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Lot 159
A Milton ShieldBy Elkington & Co., Signed Morel Ladeuil Fecit 1866Of copper electrotype coated with oxidised silver, of slightly convex oval form with roped border, the central circular panel depicting Adam and Eve addressed by the archangel Raphael, framed on either side with ovoidal panels depicting subjects from Milton's 'Paradise Lost', sixth book, the hosts of Heaven attacking the rebels who are driven out and fall to perdition, St. Michael waving his flaming sword over the dragon who appears in human form, Sin and Death appearing either side at the base, the border with Zodiac signs symbolising the rolling year and flight of Time, the upper part of the shield depicting angels and seraphs soaring high above the strife below flanking the emblem of all Light and Life and encircled by winged cherub's heads, the interior with applied oval plaque of the Victoria & Albert Department of Sciences & Art 85.5 cm. highFootnotes:The original of this shield was manufactured for the 1867 Paris Exhibition for which Messrs. Elkington were awarded a gold medal. The shield and medal and now in the Victoria & Albert Museum. Made originally by Morel Ladeuil, a pupil of the renowned French craftsman Antoine Vechte, Elkington manufactured a large number of electrotypes that were made for sale at the South Kensington (later Victoria & Albert) Museum. For more information see Patricia Wardle, Victorian Silver and Silver-Plate, 1963, pp. 149, 150 and 172For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 291
A Rare Cased 38-Bore Percussion Adams Patent 1851 Model 'Dragoon' Self-Cocking Five-Shot Revolver By Deane, Adams & Deane (Makers To H.R.H. Prince Albert), 30 King William St.t, London Bridge, No. 417, Circa 1846-51With blued octagonal sighted barrel signed in full along the top-strap, cylinder with traces of case-hardening, blued border engraved frame decorated with foliate scrollwork and engraved with owner's name 'W.R. Annesley, 97th Reg.t.', blued safety-stop and arbor pin spring-catch, blued trigger-guard and case-hardened ovoidal butt-cap en suite with the frame, the latter with circular hinged cover decorated with a scallop shell, chequered rounded butt, and much original finish: in original lined and fitted brass-mounted mahogany case with accessories including James Dixon & Sons powder-flask in fine condition retaining nearly all its original finish, brass bullet mould and other items, the interior of the lid with maker's trade label, the exterior (old split) with flush-fitting brass carrying handle centred on a circular vacant brass escutcheon, London proof marks 19 cm. barrel Footnotes:The owner is William Richard Annesley whose military career is recorded as '10 December, Ensign; 6 December 1850, Lieutenant; 29 December 1854, Captain; 3 March 1869, Brevet Major; 9 September 1874, Lt. Colonel; 9 September 1879, Colonel'. He served in the Crimea (medal with clasp for Sebastopol), in India during the suppression of the Mutiny, and commanded two companies of the 95th in operations in Bundlecund and at the surprise night attack at Kala Nuddy on 5 November 1859For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 121
A Hardy 'The Gold Medal' Palakona rod10ft 6in, 3-pce with spare tip, no H8260, green canvas bag and bamboo tube missing cover; a Hardy 'The No 1 De Luxe' Palakona 3-pce rod, reduced; a Hardy 'The St George' 3 5/8in reel (crack to alloy); a Hardy priest; an Abu Cardinal 556 and luresFor further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 52
Olympics Alfreda Rota signed 6x4 colour photo of the Italian Gold and Bronze medal winner in the Mens Team Epee event at the 2000 and 2008 Olympic games for Italy. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 62
Olympics Gabriela Szabo signed 6x4 colour photo of the Gold, Silver and bronze medal winner in athletics for Romania, Szabowon the gold medal in the 5000 meters and bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the 2000 games and a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the 1996 games. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 75
Olympics Sawao Kato signed 6x4 colour photo of the eight time Olympic champion in various gymnastics events at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 games. In addition he also won three silver medals and one bronze medal. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 79
Olympics Stanislav Pozdniakov signed 6x4 colour photo of the triple Olympic gold medal winner in fencing at the 1996 and 2000 games. He also won bronze medal at the 2004 games for Russia. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 82
Olympics Olga Rypakova signed 6x4 colour photo of the Gold medallist in the Triple jump at the London 2012 games she also won silver medal in 2008 and bronze at the 2016 games. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 83
Olympics Manon Van Rooigen signed 6x4 colour photo of the Gold medal winner in the Women's 4x100 freestyle swimming event in the 2008 games she is also won silver in the same event in 2000 for the Netherlands. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 84
Olympics Armen Nazaryen signed 6x4 colour photo of the gold medal winner in the 52k Greco Roman Wrestling at the 1996 games for Armenia. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 93
Boxing David Haye signed Lonsdale Boxing Glove dedicated. David Deron Haye (born 13 October 1980) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2018. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, and was the first British boxer to reach the final of the World Amateur Boxing Championships, where he won a silver medal in 2001. Good Condition. All autographed items are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99.
