In a recession, it's important to cut down on the frivolous and only buy the things you really need. Like a used street name from the walls of Westminster. Thirty such signs recently went on sale on eBay, as Westminster Council replaces its weatherbeaten stock. The stash brought in an incredible £18,000 with at least two bids topping the £1000 mark. The signs, conceived by Sir Misha Black in the 1960s, each bear a black 'Theatreland' stripe. If you have money to burn, a second batch of around 50 signs will go on sale in September. In the meantime, you can pick up replica signs for any street in London, hammered into the shape of a coffee table by Cockney Design. Hope they have a license. Image by Ginger Nut Designs reproduced under a Creative Commons license.
