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Click here to subscribeRare WW2 British Air Raid Warden’s Helmet with Finchley Urban District Council Decal, fine example of a standard pattern civilian steel helmet with the original black paint finish to the exterior of the shell. Original stencilled “W” to the centre and decal for the Finchley Urban District Council. Interior of the helmet has the olive issue paint finish. Original liner system dated 1938 and webbing chinstrap.
Rare 1st Pattern 1942 Dated Tank Suit, good worn set of the 1st pattern heavy canvas tank suit overalls with buttoned up front, slash pockets to the hips, large thigh pocket and zipped side pockets. Button secured cuff and lower ankle sections. Interior with fitted shoulder pads. Original size label to the interior with 1942 date and WD stamped with date letter “O” for 1942. The suit shows some wear and oil stains etc. Very good example of a very rare item of WW2 British clothing.
Rare 1945 Dated Special Pattern Battle Dress Trousers Issued to the British Paratroopers, the trousers which are complete with the original HIPPS (1931) Ltd label to the reverse which states “Trousers, Parachutists” and clear 1945 date and size marked No 5. The large front leg pocket with press stud brass fixing snaps being stamped “NEWEY PATT 201430-22”. The interior of the large pocket lined in a white cloth. The hip side pocket also lined in a white cloth. To the leg is pocket for the Fairbairn Sykes (F.S) knife with squared blackened brass press stud fasteners and button. Double rear pockets with exposed buttons. WD issue stamp to the inside with date letter “Z” for 1945. Overall the trousers remain in very good condition showing very little service wear, couple of small moth nips to the reverse. A very rare item of WW2 British uniform. See pages 130 - 137 of the reference book "Denison" by Bruce Wilson for details about these trousers and the fact the 1945 examples had the chamois pocket liners changed. See the next lot for the original owners Denison Smock.
Rare George VI Burma Police Medal Awarded to William James Barron District Superintendent of Police, Awarded for Service During the Mandalay Riots of 1938, bronze medal complete with its original ribbon and housed in red leatherette Royal Mint case of issue. Medal is named in the correct style “WILLIAM JAMES BARRON DIST SUPT OF POLICE”. Remains in very good condition. A report on his service held at the British Library gives the following details, “William Barron served with the Indian (Imperial) Police Service. He joined the service in 1921, held a variety of posts and gained wide experience. An officer of great physical courage and determination. A keen outdoor man and a good shot, keen on all kinds of field sports.” The report continues with details given by another officer, “I came to Burma with Mr Barron in 1921 on the same ship. His temperament which was most pleasant and normal in 1921 (and later in 1926 when I met him at home on leave), came to have become somewhat bitter in the course of the years but this did not detract from his general all round ability which was of high order, although it discarded sometimes a certain amount of forbearance on the part of colleagues and superiors. By his subordinates Mr Barron was held in great respect and awe, no one took and liberties with him. Mr Barron served with me as District Superintendent of Police when I was Deputy Commissioner, Mandalay in 1938. I cannot speak to highly of the magnificent work he did in the riots. His transfer from Mandalay on Political grounds embittered Mr Barron greatly. I recommended him for the Kings Police Medal but eventually after a lapse of 3 years he got only the Burma Police Medal – another disappointment”. William James Barron of Kineraig Greville Park Avenue Ashtead Surrey died 20th August 1944 at University College Hospital, Grafton Way, London WC1. The Burma Police Medal was instituted in 1937 and abolished in 1948. The award was given to both Burmese and European recipients, it is believed only 32 of the approximate 140 issued were to Europeans such as William Barron.