Lot 1002
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.), the Commander's neck badge to John Samuel Champion Davis, D.L., V.D., gilt and enamelled, first type, upper arm engraved to the reverse (J.S.C. DAVIS. / 7TH JAN 1918), with a short piece of ribbon; about extremely fine; together with the recipient's dress miniature group of three: C.B.E., Volunteer Decoration (VRI Type), Delhi Durbar Medal 1903, mounted for wearing, good very fine. Deputy Lieutenant, County of Devon, 15th December 1914; C.B.E. L.G. 7th January 1918, "County Director, Devonshire, British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem"
Lot 1004
A collection comprising: four medals to Acting Corporal E. C. Beauchamp, Royal Dublin Fusiliers: 1914-15 Star (14937. PTE. E. C. BEAUCHAMP. R. DUB. FUS.), British War and Victory Medals (14937 A. CPL. E. C. BEAUCHAMP. R. D. FUS.), Imperial Service Medal, Elizabeth II, mounted for wearing; a dress miniature group comprising: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: a Commander's badge (CBE) in case; a small quantity of insignia; and a framed commission in the Special Reserve of Officers, 7th October 1914, for Gordon Frazer as a 2nd Lieutenant (this officer appears to have been awarded the Military Cross, 3rd June 1918, and it may be to him that the miniature group belonged). [qty]
Lot 1006
The magnificent group of orders and medals to Lieutenant Colonel Sir Thomas Bilbe Robinson, K.C.M.G., G.B.E., K.B., comprising: The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, Knight Commander's star and neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight Grand Cross's star and badge, Britannia type; Knight Batchelor's Badge, first type, silver-gilt and enamels; British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal (LT. COL. SIR. T.B. ROBINSON.); Coronation Medal 1902; Coronation Medal 1911; France: Legion d'Honneur, Officer's badge; Italy: Order of the Crown, Companion's badge; Belgium, Order of the Crown, Companion's badge; mounted in a glazed case, mainly extremely fine or better. Thomas Bilbe Robinson was a British born Australian soldier, business magnate and public servant who is principally remembered for his outstanding achievements in securing supplies of meat for British and Commonwealth armed forces and civilians during the Great War. His entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography refers to him as "the greatest export butcher the world has ever seen", making him an unusual example of an officer to whom the epithet 'butcher' was not applied as a term of reproach. Born in Rotherhithe 25th November 1853, Thomas Bilbe Robinson emigrated to Queensland in 1881, becoming a Major in the Queensland Militia. In 1910 he was appointed Agent General for Queensland in London. Agent Generals represented Canadian and Australian state governments in London, being responsible, among other things, for promoting migration. Robinson was knighted at St James' Palace, 7th July 1910. In 1913 he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. Following the outbreak of war in 1914 the Board of Trade made him Director of Meat Supplies Allied Forces, in which capacity he guaranteed supplies of meat not only for soldiers at the front but for the British and Australian domestic market, of which the importance in time of war can scarcely be overstated. He is credited with securing control of the vital meatworks on the River Plate in South America, using his business acumen to foil the designs of American packers to exploit wartime shortages. On the 12th of July 1917 he received a temporary commission as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army Service Corps (without pay or allowances), and in the following month he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The Allied nations of France, Italy and Belgium recognised his services also, and he received royal authority to wear the distinctions mentioned above during the period 1917-1919. On the 5th June 1920, he was promoted in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, to Knight Grand Cross "[for] Services to [the] Board of Trade in connection with purchase and distribution of frozen meat for Allied Forces"
Lot 1012
Please note: This is a 5th Class award in silver with later gilding.Ottoman Empire: Sultan's Medal for Egypt 1801, 4th class, gold, 36mm, fitted with a contemporary suspension brooch engraved with a sphinx and 'EGYPT', original loop removed and suspension fixed to the top rim, otherwise good very fine.
