A huge stash of matchboxes that took half a century to collect is up for sale for a huge price tag
- Terry Kneeshaw from Darlington has 450 matchboxes in his pricey collection
A huge collection of matchboxes, which took almost 50 years to build, has been put up for sale at an astonishing price.
Artist Terry Kneeshaw first started his Regular Wheels collection – which now includes 450 matchboxes – in 1970.
His life’s work pays particular attention to the artwork of each box from types A to F, as well as to the model series from one to 75.
Now one of Britain’s largest collections of Matchbox toys, including various colors and rare examples, is up for grabs for the hefty price tag of £21,000.
With the help of Veilinghuis Vectis, the artist is selling his 50-year-old collection so that he can continue with new projects.
Artist Terry Kneeshaw started his Regular Wheels collection (which now contains 450 matchboxes) in 1970.
But after fifty years of collecting Matchbox toys, he has decided to give up his collection for £21,000 so he can start over.
The 450-piece collection will be auctioned for between £16,000 and £21,000.
Terry, originally from Darlington, started collecting the matchboxes because he was drawn to the artwork on their boxes.
“I loved the paintings that came together on the boxes,” he said. “And I have some very, very rare ones.”
‘I started collecting variants and it became an obsession.
He added: ‘For many people the cars are the most important part of the collection, but for me as an artist the photographs were more important.
“So when I collected, I collected all kinds of boxes.
“You may see that you have three of the same cars, but I would collect every A box, every B box, every C box and so on.
‘I collected them as sets, as a series of boxes, and not as cars.
One of the models from Mr Kneeshaw’s 450 toy strong Matchbox collection
“I’m retired now, but I have a new mantra in life: don’t retire, fire,” said Mr Kneeshaw as he looked to start a new project (Photo: Matchbox toys)
‘It was an unusual way of collecting. But that’s me, I enjoyed it.’
Although he has enjoyed ‘every minute’ of expanding his unique collection over the past fifty years, he believes now is the perfect time to end it.
“I’m retired now, but I have a new mantra in life: don’t retire, resign,” he joked.
“I’m asking for another thirty years to do a completely new project.”
