I've acquired a study old desk. not sure what wood it is or how to sand and varnish.

[megletthesecond]

Found it in a charity shop and it's going to be MY desk, no colouring or lego allowed! Does anyone have an idiots guide on where to start sanding and varnishing. I don't know how old it is and would like to try to establish it before I get to work on it . A vague Google makes me think it's approx 1950's. I don't want to do anything fancy, just make it look fresher and protect the wood.

It appears to have home made dovetail joints. So I know it's not ikea.

www.makery.uk/2012/08/handpainted-furniture-step-by-step/

here ye go.
It may help

Thanks see. I'll have a look at that. I don't want to mess it up really!

Not too much you can do with what looks like decent wood, if it was laminated, that's a different story.

But even if you, just for example, accidentally put a massive gouge in it with a 4" chisel cause i'm a clumsy ham fisted shit then you can fill it, sand it, paint it and noone will ever know

don't worry, I won't be touching it with a chisel.