Rare WW2 Merchant Navy SS Dover Hill Arctic Convoys OBE and Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea Medal Group of Eight, group consists of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire O.B.E (Civil) Officers 2nd type breast badge in silver gilt, 1939-45 star, Atlantic star, Africa star, Pacific star, Italy star, 1939-45 War medal and Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea “CAPTAIN W. G. PERRIN, S.S. DOVER HILL. 4TH APRIL 1943”. The medals are mounted for wear and accompanied by Merchant Navy officers cap badge. Captain W G Perrin was awarded the O.B.E in the London Gazette 12th October 1943, “For services when the ship was bombed and damaged”. The Lloyds medal appeared in the Lloyd’s List and Shipping Gazette 5 September 1944, “Captain Wilfred Geoffrey Perrin, Master, Dover Hill. For dangerous work in hazardous circumstances. The S.S. Dover Hill, was a cargo vessel of 5,815 tons. She formed part of convoy JW. 53 bound for North Russia heavily laden with a cargo of fighter aircraft, tanks, lorries, guns and ammunition. The convoy comprised of 28 merchant vessels with an escort of three cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, one escort carrier, 16 destroyers, two minesweepers, three corvettes and two trawlers. Such a heavily defended convoy reflected the importance of the cargo and the expectation of trouble from enemy attack”. The convoy set off on 15 February 1943, in a gale which developed into such a severe storm that six of the merchant ships were so damaged that they were forced to return to Iceland. The S.S. Dover Hill lost much of her deck cargo overboard, including oil drums and crated lorries, but managed to save the tanks and continue her difficult passage northwards. Despite a concerted attack by Ju-88 bombers a few days later the remaining 22 merchant ships of the convoy arrived at the Kola Inlet on 27 February. A few days later S.S. Dover Hill discharged her cargo at Murmansk, still being subjected to frequent attack from enemy bombers, and afterwards moved out to an anchorage in the Kola Inlet where the ships lay about a mile apart. The German front being only about ten miles away, these ships came under frequent low-level attack by Me. 109s and the D.E.M.S. gunners were kept very busy as they patiently awaited their escort home - indeed the gunners aboard S.S. Dover Hill successfully claimed one destroyed and one shared destroyed before the incident occurred whereby the names of several members of her crew appeared in the London Gazette. The ship’s Radio Officer David Craig, who related his experiences for the online BBC archive WW2 People’s War, “I feel that the story should be told why the names of these men should appear in the London Gazette. I write the story as I remember it but I write on behalf of the nineteen men, as we all worked together and none of us did anything different from anyone else. On Sunday, 4 April we were anchored in Misukovo Anchorage a few miles north of Murmansk and I was playing chess in the Officers’ Mess when Action Stations sounded and our guns opened up at the same time. I went through the pantry, looked out of the door, and saw two Ju. 88 bombers coming up from astern, high up. Our Bofors shells were bursting below them and when they turned away I assumed we had beaten them off and stepped out on deck. This was a foolish thing to do as, unknown to me the planes had released their bombs before turning away. Four bombs exploded close on the port side and one on the starboard side and I was blown off my feet. As I got up our gunlayer came down from one of the bridge oerlikons and pointed out a large round hole in the steel deck a few yards from where I had been standing. It was obvious that the sixth bomb had gone through the main and ‘tween decks into our coal bunkers and had not exploded. We informed the S.B.N.O, Murmansk of the situation and were advised that there were no British Bomb Disposal people in North Russia. We then realised that we would have to dig the bomb out ourselves in order to save our ship. The minesweeper H.M.S. Jason was ordered to anchor astern of us and to come alongside to render assistance if the bomb should explode, although I doubt if there would have been much to pick up. Incidentally, I did enjoy talking to the Jason by Aldis lamp during this time. You must understand that though the Dover Hill was only a battered old Merchantman she was our home and no German was going to make us leave her while she was still afloat. The Captain [Perrin] lined the whole crew up on the after deck and asked for volunteers, and 19 of us including our Captain formed our own Bomb