Today I went for a whistlestop tour of fenland auction houses – they were confused in Ely, the auction isn’t until saturday, viewing friday. So I explained I saw they said they were an auction house and wondered how it worked. Duly furnished with a catalogue I was sent on my way. There are some incredible things for sale. Who buys this rubbish? Who /sells/ it?
194. Small brass figure with basket on back containing a thimble and three brass owls. 15 pounds.
205. 15 regimetnal journals for the Sherwood Foresters spanning from 1912 to 1918. 75 pounds.
246. Nazi Germany Workers Book, stamped from 1934-1939. Nice stamp and signature of Oberfifeldmeister of Hitler Youth Training Camp in back of book. 20 pounds.
270. WWI Princess Mary christmas 1914 gift tin including bullet. 5 pounds.
345A. Stuffed mounted head of a GNU. 10 pounds
(and its not my emphasis on the final one, seems the FSF is down one head…)
Onward, then, to March. Where their auctions are held wednesday mornings, I arrived just as they were tallying up at the end of this mornings. They’re less organised, with no catalogue, but somehow seemed more relaxed about it all. He showed me those lots that had failed to sell this morning, quite a collection of normal household junk, furniture mainly, but various other odd bits and pieces.
There was a funfair setting up in the carpark – what is it with places I’m going to these days, theres always closed funfairs.
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