Stamp and book collectors were out in force for Cuttlestones’ specialist collector sale to take advantage of some particularly strong lots.

In the books section, it was a first edition set of Tolkien’s enduring Lord of the Rings trilogy that proved the star of the show. In their original dust jackets and published by George Allen and Unwin Ltd, with volumes ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ (Second Impression, December 1954), ‘The Two Towers’ (1954) and ‘The Return of the King’ (1955), this rare set saw the hammer fall at £2,100 against an estimate of £500 to £800. The books sold to an internet bidder.

In the stamps section, two lots originating from private collections performed especially well. There was a collection of British Empire stamps contained in two New Imperial albums. The main value was in mint condition King Edward 7th and King George 5th sets. They featured many sets, including all examples and mid and top value denominations. The hammer fell to a buyer in the room at £9,000.

Valuable stamps
Valuable stamps which were auctioned off

Meanwhile a collection of many hundreds of British Empire stamps all contained in a clean Crown album and including many sets sold for a hammer price of £4,000.

Another lot with particular local interest came in the form of an autograph collection amassed by a Wolverhampton woman in the 1950s and 60s. Autographs included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Bing Crosby, Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, Billy Eckstine, The Hollies, Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, Gene Pitney, Johnnie Ray, Andy Williams, Peter Sellers, Charlton Heston and many more.

They were mainly collected in person at the stage door, and signed ‘To Shirley’. The collection sold for £380.