Lot 1016
An India Medal 1849-95 to Lieutenant (later Major) George Christopher M'Dowell Birdwood, 1st Bombay Lancers, 2 clasps: Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut. G. C. Mc. D. Birdwood 1st Bombay Lcrs), good very fine or better; with corresponding dress miniature, extremely fine. [2] Originally commissioned Lieutenant, North Staffordshire Regiment, 9th September 1882; then Staff Corps and 1st Bombay Lancers; Squadron Officer and Adjutant, 1st October 1886; Captain, 9th September 1893; Major, 10th July 1901. Superintendent of Remount Depot, Hosur; also served with the Tirah Expedition of 1898 under Sir William Lockhart as Orderly Officer 2nd Division (mentioned in despatches). Although engraved as "Mc D" on the medal, this officer's third name is consistently spelled "M'Dowell" in the Army Lists. The patronymic form, and the family provenance of the medal, suggest a connection with Midshipman H.J. Dowell (see lot 1015)
Lot 1018
The rare Naval General Service Medal group of six medals to Captain Richard Lockington Birdwood, Indian Army, comprising: Tibet 1903, no clasp (Lieut. R. L. Birdwood S & T Corps.); Naval General Service 1909-62, clasp: Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (CAPT. L. BIRDWOOD. I.A. H.M.S. PELORUS.,), impressed in serif capitals; 1914-15 Star (CAPT. R.L. BIRDWOOD, POL. DEPT.); British War and Victory Medals (CAPT. R.L. BIRDWOOD.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; mounted in a silver frame engraved with salient details of the recipient's career, medals all about extremely fine or better. Born 7th September 1879; attended Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant 27th July 1898; joined Indian Staff Corps 3rd November 1899; promoted Lieutenant 14th January 1901; served in the Tibet Expedition 1903-04; Promoted Captain 27th July 1907; Assistant Political Agent in the Persian Gulf; served with Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' in Mesopotamia and was killed in action at Basra 17th November 1914. The recipient came from a distinguished family of Indian Army officers, including his brother, Field Marshall Lord William Birdwood of Anzac. He served as assistant to the Gulf Resident Percy Cox from 1912, and BBM records only 14 Army recipients of the N.G.S. with this clasp, He was killed during the first phase of action of the Great War in the Gulf, an attack on Turkish forces near Fao at the mouth of the Shat-el-Arab. The I.E.F. 'D' War Diary for this period notes only one action, successful but costly, as having taken place on the 17th November 1914: "….we advanced 9 miles up the right back, enemy was encountered….entrenched…strength about 4,500 with 12 guns, enemy made determined resistance, his left flank was turned and his entrenchments carried…. I much regret our heavy losses, due to our advance being over open level plain, without cover, and to heavy rain which made surface impossible for rapid movement of men or horses.."
