Vectis announces its first dedicated Lego Auction Sale

By John Freeman on September 26, 2019

Lego 10024 – Red Baron – 1st World War Tri-plane

Vectis Auctions will be holding its first dedicated Lego Auction Sale in October, expected to be the largest of its kind in the UK.

The majority of the sale is the lifetime collection of Stockton based Lego builder and exhibitor Mark Willis, who has created intricate and astonishing dioramas for the enjoyment of others for many years.

Lego 75827 – “Ghostbusters” Fire House Headquarters – built model – appears Good to Excellent but not checked for completeness (with instructions) with Good original box, also included Set 21108 – Ghostbusters Ecto-1 – built model with original box and instructions.

Well respected within the Lego community, Mr Willis has previously exhibited in York, Wakefield and London – and was the subject of an episode of the popular BBC TV programme Collectaholics, which featured his vast amalgamation of over 350,000 individual pieces.

Recent works have included a model of Saltburn Pier, which was on display at Kirkleatham Museum near Redcar.

One of his proudest presentations was in 2015, when he created a Lego Town complete with cinema showing Three Clicks and a Snap, a football stadium, harbour and railway lines. On show in Norton, this was a for charity ‘Daisy Chain’ set up in 2003 to help support the needs of children on the Autism spectrum. This is something Mark has personal experience of being on the spectrum himself and also having ADHD and Bi Polar conditions.

Creating Lego has helped Mark greatly as he finds the process extremely calming and therapeutic.

Lego Creator Modular System 10251 – Brick Bank – rare pre-released set signed by the designer and with some original transit packaging (the date of posting confirms pre-released date for set) – contents expected to be Mint in a sealed Excellent box not checked for completeness.

Lego 10240 Star Wars Red 5 X-Wing Starfighter – box still factory sealed & unopened from new, contents assumed Mint in Excellent factory sealed box with minor scuff marks to corners. Nice example.

Lego 4184 Pirates of the Caribbean The Black Pearl – vendors states complete apart from missing poster, box opened and built one but contents not checked by Vectis Auctions for completeness – Excellent in Good Plus box.

The sale includes something for everyone, from loose pieces expertly sorted to colour, size and type in individual containers, sets, many of which are unopened, Lego Robotics (Mindstorms) accompanied by a computer to run the Windows 95/98 system required for this. The model sets are branded buildings and architecture. There are also several made-up pieces including the Red Baron, a German World War One plane and its counterpart British Sopwith Camel.

Rare Lego Buildings from the personal collection of Daniel Krentz (1937-2016) from his home in Denmark. Daniel was a well known Lego designer responsible for such classics as 375 Castle and 6074 Black Falcons Fortress. The two buildings are contained loose in a perspex case and plinth and come with a certificate of authentication, previously auctioned by Fairybricks in 2017

One of the most interesting lots in the sale is Lego buildings from the personal collection of Lego Designer Daniel Krentz, with certificate.

Daniel August Krentz was a retired LEGO designer born and raised in the USA. A childhood interest which continued into adulthood, resulted in him being was recruited to be a designer in Billund Denmark. He was both the first AFOL and the first non-Dane hired to be a designer by the company.

Daniel was the designer of many LEGO sets in his time but among his most iconic sets are: 375 Classic Yellow Castle (and all the castle sets that launched with it); 6067 Guarded Inn; 6073 Knights Castle; 6074 Black Falcons Fortress; 6078 Royal Drawbridge; 6081 Kings Mountain Fortress; 6267 Lagoon Lock Up; 6276 Eldorado Fortress; and dozens upon dozens of others.

Lego has been an iconic toy since its inception in 1949, its name being derived from the Danish word ‘Leg Godt’ meaning Play Well. Carpenter Kirk Christiansen had begun making wooden toys in 1932, but it was his launch of the ‘Automatic Binding Bricks’ that catapulted the company in to the history books. Initially only five colours were produced, today there is a rainbow of 60 colours used in over 3,700 elements.

The sale on Friday 4th October 2019 will include other Lego lots such as Technic, Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean, Christmas Specials, Harry Potter and other themed sets.

A full pictorial catalogue is now available online prior to the auction (PDF).

• For more information on any of the lots in the sale visit the Vectis web site – or please contact Mr Ian Main, Vectis Auctions on +44 (0) 1642 750616, email ian.main@vectis.co.uk or admin@vectis.co.uk

Vectis Auctions Ltd, the World’s Largest Toy Auction House, is at Fleck Way, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees, TS17 9JZ | Telephone 01642 750616 | Web: www.vectis.co.uk

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.