Q: About 30 years ago I was given a soft toy advertising PG Tips Tea. It is a toy monkey wearing a red and white striped shirt, a green apron and a bowler hat. Is it worth anything? Mrs P.
A: This soft toy was a promotional item for PG tips in the early 1970s and surviving examples are worth about £25. Any toy issued as part of an advertising campaign is always likely to find collectors. A current contender would be the famous ITV Digital monkey which featured in the TV ads. I have heard of examples changing hands for a £100 or so!
Q: Are the Billy Bunter books of any value? I have one called Billy Bunter and the Blue Mauritius dated 1952. Mr G.
A: You don't say whether the book has its original dust jacket, but if it does and it is in good condition then the book is worth about £35 to £40 as it is likely to be a first edition. Most Bunter first editions are worth this sort of price, but once the book is a subsequent edition or has lost its paper cover values fall to very little, sometimes just £3 to £5.
Q: I have a mantle clock in the shape of an owl about nine inches tall. It is made of wood and as it ticks the eyes of the owl move from side to side. Is it worth anything? Mr F.
A: This type of clock was very popular in the 1920s and 30s, and I have also seen post war examples too. Usually made in Germany these clocks tend to sell for about £50.
Q. I have an old magazine called "The Play" dated 1913. It is in excellent condition and on the front there is a photograph of an actor called Forbes Robertson. What is it worth? Mrs K.
A: Most old magazines are collectable to some extent but values on the whole tend to be quite modest. In this instance, the value of this magazine would be around £5 to £8 to a collector.
Q: Can you tell me the value of a small metal money box about three inches high? It is painted in red and gold, is in the form of a crown and has 1953 on it. Mrs A.
A: This design of money box was manufactured to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and was produced in large quantities. Examples do crop up quite frequently around the antiques fairs and current value is about £20 for an example in good condition.
Q: I have an unusual vase about six inches tall which is dark green and has a pattern of holly leaves with bright red berries. On the base it has a name which looks like Sylvia. Does it have any value? Mrs G.
A: The manufacturer of this vase was a company called Sylvac which was based in Staffordshire and made much novelty pottery. This particular vase dates from about 1950 and current value would be about £25 to £30.
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