Interview with Toby Wilson from Bonhams

May/June 2019 edition
Issue #5 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
Marshall Buck

As many of you know, auctions are one of the main ways to obtain, and sell great collectible items. Over the years I have seen everything from commonplace trinket,s to some of the most sought after and valuable items of automobilia selling at auction: signs, documents, art, models, mascots, and the long list goes on. My two cents worth of advice - always go for quality and rarity. Of course, sometimes there are just those “I don’t care, I want it” items too. I have bought more than a few of those!

There are numerous auction houses around the world, from huge international companies to small one-town mom & pop operations. I personally have bought and sold pieces through a dozen or so auction houses (all sizes).
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AutoMobilia Resource had a few questions, which are really just the proverbial “tip of the iceberg.” We asked Toby Wilson, who is “Head of the Automobilia Department” for Bonhams; he’s a leading expert in the field of all automobilia. And in case you don’t know… Bonhams is one of the largest international auction houses around, established in 1793. Their automobilia department is one of the longer standing ones and Toby has pretty much seen it all.

Painting by Frederick Gordon Crosby

AR: How have sales of automobilia and the market for it changed
in the last 5 years, and why?

Toby Wilson: The market is constantly changing. The online market place is relatively easy for collectors to access. At Bonhams we see far many more lots selling to internet bidders than we ever did before.

AR: What items or categories of items do you find consistently command the highest values and retain them year after year?

Toby Wilson: Ferrari tool kits and Frederick Gordon Crosby artworks are always in demand, as are items of quality or rarity across
the whole Automobilia collecting field.

AR: What do you consider to be factors on the overall price of automobilia?

Toby Wilson: Originality, Condition, Quality, and Rarity are the four most important factors in determining the price of an item. This can also be effected by Provenance. Then the final thing affecting the price of any item, is the Economy.
Prices of automobilia items, like stocks and shares, can go 
up as well as down.

MB

Bronze Sculpture by Stanley Wanlass

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