One lucky bidder who bagged Tony Blair's signature for £10 on the auction site eBay may be surprised to learn that the parcel they receive was sent by the former prime minister's wife.

According to the Sun, Cherie Blair used the auction site to sell the signed bookplate page, which can be slotted into a copy of his autobiography, A Journey.

However, the barrister was forced to reduce the selling price of the item from £25 to £10 before she secured a buyer.

A spokesperson for Ms Blair said that she had posted the item on the auction site as she was unhappy people were selling copies of her husband's signature when it was possible to get one for free.

"She was trying to undermine the market and as soon as someone bought it, she refunded it straight away to make the point," he added.

However, antiques dealer Paul Hurworth, who sold two items to Cherie a year ago, questioned why Ms Blair had reduced the price of the signature if she was not trying to sell it.

He revealed that he had kept an eye on the account of the former prime minister's wife "out of curiosity" after selling her a silver knife and glass dish and was "astonished" to see she had posted the item.

Elsewhere, the Sunday Mercury recently advised that Sabrina Hussain, 22, a mum from Winson Green, has been advised to use the auction site to sell two rare 20 pence coins she has found.
 

Author:  Adrian Medland