Disposal Squad. We had no bomb disposal equipment, in fact we only had a few shovels borrowed from our stokehold and 19 stout hearts when we started digging back the coal, trying to find the bomb. The bunker was full of good British steaming coal which we were saving for the homeward run so we used a derrick to bring it up on deck, hoping to replace it when we got the bomb out. When the Russian authorities heard what we were doing, although they had many unexploded bombs to deal with in the town, they kindly offered to send one of their Bomb Disposal officers to remove the detonator if we could get the bomb up on deck. When we dug about ten feet down into the coal we found the tail fins and, by their size, decided our bomb must be a 1000lb one. Unfortunately the Germans also discovered what we were up to and came back and bombed us again, hoping to set off the bomb we were digging for. Between bomb explosions and the concussion of our own guns the coal used to fall back into where we were digging and things got difficult at times. We had to dig down approximately 22 feet before we got to the bomb, but after two days and two nights hard work we finally got it up on deck. I was standing beside the bomb with two of my fellow officers as our Russian friend started to unscrew the detonator when after a few turns it stuck. He then took a small hammer and a punch and tapped it to get it moving. I can honestly say that every time he hit it I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing against my duffle coat hood. After removing the detonator and primer we dumped the bomb into the Kola Inlet where it probably lies to this day. We then moved back to Murmansk for repairs. Of the 15 ships which had come to Murmansk in February, one had been sunk and four damaged. On 17 May, in company with three other ships we left the Kola Inlet and set out for the White Sea. We arrived in Economia on the North Dvina River where we stayed until 18 July when we moved to Molotovsk (Severodvinsk) and finally on 26 November, with eight other ships, some damaged, we set out for home. Since it was now dark for almost 24 hours each day and we could only do seven knots maximum speed we went north to the edge of the ice. Knowing that a Russian bound convoy was coming up to the south of us we expected the Germans to attack it and leave us alone. This in fact happened and we eventually arrived in London on 14 December 1943, in time to be home for Christmas”. After returning from North Russia the Dover Hill was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport and was sunk at Arromanches on 9 June 1944 along with other ships to form an artificial port for the invasion of Normandy.
Rare WW1 German Hesse Regiments M-15 Steel Belt Buckle, good untouched example of the steel belt buckle worn by enlisted ranks soldiers in the Hesse state regiments. Imperial crown stamped out to the centre. Some of the original field grey finish remains to the buckle. Brass fitting to the reverse and steel bar. Good untouched example.
Rare Imperial German Naval Aviators Luftschiffer L.1 Sailors Cap, fine blue cloth naval sailors “Donald Duck” type cap with single reichs cockade and silver metallic wire tally “S.M. LUFTSCHIFF L.1.”. Interior with brown leather sweatband and blue cloth lining with silver leaf makers / retailers details. Troops of this unit served in the German airships of the Imperial German navy.
Rare Oldenburg Dragoon Regiment Nr 19 Officers Pickelhaube Plate, fine untouched example of the helmet plate worn by the 19th Dragoon regiment. Helmet has the gilt metal starburst to chest with Oldenburg coat of arms to the centre. Plate with two short screw post fittings to the reverse. Two small drill holes to each side where it has been mounted to a board at one time, possibly when taken as a souvenir. Good dark patina overall.
Third Reich SA Dress Dagger by Gebruder Heller Schmalkalden, superb untouched example of a SA dress dagger with good deep cherry wood grip having nickel silver eagle and enamel SA emblem inserted. Good condition top and lower mounts with the lower mount having no gau or district stamp, indicating very early issue. Housed in a good early anodised scabbard with the top mount having the original short pattern SA dagger hanger. Dagger retains a near mint condition blade with the “Alles fur Deutschland” motto and the rare makers mark of the anchor in circle of Gebruder Heller Schmalkalden. Blade retains much of the original polished finish and cross graining. Some very light stains / marks to the blade and some scratches to the anodised scabbard but very good example overall. Blade 22cms, overall 37cms.
