THE first much anticipated quarterly collectors’ sale of the year is being staged at Greenslade Taylor Hunt's Taunton saleroom on Friday, March 3.

The firm has an unrivalled reputation for the tremendous range and quality of items put together under the expert eye of auctioneer Peter Rixon at these specialist events.

No fewer than three train collections have been consigned to the sale including one from Bristol along with two local offerings.

A broad range of items will be featured in the sale at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton, including O, OO and N gauge examples. Hornby Dublo examples are also well represented.

Somerset County Gazette: GTH Octagon saleroom Taunton

There is also a library of railway themed books. In all, around 170 lots are devoted to all aspects of railway interest.

One of the likely highlights is certain to be a Bassett Lowke model of The Flying Scotsman. This icon of the railway world is guided at £350-£400.

However the auction has a much broader theme than simply trains and railwayana. The last collectors’ sale in December saw a magnificent selection of coins, all of which were snapped up by a discerning crowd of sale-goers comprising on line, telephone and sale room bidders. The March sale will include an Elizabeth I shilling and a coin from the reign of Henry VIII.

A good section of diecast models will also feature including boxed 1950s Dinky Toys. Among these offerings are a number of limited edition white metal model police cars.

A Jaques Staunton pattern chess set in a carton-pierre papier-mache casket is another charming attraction at this well considered auction. It is guided at £600-£800.

The regular monthly antiques sale will take place on Thursday, March 2, from 10am.

Both sales will be on view this Saturday, (February 25) from 9am-1pm. There will be further opportunities to view on Tuesday, February 28, and Wednesday, March 1, from 9am-5pm. Catalogues for each sale can be collected from the saleroom or downloaded at www.gth.net/antiques