Lot 1019
Four medals to Major George Arthur Campbell Taylor, Royal West Surrey Regiment, Indian Army and Royal Warwickshire Regiment: China 1900, no clasp (Captn: G. A. C. Taylor 3d Mad: Lt. Infy), engraved in running script, nearly extremely fine; 1914-15 Star (MAJOR G.A.C. TAYLOR. R. WAR. R.); British War and Victory Medals (MAJOR G.A.C. TAYLOR.), the last three good very fine or better; mounted for wearing and accompanied by a mounted group of corresponding dress miniatures. Born Canada 26/01/1869; attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst; 2nd Lieutenant R.W. Surrey Regiment 21/09/89; Lieutenant 11/03/91; admitted Indian Staff Corps as Lieutenant 16/10/93 but with seniority from 11/03/91; Captain 21/09/1900; Major 21/09/07; China Medal confirmed in Hart's 1910; retires from Indian Army 01/12/12; Major Royal West Surrey Regiment 05/08/14; entitled to Silver War Badge.
Lot 1020
Five medals to Major J. S. Crosthwaite, Indian Army: Africa General Service 1899-1956, clasp: Somaliland 1902-04 (LIEUT: J.S. CROSTHWAITE. 27/PUNJABIS), impressed in plain capitals; India General Service 1908-35, clasp: North West Frontier 1908 (Lieut. J. S. Crosthwaite 27th Punjabis), engraved in running script; 1914-15 Star (CAPT. J.S. CROSTHWAITE. I.A.), Victory Medal (MAJOR J.S. CROSTHWAITE); Delhi Durbar 1903, unnamed as issued; cavalry mounted, broken group as lacking BWM, a few edge nicks but medals are otherwise good very fine and toned, 1914-15 Star ribbon cut through and mounting generally somewhat insecure; together with a white metal medal commemorating the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, fair. 2nd Lieutenant 08/01/01; Lieutenant 0804/03; Personal Assistant to Director or Military Music, Delhi Durbar; Attached to the Khyber Rifles for the North West Frontier campaign of 1908.
Lot 1021
The British Empire Medal group to Corporal Arthur John Rodney Watson B.E.M., Royal Army Service Corps, comprising: British Empire Medal, military division, George VI, GRI cypher (1440840 CPL. ARTHUR J.R. WATSON. RASC.); 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Efficiency Medal (Territorial), George VI (T. 1440840. CPL. A.J.R. WATSON. B.E.M. .R.A.S.C.); good very fine or better; together with a copy of the order of service for the Service of Dedication of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, St Paul's Cathedral, 17th May 1988, which the recipient attended; a military handbook and a first aid manual. Originally with the Royal Engineers the recipient received shrapnel injuries during the Battle of France (retaining some shrapnel for the remainder of his life) Latterly appears to have served on attachment to R.A.M.C. units. B.E.M. in recognition of Meritorious Services, London Gazette 10th April 1945.
Lot 1022
A Great War pair to Private Alexander Hunter, Army Service Corps (formerly Black Watch): British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal (DM2-155162 PTE A. HUNTER A.S.C.), in a modern display frame with badges and a photograph, medals extremely fine and good very fine. An examination of the rolls appears to show that this man entered France on the 13th August 1914 as Private 2351 Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), was discharged 15th October 1915 as no longer fit for service, but was able to re-enlist in the Army Service Corps.
Lot 1025
Four Medals to Warrant Officer R. R. Spry, Royal Air Force: Defence Medal; British War Medal 1939-45; General Service Medal 1918-62, Elizabeth II, clasp: Cyprus (W.O R.R. SPRY (366449) R.A.F.); R.A.F. Long Service and Good Conduct with bar, George VI (IND. IMP.) (366449 F/SGT. R.R. SPRY. R.A.F.); mounted for wearing, good very fine.
Lot 1026
WA Two medals to Flight Lieutenant D. J. Woods, Royal Air Force: General Service 1918-62, Elizabeth II, clasp: Cyprus (FG. OFF. D.J. WOODS. R.A.F.); General Service 1962-2007, clasp: Borneo (FLT. LT. D.J. WOODS. R.A.F.), mounted for wearing, nearly extremely fine; together with a mounted set of corresponding miniatures, the postage box and transmission slip for the second medal, and a prize wristwatch (EQUIPMENT STUDIES/ PRIZE/ SNR. FLT. CDT./ D.J. WOODS./ DEC 1953).
