Bonhams FLASHBACK: - 24th August 1992 Entertainment Sale

Last week I showed you the content of a Bonhams sale from January 1992. In it a large number of ex-BBC Costume Dept outfits from Doctor Who were sold off.

Since then I have found another catalogue from 1992, this time from August.

Interestingly a number of the extensive Doctor Who items sound very much like those sold back in January, though with much higher estimates this time around.

More recently I think we have seen some of these lots continuing to be sold on. It’s fascinating to trace the items back through the various auction catalogues, following the prices they sell for.

As usual I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:

Lots 645-646, 647-648, 650-652, 655-656, 659
1st Doctor (1963-1966)

Lots 648, 654-655, 657-659
2nd Doctor (1966-1969)

Lots 648-649, 655, 660-661
3rd Doctor (1970-1974)

Lots 648, 662-664
4th Doctor (1975-1981)

Lot 648, 653, 655-681
5th Doctor (1982-1984)

Lots 648-649, 682-689
6th Doctor (1984-1986)

Here are just the lots relating to the Seventh Doctor era

Lot 648 Dr. Who—The Auction, Catalogue from 11th May 1991, sale of selected costumes from the Wardrobe, 42 page catalogue with black and white illustrations, colour cover, together with a sheet of prices. (2)
Estimate £10-20


Lot 690 ‘Dragonfire’, 1987 (Sylvester McCoy) Two spiked uniform helmets, in Teutonic style.
Estimate £50-80

Lot 691 ‘Delta and the Bannermen’, 1987 (Colin Baker) Two white oversuits, one Worn by Delta (Belinda Mayne), and one undersuit.
Estimate £80-120

Lot 692 ‘Happiness Patrol’, 1988 (Sylvester McCoy) Five Drone masks.
Estimate £30-50

Lot 693 ‘Ghostlight’, 1989 (Sylvester McCoy) John Nathan-Turner’s running order sheets for episodes 1 and 3.
Estimate £30-50

Lot 694 ‘Survival’, 1989 (Sylvester McCoy) A copy of the script for episode 3, the final episode of Dr. Who.
Estimate £30-50

Lot 695 The pocket watch worn by Sylvester McCoy during his time as Dr. Who.
Estimate £300-500

Bonhams FLASHBACK: 24th January 1992 The BBC Costume Dept sale

Exactly 24 years ago TODAY there was an unusual auction at Bonhams to sell off a vast amount of ex-BBC costume department items.

Due to the volume of items on offer, the sale was held at the BBC Costume Warehouse, which at the time was on the Royal London Industrial Estate in North Acton.

Most of the sale was non-descript items, broken down into sections such as PERIOD COSTUMES - GREEK/ROMAN, MEDIAEVAL, TUDOR, ELIZABETHAN, STUART, GEORGIAN and REGENCY, VICTORIAN and EDWARDIAN etc.

It then moved on to SPORTSWEAR and MISCELLANEOUS before CHILDRENS and LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. There was even a section for FANCY DRESS and ARMOUR, CHAINMAIL ETC.

Then things got more interesting with NARNIA prior to the big draw the sale - the SCIENCE FICTION section.

This was broken down into DR WHO, BLAKE’S 7, THE FLIP SIDE OF DOMINICK HYDE, STAR COPS, and OTHER SCIENCE FICTION COSTUMES.

The sale closed with a section of late additions, which included an extra Doctor Who lot.

I recently picked up a copy of the sales catalogue on aBay - such as it is. Back in 1992 this consisted of a pocket folder with a stapled loose sheet listing of the items for sale. There are no photographs or illustrations, and the descriptions are scant to say the least.

I have transcribed all the Doctor Who items.

As usual I have separated the items by Doctor era, and you can see the rest of the items here:

Lots 281 - 282
3rd Doctor (1970-1974)

Lots 283 - 288 & 372
4th Doctor (1975-1981)

Lot 289 - 301
5th Doctor (1982-1984)

Lots 302 - 310
6th Doctor (1984-1986)

Here are just the lots relating to the Seventh Doctor era

Bonhams Sale 25395
(24th January 1992)
BBC Television Costume Sale

Click the link above to download a copy of the full catalogue

Lot 311 Dragonfire, 1987, Sylvester McCoy as Dr Who. 
Set of Kanes mercenaries uniform hats, grey felt with look of Germany WWI (approx 5)
Sold for £200

Lot 312 Very old space suit used in Dr Who. 
Jacket and 2 pairs of trousers in silver plastic with red detailing (1)
Sold for £150

Lot 313 Full length cream and ochre linen gowns with hoods. 
Worn by Nigel Skeet and Wayne Peel and red, grey and blue striped jacket (3)
Sold for £300

Original 7th Doctor items on eBay - January 2016

I see some loose bits have dropped off the original Tetrap costume again.

Time And The Rani
framed Tetrap fragment

This is an amazing opportunity

There were just three of these tetrap costumes made for the 1987 story 'time and the rani'.

As with many costumes of the day, they have deteriorated. This is from one of these original screen used costumes sold in the famous bonhams auction.

I have seen small pieces of tetrap skin sell for £50-100 over the years on ebay but never such a large piece - this digit is in great condition and has been framed in a box frame - only three digits and I am keeping one!

It is supplied with a copy of the letter of authenticity and is s once in a lifetime auction!