BONHAMS TO SELL DOWNING STREET SIGN

A HISTORIC SIGN BEARING THE NAME OF BRITAIN'S MOST EXCLUSIVE POLITICAL ADDRESS IS EXPECTED TO FETCH SEVERAL THOUSAND POUNDS WHEN IT GOES UNDER THE HAMMER AT AN UPCOMING AUCTION. THE 19th CENTURY CAST IRON DOWNING STREET SIGN WAS PREVIEWED RECENTLY AT BONHAMS AUCTIONEERS IN CENTRAL LONDON, AHEAD OF ITS SALE NEXT WEDNESDAY. WITH THE NEW GENERAL ELECTION FAST APPROACHING IT IS PERHAPS THE PERFECT GIFT FOR POLITICAL PUNDITS OR EVEN POLITICIANS KEEN TO HANG ON TO THE REMNANTS OF POWER. THE SIGN, WHICH FEATURES RAISED BLACK LETTERING ON A WHITE BACKGROUND, IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR BETWEEN £4,000 AND £6,000 AT THE AUCTION HOUSE IN NEW BOND STREET. THE SLICE OF BRITISH POLITICAL HISTORY WAS ONE OF A NUMBER OF ROAD SIGNS SOLD OFF IN THE 1980s BY THE WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL AND IS AMONG 702 LOTS WITHIN THE ANNUAL GENTLEMAN'S LIBRARY SALE. ANDREW CURRIE, SPOKESMAN FOR BONHAMS SAID: 'IT'S VERY RARE FOR A SIGN LIKE THIS TO COME TO MARKET, THERE AREN'T MANY THINGS LIKE THIS AROUND. WE ARE EXPECTING INTEREST FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE KEEN ON COLLECTING POLITICAL MEMORABILIA. IT IS OF COURSE THE PERFECT TIME IT TO COME ON SALE WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION DUE TO BE HELD IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THIS SIGN IS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE DOWNING STREET IS, SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING A LOT OF INTEREST.'