Rare Personalised WW2 German Kriegsmarine Officers Dress Dagger, superb untouched example German naval officers dress dagger with its white ivorine grip having wire binding. Original officers dress portepee attached which has frayed and worn in places. Eagle top pommel and standard pattern cross guard with release button to the reverse. Housed in its hammered scabbard with two hanging rings. The blade on this dagger has no makers trademark but we believe it to have probably been made by WKC. The blade is etched with foliage and the Kiel naval monument, very similar to the WKC naval officers swords, but to the centre of the blade is a panel with the name “Otto Mehlan” in gothic script, this panel would have probably originally been blued but this has worn away. The reverse of the blade is etched with foliage and also a German battleship at sail. Now we are aware of some post war made blades which are similar in design to this, however we have never seen an example with a named panel to an officer and also this blade has not been over embellished with kriegsmarine emblems, signatures of Admiral Doenitz and U-Boats etc which most of these post war blades have. The blade does show some wear which is consistent with the exterior of the dagger. We strongly believe that this blade was purchased for a German naval officer probably when graduating from naval officers school. The blade measures 24 ½ cms, overall 42cms.
Interesting Pre-War Commemorative Medal for the Formation of the German Whermacht, the small bronze table medal was designed by German medallist F Beyer, the medal features a member of the Wehrmacht wearing M-16 pattern steel helmet with his comrades charging into battle in the background. The obverse of the medal has a speech made by Adolf Hitler. What is rare is accompanying the medal is an original advertising poster for this medal. (2 items)
Rare German Army Motor Reconnaissance (Heer Aufklärungsabteilung) Standard Bearers Arm Badge, fine un-cut bevo woven example of the German army pattern standard bearers arm badge with down winged black Heer pattern eagle set over two copper brown coloured regimental standards with oak leaf spray below. Remains in near mint condition. Very rare colour to find as a very small unit of the German army.
WW2 Waffen-SS Pea Pattern Camouflaged Trousers, good combat worn set of the lightweight HBT cloth trousers in the Waffen-SS pea pattern or dot pattern camouflage cloth. One large period repair to the leg and obvious service wear. The trousers match the condition of the jacket in the previous lot. Rare to find original pairs of camouflaged trousers.
Rare Third Reich Presentation Book Produced to Commemorate Benito Mussolini’s State Visit to Munich on 25th September 1937, these books were produced in very limited numbers and only presented to high ranking political figures and dignitaries. The laced covers are of deep red leather and have impressive gilt tooled down winged eagle and swastika, the design is the same as that of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross formal award document folders. This example contains all of the original black and white printed images, the looseley placed hand coloured Italian fascist themed images are still in place. The book is produced in both German and Italian. The title page is finely produced in gilt tooled, “MUNCHEN DIE HAUPTSTADT DER BEWEGUNG GRUSST BENITO MUSSOLINI“. This example is also accompanied by the almost never found printed programme order for the event and the book is housed in its original slip card case. Overall a superb example of a very rare publication.
Waffen-SS Soldbuch & Document Grouping of SS-Hauptscharfuhrer Richard Thies who Served with the Waffen-SS Latvian Foreign Volunteer Division, the soldbuch is an army issue example which has a uniform photograph to the inside front cover. The book details that Thies first served with a SS Police division before transferring to a SS Flak battalion and then finally in 1944 was moved to Gen.Kdo. VI SS-Freiwilligen-Korps 15th and 19th Latvian SS divisions, serving on the eastern front in North Russia, Latvia and Kurland. He was awarded the 13th March 1938 medal, 1st October medal (Prague castle bar worn in uniform photograph), 1939 Memelands medal and the War Service Cross 2nd class with swords. The book is well filled with many entries and stamps etc. Some ink run from when the book has got wet at some point but all still easily readable. Accompanying the soldbuch are three linen SS issue licenses and passes etc, all named to him but without photographs. A very interesting grouping to a German serving in a Waffen-SS foreign volunteer unit. Original Waffen-SS books to these units are rare to find as many were destroyed before being captured as many reprisals were taken against foreign volunteer units.
