Rare Star Wars toys and childhood classics from a bygone era have helped set a new auction house record.
Mitchells auctioneers of Cockermouth achieved their highest ever total at their latest Vintage Toy and Model Sale, reaching more than £50,000.
The top-selling items were two rare Palitoy Star Wars figures, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, still sealed in their original packaging, which sold for £1,800 and £1,400 respectively.
David Lomas, toy and model railways specialist at Mitchells, said: "It’s always a pleasure to sell private collections in the Toy and Model Sale.
"The buyers also love it, and in this sale we had buyers from Australia, America, Hungary, as well as all over the UK."
The auction featured more than just popular sci-fi memorabilia.
A locally-sourced collection of steam locomotives also attracted strong interest, with two 3.5” gauge live steam locomotives, Petrolea and Virginia, fetching £1,000 each.
A third locomotive, Conway, sold for £900, while a brass, hand-built 3.5” gauge 4-2-2 model reached £320.
Historical steam engines drew interest too, with a Joseph Falk German overtype horizontal steam engine from around 1905, complete with a double wick burner and whistle, selling for £280.
Comic books and annuals also performed well, with the auction including two large collections totalling around 11,000 items.
These featured titles such as Beano, Marvel, and Rupert the Bear, with one collection coming from a house clearance in Whitehaven and another from a private collector in Crosby.
Among the highlights, eight vintage Beano Annuals dating from 1943 to 1960 sold for £650, while six Magic Beano Books from 1943 to 1950 made £550.
A single Beano Book No.1 from 1940 reached £500.
A set of 24 Rupert the Bear annuals, dating from 1940 to 1943 and originating from Whitehaven, sold for £280.
Meanwhile, 97 issues of Marvel’s The Amazing Spiderman fetched £240.
Other nostalgic treasures included an Austin J40 pedal car in need of restoration, which exceeded its £80-£120 estimate to sell for £600, and a vintage Raleigh Chopper bike, which sold for £420 against the same estimate.
In the model section, a boxed Volvo F12 Intercooler Turbo Truck kit sold for £480.
A Doctor Who ‘Astro Ray’ Dalek Gun, boxed and made by Bell Toy, went for £350.
Mitchells are already accepting entries for their next Vintage Toy and Model Sale, which will take place on July 30, with the entry deadline set for July 10.
The auction house is also taking entries for their Country Sporting Sale, scheduled for April 15-17, with a closing date of March 6.
Mitchells offer free valuations by appointment at their Cockermouth saleroom and can arrange home visits in the South Lakes and Furness areas.
They also provide probate and insurance valuations, as well as house clearance services.
A free valuation event will be held at Tweedies Bar and Lodge in Grasmere on Saturday, February 21, from 11.30am to 3.30pm.
Donations will be collected in support of St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston.
A Mitchells spokesperson said: "Just bring your antiques, jewellery, pictures, collectables and curios to be valued free of charge by Mitchell's antiques and fine art experts."
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