Rare chocolate box sells for double guide price

A solid silver chocolate box has sold for double its guide price after attracting international interest at an auction.

Issued in 1902 to mark the coronation of King Edward VII, the rare item had been expected to fetch between £800 and £1,000.

However, auctioneers David Duggleby confirmed it had sold for £1,700 when it went under the hammer in Scarborough on Friday morning.

The winning bid came from a person in Hull, but the underbidder was a little further afield in Japan. Interest also came from other countries, including Cyprus.

Believed to be only the second of its kind to be seen in a sale this century, the auctioneers said it was "about as rare as it gets".

Holly Hammond, from David Duggleby, said: "This silver coronation box is one of only a handful ever made.

"We knew it would attract a lot of interest and it didn't disappoint. It sold for £1,700, which reflects just how rare a piece like this is.

"It's not often something with this level of royal and manufacturing history comes up for sale."

The silver boxes, which originally contained just a single bar of Rowntree's chocolate, were given to the King and Queen, as well as members of the Rowntree family.

They were made by Sheffield silversmiths Cooper Brothers and Sons.

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