This example was offered at Hartleys’ (18% buyer’s premium) biannual toy sale at the Ilkley rooms on September 23. It had been purchased at Tennants of Leyburn almost exactly a year ago at a double-estimate £9000, with the vendor now hoping for a considerable profit.
The £18,000-20,000 estimate was based partly on the vendor’s ambition and partly on precedents (although all parties will have been aware that another Peacock had failed to sell at Bonhams three years ago when pitched at £24,000-32,000).
Bidding at Ilkley also stopped short of estimate. However, with both the vendor and the last bidder, who was representing an English client currently in the Netherlands, in the room, auctioneer Andrew Hartley found it easy to introduce them to each other and a purchase price of £15,150 (plus premium) was agreed.