Lot 1029
A family collection of medals, comprising: a 1914-15 Star trio to Gunner William H. Flay, Royal Artillery (11586 GNR: W.H. FLAY. R.F.A. (Star); 11586 GNR. W.H. FLAY. R.A. (BWM and Victory Medal)), mounted for wearing, very fine; British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal to Lance Corporal R. Flay, Military Mounted Police (P-8649 L. CPL. R. FLAY. M.M.P.), good very fine; and an Imperial Service Medal (RUSSELL IVOR FLAY), extremely fine.
Lot 1031
A family collection of medals, comprising: a Great War trio to 2nd Lieutenant Richard Albert Pescod, 16th Battalion The London Regiment and Lincolnshire Regiment: 1914-15 Star (3294. PTE. R. A. PESCOD, 16-LOND. R.), British War and Victory Medals (2. LIEUT, R.A. PESCOD.), good very fine; a Great War pair to Private Walter D. Pescod, 16th Battalion the London Regiment (55677 PTE. W.D. PESCOD. 16-LOND. R.), mounted for wearing, good very fine or better; a group comprising the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and British War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, very fine; and a small quantity of other items including dress miniatures for the first two groups, and an ARP lapel badge. [qty]
Lot 1033
A large collection of Second World War campaign awards named to Commonwealth recipients, comprising: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Africa Service Medal, War and Defence Medals (M15505 T. HENDRICKS); the same combination with 8th Army Bar (236613 H.A. WELFF); 1939-45, Africa, African Service Medal and War Medal (278618 P.W. WALSH); the same combination of four (14280 H.W. PARSONS); Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Africa Service Medal (C288685 L.A. THOMAS); two Africa Service Medals (A.C.F. A.C. KAIN and M19136 R. HOPS); 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Bar, War Medal in silver, unnamed as issued, mounted for wearing; together with a British Group of 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star with France and Germany Bar, Defence Medal and War Medal, unnamed as issued, mounted for wearing. [33 medals]
Lot 1034
Seven medals named or attributed to Flight Sergeant A.J. Peduzie, Royal Air Force: 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939-45, General Service Medal 1918-63 with clasps for Cyprus and Arabian Peninsula (510181 F. SGT. A.J. PEDUZIE R.A.F.), RAF Long Service and Good Conduct (510181 SGT. A.J. PEDUZIE R.A.F.), mounted together, all about very fine, entitlement not confirmed, second clasp to GSM loose on ribbon; together with a Great War pair (L-35281 DVR. W. TURNER. R.A.), good very fine. [qty]
Lot 1035
22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot: medal for 14 years good conduct, silver, 35.6mm, George III receives the medal from Colonel Crosby at Windsor, 'ESTABLISHED UNDER ROYAL SANCTION', ex. 1785, rev. 'ORDER OF MERIT 22ND REGIMENT/ REESTABLISHED BY COL: SIR: H: GOUGH 1ST JANUARY 1820', about extremely fine; together with: Tank Corps, a presentation medal, bronze, 56 mm, Mk V tank crossing a battlefield with a war plane and shells bursting overhead, rev. 'CENTRAL WORKSHOPS FRANCE', an arfificer strikes an anvil, the Tank Corps badge above, named in engraved capitals 'NOVEMBER 16TH 1918 SISTER L. BAIRD', good fine or a little better. [2]
Lot 1039
Central Powers: Great War medals mounted as two groups, the first comprising Iron Cross 2nd Class, Austrian War Commemorative Medal, Prussian Cross of Merit for War Aid, Cross of Honour with Swords; the second comprising Iron Cross 2nd Class, Cross of Honour with Swords, Hungarian War Commemorative Medal for combatants.
Lot 1039A
A quantity of medals and associated items, including: a Silver War Badge, number B32080; a Garrard & Co Ltd. fitted case for the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class; a silver Voluntary Service Medal and two other unofficial medals; three Italian campaign medals; and other items. [qty] S.W.B. issued to 85645 Pte. Robert Williamson, Royal Defence Corps, discharged on account of wounds, 18 October 1918.
