Copyright to Firefox author Craig Thomas’ 18 novels sold for £36,000. Safe, <strong>in</strong>-person valuations of jewellery, watches and silver are once more tak<strong>in</strong>g place with certified gemmologist Heather Callaway, vice-chair of the National Association of Jewellers. This Base Set Booster Box sold for £16,000 as part of a £100,000 Pokémon auction. 16 Positive Plann<strong>in</strong>g Makes Dreams a Reality ............................... By Richard W<strong>in</strong>terton Not so many weeks ago, the thought of celebrat<strong>in</strong>g family occasions, meet<strong>in</strong>g friends for a dr<strong>in</strong>k and even just popp<strong>in</strong>g to the shops was fast becom<strong>in</strong>g the stuff of dreams. With lockdown eas<strong>in</strong>g and the reopen<strong>in</strong>g of our high street shops, how wonderful it is to see people out and about once more. Perhaps it’s my imag<strong>in</strong>ation but I’m sure there are some smiles beh<strong>in</strong>d those masks! I believe that ‘bounce back’ positivity is crucial to help craft a brighter future for us all, especially after what we’ve all been through. So many people have had a horrendous year. The impact on families, relationships, physical wellbe<strong>in</strong>g and mental health is <strong>in</strong>calculable and the pa<strong>in</strong> of los<strong>in</strong>g loved ones to Covid-19 will stay with us all. Now, as bus<strong>in</strong>esses start to reopen and our freedom returns, it’s how we manage to adapt and move forwards that will def<strong>in</strong>e our future. Here at The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Auction Centre, we are look<strong>in</strong>g forward to welcom<strong>in</strong>g people back for safe, free, <strong>in</strong>-person valuations on Thursdays from 10am-4pm, strictly by appo<strong>in</strong>tment only. Cater<strong>in</strong>g for anyth<strong>in</strong>g from jewellery, watches and silver to pictures, antiques and collectables, <strong>in</strong>dividual timed appo<strong>in</strong>tments will be <strong>in</strong> accordance with ongo<strong>in</strong>g Covid-19 advice, with people requested to wear face cover<strong>in</strong>gs and use hand sanitiser. Simply give us a call to book <strong>in</strong> advance. In the past year we’ve revolutionised the bus<strong>in</strong>ess so we can safely do what we do best. When the first lockdown came <strong>in</strong>to force last March, we were hours away from stag<strong>in</strong>g one of our biggest F<strong>in</strong>e Arts Sale ever. But as soon as Boris Johnson made his announcement we shut the doors, postponed the sale and put our th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g caps on. We had already suspended our face-to-face valuations both <strong>in</strong>-house and at venues <strong>in</strong> the community and were <strong>in</strong>stead offer<strong>in</strong>g ‘virtual valuations’ and explor<strong>in</strong>g ‘click and collect’ options. We had to adapt quickly and came up with a completely new model for onl<strong>in</strong>e-only auctions and our day-to-day operations, keep<strong>in</strong>g staff and customers safe. Fast forward 12 months and many of the processes we have put <strong>in</strong> place will certa<strong>in</strong>ly cont<strong>in</strong>ue. Touch wood it’s work<strong>in</strong>g, as this last year has seen us recruit six extra staff and launch a new website! And there’s more positive news to share. Those early onl<strong>in</strong>e-only auctions 12 months ago turned out to be – at that time – our most successful to date and, happily, we have s<strong>in</strong>ce built on that considerably. January to March <strong>2021</strong> was a record quarter for us. In fact, everyth<strong>in</strong>g fell <strong>in</strong>to place to make March <strong>2021</strong> a record month <strong>in</strong> its own right, with a £100,000 Pokémon sale and a specialist auction of v<strong>in</strong>tage tools help<strong>in</strong>g us break the £500,000 turnover. S<strong>in</strong>ce then, our auctions have <strong>in</strong>cluded such wide-rang<strong>in</strong>g wonders as the copyright to 18 bestsell<strong>in</strong>g novels written by Firefox author Craig Thomas, which went under the hammer <strong>in</strong> April. Credited as the true creator of the techno-thriller, Mr Thomas’ catalogue <strong>in</strong>cluded his landmark 1977 book Firefox which was made <strong>in</strong>to the 1982 Hollywood blockbuster directed by and starr<strong>in</strong>g Cl<strong>in</strong>t Eastwood. After a sensational <strong>in</strong>ternational onl<strong>in</strong>e bidd<strong>in</strong>g battle, the rights sold for £36,000. Another April lot which attracted lots of media <strong>in</strong>terest and press coverage was a Beatles photograph signed by John, Paul, George and R<strong>in</strong>go for a teenage fan at ATV television studios <strong>in</strong> Aston, Birm<strong>in</strong>gham, <strong>in</strong> 1963. With such perfect provenance, there was no doubt amongst collectors that, <strong>in</strong> the notoriously tricky field of Fab Four autographs, this was the real deal and it sold at auction for £3,000. We’ve also completed our <strong>2021</strong> Garden Effects Sale, which was jo<strong>in</strong>ed by 300 bidders onl<strong>in</strong>e help<strong>in</strong>g make it another ‘White Glove Sale – mean<strong>in</strong>g every s<strong>in</strong>gle lot sold. As well as that 100 per cent sell<strong>in</strong>g rate, it topped the 2020 garden sale – also a White Glove record – and smashed last year’s figures by £10,000! As our auction results testify, demand is stronger than ever so it’s a fantastic time to seek professional advice and f<strong>in</strong>d out what those hidden treasures could fetch under the hammer. Everyone dreams of discover<strong>in</strong>g a surprise w<strong>in</strong>dfall; with more excit<strong>in</strong>g plans <strong>in</strong> the pipel<strong>in</strong>e, we’re look<strong>in</strong>g forward to a positive rest of the year and help<strong>in</strong>g make more dreams come true! To book an <strong>in</strong>-person valuation, free quotation for house clearance or probate, email office@richardw<strong>in</strong>terton.co.uk or telephone 01543 251081. Free home visits are also available to arrange. Visit www.richardw<strong>in</strong>terton.co.uk.
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