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It
has never been a better time, in my view, to be collecting
popular culture. We are fortunate to be in The Internet age
and in the age of quick and easy communications. The current
financial climate and market also means that there are
certainly bargains to be had if you know where to look and are
prepared to do a bit of sensible research. And any good
memorabilia you buy now, be it a Beatles poster, a collection
of rare vinyl or a signed lot of Michael Caine memorabilia, is
highly likely to be a better long-term investment than shares
or that doomed and unreliable pension. And with the added
bonus that you can actually enjoy memorabilia - feel, look and
listen, compared to those dull more traditional investments.
Here, Digger visits Peacock's
auctions. They are one of the biggest auction houses
specialising in 20th Century collectables and Rock, Pop, Film
& Memorabilia. These auctions take place regularly
throughout the year in Bedford. Digger attended their latest
auction and spoke to Tim Brophy and John Lewis who run the
auctions.
I
arrived early so that I could get a good advanced peak at all
of the lots, as recommended. Other dealers and buyers were
doing the same. The auction was split into three main sections
- Sports memorabilia, Film memorabilia and Music memorabilia.
In total there were over six hundred lots which comprised of
anything from a single item to a bundle of objects. Signed
photos, LPs, movie posters and contracts, record collections,
some lots featuring a 'lucky dip' of movie posters or LPs, gold discs,
photo assortments, doodles, rarities and oddities. I was
in Shangri-La!
The
auction started at 10:30 and proceeded through the several
hundred lots ending at gone five. People tended to come and go, as
did I, by reference to the auction catalogue and as items of interest
were due to go under the hammer. These days, a physical
presence is not a requirement and Internet and telephone bids
were very much in evidence. Having said that, there is no
substitute for being at the auction and being able to
experience the spectacle of the sale - it is very exciting
when the auctioneer is able to get into full flow with an item
and you can witness a 'brawl' between rival bidders and this
happened with a number of the more desirable lots. Tim Brophy
at Peacock's tells me that the need for a bespoke Rock, Pop
and Film auction came about because of the obvious demand they
recognised when these items used to be included in other
sales. It soon became very clear that there is a big market
for such memorabilia.
These
days people too are more aware that Rock, Pop and Film memorabilia
is valuable and a marketable commodity and this is reflected
in the large size of this auction. Peacock's John Lewis told
me there were various sorts of people who attended their
auctions. Dealers who were there to snap up any gems as well
as to sell some of their items in this specialist sale,
collectors who were looking to augment their collections with
additional pieces. Peacock's charge a commission of 15% for any
items sold and these are sold as seen.
Items
of interest for me included a gold sink/basin that came from
Elton John's private jet, a signed postcard of the four
Beatles and Brian Epstein (with provenance) and a number of great collections of
movie posters and albums that really were incredibly good
value, often going at £1 per album or poster. This has got to
be the best way of starting and augmenting a collection of
Rock, Pop and Film memorabilia. It's fun, it's hands on, there
are bargains to be had and there's a wealth of material
available. I'm already looking forward to the next such
auction at Peacock's in March 2011.
Digger
at Retrosellers.com October 2010
W&H Peacock and Locke &
England Auctioneers and Valuers together form one of the
largest independent auction companies in the UK with weekly
auctions in Bedford, St Neots and Leamington Spa.
Specialist auctions include Sport, Music, Film and TV
memorabilia and collectables, Antique Jewellery and Twentieth
Century Design.
Bedford - 01234 266366
St. Neots - 01480 474550
info@peacockauction.co.uk
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