Downing Street sign put up for auction - 15/01/2010

One of the most famous street signs in the world will be put up for auction later this month at Bonhams.

The 19th century Downing Street road sign will go under the hammer on January 20th as part of the annual Gentleman's Library Sale.

The auction house anticipates the piece, which is made from cast iron, to sell for between £4,000 and £6,000.

A number of other unusual lots will also be available on the day, with items such as antique letter boxes expected to garner some niche interest.

The letter boxes are early 19th century and were manufactured at a time when letter-writing increased and grand country manors required a collection of boxes to house each individuals mail, which a messenger would empty and fill several times a day.

Jon Baddeley, Bonhams head of Collectables, said: "It's like the Victorians equivalent of email. With so many collections and deliveries you could correspond with people several times during the course of a single day."

The Gentleman's Library Sale was named the most original auction title in 2008.