Anyone for Quidditch? Sale of rare 'Snitch' may cause muggle mania

July 11, 2011 - PRLog -- After the auspicious release of the final Harry Potter film, ‘The Deathly Hallows Part 2’, Birmingham-based auctioneers, Biddle and Webb have also gone ‘Potter mad’.  

A very rare ‘Golden Snitch’ prop, believed to have been used in the first Harry Potter film ‘The Philosophers Stone’ goes up for sale on Friday 15th July in Biddle and Webb’s Toys and Ephemera sale.  

The prop, brought in to one of Biddle and Webb’s free valuation mornings, was won by the current owner in a competition entered in a local Woolworth’s store in 2001. The entertainment company Warner Brothers presented the boxed, limited edition gold and white metal ‘Snitch’ to the owners at a premier of the film held at Star City in Birmingham.
 
Only a few of these Snitches were made and very little is known about them. Another was presented at a premier in London and some in Japan and America, but it is thought only 10 are in existence.

Auctioneer Liz Winnicott, has been tasked with researching the auction history of the Snitch but due the unique and rare nature of the item there is little documented evidence to provide a benchmark value. However, on further analysis of Biddle and Webb’s own auction trends relating to Harry Potter memorabilia, similar items have previously broken sale records.

Biddle and Webb’s managing director, Jeremy Thornton said:”This is a very exciting little item with a lovely story attached.  As we have experienced in the past, there are avid collectors of Harry Potter memorabilia and top prices can be paid for the right thing.  There is nothing to compare it with so it is difficult to predict how much excitement this will cause. We have placed an estimate of £3-£5000 on it based on the popularity of
other rare items from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter collectables.”

Other interesting items in the sale include a life size Mothercare promotional Merrythought Bear made for Wimbledon, bought in the 1970s.  He is very huggable, standing a massive 6’ tall and is still wearing his Wimbledon tennis socks. A large collection of Pelham puppets, together with an original boxed Pelham puppet stage are also on offer as are some interesting original 1948 Olympic games programmes.

For more on Biddle and Webb’s Toys Ephemera sale visit: www.biddleandwebb.co.uk