February 8, 2001 12:46: The late Sir John Gielgud's panama hat is among the items due to go under the auctioneer's hammer when the contents of the legendary actor's Buckinghamshire home are sold by Sotheby's in April.

For the last 30 years of his life until his death last May at the age of 96, Sir John lived at South Pavilion, his beautiful Queen Anne mansion in the village of Wotton Underwood.

Ian Bradshaw, the executor disposing of the great man's estate, told the Bucks Free Press this week that the house with its glorious garden will eventually be sold:"Though nothing has been finalised, it will go on the market later this year."

James Miller, deputy chairman of Sotheby's said Gielgud's home was full of itemsgathered over his long and distinguished stage career.

He said: "Sir John was a passionate and discerning collector of furniture and works of art, all of which reflect his own personal eclectic taste, interspersed with items which vividly recall his long and distinguished thespian past."

The most poignant item in the sale will be the great actor's signature panama hat. Together with a pair of gloves and his cigarette case it is expected to fetch £500-£700.

The 27 pocket editions of Shakespeare's works he started collecting when he was still a student at drama school, many with notes he made in the margins, are estimated at £3,000-£4,000.

The auctioneers expect a similar price for a limited edition copy of Hamlet with a written note by Gielgud which reads "Bequeathed to me in his will by Laurence Olivier."

Another item of theatre memorabilia is a modern model of a rehearsal of the Winter's Tale at the original Globe Theatre which is expected to fetch £1,000-£1,500.

Sir John's collection of paintings range from Old Masters to modern British with estimates up to £40,000. A set of six paintings attributed to Jacob Frans Van der Merck has an auctioneer's guide of £10,000-£15,000.

Furniture includes a satinwood oblong Regency breakfast table made around 1810 (estimate: £7,000-£9,000) and a George II mahogany bureau datiing from 1755 (estimate: £8,000-£12,000). A Louis XV or XVI rosewood commode has a £6,000-£8,000 guide.

The sale also includes clocks, silver, ceramics, watches and many gifts from actor friends including a silver ashtray inscribed "from Anthony Andrews in Haunted," which is on the list for £40-£60.

The auction will take place at Sotheby's London headquarters on April 5 but no catalogues are available yet.