**A FINE AND RARE CHINESE DECORATED HELMET, 17TH/18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY FOR A MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD with tall skull formed of four iron plates each decorated on the outside in damascened gold with four Lentsa characters above a running five clawed dragon, the plates joined on the inside by a slender iron panel and the outside with two gilt iron panels with engraved shaped foliate projections (two outer panels missing), the top of the skull with a large pierced iron central boss retained by four bud-shaped rivets all thickly encrusted with gold, decorated at the top with an expanded flowerhead, and at the front with a pair of dragons on either side of a central flaming jewel motif, all framed by a pair of ropework bands, the base of the skull encircled by an iron beadwork band surmounted by matching foliate projections secured by a pronounced bud-shaped rivets, all thickly encrusted in gold and with traces of a cheek and nape defences (probably of leather), fitted at the front with a brow-plate decorated in inlaid gold with a symmetrical pattern of scrollwork filled with differing flowerheads, topshells and a central flaming jewel design, pierced shaped peak thickly encrusted in gold and decorated with a design of scrollwork and a central monstrous mask, and retaining much gold throughout (the skull plates with small areas of pitting) 23cm; 9 1/8in high Provenance Morris J. Pinto, Geneva 1990 A helmet with two-piece skull and decorated in a closely related manner is preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 2005.270. See D. Larocca 2006, no. 18 pp. 83-4. The five clawed dragon was adopted as a motif on the robes of Government Officials and members of the Imperial family from the 14th Century. It is one of the twelve ornaments, all twelve being present only on the robes of the Emperor.
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**A RARE ARAB BANDOLIER, MID-19TH CENTURY with sixteen brass charge holders, each with engraved top, pierced finial, fitted with a fabric stopper at the base retained by red thread, and long brass chain at the front (two charge holders missing, in its leather carrier, decorated with a band of red fabric (losses, worn) and retaining two buckles at one end 35/5cm; 14in long
**A RARE 50 BORE INDIAN COMBINED PERCUSSION WALKING STICK AND DAGGER, CIRCA 1835 with tapering barrel decorated in silver koftgari over its outer surface with a spiralling pattern of scrolls and foliage divided by flowerheads, fitted with matching threaded muzzle cap incorporating a ramrod and an additional robust spike of diamond-section, the breech decorated en suite, curved butt with engraved brass fittings, enclosed action with folding trigger (defective, fitted with a pair of steel grips decorated in silver koftgari with a dense pattern of scrolling foliage, the butt with folding brass cap pommel, and the spine with an additional trap with engraved cover 93.5cm; 36 7/8in overall For another example, now preserved in the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, see R. Elgood 1995, pp.142-143.
A RARE WELSH BILL, LATE 17TH CENTURY with hooked blade of flattened-triangular section, impressed with a series of marks along the back-edge on one side, formed with a characteristic pronounced up-turned hook at the rear and with an additional basal spike, tapering socket pierced with five holes on one side and left open on the other (pitted overall), on a portion of an early haft 47cm; 18 1/2in head Provenance Apparently from a Lincolnshire farmhouse, acquired by the vendor from an antique shop in Ely circa 1965. A number of similar bills or `hooks` are preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, inv. nos. VII. 820-7. For a discussion of this group see C. Blair 1999, pp. 71-85.
A RARE NORTH EUROPEAN BALLOCK DAGGER, LATE 15TH CENTURY in excavated condition, with sharply tapering blade of wedge-shaped section, iron hilt comprising a pair of short sharply down-turned arms, disc-shaped pommel cap secured by a single rivet over a copper washer, and tapering hardwood grip with a pair of characteristic basal lobes (minor repairs) 21 cm; 8 1/4 in blade Provenance Retrieved during dredging operations in a Belgian Canal.
