Sunday 31 January 2016

Bonhams FLASHBACK: -
24th August 1992 Entertainment Sale

Last week I showed you the content of a Bonhams sale from January 1992. In it a large number of ex-BBC Costume Dept outfits from Doctor Who were sold off.

Since then I have found another catalogue from 1992, this time from August.

Interestingly a number of the extensive Doctor Who items sound very much like those sold back in January, though with much higher estimates this time around.

More recently I think we have seen some of these lots continuing to be sold on. It’s fascinating to trace the items back through the various auction catalogues, following the prices they sell for.

As usual I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:
Here are just the lots relating to the Fourth Doctor era

Lot 648 Dr. Who—The Auction, Catalogue from 11th May 1991, sale of selected costumes from the Wardrobe, 42 page catalogue with black and white illustrations, colour cover, together with a sheet of prices. (2)
Estimate £10-20

Lot 662 ‘Masque of Mandragora’, 1976 (Tom Baker) A grey accolyte’s mask.
Estimate £80-120


Lot 663 ‘Masque of Mandragora’, 1976 (Tom Baker) A burnished gold colour Mask of Demnos, worn by Hieronymous (Norman Jones).
Estimate £200-300




Lot 664 ‘Nightmare of Eden’, 1979 (Tom Baker) Two passenger liner overalls, in grey plastic.
Estimate £30-50

Sunday 24 January 2016

Bonhams FLASHBACK: 24th January 1992
The BBC Costume Dept sale

Exactly 24 years ago TODAY there was an unusual auction at Bonhams to sell off a vast amount of ex-BBC costume department items.

Due to the volume of items on offer, the sale was held at the BBC Costume Warehouse, which at the time was on the Royal London Industrial Estate in North Acton.

Most of the sale was non-descript items, broken down into sections such as PERIOD COSTUMES - GREEK/ROMAN, MEDIAEVAL, TUDOR, ELIZABETHAN, STUART, GEORGIAN and REGENCY, VICTORIAN and EDWARDIAN etc.

It then moved on to SPORTSWEAR and MISCELLANEOUS before CHILDRENS and LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. There was even a section for FANCY DRESS and ARMOUR, CHAINMAIL ETC.

Then things got more interesting with NARNIA prior to the big draw the sale - the SCIENCE FICTION section.

This was broken down into DR WHO, BLAKE’S 7, THE FLIP SIDE OF DOMINICK HYDE, STAR COPS, and OTHER SCIENCE FICTION COSTUMES.

The sale closed with a section of late additions, which included an extra Doctor Who lot.

I recently picked up a copy of the sales catalogue on aBay - such as it is. Back in 1992 this consisted of a pocket folder with a stapled loose sheet listing of the items for sale. There are no photographs or illustrations, and the descriptions are scant to say the least.

I have transcribed all the Doctor Who items.

As usual I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:
Here are just the lots relating to the Fourth Doctor era
Click the link above to download a copy of the full catalogue

Lot 283 Masque of Mandragora, 1976, Tom Baker as Dr Who. 
Gold Hieronymus mask (1)
Sold for £200

Lot 284 Pirate Planet, 1978, Tom Baker as Dr Who. 
Green uniform suit worn by Andrew Robertson as Mr Fibuli (1)
Sold for £110


Lot 285 Nightmare of Eden, 1978, Tom Baker as Dr Who. 
Passenger liner space suits, silver plastic with hoods (2)
Sold for £60

Lot 286 Horns of Nimon, 1979, Tom Baker as Dr Who. 
Skonnon Guard uniform full length gown in wine green and black and Graham Crowden’s costume as Soldeed, full length gown in gold, brown, green and black (2)
Sold for £180

Lot 287 Creature From The Pit, 1979, Tom Baker as Dr Who. 
Chloran Guard masks plus a spare (7)
Sold for £160
Lot 288 Warriors’ Gate, 1981, Tom Baker as Dr Who. 
Gundan helmets, one silver and one black (2)
Sold for £180

Lot 372 Dr Who: Masque of Mandragora, 1976, Tom Baker as Dr Who.
Gold Hieronymous mask (1)
Sold for £100