UNITED KINGDOM: Tin of biscuits from the early 20th century goes on sale -- with original cookies still intact

Forget Picasso, Kandinsky or even Warhol -- an item going under the hammer at Bonhams in London could literally take the biscuit. A tin of biscuits in the shape of an early 20th century luxury car will be auctioned at Bonhams auction house on Tuesday (November 20), with the 80-year-old cookies still inside. It is expected to fetch 2-3000 British pounds (4-6000 U.S. dollars). The red Sports Coupe is still in impeccable condition, according to the auctioneers Head of Toys, Leigh Gotch. "This is quite a special example that we've got here not only do we have the box that has a nice inscription that says 'Many happy returns. Love, Lady Elena'. We've also got the original biscuits still in it. Now I don't know whether the young boy just didn't like biscuits or wasn't hungry but it seems a little bit of the shame. But for the ultimate collector today, we have the whole package here. So to have the car in excellent condition, the box and uneaten biscuits, it's a very, very rare piece to find," he said. The extremely rare item is part of Bonhams auction of toys, trains, dolls and teddy bears which goes on sale Tuesday and Wednesday (November 21). Other key items to be auctioned include a gold and enamel singing bird box, estimated at 50,000-70,000 pounds (100,000-140,000 USD); an ornate Fine Oiseaux Chantant in the Louise XVI taste, estimated at 100,000-150,000 pounds (200,000-300,000 USD); and one of the first toys produced for the then young star, Mickey Mouse. The organ grinder of the cartoon with Minnie Mouse dancing on top was estimated at 8000-12000 pounds (16,000-24,000 USD)

ITN Source | November 26, 2007

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