A RARE QUILLON DAGGER, FIRST QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY, PROBABLY ENGLISH with tapering blade of flattened-diamond section (slightly bent in profile), iron hilt comprising a pair of short down-curved quillons with moulded terminals, fluted quillon-block, and spirally moulded globular pommel, the tang retaining a single `Turk`s head` and in untouched black patinated condition 24 cm; 9 1/2 in blade Provenance The River Thames at Queenhithe
A FINE AND RARE SOUTH GERMAN `GOTHIC` BREASTPLATE AND BACKPLATE, CIRCA 1480-90 the two pieces closely matched, the first formed of a main plate with angular outward turns at its neck and arm-openings, each decorated with an alternating pattern of notches and incised lines, a plackart of two upward-overlapping pieces, each rising to an elaborately fretted cusp at its centre and articulated to the plate above it by a sliding-rivet and two internal leathers, and a contemporary fauld of four lames, the lowest cut with a shallow arch over the crotch, the main plate decorated at the neck with a recessed V-shaped panel bordered by a pairs of pointillé lines, the plackart and fauld with medial ridges enclosed in the case of that of the fauld by similar pairs of pointillé lines, and at the borders of the arm-openings , the upper edge of each lame of the plackart and the lower edge of the fauld with ripple-like fluting; and the second formed of three downward overlapping plates, the uppermost with roped angular outward turns at its arm openings, a V-shaped neck-opening filled with a separate triangular gusset, and a culet of three lames of which the lowest descends to an obtuse central point, the neck-opening and the centres of all subsidiary edges fretted, and the arm-openings, each side of the back, and the centre of the culet decorated with flutes similar to those of the breastplate (both elements extensively patched, pitted and worn), all mounted on a wooden stand covered at its top by mail 60.0 cm; 23½ in Provenance Sartori Collection, Vienna Dacre Kendrick Edwards, sold Christie`s, 25 April 1961, lot 38 Exhibitions Cyril Andrade, Dalmeny Gallery, St James`s, October to November 1922, Catalogue, Part 2, nos 135 & 137 Arms & Armour Society, The Art of the Armourer, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, April to May 1963, cat. No. 7 (ill.) Battle of Barnet Quincentenary, Barnet, Middlesex, April 1971, cat.no. 11 A very similar breastplate forms part of the former arsenal of the City of Vienna, now in the custody of the City Museum, Vienna. The distinctive form of turned edges seen on the breastplate is also found on a cuirass in the Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer, Vienna, no. A 109b, made for the young Philip the Handsome by Jörg (?) Treytz of Innsbruck about 1485-90 (Thomas & Gamber 1975, p. 126, pl. 48).
A VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT ENGLISH CLOSE HELMET, GREENWICH, CIRCA 1590 with pointed one-piece skull rising to a baluster finial and formed with eight facets separated by pairs of incised lines, its nape fitted with a tubular plume-holder (the tube restored) and its brow with a deep visor shaped to the chin, cut with a trellised face-opening and fitted at its upper edge with a peak decorated at it`s obtusely-pointed front edge with a roped inward turn accompanied by a recessed border, the skull and visor flanged outwards at their lower edges to receive missing gorget-plates, the visor secured to the skull at the right of the neck by a spring-catch (restored) and pieced at each side of the neck with holes for the attachment of a removable falling buff, and the helmet decorated throughout with double and single incised lines (worn overall) 24.0 cm; 9½ in Provenance Offered by Samuel J. Whawell to Robert l. Scott, Greenock, Scotland, 1920 Offered by Cyril Andrade to John Woodman Higgins, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1930 Sold Christie`s, London, 20 December 1978, lot 96 Literature Ian Eaves, `A Newly Identified Greenwich Helmet in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York`, Journal of the Arms and Armour Society, Vol. XII, no. 6, September 1968, pp. 369-70, pl. CIX. The helmet, made in the royal armour workshops at Greenwich under the mastership of Jacob Halder (1576-1607/8), is one of only three recorded examples of its type. The other two, possessing the same distinctive form of hinged face-defence and peak, are respectively preserved in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, Inv. No. IV. 166 (Dufty and Reid 1968, pl CVI; and Eaves 1988, pp. 367-9, pls CVIII & CXIB) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Acc. No. 14.25.526 (Eaves 1988, pp. CX & CXIA). Both were recorded by Francis Grose as part of the indigenous collections of the Tower of London Armouries in 1786 (Grose 1186 p. 11, pl. IV).
