At auction: the cigarette Winston Churchill smoked in 1944

(Patria) - History enthusiasts will have the chance to bid on memorabilia from two former British prime ministers at an auction this month.

A half-smoked cigar from Winston Churchill and a pipe from Harold Wilson will be sold at an auction by Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers on July 19.

Churchill enjoyed the half-smoked and half-chewed cigar at his residence in Chartwell while watching the film “Ben Hur”.

He later gave it to police officer Anthony Gundry, who was part of the security team at his family home and asked Churchill to give it to him as a souvenir.

A Christmas card sent to the owner in 1963 and a letter confirming the cigar, marked Romeo y Julieta, are now for sale, provided by the police officer's family, and are expected to fetch a price of around 700 to 900 euros.

Meanwhile, Wilson's wooden pipe, known to help him “relax”, has also been confirmed by an official letter from the former prime minister himself to the current owner, who bought it at a charity auction in 1979. The expected price is between 349 and 580 euros.

- I am pleased that we are putting up for auction two iconic pieces belonging to the political memorabilia of two famous prime ministers in such an important period of our political history - said Catherine Southon, representative of the eponymous auction house, as reported by Hina.