Your money: TREASURE HUNTERS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Nov 16, 2008 | by JAMES BREEZE

Q I HAVE a finger puppet of Muffin the Mule made by MOKO. He is in surprisingly good order given the years of fun he provided.

Is it true these older toys are collectable these days? - Susan Milson, Byfleet, Surrey

A MUFFIN first appeared on British television in 1946. Annette Mills presented the programme and Muffin quickly became a huge hit with children. You have a Muffin Junior finger puppet. Around 50,000 were made from a die-cast metal called Mazac. Your toy was made by MOKO between 1952 and 1955. Today the collectors' market for these toys continues to grow. Ideally, you'll still have the box. If boxed and in good condition he could fetch pounds 160- pounds 220 at a specialist toy auction.

Q READING your recent article in Sunday Mirror about figurines, I discovered I have a Royal Doulton piece called Dinky Do.

This is model HN 1678. It is stamped 1935 and is in excellent condition. Could you advise me on an approximate value? - Ann Coleman, Belfast

A ROYAL Doulton figurines remain one of the most popular collectables, with some rarities making headlines at auction. Your piece was made between 1934 and 1996 and was designed by one of the most famous Doulton artists - Leslie Harradine.

This is quite a twee piece, but colourful and charming. It is not particularly rare, but would sell for a respectable pounds 60- pounds 70 at a high street dealer.

Q WE have one of the original colour prints signed by Norman Parkinson titled After Van Dongen used for the British Vogue cover.

According to Terence Pepper, curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, there may be fewer than 20 available now. How much do you think it's worth? - Mariko Fujiwara, Twickenham, London

A PARKINSON (1913-1990) is still regarded as one of the finest British portrait and fashion photographers.

He was the recipient of a CBE and a photographer to the Royal Family.

The print you have is of a picture taken in 1959. The image captured was in the style of a Paris artist called Kees Van Dongen. The model Adele Collins was wearing a toque hat by Otto Lucas and photographed out of focus with the attention on the fabric behind her.

These signed prints are very rare indeed. You also consulted a leading authority on his work - Mr Pepper has written a book about the photographer.

Christie's recently sold two chromogenic prints, printed in Christmas 1989 and also signed and dated. This lot sold as a pair for an incredible EUR27,400 in April this year. This may have been an even more limited set of just three.

You have a collectable worth several thousand pounds, and I would suggest a visit in person to a key auction house which holds photographic sales.