A RARE ENGLISH HARQUEBUSIER`S BREASTPLATE OF `DUPLEX` CONSTRUCTION, BY HENRY KEENE, LONDON, CIRCA 1650-60 made of two thicknesses of metal, the outer folded over the edges of the inner, and formed with a medial ridge, an upstanding neck-opening (its edge split), and a shallow V-shaped waist-line bearing a short integral flange (cracked at its centre), fitted at each side of the chest with a pair of mushroom-shaped studs for the attachment of a shoulder-strap and at each side of the waist with a belt-hook (the left incomplete), struck at the right shoulder with the maker`s mark HK and at the left of the chest with the proof-mark of a bullet 40.5 cm; 16 in Provenance Sotheby`s, Olympia, 10 July 2002, lot 127 Literature Anthony de Reuck, David Starley, Thom Richardson & David Edge, `Duplex armour: an unrecognised mode of construction`, Arms & Armour, Vol. 2, no., 1, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, 2005, pp. 8-9, 12, fig. 3. It was this breastplate that first prompted the recognition and study of two-ply or `duplex` armour. The armourer Henry Welsh, alias Keene, born at Kingham, Oxfordshire, was made free of the Armourers` Company of London in 1642/3 and died 1664.He was recorded as an Armourer in the Tower of London in 1661 (Blair 1996, pp. 238-51; and Richardson 2004, pp. 50-1)
A RARE NORTH ITALIAN SPLINTED GREAVE FOR THE RIGHT LEG, WITH ETCHED AND GILT DECORATION, CIRCA 1510-20, PROBABLY MILANESE formed of a front and a rear section joined at the outside by hinges (replaced), the front section (shortened) having three splints and the rear (patched at its upper end), one, in each case joined directly or by rivets to an upper and a lower plate, the latter formed at its lower edge with an angular outward turn, the splints and main borders of the greave etched and formerly gilt with bands of running acanthus foliage on a cross-hatched ground (patinated and rubbed overall) 36.1 cm; 14¼ in Provenance Raymond Bartel (armourer to William Randolph Hearst at St Donat`s Castle, Glamorganshire) Ian Eaves, London The greave was made for a man of notable height. Splinted greaves are illustrated in the Inventario Iluminado of the armoury of the Emperor Charles V (1500-58).
A FINE AND RARE 80 BORE THURINGIAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE, CIRCA 1590 with very heavy swamped sighted barrel, small bore, probably for birding, rifled with eight slender grooves, flat lock struck with the maker`s initials `V.S.` , retained by two side nails, fitted with external wheel with low domed brass cover engraved with scrollwork and retained by an engraved moulded brass band decorated with trellis pattern interrupted by fruit and foliage, finely engraved pan-fence, engraved sliding pan-cover decorated by a grotesque and with button release, engraved dog formed as a scaly monster rising from a scroll of foliage, and a later grotesque rondel, the inside with filed spring and details retained by a shaped bridle delicately engraved with a grotesque mask, full stock profusely inlaid over its entire surface in staghorn with scrolling ball flower tendrils inhabited by exotic birds within ropework frames, a broad ropework panel along the entire length of the underside of the fore-end, a staghorn panel decorated with a bird-of-prey plucking fruit beneath the lock, the tang enclosed by staghorn panels decorated with bearded profiles within scrollwork frames, the butt applied with staghorn veneer engraved with strapwork involving masks, garlands of round fruit and podded legumes on the spine, with raised cheek-piece decorated en suite including a stag set upon by a hound on the left and with patchbox with sliding cover veneered in staghorn with a Wildman clutching an arrow and a flaming orb beneath further matching garlands of fruit on the right, later engraved staghorn butt-cap, steel trigger-guard shaped for the fingers, engraved staghorn ramrod-pipes and fore-end cap (the inlay with minor restorations and lifting, the butt with a small crack), and wooden ramrod with staghorn tip, perhaps the original 100cm; 39 3/8in barrel Provenance The Lord Astor of Hever, sold Sotheby`s, London, 5th May 1983, lot 75. A sporting rifle, formerly in the collection of Beriah Botfield at Norton Hall, signed by the same lockmaker and decorated in an identical manner is preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. no. XII.1197). The armouries rifle is of larger bore, shorter barrel length and is engraved with the arms of Saxony on the butt-cap. It is evident that these two guns were made for the same patron and probably formed part of a larger garniture. See G. Rimer 2001, p.42. This rifle belongs to a distinctive group of highly decorated wheel-lock firearms that have been attributed to the hand of Klaus Hirt of Wassungen, Thuringia on the basis of a single pistol that is signed by him and is preserved in the Historischen Museum, Bern. A pistol from this group signed by the stockmaker `L.B.` was sold Sotheby`s Olympia, 5th December 2002, lot 241. Another unsigned pistol decorated in this manner was sold in these rooms, 5th December 2012, lot 303.
A RARE PAIR OF 14 BORE SOUTH SPANISH SILVER-MOUNTED MIQUELET-LOCK PISTOLS SIGNED TEXXONES, CIRCA 1760 with two-stage barrels moulded at the muzzles and the medians, engraved and chiselled with bold scrolls of foliage over the breeches, flat locks lightly engraved `Texxones (indistinct, one with the additional letters `tsa?`), engraved and chiselled throughout with bold scrolls of foliage en suite with the breeches, matching top-jaws and steels, full stocks moulded over the fore-ends (one cracked through, chips), applied with large silver plaques embossed with rococo ornament about the tangs and ahead of the trigger-guards, engraved plaques opposite the locks, silver escutcheons and spurred pommels decorated en suite, the latter incorporating large grotesque masks, engraved steel long belt-hooks and broad trigger-guards, and each with its silver-tipped wooden ramrod 25cm; 9 3/4in barrels (2) This maker appears to be unrecorded. The decoration on the breeches and locks is similar to that of a carbine by Mathias Quero of Malaga, sold in these rooms 5th December 2012, lot 324.
