NEXT Friday and Saturday, Whyte's of Marlborough Street, Dublin, will conduct an auction of 1,500 lots, including over 250,000 cigarette and trade cards in 700 lots, making it the largest sale of such items ever held in Ireland.

With a preauction estimate of £150,000 for the total, the items of particular interest include rare sets of cards, such as Gallaher's Stage & Variety Celebrities (estimate £400-£500), Goodbody's Dogs (£450-£500), Richard Lloyd's National Types; (£800-£900) and Taddy's Famous Horses and Cattle (£1,800-£2,000).

There are plenty of other collectables in the same sale, not least of which are ranges of Dinky, Lesney, and Corgi die-cast model vehicles, railways and soldiers. A boxed early Meccano set in mint condition has an estimate of £500-£600, a Dinky Foden truck is estimated at £130-£150, a Rivarossi limited edition locomotive at £700-£800 and an early Markin electric locomotive at £250-£300.

Coins and banknotes from this country as well as abroad are also included, along with thorough collections of Irish and foreign medals. The latter section includes a rare Irish Distinguished Service medals (estimate £400-£500).

In the ephemera section, there is a 1916 letter to Countess Markievicz in Mountjoy, Prison from her solicitor (£100-£120).