Your Money: TREASURE HUNTERS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 23, 2007 | by JAMES BREESE

Q I HAVE Beatrix Potter's Mr Benjamin Bunny in a purple coat. Could you tell me what he's worth if I decide to sell him?- Mr C. F. White, via email

A YOUR figurine is almost certainly one made by the Beswick pottery, although a few others did make items based on Beatrix Potter's creations. He was the work of their top designer, Arthur Gredington, but there are several different versions of the Beswick bunny. In some Benjamin has a pipe in his mouth, in others his ears are in, in others they are out, while the colour of his coat also varies. One of the rarest is the one of him holding a pipe in his hand with a gold, oval backstamp, which is worth about pounds 200.

The one of him wearing a brown jacket, with a green beret and orange pompoms is even more collectable. Your piece will be worth at least pounds 50 to pounds 60 and possibly more at auction.

Q I HAVE a Royal Doulton Snowman playing a trumpet which I bought in 1988. He has a red hat and is playing a yellow trumpet. He also has a grey tie around his neck and you can see a black button underneath. What is he worth?- Pat Flattley, Stevenage, Herts

A THIS is a very seasonable piece to write about and also a rare find. The Snowman series was introduced following the success of the famous Raymond Briggs book and the animated film. Your figurine was designed by Graham Tongue and modelled by Peter Platt and was the third series of pieces produced by Royal Doulton. Its number is DS16 and it was the fourteenth in the series. Despite this, it is rare and frequently sells for pounds 200 to pounds 260. Keep a look out for the other members of the Snowman band like the flautist (up to pounds 120) or the cymbal player (up to pounds 260).

Q I HAVE a Dutch Girl Pelham String Puppet in its original box, which was bought during the 1950s. Can you tell me what it is worth? - Ms Alison Ansell by email

A PELHAM puppets were a family firm which started in 1947 and continued until 1993. There were more than 500 different puppets and most were hand-painted. Boxes give the best idea to their age. The first were put in brown boxes. The blue-labelled Pelhams also called Wonky Toys are desirable too. If your Dutch Girl is a genuine 1950s Pelham then it should have lead drop hands, toggle feet and a hook for the holder which will fold.

Boxed, it is worth pounds 70 to pounds 110.