A Marvel-ous Collectors' Sale to End the Year

A rather Marvel-ous Collectors' Sale was held on 14 December, with plenty of lots climbing to an unexpected price. Attracting collectors as well as Christmas gift hunters, the Abingdon Saleroom was buzzing with excitement about this final sale of the year.

Included was a brilliant collection of Marvel and DC comics, all of which sold, with Iron Man (lot 66) being the most contested lot, selling for £800. This was followed by a collection of Silver Surfer (lot 62) and The Amazing Spider Man issues (lot 61), which both reached a £520 hammer price. All of the comics had come from one vendor who had been an avid collector and had kept many first editions - a really impressive collection. 

Earlier in the sale, a late 19th/early 20th century bisque-headed doll (lot 11) reached a price of £1,500 whilst a Steiff bulldog and his counterpart (lot 9) sold for £2,000. The story behind the bulldog certainly helped garner this lot some well deserved attention as this feisty-looking pooch belonged to the one and only Ewen Montagu: the leading light in WW2’s Operation Mincemeat. Perhaps the recent film starring Colin Firth raised awareness of this incredible mission which helped to secure Britain's future, for there was a vast amount of excitement around this lot.

Since the sale was very close to Christmas it was no wonder that chocolate was on the mind of so many. Coming from different vendors were two 19th century Fry’s Chocolate lots, the first lot (lot 19) comprising two Fry’s Chocolate countertop display cabinets which made a staggering £1,600. Following this, two Fry’s Chocolate framed advertising show cards (lot 20) sold for £1,000.

Another popular category in the sale was modes of transport. An early 20th century tinplate clockwork limousine by Carette (lot 43) was a desirable piece, eventually being snapped up by an American buyer for £800. Two O gauge locomotives (lots 37 & 39) were also highly contested, selling for £700 and £800 respectively. 

There was a great deal of interest in this sale, with some fierce competition between bidders, and it was a very positive end to the 2022 Abingdon auction calendar. The first Abingdon sale of 2023 will be The Interiors Sale on 23 January. If you have any items you are considering selling at auction please email henry@mallams.co.uk for a free, informal valuation.