Lost-in-post items go under the hammer
These six bottles of Canadian whisky are part of the auction of An Post lost property items taking place today. Photo: Maxpix.
Wednesday November 04 2009
HALF-a-dozen bottles of champagne, another half-dozen of Canadian whisky, a Rolex watch, Gucci handbags and a model train set are just some of the items that got lost in the post that go under the hammer today.
They are among hundreds of mostly gift items that are posted each month but can't be delivered by An Post due to a wrong address, lack of return address or a changed address.
The items are held for up to six months while a team in Kilbarrack, north Dublin, do everything they can to return their items to the sender or track down the addressee, according to an An Post spokeswoman.
"Everything humanly possible has been done," she said.
When all else fails, the items are sent to Herman and Wilkinson Auction House in Rathmines, south Dublin, where they are auctioned twice a year.
The company's head porter Ben Simpson said some unusual items have gone under the hammer since it began auctioning off the lost items more than 20 years ago.
"You never know what you'll get," he told the Irish Independent last night. "The most unusual thing we got was an entire motorbike that was dissembled."
Sword
Other interesting items included a Samurai sword, bicycles, tents, a consignment of 120 boxes of condoms and sex toys.
Some of the quirky items on the block today include four large Tom Tom drums, a wetsuit, a signed print of The Titanic, an electric floorwasher and a set of fish hooks.
But some high-end items are also up for grabs including a Rolex watch -- the authenticity of which has yet to be determined -- a pair of women's Harvey Nichols boots still bearing its €780 price tag, a Chanel watch, two Gucci handbags, a Burberry handbag, a set of Ping golf clubs and silver jewellry.
The auction, which takes place at 6.30pm, tends to draw a lot of market traders as well as bargain hunters. All proceeds from the auction go back to An Post.
- Allison Bray
Irish Independent
