There are around 100 lots of individual autograph albums that each contain multiple and varied signatures. Most are guided around £200-300 each. They include the 78 pages that feature (as a sample) the signatures of Jack Bruce (Cream), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Slash (Guns N Roses), Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) and Suggs (Madness) and the 62-page album that was signed by Elaine Paige, Colin Firth, Yoko Ono, Meat Loaf, Jean-Claude Van Dame plus many others.
There are also rows of lever arch files packed with plastic envelopes containing signed photographs, flyers and autographed letters. Most have been arranged into themes or categories.
Of particular appeal to science-fiction fans will be a lot comprising photos of 13 members of the Star Trek cast, 47 signatures from the cast of Dr Who and 33 from actors in the Star Wars franchise. It is expected to bring £400-600.
A series of signed photos and flyers by James Bond franchise actors including signatures by Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan have a guide of £400-800. Clive ranks Roger Moore among the nicest of the celebrities he ever met. A particular draw to this lot is a set of seven postcards, one each for his Bond films, all signed by him.
Close to half of the photographs were images taken by the collector himself. A group of 71 different photos of female musicians – an eclectic mix including Nana Mouskouri, Dolly Parton, Linda McCartney, Diana Ross and Dame Vera Lynn – is expected to sell for £400-600.
Within the sporting section are three George Best autographs and most of the 1966 world cup winning team.
Also in the collection are 68 lots of vinyl records (most of them relatively early pressings) signed by some or all of the artists who created them. A copy of Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones signed by Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood is among the most valuable single items with a guide of £200-400. Packed with girl power at £300-600 is a collection of 40 video cassettes, records and CDs by the Spice Girls, most of them signed by one or more members of the quintet.
The owner also met Amy Whitehouse on a number of occasions. A sheet of card inscribed ‘Hiya Clive! Happy new year Amy xx’ is offered together with a copy of the single Take the Box inscribed ‘Hi Clive! nice to see you again! God bless Amy xx’. These are estimated at £200-400.
Clive says it was the thrill of the chase and the making of memories and friendships that fired his collecting rather than any notion of investment or value. He has not previously sold any of his autographs although he often swapped duplicates with fellow collectors. He has relatively few gaps in the archive although he regrets not having acquired the signatures of Marlon Brando or Madonna.
Clive’s family have chosen to keep just a few treasures of the collection. His grandson has a Mohammed Ali signed book.
