Vectis Auctions

The Graham Hamilton Ultimate Matchbox Picture Box Collection

Although the weather outside was miserable, the atmosphere inside Vectis Auctions was bright and optimistic. The first day the auction room has been open to the public for 14 months, and what a sale to open with.

The Graham Hamilton Ultimate Matchbox Picture Box collection has drawn interest from across the world, with some even braving the North East weather for their chance to bid in the auction room and feel the excitement first hand.

The room was abuzz with chatter before the sale, with many of the attendees meeting up for the first time since lockdown, a few pictures were snapped and stories swapped.

But they were all here for one thing, the finest Matchbox collection to be auctioned in recent years. The Ultimate Picture Box collection.

Graham and his wife were also in the auction room, watching as his collection was sold to eager collectors.

There was interest across both the internet terminals, telephone bidders from across the world, and of course many commission bids left before the sale even started.

The sale started well with lot 4003, the third lot in the sale, achieving £2,640, to one of those commission bidders. The sale progressed with many lots achieving four figure sums. However, the first lot to achieve five figures, was Lot 4218, the Matchbox Regular Wheels 13d Dodge Wreck Truck in reverse colours is an interesting and sought-after Lot on its own, however this model came with a fantastic provenance, including a letter and photograph of Ed Fosdick who was Chief Engineer of Design and Safety for Chrysler, which ensured it sold for a fantastic £12,000, and a round of applause!

Another lot with interesting provenance was Lot 4258, the colour trial Matchbox Regular Wheels 15d Volkswagen Beetle Rally Cars’ was previously sold as part of the Peter Smith Collection (prototype model maker for Lesney) at Stacey's on 22nd July 2015, this undoubtedly helped it to achieve a fantastic £6,000.

A very rare Matchbox Superfast 10f Plymouth Gran Fury Police Car (Lot 4176) with 5-arch wheels which match the box artwork, achieved £3,600, against an estimate of £200 - £260.

Lot 4251 a Matchbox Regular Wheels 15c Dennis Refuse Truck Pre-production provided a rare opportunity to buy a relatively early colour trial model, with not only a casting difference to the container hatch but also fitted with smaller diameter 20-tread black plastic wheels, interest in this model meant the £400 - £500 estimate was destroyed at £3,120.

An unusual transitional model with factory spun front base rivet but un-spun rear rivet, Lot 4362, a Matchbox Superfast 22c Pontiac GP Coupe, doubled its lower estimate of £2000 - £3000 to achieve £5,280 and Lot 4396 is another of the 5 models sold as part of the Peter Smith collection (ex Lesney Model Maker & Designer) at Stacey's on 22nd July 2015, the Matchbox Superfast 24d Team Matchbox Racing Car Pre-production trial model which had an estimate of £600 - £800 sold for: £10,200

Day 1 achieved a fantastic £125,000 and had no unsold lots. We look forward to seeing what Day 2 brings!

*Please note: all prices include Buyers premium.

In the Vectis Auction on Tuesday 1st June there are a group of bears lovingly made by the teddy bear artist Francis Armstrong.

This is her story written by her family -

Frankie Bears

Frankie Bears Frankie Bears is the name we've given to this collection of 190 traditional, handcrafted artist bears, made over the course of 40 years by our late stepmother Frances Armstrong, who was known as Frankie. She lived in Winsley, a small village in Wiltshire, UK.

When she wasn't indulging her love of gardening, Frankie spent much of her time at home making bears and other furry animals. She was never interested in selling them, preferring to give them away to her family, friends, charities, and her local church. Whenever a new baby was born in the village, Frankie would make them a teddy bear as a baptism gift.

Frankie never had children of her own, so when she passed away, we inherited all her wonderful creations, all beautifully made and well looked after. We decided to donate all her lovely toy cats and dogs to a local children's hospice, while her cuddly teddies without joints went to her church for future baptisms, continuing the tradition.

With Covid restrictions in place, Frankie’s funeral in 2020 was limited to family and close friends, but as we came out of the church, we were greeted from a distance by small family groups paying their respects, many of them holding the bears she had made them. It was so touching to realise how much her bears mean to people.

We’re auctioning this collection of Frankie’s collector’s bears on behalf of her grandchildren. We hope her bears will find loving homes for many years to come.

Simon, Nick and Jamie Armstrong, 2021

The TV and Film related sale held on the 29^th April featured a large selection of loose figures and accessories from Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He-Man, MASK, Dr Who, Thunderbirds, Power Rangers and many more. Further lots included Star Wars carded figures, Lego sets, modern and vintage collectables, clothes, masks and helmets, plus, Master replicas collectors society items. The sale also included Action Man, boxed and carded Transformer figures, Matchbox Fighting figures outfit sets, and James Bond. Plus, diecast vehicles, jigsaws, books and magazines, posters, prints, autographed photos and stamps. There was a large collection of Beatles memorabilia including vinyl, and watches, a number of Harry Potter first edition hardback books, and much more.

The tinplate sale to be held in June features some spectacular Japanese and European tinplate cars and commercials, including some very rare models never before seen at Vectis.

Interesting lots include 12” Tipp & Co Mercedes cars, one saloon and one open top; ATC Plymouth open top car towing a boat and trailer, with battery operated outboard motor. A very rare 12” Ford Sunliner from HAJI, and an Ichiko Plymouth estate car. The collection also includes an impressive 4-door sedan, Cadillac Fleetwood from SSS Tokyo, at 17” the 1961 model is a striking Lot.

The Specialist sale held on the 27^th April started with The North East Volkswagen Collection, 99 lots of cars and vans from Corgi, Dinky, Marklin, Tekno, Gamma, Wiking, Ichiko and many more. The Leicestershire Collection includes cars, vans, trucks and emergency vehicles from Corgi, Dinky, French Dinky, Spot-on, Tekno, Brooklin and Somerville, plus others; and The Calgary Collection features over 250 lots of boxed and unboxed Dinky cars, commercials, motorbikes, military vehicles, figures and animal sets, plus Dinky Supertoys, trade boxes, aircraft, literature, catalogues, leaflets flyers and price lists. Further items in the sale include Corgi, Dinky, Benbros, Pathfinder models, SMTS, K&R replicas, TV and Film related vehicles, Tekno, vintage plastic kits and Dinky pre-war sets.