George Formby memorabilia auction turns out nice for his family

Memorabilia relating to music star George Formby and a collection of first edition Harry Potter books rescued from a skip sparked brisk bidding when they came under a Derbyshire auctioneer’s hammer.
Jim Spencer, head of Hansons Library Auctions, with full-size model of George Formby.Jim Spencer, head of Hansons Library Auctions, with full-size model of George Formby.
Jim Spencer, head of Hansons Library Auctions, with full-size model of George Formby.

The prized collectors’ items were the focal point of online auctions conducted by Charles Hanson.

George Formby’s family joined the battle to buy the memorabilia linked to the star and his father, who was also a famous singer and comedian.

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Formby’s descendants secured a full-sized model of the star (£420) and an archive relating to the South Bank Show (£340).

George Formby's Dallas Model C banjo ukulele reached £10,500.George Formby's Dallas Model C banjo ukulele reached £10,500.
George Formby's Dallas Model C banjo ukulele reached £10,500.

The family also successfully bid £1,000 for memorabilia relating to George Formby’s father including a manuscript sheet of song titles written by him and £1,500 for another archive of material.

Pamela Bailey, Formby’s niece, and her children Melanie and Michael Smith, from Portsmouth, who were bidding on her behalf, watched every step of the auction.

Michael said: “George died before we were born but he was our great-uncle. We wanted to buy these items for our mother and as part of our family heritage to pass on through the generations.”

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The mementos at auction included two of Formby’s iconic instruments, family photos, a scrapbook, personal letters and a film script.

In total, the collection achieved £38,860 and all 13 lots sold. Formby’s banjo ukuleles made £11,000 and £10,500 respectively.

On the same day, a Harry Potter hardback first edition book smashed estimates at auction.

The copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was anticipated to raise between £8,000 to £12,000. Seven telephone bidders battled with internet bidders in a tense auction which saw the hammer fall at £33,000.

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The rarity was among four other first edition Potter books which were salvaged fom a school skip. All the books were auctioned, raising a total of £39,760.

The seller, a 65-year-old teacher, who did not wish to be named, said: “To say I’m pleased is an understatement.”

She found them in a skip in a Buckinghamshire school where she used to work and said: “I love books and it seemed awful to throw them away. I thought they might be useful for my children or grandchildren in the future.”