A 630-LOT specialist collectors' sale on October 15 at Eldreds Auctioneers and Valuers in Plymouth includes a collection of 19th century photographs believed to be by one of the best known characters of Tavistock from 1840-1919.

The collection which includes antiquarian books, stamps, coins, medals and militaria, postcards, model boats and sporting items features a photo of 'Uncle Tom Vanstone' who joined the Tavistock Gazette on its very first day on September 4, 1857 and remained with them all his working life.

He was known as one of the most charming and well-known characters of his generation in Tavistock and during his retirement, Mr Vanstone took to writing and recorded life in and around the town. The photos of Tavistock are thought to be by him and the one of himself was taken in the Meadows in 1898.

The sale also includes two very early Plymouth Argyle programmes for 1912 and 1913 found contained in some diaries written by a young Plymouth lady between 1911 and 1914, both estimated to be worth £200-£300 each.

There is a wing from a DeHavilland Chipmunk WP790 and a 16th century book of Common Prayer and Bible, a collection of 12 Mary Stewart first edition novels, each inscribed to members of her family, several local interest books including three volumes of Dartmoor Pictorial Records by Robert Burnard, three volumes of Devon's old churches by John Stabb and the Life and Adventures of Bampfylde-Moore Carew, commonly called 'The King of the Beggars', who was an English rogue, vagabond and impostor from a well-established Devon family.

A Harley Davidson bicycle, some early 20th century costume, toys, a CBE group of medals and a group of five Anglo-Boer War and WWI medals and model boats including a scratch-built model of the Shamrock, a Stonehouse quarry transport boat are some of the other items.

Viewing for the sale is on October 12 from 9am to noon and October 13 from 9am to 7pm.

The sale is on October 15 at 11am at Eldreds Auctioneers and Valuers at 1, Belliver Way, Roborough.