Nottingham woman finds out rare 1980s novelty rubbers which cost pennies are worth hundreds

A rare collection of novelty 1980s rubbers which cost pennies are set to fetch hundreds at auction.

They were collected – but never used – by a woman in the 1980s who kept them in mint condition at her home in Nottingham.

As millions of UK children go back to school for the new term, the quirky rubbers are being sold at auction.

They are expected to sell for around £100 but could fetch far more when they go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers later this month.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: “Nostalgia, particularly childhood nostalgia, is very powerful in the world of antiques and collectibles.

“People like sentimental objects that connect them to happy memories, hence the buoyant toy market.

“It may seem crazily quirky but these rubbers fit the nostalgia category too.

“Faces lit up when the collection came in, and the smell of the old rubbers took me back to my school days in 1985.

“They sparked childhood memories of summer trips to stationery shops to choose pens, pencils - and rubbers - for those back-to-school pencil cases.

“The rubber was an all-important staple of school life, not only to rub out mistakes but to lend to friends and display a dash of personal style.

“As children go back to the classroom, history is no doubt repeating itself.

“Life and technology has moved on but most pupils, and people, still own a rubber.”

The rubbers bizarrely include ones advertising washing powders Persil, Tide, Daz and Fairy Snow.

Charles added: “The history of the rubber is interesting. People made mistakes and tried to correct them long before the eraser was invented.

“Rough bits of sandstone or pumice were utilised to remove ink from parchment or papyrus. In Japan, they used soft bread.

“I hope we can unite this collection with a new owner who appreciates the retro style and nostalgia of the 1980s.

“The collectors’ market is ever-changing so who knows what they may make.”

The rubbers will go under the hammer between September 19-24.