More than 500 previously undiscovered artworks and models created by Peter Firmin, the artist behind children’s television classics such as Bagpuss, The Clangers, and Basil Brush, will be offered at auction next week. Firmin, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 89, left behind an extensive collection of creative materials that had remained hidden in storage until recently.

The collection includes the original hand-drawn comic strip for Ivor the Engine, Firmin’s first children’s TV programme which he co-created with Oliver Postgate in 1959. This monochrome strip alone is expected to fetch between £200 and £300. In addition, the auction features watercolours, pen drawings of his well-known characters, storyboards from books and television shows, as well as rare toys and games associated with the series.

Firmin was responsible for making the puppets, sets, and backdrops for his collaborations with Postgate, who wrote and narrated most of the accompanying stories. Other shows they worked on together include The Saga of Noggin the Nog and Pogles’ Wood.

The artworks were discovered by Firmin’s six daughters as they cleared the family farmhouse and outbuildings in Blean, Kent, ahead of its sale. Katy Firmin commented on the find, saying the family had lived at the property since 1959 and only recently uncovered many items that had been stored away. She noted the emotional difficulty of parting with so many belongings but emphasized the decision to share these pieces for others to enjoy.

Alongside the art, personal works such as linocuts, engravings, and unpublished books created by Firmin will be available for bidding. The family has donated the original Bagpuss and Clangers puppets to Canterbury’s Beaney museum. The auction will be conducted online by Canterbury Auction Galleries on the upcoming Thursday and Friday.

Among the items to be auctioned are Clangers-themed pewter salt and pepper pots and a trinket box, which have estimates of up to £80. Specialist valuer Susanna Woodgate highlighted the lasting impact of Firmin’s work on generations of children and their parents and described cataloguing the collection as a nostalgic experience. The sale offers collectors and fans the opportunity to acquire original pieces from one of Britain’s most beloved creators of children’s programming.