AN UNNAMED Cypriot became the proud owner of Margaret Thatcher’s old handbag on Monday, after bidding €28,100 at a charity auction at Christies in London.
The buyer, who is said to be a “great admirer of Thatcher” after studying in Britain during her time as UK prime minister, reportedly placed the winning bid by phone from Cyprus.
Thatcher, who owned the Asprey bag for more than 30 years, was famously pictured with it alongside then US president Ronald Reagan during her visit to the United States in 1985.
The glossy black leather bag had been expected to attract up to £100,000 but only reached a quarter of that price.
The handbag was among a number of highly prized items sold by amateur auctioneer and author Lord Archer to raise money for Combat Stress, the British Forces Foundation and Debra, a skin condition charity.
“The handbag makes you automatically think of Margaret Thatcher,” Lord Archer said.
Lady Thatcher’s daughter Carol, who joined bidders in the packed sale room, said her mother had been “longing to know” how much the bag raised for her “carefully chosen” charities.
“I hope that the highest bidder knows that if he’s into handbagging, he’s got a weapon with quite a track record. After all, my mother invented the verb ‘to handbag’,” she added.
Along with funds raised by lot 216, donated by Lady Thatcher, Lord Archer amassed £12,500 for Lawrence Dallaglio’s match ball from England’s victorious 2003 Rugby World Cup final.
Dallaglio joined applause as the ball – one of five used in the game against Australia – went under the hammer.
Lord Archer donated a treasure of his own – a stopwatch which timed Roger Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile.
The highest value item of the auction went for £97,250, to the delight of the auctioneer and former Conservative party deputy chairman.
Among the other lots on sale were a Fender Telecaster guitar given by Eric Clapton which fetched £15,000 and an Andy Warhol sketch of the late Princess Diana. The artwork, donated by Mary Archer, sold for £79,250.
The sale of 18 lots raised £402,100 for charity, Christie’s said.
