A FREE valuation day at St Albans Town Hall has brought a smile to one local resident’s face.

The valuation day put on by J P Humbert Auctioneers was attended by a Harpenden resident with a quantity of items for valuation.

She had cleared out some drawers in her house and came in with some gold and jewellery together with a complete 1930s silver enamel dressing table set to be valued.

Humbert’s booked the items into auction and thought no more of them until two weeks later when, despite a conservative £200 to £300 estimate, the dressing table set sold for a total of £3,700.

Not only was there interest in the room but also on the telephone and online.

The Harpenden lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I was absolutely delighted with the price my items achieved, particularly in these cash-strapped times. I never knew these items that had been in my drawers for years had such a value. My late mother would be astounded!”

A St Albans man also had plenty to celebrate after selling five gold sovereigns for £210 each.

Said auctioneer, Jonathan Humbert: “Prices are sky-high at the moment – there really has never been a better time to sell unwanted gold, silver, jewellery, coins and watches, etc.”

The auctioneers host free no-obligation valuation days at the Town Hall on the first Wednesday of every month.