Laurel and Hardy memorabilia as popular as ever

Stan Laurel was born 130 years ago and his memory is still going strong. Our antiques expert Allan Blackburn finds out more...
These figurines capture their personalities perfectly. They are £28These figurines capture their personalities perfectly. They are £28
These figurines capture their personalities perfectly. They are £28

This week marks a wonderful anniversary with a local connection. Working as Charlie Chaplin’s understudy, on September 22nd 1910, Ulverston-born comedian Stan Laurel set sail for America.

Born 130 years ago this year, as his ship left Southampton the wide-eyed 20- year-old Stan would have no idea what lay ahead.

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As laughter often proves the best medicine, it seems a fitting time to talk about collectables associated with Laurel and Hardy, who are regularly voted one of the top ten greatest comedy acts of all time.

From ‘Duck Soup’ in 1927, to their final cinema appearance in 1951’s ‘Utopia’ (aka ‘Atoll K’), the duo left behind a legacy of marvellous films.

Stan’s local connection, and the duo treading the boards at Morecambe’s iconic Winter Gardens in 1947, adds interest for local collectors, as did 2018’s film starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly. Ulverston’s wonderful Laurel and Hardy museum, which I was very happy to see reopen two months ago, was granted a special preview screening!

From eggcups and figurines, to pictures and framed movie stills, there is plenty out there on the market to whet any collector’s appetite.

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These jolly chappies are currently bickering their way round the centre. They are £28. Autographs of the pair range from £100 to £300, with some signed documents going for more.

Laurel and Hardy signed photographs start at £300, with sought-after and exceptional images fetching high prices.

Dream collectors’ items are clothing and mementoes featured in the 100+ films they made together. A pair of shirts worn by the duo in “Bonnie Scotland” (1935) sold for $4,575 in Los Angeles in 2010.

Or how about one of Stan Laurel’s trademark undersized black felt bowler hats, worn by him around 1930-1940 and autographed by him inside, which fetched an eye-watering £26,250 at Christies in London in 2011!

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More attainable are original movie posters; even unsigned they are widely-sought, and lovely to display. Look out for Laurel and Hardy dolls, these were very well-made with moveable limbs, or even wind-up mechanisms.

Watch out for imitations, to avoid having to say: “That’s another fine mess you’ve got me into!”