Auction experts who’ve uncovered Star Wars toys worth tens of thousands of pounds in Leicestershire are heading to the county to hunt out more top finds.
Steve Fulford and David Wilson-Turner, toy valuers at Hansons Auctioneers, will be at Marlborough Square Methodist Church in Coalville on Tuesday, March 3, 11am-2pm. Plus, general Hansons general antiques experts will be at Freeman’s Common Antiques Centre in Leicester on March 3, from 11am-2pm.
And they’re hoping people will come out in force with their toys and general antiques and collectables for free valuation.
David said: “Leicester and Leicestershire as a whole has always been a great place to find auction stars. If you’re having a spring clean and you’ve come across something that may be of value, come and see us.
“As well as toys, I can value all types of general antiques and collectables including sports memorabilia. My colleague Steve has a vast knowledge when it comes to all types of toys, trains, dolls and teddies. He used to run a toy museum.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to find many Star Wars toys in the area due as the old Palitoy factory, which used to make Star Wars toys, was in Coalville. For example, a Star Wars Tie Bomber found in a loft after 40 years sold for £2,100 in 2019. That sale featured 90 Star Wars lots which realised a total hammer price of £24,000.
“That success continued in our January (2020) toy sale. More than 150 Star Wars-related lots made a hammer total of nearly £20,000.”
The highest figure paid for a single lot was £1,350 for a boxed Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Tie Bomber. Other top lots included an original Star Wars cinema poster from 1977 which made £800 and The Empire Strikes Back, Slave I, Boba Fett’s Spaceship made £700.
In addition, a collection of 240 transparencies from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes back, issued in 1980 by Lucas Films Ltd, was contested to £520.
Steve Fulford said: “Star Wars has generated thousands of fans all over the world and many of them like to add to their collections. We had one phone bidder on the line for every single Star Wars lot. Inevitably, many of these finds are made in Leicestershire.”
The sale included Star Wars lots from 11 different sellers, some from Derbyshire and Staffordshire as well as Leicestershire, and included two major collections. But we know there are more toys out there, perhaps forgotten in the loft.”
Steve Fulford and David Wilson-Turner will be at Marlborough Square Methodist Church, Marlborough Square, Coalville, LE67 3WD, on March 3, 11am-2pm. Hansons expert Vanessa Savage will be at Freeman’s Common Antiques Centre, 8 Counting House Road, Leicester LE2 7LT on March 3, 11am-2pm.
