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Record-Breaking Sales at Wessex Auction Rooms

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Last month, Wessex Auction Rooms saw a flurry of consignments, cataloging, and sales, culminating in a particularly special item: a rare 1977 Sex Pistols single, God Save The Queen, which sold for a world-record-breaking £24,320. The single, previously set a record price in 2019, is one of the "Golden Handshake" copies, produced by A&M Records and handed out to departing executives in 1998. Wessex Auction Rooms, known for their expertise in vinyl records and music memorabilia, held 12 days of auctions dedicated to these items. This past week, the atmosphere was heightened by the unassuming 7-inch single's sale, which predated the 1998 giveaways and came directly from an ex-employee who had kept it in her desk drawer since 1977.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sex Pistols single, God Save The Queen, sold for a world-record-breaking £24,320 at Wessex Auction Rooms.
  • The single is one of the "Golden Handshake" copies, produced by A&M Records and handed out to departing executives in 1998.
  • Wessex Auction Rooms previously set a world record price for a Sex Pistols single in 2019, selling for over £16,000.
  • The single came directly from an ex-employee who had kept it in her desk drawer since 1977 and had previously been a receptionist at A&M in 1977.
  • Bidders from as far as Japan, South Africa, and the USA fought for the single, with 30 bids in total.
  • Other highlights from the auction included a Beatles' White Album that sold for over £4,000 and an original carded Palitoy The Empire Strikes Back Yoda figure that sold for £3,600.
  • The Yoda figure earned over 30 bids and was sold in the early evening of Friday June 21.
  • A collection of unboxed 'Last 17' Ewok figures, featuring Romba, Warok, Lumat, and Paploo, sold for £432.
  • Wessex Auction Rooms welcome consignments for auctions on Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm, and at their Bath office on an appointment-basis.

Statistics:

  • £24,320: The world-record-breaking sale price of the Sex Pistols single.
  • £16,000: The previous world record price set by Wessex Auction Rooms for a Sex Pistols single in 2019.
  • £4,000: The sale price of the Beatles' White Album.
  • £3,600: The sale price of the original carded Palitoy The Empire Strikes Back Yoda figure.
  • £432: The sale price of the unboxed 'Last 17' Ewok figures.
  • 30: The number of bids for the Yoda figure.

Sources:

  • Wessex Auction Rooms
  • A&M Records
  • The Sex Pistols
  • Tim Weeks, co-director at Wessex Auction Rooms and antiques expert for the TV programme Bargain Hunt

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