Lot 1040
United States of America: Colored Troops Medal 1864, also known as the Butler Medal, silver, 40 mm, two African American soldiers of the Union Army attacking a masonry parapet, a cannon opposing them through an embrasure, a banner above 'FERRO IIS LIBERTAS PERVENIET', ex. 'U.S. COLOURED TROOPS', rev. an oak wreath, 'DISTINGUISHED FOR COURAGE/ CAMPAIGN BEFORE RICHMOND 1864', claw suspension, original ribbon with suspension brooch in the form of an oak leaf inscribed 'ARMY OF THE JAMES', un-named, in original case, ball element missing from suspension, otherwise extremely fine and rare, and attractively toned; together with a small note card "this medal I designed and caused to be struck in memory of the valiant charge of the Coloured Troops at "New Market Heights" and "Chaffins Farm" on that day......Please accept this as the First and only Medal ever struck to commemorate the bravery of Negro Soldiers by the white man.... You know how well deserved." The question of slavery was central to the bitter and devastating conflict that raged between the United and the Confederate States of America between 1861 and 1865. The citizens and leaders of the Union were far from united in opposition to racial prejudice, though a tradition of ethically motivated abolitionism exercised considerable influence. The Union, under President Abraham Lincoln, was reluctant at first to make the emancipation of slaves a military objective, but there was a long standing Northern tradition of sheltering fugitive slaves (often in defiance of Federal law), and Union General Benjamin Butler was the first senior figure to honour this tradition in a military context. In May 1861 three slaves escaped to his lines in Virginia. The slaveholder, a Confederate officer, approached under a flag of truce, expecting Butler to relinquish the men under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 (a major source of contention between North and South). Butler rebuffed this officer and found a pragmatic way of resolving the uncertain status of the former slaves by designating them as 'Contraband of War'. His government gave retrospective sanction to this act, and in the months before the final promulgation of the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, many more 'Contrabands' made it across the lines to Union held territory. As the war progressed, and the realisation that a comprehensive defeat of the Confederate forces was the only way to end it, the part-pragmatic and part-ideological practice of recruiting freed African Americans as soldiers to defeat their former masters became ever more firmly established. This in turn lead to a growing realisation of their courage and fighting abilities. The notion of a link between military service and civil rights had been articulated by former slave and abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass in 1861 when he said "Who would be free must himself strike the blow" The medal's Latin inscription, which translates as "Freedom will be theirs by the sword", confirms that - in Butler's view at least - the recipients had been fighting for the rights of African-Americans, and not merely for the interests of one white faction against another. The Battle of Chaffin's Farm and Newmarket Heights, September 29th and 30th 1864, was part of a broad strategic effort to overwhelm the extensive fortifications that protected the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia. Like many battles of this war it involved infantrymen assaulting fixed defences and suffering terrible casualties to massed rifle and artillery fire. In the face of this horror the African American battalions under Butler's command acquitted themselves so valiantly that thirteen of their number won the Medal of Honour, and Butler - who read the battlefield reports with great care - was moved to commission this medal to honour an estimated 197 selected men. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint and mounted by Bigelow & Kennard of Boston, this medal is not only a rarity in absolute terms; it was in its day a radical innovation. Butler's memoirs indicate that he intended his medal to be partly based on the British Crimea Medal, although of course the Butler medal is a hybrid of campaign and gallantry award. Ref. 'Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benj F. Butler: Butler's Book'; James M. McPherson, 'Battle Cry of Freedom. The Civil War Era'.
Lot 1042
Netherlands: William of Orange appointed Stadtholder, Captain and Admiral-General 1672, a silver medal, 56 mm, armoured bust right, rev. Pallas Athena with spear and shield flanked by an orange tree and a phoenix amid flames, lightning above, NEC. SORTIE. NEC. FATO., by Christoffel Adolfszoon, nearly extremely fine and very rare.
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