Country’s BIGGEST hoarder: Brother discovers his late relative had piled home with 60,000 rare items

In what is being called Britain’s most extraordinary hoarding discovery, over 60,000 rare items worth an estimated £4 million were uncovered after the sudden death of a 44-year-old bachelor from Nottingham. His three-bedroom home, rental flat, two garages, and 24 wheelie bins were packed floor-to-ceiling with unopened packages, many dating back to 2002. His brother, who had no idea of the scale of the hoard, enlisted auctioneers to clear the property.

A Bachelor’s Secret Collection

items piled in garage — Items piled to the ceiling in a garage. Stunned auctioneers were called to clear the three bedroom house by the hoarder’s brother who had no idea of the sheer scale of his sibling’s collection

The late owner, a computer programmer, amassed the collection with the intention of selling it all one day to fund his retirement. It is thought that he began the hoarding process about 18 years ago, purchasing items predominantly via eBay, as well as attending various conventions to add to his eclectic trove. The items were stored in every available space, including a rented flat and even part of a neighbor’s garden.

The Scale of the Hoard

Auctioneers from Unique Auctions were astonished by the sheer scale of the collection, which took eight men over 180 hours to clear. The vast majority of items had never been opened, stored in pristine condition as the owner had intended to eventually profit from them. The collection includes rare Beatles memorabilia, over 6,000 vintage comics, 4,000 rare books, and thousands of other valuable items such as vintage chemistry sets, 1960s guitars, and space exploration memorabilia.

Rare and Valuable Finds

assorted items — Items piled to the ceiling in the garage in of of the garages the hoarder rented. Neighbours reported the man receiving a van full of parcels every week

Among the treasures discovered were a signed Hard Day’s Night LP, which could fetch up to £4,000, and a rare Justice League comic valued at £1,200. Other notable items include vintage Matchbox toys, 1960s pull-along clowns, and even a 14 ct yellow gold diamond ring, expected to sell for around £750 to £850. Additionally, there are signed photos of historical figures like JFK, Gandhi, and Winston Churchill.

A Mystery of Funding

The horde mostly consisted of unopened parcels that had been delivered to the three-bedroom property in Nottingham since 2002 where a bachelor, who died suddenly earlier this year at the age of 44, lived alone

Despite the vast nature of his collection, it remains unclear how the hoarder, working as a computer programmer, was able to fund such an expansive and rare assortment of items. His neighbors reported weekly deliveries of van-fulls of parcels, but no one suspected the extent of the hoarding until his passing.

Clearing the Property

boxes — A lot of the items are in a brand new or pristine condition and haven’t been opened or touched with the hoarder apparently storing them until his retirement

The auction house tasked with selling the collection had to use unconventional methods to access the house, as items were stacked so high that it was impossible to enter through the front door. The collection, estimated to sell in over 3,000 lots, has been valued between £500,000 and £4 million, with auctions planned for late October.

A Legacy of a Lifelong Passion

old books — It is thought he started it about 18 years ago with the intention of selling it all one day to fund his retirement

This astonishing hoard stands as a testament to the late owner’s passion for collecting. Though his brother was initially shocked by the discovery, the items are now being preserved for future collectors and enthusiasts. Auctioneer Terry Woodcock, who has spent 50 years in the business, described the hoard as “beyond belief” and said it would likely remain the most incredible collection he’s ever encountered.

A selection of Matchbox Stingray figures, play sets and other collectibles. The lot will go up for auction with a £30 starting price

For those interested in history, pop culture, or rare items, this collection is set to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own pieces of historical significance.

model kits — A Revell H.M.S. Victory model kit and an Airfix H.M.S. Prince model kit, both unused. They are both available with a starter price of £12

15 Japanese model kits by Bandai & Imai of Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlett among others. The opening price will be £35

5 German Philips chemistry sets, some may have some components missing, but it will be sold as seen. The opening price is £24 but it could fetch up to £60

comics collections — The man rented a one bedroom flat, two garages, part of a neighbour’s garden and 24 council wheelie bins to stash all the stuff

There is also an ‘excellent’ collection of Russian and American space exploration memorabilia that includes slides and newspapers from the time

The eclectic hoard includes thousands of items of Beatles memorabilia, signed photos and letters relating to JFK, Winston Churchill, Gandhi and Elvis Presley

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