COLLECTORS’ items are a staple part of Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s monthly antiques sale and regularly achieve pleasing prices.

Valuer Peter Rixon, who has a keen interest in the collectables market, carefully curates this part of the monthly sales. In addition he puts together four specialist collectors sales at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton, dedicated to the art of the collector. Tomorrow (Friday, September 1) sees the next quarterly collectors’ sale. Viewing is available from 8.30am tomorrow (Friday) and the sale gets under way at 10am.

Among the items likely to prove popular is a fascinating personal archive relating to Commander Humphrey Gilbert Grace of the Royal Navy.

This comprises a British Royal Navy dirk – a ceremonial weapon and badge of office in its leather scabbard; a brushed silk bicorne hat with bullion thread detailing, by Gieves, and a pair of dress epaulettes, in original painted tin. Also included is a Second World War M.I.D. group of four medals, comprising the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Italy Star and War Medal 1939-45 with mentioned in despatches oak leaf. There is an associated group of miniature medals, and a medal ribbon strip, plus a book recording the commissioning of H.M.S. Gambia 1952-54; and a quantity of black and white photographs. The collection has a pre-sale guide of £300-£400.

A charming paper cut Valentine by Elizabeth Cobbold (1767-1824) graces the cover of the Collectors’ Sale catalogue. It is amazing that Cobbold had time to create Valentine cards as she was stepmother to 15 children and also gave birth to seven of her own children!

She and her husband John Cobbold hosted balls in Ipswich each year. She created Valentine cards and a verse for unattached guests who attended the events.

The example at Greenslade Taylor Hunt depicts caged animals in a menagerie along with a hand-written verse. It is guided at £200-£300.

Less pricey, but no less appealing is a pale gold mohair Teddy bear, probably by Steiff, circa 1910, affectionately known as ‘Arthur’. He has boot button eyes, on a jointed body with a humped back and long limbs. He has seen better days – poor Arthur has a loose left ear and a hole below his left ear. He has a pre-sale guide of £60-£80.

Scientific items are very popular in the saleroom and a Powell & Lealand lacquered brass monocular microscope is certain to spark interest. It is signed ‘Powell & Lealand, 4 Seymour Place, Euston

Square, London.’ It includes a selection of lenses and other accessories in a fitted mahogany box, the whole with a mahogany travel case. The guide price is £300-£400.