A VERY RARE DUTCH SNAP MATCHLOCK TARGET GUN, SECOND HALF OF THE 17TH CENTURY of target-shooting weight, with two-stage fluted barrel formed in two stages with moulded girdle struck twice with a bell mark (Neue Støckel 4863), and with long rectangular breech fitted with shaped standing back-sight (muzzle shortened), plain rounded lock, the pan with fence and pivot cover, slender walnut stock with faceted three-quarter length fore-end terminating in an iron band, the butt recessed for the cheek on both sides and weighted with lead at the rear, fitted with a rectangular rest finely carved in relief with the figures of saints within vine bordered niches on both sides, plain iron side-plate of rudimentary quality, iron trigger-guard with pierced finials, and no provision for a ramrod (early working repairs) 113.8cm; 44 ¾ in barrel For an account of this distinctive type see A. Hoff 1978, pp. 24-30. Hoff states that only about thirty examples have survived. For further examples see J. P. Puype 1996, cat. nos. 21 - 32.
A VERY RARE DUTCH SNAP-MATCHLOCK TARGET GUN, SECOND HALF OF THE 17TH CENTURY of exceptional target-shooting weight, with two-stage barrel of rectangular and octagonal sections, fitted with fore-sight, medial sight and back-sight with folding peep aperture, bushed vent, plain rounded lock of military type, the pan with fence and pivot cover, figured walnut full stock of characteristic form, with fluted fore-end, large rest finely carved with a serpentine grotesque at the base, thumb-rest and cheek-recess (with modern leather lining), and long slender rectangular butt formed in two parts and weighted with lead at the end, plain iron mounts including large side-plate extending around the base of the cheek-recess, spurred trigger-guard, rear stirrup, set trigger, and no provision for a ramrod (early working repairs, the barrel shortened at the muzzle). 123.4cm; 48 ¼in barrel
**A RARE 80 BORE FOUR BARELLED FLINTLOCK TRAVELLING PISTOL BY DURS EGG, CIRCA 1800 with plain barrels numbered 4-7, border-engraved breech numbered en suite, box-lock action signed on the left within a rectangular panel carried by trophies-of-arms, fitted with tap-lever on the left for exposing the upper and lower pans, and with sliding lever on the right for covering the right-hand chambers, engraved thumb-piece safety-catch also locking the steel, engraved tang, rounded figured walnut butt (probably an early association), engraved trigger-guard, and vacant silver shield-shaped escutcheon 6.7cm; 2 5/8in barrels Durs Egg (1748-1822), son of the Swiss gunmaker Leonz Egg, came to London and worked for John Twigg in 1772. He is recorded Contractor to the Ordnance 1784-1820, and Gunmaker to George IV and the Duke of York.
A RARE 80 BORE FLINTLOCK `TOBY` PISTOL BY JOHN BRUSH, CIRCA 1695 with turn-off cannon barrel stamped with proof marks beneath the trigger-guard, signed border-engraved rounded action formed with a polygonal moulding (incomplete, defective), separate border-engraved tang with leafy finial, retaining a portion of its wooden butt carved with a raised moulding about the tang, and moulded trigger-guard en suite with the tang 5.8cm; 2 1/4in barrel The pair to this pistol was formerly in the W. Keith Neal Collection and is illustrated, W. Keith Neal and D. H. L. Back 1984, pp. 255-6. John Brush was Freeman of the Glaziers Company, made free of the Gunmakers Company 1699, and was Contractor to the Ordnance 1703-15. He was brought to America by the Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood and worked as a gunmaker in Williamsburg, Virginia from 1717 until his death in 1726.
