DRACULA GOES UNDER HAMMER

Holy Cow Prince of Darkness . . . We’re Under The Hammer!
Thousands of pounds worth of fancy dress costumes and accessories . . . and a life-size model of Count Dracula . . . are to go under the hammer in Brigg this weekend following the collapse of a leading specialist company.
Party Animal, which was based on the High Street in Lincoln, went into liquidation last month. The firm both retailed and hired costumes, party gear, jokes and novelties.
The liquidators now handling the firm’s affairs have consigned the entire stock of the business – including a lorry load-and-a-half of fancy dress outfits – to auctioneers Brown & Co in Old Courts Road, Brigg. It will be sold off in a general auction on Saturday.
Auctioneer Craig Bewick (pictured) said: "The collapse of the firm is another sign of the tough economic times. I guess that when cash is short, parties and fancy dress outfits are amongst the first things to go. Party Animal was a very specialised business and unfortunately their size and high profile location was not enough to save them.
"A part of the firm’s stock has been reclaimed by suppliers but all the rest has been sent to us for disposal.
"We’ve got huge quantities of fancy dress outfits, ranging from Batman and Robin to ballerinas and Darth Vader. There was a strong cartoon and movie theme to the collection. Think of a major 20th century film and the chances are we’ve got costumes in here somewhere.
"We’ve also got all the ancillary bits and pieces such as hats, wigs, beards, moustaches, swords, Charlie Chaplin walking canes, you name it."
Craig added: "The quality of the costumes is extremely high and they are in very good condition. Some of these outfits would undoubtedly have cost hundreds of pounds when they were made.
"Whilst some costumes will be sold individually, for the most part we’ve grouped the outfits together in smallish collections. In all there are 60-70 lots. Prices will probably range from £10-20 up to £100 but there are no reserves and they will make what they make.
"We’re expecting the sell-off to attract a lot of interest, both from private buyers and fancy dress hire businesses. These things should provide a lot of fun and they are not going to break the bank.
"Undoubtedly the hardest thing to value ahead of the auction is the life-size model of Dracula that stood in the shop window. It would have cost hundreds of pounds to create but what it will make when it goes under the hammer is anybody’s guess.
"Will there be any interest? You bet! Statues of the Prince of Darkness don’t come up for auction every day."
In all the sale extends to 750 lots and includes good quality jewellery, silver and china sections, as well as both antique and contemporary furniture.
The viewing sessions are tomorrow (Friday) 2pm-7pm) and on Saturday from 8.30am until the start of the sale at 10am.
Catalogues are available from Brown & Co or can be downloaded from the firm’s website: www.brown-co.com free of charge.
For further information contact Fred Kirkby/Craig Bewick at Brown & Co. Tel(01652) 650172 or email fred.kirkby@brown-co.com OR craig.bewick@brown-co.com