Provenance

[John Wakefield]

Did anyone else watch this programme last night on Channel 4 ? https://www.channel4.com/programmes/...UzjpMELQduF_8g One of the items featured was a 1952 Humber Super Snipe that was reported to have been owned by the Queen Mother. It has been bought in Hansons auction last April from a private museum collection The estimate was £20 - £40k. The car was bought by millionaire property developer Anthony Barney. In the programme it was sent to a Humber specialist for recommissioning only for him to find that it was not a royal car. After further investigation by the presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell, it turned out that the car was never owned by the Queen Mother but was owned by a local garage in Castle May who on occasions provided a car for the royal estate. Maybe as a taxi from the station. So although the QM may have ridden in it it certainly was not her personal car. Needless to say the new owner was not amused to hear this as he had obviously paid a premium price for it in the auction. Similar cars in the auction with no provenance were estimated at £3 to 5K

[Brian Catt]

It depends on the description and wording on the sales blurb put up by the auction house. If it said it WAS owned by HM, then there is a case to answer. If it said "reputedly" or similar vague wording, then Caveat Emptor!