The federal government has been forced to shell out nearly $100,000 to buy back antiques from Rideau Hall that it auctioned off for fire sale prices.

The items, several pieces of silver and china, fetched a total of just under $4,000 when they were auctioned off last spring, but are worth much more.

For example, three sterling silver fruit baskets inscribed as wedding gifts to the Queen's grandparents that sold for $532 were bought back by the government for $50,000.

As well, 12 tea cups painted by a famous china artist in Halifax that sold on a government website for $275 were bought back by the government for $1,400.

"What happened is not in the interest of taxpayers. It is not in the interest of our heritage. We are taking action to correct it in the future," Heritage Minister James Moore told the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Officials say the items were in a box that inadvertently got sent to the government auction house along with some old and broken furniture.

The government has said that from now on, valuable property for sale will be offered to museums first and properly appraised.