#Newcastle #United #memorabilia #scores #sale #Antique #Collecting
A small private collection of Newcastle United memorabilia led North Yorkshire Tennants Auctioneers’ recent Toys, Models, Collectables and Sporting Sale when the ten lots sold for a total hammer price of just over £10,000.
The collection was consigned for sale by a former employee of the club. With the lots far exceeding the pre-sale estimates, particular highlights eagerly fought over by bidders included a match worn No.11 shirt, worn by Faustino Asprill in the 1996 Charity Shield v Manchester United game, which sold for £1,900; a David Ginola match worn No.14 away shirt from 1997, which is signed by the full team sold for £1,700, and a pair of Alan Shearer’s match-worn Umbro football boots sold for £900.
The top lot of the whole sale was a set of four autographs by The Beatles, which sold for £2,800 against an estimate of £1000-1,500. The signatures were obtained at Punch’s Hotel, Doncaster, where the group were staying. Ringo had a sore throat, and was visited by Dr Grafdyke, who refused payment but accepted the autographs on a card from the hotel; he later gave them to the daughter of his neighbour, who was the vendor.
Among an interesting selection of lots with fishing interest in the sale was a rare 19th-century 4” brass fly winch fishing reel, made by Ustonson circa 1846, which sold for £2,500. Inscribed on the reel’s faceplate is “Ustonson, Maker to the Queen, Temple Br, London”, and the firm held three successive Royal Warrants and were the leading makers of fishing equipment for decades.
Also garnering much interest were three lots relating to the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition, which was held in London to much acclaim. To that date, it was the largest specialist event with 2.6m visitors over the six months it was open. The scientific and cultural display saw a wide variety of exhibitors relating to all things fish and fishing, with a vast central aquarium, salt and fresh water tanks, and aviary with fish-eating birds and much more. The lots comprised a gilt metal badge, which sold for £750; a silver medal, selling for £650; and a diploma award for a silver medal awarded to Forrest and Sons for their exhibition of fishing tackle, which fetched £750.
