The coronation of King Charles III takes place next month.
And as the nation prepares to celebrate this historic occasion, Royal memorabilia is understandably on a lot of people's minds.
Here are a couple of news stories from this week which nicely illustrate both ends of the market.
Everybody needs a musical biscuit tin
Teapots, plates, cushions, coins and medals.
Paperweights, mugs and musical biscuit tins.
If you want some King Charles III coronation memorabilia, the internet has got you covered.
Just like the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the number of commemorative items out there is enormous.
The industry has gone into overdrive ahead of the ceremony on May 6, and there are items ranging from £1 to over £1,000.
A new report suggests that spending on these coronation souvenirs is set to reach almost £250 million, with overseas sales up to £80 million as the event is beamed around the world.
And as a collectibles expert, whenever these large royal occasions come around I'm always asked the same question:
“Are any of these commemorative pieces likely to be valuable in the future?”
It's a fair question, and hand on heart, I have to say...
Probably not.
Don't get me wrong, these pieces are certainly collectible. They're great mementoes of a very significant moment in history.
After all, it's not every day you get to witness the incredible pomp and ceremony of a British Royal coronation.
But I don't see them as having any major long-term value. The majority are mass-produced, and lack the rarity that all investment grade pieces require.
So when it comes to Royal memorabilia, the current crop of Charles III coronation items sit at one end of the spectrum...
History's most important Royal document?
...and then at the other end, you have this.
One of the most important documents in British history.
The Declaration of Breda. Signed by Charles II on April 4, 1660.
Without this document, there would be no British Royal family.
And certainly no teapots with Charles and Camilla's faces on them.
This was the very document that restored the monarchy in England following the death of Oliver Cromwell and the end of the revolution.
It placed Charles II on the throne, after his father Charles I lost his head to the executioner's axe in 1649.
And it fundamentally shaped Britain’s constitution as we know it today.
Charles II signed just five copies of the declaration, and today only two are known to have survived.
One of those copies is kept in the parliamentary archives. And the other is now heading to auction at Sotheby's, where it's expected to sell for up to £600,000.
Sotheby's specialist Gabriel Heaton described it as “one of the most important documents of its kind ever to appear for public sale”.
“It has a direct and immediate impact on British history. The last comparable document at auction would be the copy of the Magna Carta we sold about 15 years ago which made about $20m (£16m).”
When the Declaration of Breda hits the auction block next month, I can easily see it surpassing its estimate.
It changed the course of history. It bears perhaps the most important signature Charles II ever signed. And it's the only example in the world available to collectors.
Own a real piece of Royal history
The pieces of real value will always be those touched or signed by Royalty.
Personal items, cards and letters which offer a collectors a direct connection.
Documents with the weight of history and importance, carefully preserved and passed down over the centuries.
These are the items collectors prize the most. The items that grow in value and significance year upon year. They don't just commemorate history...
They are history.
These are the rare Royal items we specialise in. So if you're building a collection of investment-grade collectibles, here are some of the finest pieces we currently have available.
And not a tea towel in sight.
A vintage Royal Christmas card signed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1954
An official invitation to Queen Victoria's coronation, signed by Victoria in 1838
Two genuine locks of hair clipped from the beard of King Charles I
An Elizabeth I signed manuscript dated 1591, and complete with its original Royal seal
A highly rare document signed by England's first Queen Mary Tudor in
1558A magnificent, historically important document signed by King Henry VIII in 1542
If you have any questions about historic Royal memorabilia, please get in touch with me today. Whether you're buying, selling, or simply looking for a little advice, I'm always here to help.
You can email me at info@justcollecting.com.
Or call me on +44 (0) 1534 639 998.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Until next time,
Paul Fraser.
