A set of items pertaining to the Great Train Robbery and Ronnie Biggs (one of its best-known orchestrators) is to cross the block at JP Humbert Auctioneers in Northampton, UK on February 18.
These include a watch, a gold signet ring and specimens of the Monopoly money from the game the robbers played while lying low in the immediate aftermath.
![]() The archive includes a signet ring belonging to Ronnie Biggs |
Various other lots, including the wire used to alter the signal and stop the train, and the ignition key for one of the getaway cars, are also offered.
The Great Train Robbery remains one of the most high profile British robberies of recent times. A total of ?�2.6m ($3.9m) was stolen from a Royal Mail train in 1963. Very little of the money was ever recovered, although most of the gang were caught and given hefty sentences.
Biggs was caught along with the rest of the gang in 1964, but managed to escape prison in 1965. He fled to Australia and then onto Brazil, where he lived for many years. He returned to the UK in 2001 and was jailed once again.
Even today the Great Train Robbery remains a subject of fascination in Britain, leading to a burgeoning market for memorabilia. A wanted poster sold for ?�4,500 ($7,480) at Mullock's in 2014.
There is no estimate available at present, but we will keep you updated.