Rare Napoleonic Wars Light Cavalry Universal Pattern Saddle circa 1805, two piece example having the original wooden frame with removable leather covered padded seat section. This type clearly illustrated in “Horses and Saddlery” by Major G Tylden. The seat cover sadly has been infested with moth and has deteriorated quite badly. Accompanied by some professional photographs of how it once appeared. Ex Edward Kenten collection
Rare WW2 British Airborne Forces B.S.A Folding Bicycle, very good example retaining much of its original field paint finish. Marked to the front with BSA makers details. Fixing screw remains in good working order. Some later replaced parts as per ususal with these items as they were often used in the post war years. In our opinion still a good example of a now very rare item of WW2 Airborne equipment. It is believed that 60,000 examples of these folding bikes were manufactured by the BSA between 1942 and 1945. They were famously issued to the British Airborne Forces who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and Arnhem later in 1944. They were issued these bikes as a way for the troops to quickly cover large areas of ground in a quiet manner as they were behind enemy lines. However many of the paratroopers found these cumbersome so abandoned them soon after landing. The bikes were held out in front of the paratroopers when they parachuted in behind enemy lines. Many famous wartime images can be seen of these bikes in use. We would advise all seriously interested bidders to view this item in person to satisfy themselves as to its condition. Sold not subject to return due to size and weight.
Rare Irish Militia North Cork Rifles Pouch Belt Plate, good example of a silvered (not hallmarked). Standard rifles pattern plate with Waterloo scroll polished out and the centre unusually having title circlet of “NORTH CORK RIFLEMAN”. Backing plate and four screw post fixings to the reverse. Good age patina.
Person (David). Varieties: or, A surveigh of rare and excellent matters, necessary and delectable for all sorts of persons. Wherein the principall Heads of diverse Sciences are illustrated, rare secrets of Naturall things unfoulded, &c., 1st edition, Printed by Richard Badger, for Thomas Alchorn, and are to be sold at his shop, in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the grene-dragon, 1635, A1 present before title, with near-contemporary ink ownership inscription 'E Libris Hugonis Walsh 1669', title within decorative woodcut border, woodcut head-pieces, etc., early brown ink manuscript note on slip of paper, describing the difference between a partial and total eclipse, bound in after final leaf of text, and further contemporary ink manuscript to verso of blank leaf at rear, giving computations of the circumference of the earth, the distance from the earth and the sun, etc., small area of worming to head of inner margin at front of volume, and one or two wormholes to margins elsewhere, none affecting text, lacks signatures Mm-Nn4 (pages 87-102) from the separately paginated fifth part of the text, B8 misbound after B1 to first part of the volume, occasional pale waterstain (text block otherwise generally in good condition), marbled edges and endpapers, 19th-century blind-decorated full calf, spine lettered in gilt, a little wear to joints and head and foot of spine, small area of surface leather to upper cover lifted, small 4to (binding measures 185 x 140 mm, 7.25 x 5.5 ins), together with: Royal Society, The Philosophical Transactions from the year MDCC. (where Mr. Lowthorp ends) to the year MDCCXX. abridg'd, and dispos'd under general heads, by Benj. Motte., volume 1 only (of 2), London: R. Wilkin, R. Robinson, S. Ballard, et al., 1721, imprimatur leaf before title, numerous folding engraved plates and diagrams, contemporary panelled calf, gilt decorated spine, joints split, worn to extremities, 4to, Bartholinus (Thomas), Anatomia, ex Caspari Bartolini parentis institutionibus, The Hague: Adriani Vlacq, 1655, engraved frontispiece, engraved portrait and numerous full-page illustrations, eight folding plate plates, leaf D4 torn to lower outer corner with text loss (repaired, with text provided in manuscript), R8 & 2C3 torn to fore-edge blank margin, occasional light damp staining, contemporary calf, two old paper labels to spine, joints split and some wear, and others including an incomplete & wormed volume of Horological dialogues, by John Smith, 1675Qty: (6)NOTESSTC 19781; ESTC S114573; Wellcome 4918. The only published work of David Person, or Pierson 'of Loghlands in Scotland, Gentleman', being a series of five treatises on the physical and natural sciences: the nature and effect of the sun, moon and stars, circumference of the globe, the causes of meteors, comets, and weather, battles and combats, happiness, sleep and dreams, and miracles, prodigies, the philosopher's stone and metaphysics. Person "held that celestial bodies are incorruptible and did not believe that new stars were natural phenomena. Instead, they were 'extraordinary works of the great maker, threatening mortalls by their frownings'... He rejected Copernicus on the ground that the universe, as it resolves, must have an immovable centre which is the earth" (Dobrzycki, The Reception of Copernicus' Heliocentric Theory, 1973).
