This is, undeniably, a small world, but around 30 enthusiasts competed for the 47 lots which evidently contained some real rarities. Value is typically determined by date (the earlier the better), the class (first class is, as ever, the most desirable) and the line (obscure is good).
However, the collector of some 50 years who bid a huge £2000 for a solitary ticket at this Wiltshire sale, acquires by station name. His aim is to own a ticket issued from all of the early railway stations and a second class ticket from Poole to Wimborne on the London & South Western Railway was one he did not have.
The ticket, above right, was issued on September 8 1863, nine years before the station changed its name from Poole to Hamsworthy.
This winning bid (against an £80-120 estimate) was surely some sort of record? Well, seemingly no. A letter written by one Michael Denholm of Birmingham appeared in the Daily Telegraph the following week to inform readers of a 'parliamentary' single ticket sold by Phillips Knowle in October 2001 for £2700. It was issued in the 1850s for a journey from Britannia Bridge to Bangor on the Chester & Holyhead Railway.
Back at Swindon, another rarity was the third class single, right, issued on October 24, 1861 for a journey from Monmouth to Pontypool Town on the West Midland Railway. The line itself only existed for three years under this name and the name Monmouth was shortlived changing to Monmouth Troy. The ticket sold at £650.
