When an Antiques Roadshow guest brought along a group of Wind in the Willows characters gifted from her grandfather, she only expected them to be valued at around £100 and couldn't believe it when the real value was revealed.
The group of figures, that included Mr Toad and Badger, had been given to her by her grandfather who was author Kenneth Grahame's doctor in the 1930s. Expert Hilary Kay said: "I feel like I have stepped into a scene from Wind in the Willows. We have got all the characters there and we have got the caravan and a horse. It is absolutely charming. They are flat cut wooden characters, beautifully painted and articulated with steel pins so that they can move. They are of a type that are made by Telford Toys. Two sisters set up the business."
It was explained that the Wind in the Willows author commissioned the toys to be made for his doctor and also added in a Winnie the Pooh character, just because he liked the bear.
Hilary said: "There is a following as far as the collectability of these toys and these little figures can reach up to £100 or £200 a piece, so I would value these at between £1,000 and £1,500. Thank you for bringing to life that wonderful times in the 20s and 30s on the Thames in Berkshire."
The owner couldn't believe it saying: "I honestly thought it was going to be worth about £50. I thought it had been made a local craftsman and been played with by my mother's family and by me when I was little, so it is very exciting."
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