s stamp-collecting footsteps. However, Alan’s collecting interests have varied over the years, hence his knowledge of other areas.
He is happy to assess single items or collections, large and small.
To find out more email [email protected] or [email protected].
Entries are invited for Hansons’ August 17 Stamp Auction.
