Bermudian books from the earliest days of the last century fetched $1,000 and more to be amongst the priciest items sold at a recent charity auction.

One of the books went for $1,800 as bidders dug deep into their wallets and purses to make the Christmas fair and auction at Frith's Warehouse on Front Street a resounding success as it raised funds for two children-orientated charities in Bermuda as the festive season approaches.

Organisers of the event are still totting up how much money has been collected, but are confident the amount is going to be worthy of all the effort put in turning the warehouse space into a festive wonderland with gifts and antique and contemporary furniture surrounded by candles and fairylights in room settings.

British TV celebrity auctioneer James Rylands estimated thousands of people made their way to the fair and auction.

And, as he helped pack up the remaining items after the big day, he recalled the biggest price paid during the auction was $3,500 for a pair of Georgian mahogany bed steps.

Other popular sellers were Bermudian paintings by the likes of Karl Struss, while in the straight-forward sale it was lamps and furniture that particularly caught the eyes of buyers.

One of the organisers, Suzie Pewter, said: "It went extremely well. James did a great job getting the best money for the charities."

The sale and auction raised money for the Neverland Foundation for youngsters born with HIV or AIDS and the Bermuda National Gallery's ARTREACH educational programme to contribute directly to the artistic development of Bermuda's children.

Sotheby's auction house consultant and BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow expert Mr. Rylands said many people came along straight from the Remembrance Day parade to see what was on offer.

And Mr. Rylands did not disappoint when he gave auction-goers a surprise at the start of the main auction on Sunday, appearing 20 feet up in the air having been hoisted — desk and all — to an elevated vantage point on a lifting platform.

He said: "We had a good joke and laugh and people entered into the spirit of the thing. A huge amount of work went into this but people really appreciated it and we enjoyed doing it."