THE contents of a veritable Aladdin’s Cave of Victoriana are to go under the hammer in the Cotswolds.

When valuers from Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester were asked to dispose of the estate of a deceased antiques collector, they were amazed to find his modest cottage and outbuildings stuffed with trinkets from the era.

Although individually inexpensive, the sheer scale of the collection makes them valuable – and extremely tempting to others collectors of antiques from the era.

They are also fascinating as pieces of social history, as mass production heralded the dawn of the knickknack.

Among the best are commemorative medallions in silver, bronze and copper, which will be sold in bagged lots of multiple items, with an auctioneer’s estimate of £100 to £200.

The Victorians and Edwardians produced souvenir medallions to celebrate just about anything.

Among the collection is a medallion celebrating the visit of the Edward VII, Queen Alexandria and Princess Victoria to Cardiff in 1907 for the opening of the Queen Alexandria Docks.

Meanwhile, in 1905, Jospeh Chamberlain celebrated his 70th birthday, and 30 years as an MP.

A medallion was struck to commemorate that anniversary.

In 1885, 15,000 singers formed the Band of Hope Choir at The Great National Temperance Fete at Crystal Palace.

Every chorister received a medallion, marked ‘Wine is a Mocker’ and ‘Lead Us Not into Temptation.’

Medallions were struck to commemorate the opening of Alexandria Palace in 1875, the Universal Cookery and Food Exhibition in 1899, and the opening of the Thames Tunnel, a pedestrian walkway beneath the river, in 1845.

Crufts dog show entrants were rewarded with medallions.

Attendees at the opening of schools and churches received - or could buy - souvenir medallions.

Medallions to commemorate a range of occasions, from great historical importance to parochial, are here.

The best of the lots from the medallions collection contains just two two pieces: an exhibitors’ medallion from the Great Exhibition of 1851 and an oversized 89mm, 402g copper medallion celebrating the opening of the London Coal Exchange in 1849, with the heads of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, Princess Victoria, and Prince Edward on the reverse.

Those two medallions carry an estimate of £200 to £300.

In ceramics, a collection of late 19th century German comedy figurines which – when filled with water – cry, urinate or lactate should attract bids of £100 to £150, while a collection of 14 cheeky German-made fairings – ceramic bedroom or bathroom scenes so called because they were given away as prizes at Victorian fairs – are expected to achieve between £100 and £150.

Also popular at Victorian fairs were penny licks - reusable glass receptacles for serving ice cream.

A collection of more than 50 should make £100 to £150.

There are also hundreds of pipe tampers – an aid for packing tobacco into a pipe.

Some take the form of legs, or arms.

Others are cheeky – or even downright bawdy – figures.

Most are brass, although some are made of wood, bone or ivory.

They will be sold in seven lots, with estimates of £100 to £150 per lot.

Finally, for the Eliza, Dora, Hilda, Florrie, Ada or Gertrude in your life, a collection of dozens of pins featuring girls’ names carries an estimate of £100 to £150, as do similar collections of badges and brooches featuring birds, butterflies, and animals.

The auction takes place on Friday, October 7.

For a full auction catalogue, log on to mooreallen.co.uk