Bles (Joseph). Rare English Glasses of the XVII & XVIII centuries, circa 1924, monochrome tipped in frontispiece plus 100 black & white tipped in plates with tissue guards, some light spotting throughout, publishers original green cloth, spine slightly faded, large 4to, together with: Francis (Grant R.), Old English Drinking Glasses their chronology and sequence, 1926, 72 monochrome plates, some light spotting, publishes original gilt decorated green cloth, boards & spine slightly faded, fire damage to foot of spine & front board, large 4to, and Harding (Walter), Old Irish Glass the "Walter Harding" Collection including old English & other pieces, 1925, numerous black & white illustrations, publishers original half green cloth, large inverted 'L' shaped red mark to front board, boards & spine lightly marked & rubbed to head & foot, 8vo, plus 4 further volumes of glass reference, all original cloth, 2 volumes in dust jackets, 8vo/4toQty: (7)
Travel. A collection of 20th-century travel narratives, including: 1) Loeb (Edwin M.). Sumatra, its History and People. The Archaeology and Art of Sumatra by Robert Heine Geldern, 1st edition, Vienna: Verlag des Institutes für Völkerkunde der Universität Wien, 1935, 20 plates (containing multiple images), folding map, original front wrapper (with library regulations mounted verso) bound in at rear, modern cloth, 8vo, 2) Rosedale (H. G.). Queen Elizabeth and the Levant Company. A Diplomatic and Literary Episode of the Establishment of our Trade with Turkey, 1st edition, London: Henry Frowde, 1904, all plates as called for, spotting to endpapers, occasional light spotting elsewhere, original japon-backed blue cloth stamped in gilt (backstrip spotted), with the rare dust jacket (repaired), folio, 3) Frazer (Sir James George). Anthologia Anthropologica. The Native Races of Africa Madagascar, 1st edition, London: Percy Lund Humphries & Co Ltd, 1938, plates, spotting to title-page, endpapers and edges, bookplate (H. E. Sumner, district commissioner, Rhodesia, fl. 1944-91), original blue cloth, dust jacket (repaired), 4to, 4) Crawford (Allan B.). I Went to Tristan, 1st edition, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1941, plates, original cloth, dust jacket (repaired), 8vo, and numerous othersQty: (6 shelves )
An early and rare Smiths MK162 tachometer, with a circular Arabic dial, marked 100's rpm, in a black metal casing, 9cm diameter, another Smiths MK16 metal cased aeroplane dial tachometer, in metal casing marked 8&857, 10cm wide, and a German aeroplane compass, with metal casing, a Bakelite section and various part dials, partially complete, 19cm high, (a quantity).
A rare Arts and Crafts Wedgwood lustre bowl, Celtic style banding, lustrous lower, the interior decorated with crosses and dots, marks to base for Wedgwood, Etruria England and 3AV (1919 date mark), attributed to Daisy Makeig-Jones Note: the marks to the interior centre are firing marks (not damage).
Jones, Ball & Poor of Boston, Massachusetts (1846-1853), a rare silver water pitcher, ornately decorated and etched, the base stamped Jones, Ball & Poor, Pure Coin, Boston, the front cartouche engraved “A token of esteem from Geo.B.Jones to E.G.Austin 1852 Pro rectoâ€, together with original letter relating to the inscription. 1220g, H.32.5cm
HERMÈS Schmuckbox, NP.: ca. 700,-€. Rarität. Labeltypisches Canvas mit Leder-Details und goldfarbenem Druckknopfverschluss. Guter Zustand, Kratzer auf Leder. HERMÈS jewellry box, retail price 700€. Rare item. Canvas with leather and gold colored hardware. Good condition. Scratches on the leather.
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