A bumper selection of lots has prompted the expansion of Mitchells next antiques and fine art sale in Cockermouth from two days to three.

A total of 2,181 lots are set to go under the hammer between March 21 and 23.

Among them are three vintage cars and a substantial selection of British and world coins.

A 1980 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 11 in silver with cream leather upholstery and a recent replacement engine is expected to make £4,000 to £6,000.

Carrying an estimate of £1,200 to £1,800 is a 1985 Mercedes W123 280 TE estate automatic, while a green 1998 Range Rover 4.6 HSE automatic is expected to make £1,200 to £1,800.

One of the most valuable lots in the sale is expected to be a George III mahogany longcase clock by John Wyke of Liverpool, with moonphase.

The 252cm clock case features inlay representing commerce and trade and is likely to have originated from a merchant's office. It is expected to fetch £3,000 to £5,000.

Of local interest are give lots relating to members of the Ponsonby family of Haile Hall near Egremont.

An autograph and letter book containing correspondence to Major General Sir John Ponsonby (1866-1952) and other Ponsonby family members, which includes the signatures of George V, Queen Mary, Randolph Churchill, Auguste Rodin, Lord Lonsdale, George Bernard Shaw, various actors and dancers and a letter from Winston Churchill from 10 Downing Street “Keep right on to the end of the road”, has an estimate of £500 to £800.

Lady Emily Charlotte Mary Ponsonby's (1817-1877) ‘4th Scrap Book’ dated 1852 Hampton Court Palace, is expected to sell for £300 to £500.

Lady Emily served as secretary to her father John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough, who was Home Secretary in 1834 and she also wrote a number of romances telling tales of the upper classes.

Also for sale is a volume of letters belonging to ‘John Ponsonby Coldstream Guards’ including letters to Lord Carlisle from Prince Albert, Buckingham Palace 1855, signatures and letters from Albert Edward HRH Prince of Wales, Princess Maud of Wales (The Queen of Norway 1938), The Duke of Fife, Edward VII, HRH Princess Victoria, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh among many others. The volume has an estimate of £400 to £600.

Also belonging to Sir John Ponsonby is a Mameluke sword with an estimate of £300 to £500. Major General Sir John Ponsonby (1866-1952) was a British Army Officer who commanded the 5th Division during World War One. He was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1888, served in Uganda in 1898 and was seconded for service in The Second Boer War in South Africa in 1902. After the war he became General Officer commanding the Madras District of India before retiring in 1928. He lived at Haile Hall near Beckermet in Cumbria.

A sabre belonging to Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (1871-1946), a British politician, writer and social activist and former private secretary to Queen Victoria, is expected to make £300-£500.

A single-owner private collection of 20 musical boxes is also up for sale. It includes a large late 19th century Swiss example in a rosewood case with bells and marionettes.

The box has a penny-in-slot mechanism suggesting it was perhaps a type of Victorian juke box type piece.

Also up for grabs is a collection of enamelled 18th and 19th century Staffordshire and continental snuff boxes with estimates ranging from £50 to £500.

In textiles, a George I sampler 1721 on linen with alphabet, birds, crucifix and named St. Nicola Y Kirke in a rosewood frame is valued at £300 to £500.

Among the 350 lots in the coin section are two large private collections of sovereigns.

Other coin highlights inculde a Sierra Leone - Fifth Anniversary of Independence 1961-1966, three gold coin set comprising golde, 1/2 golde, 1/4 golde in the original case of issue with gilt lettering. The set is valued at £1,800 to £2,200.

Among the sale's watches is a 1967 Rolex Submariner with a stainless steel tritium dial, valued at £5,000 to £8,000.

A classic Coco Chanel black quilted lamb 2.55 double flap handbag and a Cartier gold compact are expected to sell for £800 to £1,200 each.

A set of four Edwardian silver candlesticks by Messrs Carrington, London 1903/4 are expected to sell for between £1,000 and £1,500.

Further silver lots include a continental automaton musical bird box in the manner of Karl Griesbaum with a feathered singing bird, which could make £1,200 to £1,800.

A German silver cow creamer by Berthold Muller 1907 is expected to make £400 to £600, while a silver cow creamer with Swedish hallmarks and import marks for Berthold Muller Chester 1900 is valued at £400 to £600.

Of local interest in the picture section is a collection of 24 Percy Kelly illustrated letters and greetings cards including a water colour ‘Cumbrian Cottage in landscape’ which are valued at £150 to £250.

A Whitehaven Pottery darning egg from 1820-1840 is expected to fetch £400 to £600.

Lots can be viewed at the saleroom on Sunday, March 18 from 11am to 3pm, Monday, March 19 from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday, March 20 from 10am to 7pm and throughout each sale day, with viewing until 7pm on the first day.