Seven Sets/Part Sets of Britains and Other Hollowcast Lead Canadian Figures - No.1554 Royal Mounted Police Marching with White Lanyards (8 figures), Royal Mounted Police in Summer Dress, includes five rare mounties standing to attention (11 figures), two sets of Royal Mounted Police by Timpo and Hill (21 figures), two sets of No.1554 Royal Mounted Police with Yellow Lanyards (16 figures), No.1663 Princess Patricia's Light Infantry (8 figures), all mounted on white card
Rare `The Kinora` viewer, with Patent plaque inscribed `Patented Throughout the World`, Bond`s Limited, 138 New Bond Street, upon an oak rectangular moulded stepped base, 11.75" long; also with four Kinora reels, lifeboat launch with two loose pages (79), sack race and water jump (179), sea lions at the zoo (269) and skating (315) *This lot is sold with a book by Barry Anthony entitled The Kinora
Jersey. 1941 1d scarlet on thick paper, unmounted mint corner block of eight with part imprint, showing omission of the horizontal perforations between the upper two pairs of stamps. There is a faint crease just below the top impressions and the indentations of the perforating pins are also visible, but a very rare piece. Slight thinning in lower selvedge. SG 2a (£1700)/CW J2b
Ascension. 1951 printing of the 4d black and uiltramarine (white paper), unmounted mint sheet of 60 with R4/4 ‘mountaineer’ flaw. A very difficult flaw, with positional multiples being very rare. SG 42d, da (£1045)/CW 20,a Bernard Hughes (St Helena & Ascension Supplement to Cameo, #14) suggests that the scarcity of the 4d ‘mountaineer’ flaw is due to only some sheets of the 1945 printing having the flaw; and that much of the 1951 printing, on which the flaw was constant, remained unsold
Ascension. 1944 printing of the 2/6d black and dull carmine, unmounted mint sheet of 60 with R5/1 davit flaw and 5/6 medallion re-entry. Also showing the large (‘line and dot’) guidemark below R4/3. (The R3/1 cut mast and railings did not appear until the 1945 printing.) A rare multiple, KG VI Expertising Certificate (2005). SG 45c, ca (£2993)/CW 23, a
South Africa (King’s Heads). 1913 (1st September) envelope with King’s Head ½d, 1d, 2d, 2½d, 3d, 4d and 6d tied by four clear strikes of Port Elizabeth CDSs of 1st September. Used locally. Small (unobtrusive) numbers under the adhesives which do not detract from this rare First Day Cover
South Africa (King’s Heads). 1920 1/3d violet with watermark inverted. Lower right corner block of four with Plate no. 1, slightly awkward mounting, the bottom right stamp with a mark beneath the hinge which has resulted in a very small thin. Nonetheless a rare piece. SG 13w (£560/SACC R9000 for a pair)
South Africa Airmails. 1925 Official souvenir Presentation card with all four values affixed, Coat of Arms at top and at foot ‘Avec les compliments du Postmaster-General de l’Union de l‘Afrique du Sud. Avril, 1925’, as illustrated in the Handbook. Unobtrusive central fold, rare. SG 26-9
South Africa 4d Triangular. 1926 4d Proofs in English and Afrikaans affixed to thick card (107 x 163mm) with Bradbury, Wilkinson decorative imprint affixed to base, without endorsements. Rare. A similar proof card, endorsed and ex the Printers’ archives, sold for £5538 (including premium) in the October 2012 Argyll Etkin auction
South Africa Waterlow/Pretoria Pictorials. 1926 6d green and orange imperforate Die Proof in sunken card mount (overall 82 x 92mm), with a paper flap covering the proof. The card with a circular impressed ‘WATERLOW & SONS/LIMITED/ SPECIMEN’ at lower right, an exquisite item and very rare
South Africa Bradbury Wilkinson Pictorials. 1927 Bradbury Wilkinson 4d Die Proof in brown without country name or ‘POSTAGE’, imperforate with wide margins (41 x 28mm) on thick card (103 x 63mm). Ink endorsements ‘Darken’, ‘Darken slightly on left’, ‘When submitting final proofs try & get colour still warmer’, initialled and dated 1/11/27 in ink, ‘OK’ and initialled in same hand on pencil and a further ink date 2/11/27. A very rare proof, ex De Villiers
South Africa Bradbury Wilkinson Pictorials. 1927 Bradbury Wilkinson 2/6d imperforate Plate Proofs, two examples in issued colours, affixed to card 164 x 107mm. One headed ‘Fixed Ink’ with red manuscript ‘approved’ beneath; the other headed ‘Fugitive Ink’ with a treated area. B.W. label at base. Endorsed ‘as submitted’ in pencil, the card with a small crease at top left, a rare item; ex De Villiers
South Africa Bradbury Wilkinson Pictorials. 1927 Bradbury Wilkinson 5/- imperforate Plate Proofs in issued colours. One headed ‘Fixed Ink’ with red manuscript ‘approved’ beneath; the other headed ‘Fugitive ink’. B.W. label at base, ‘as submitted’ in pencil at top left. A fine and rare item, ex De Villiers
South Africa Bradbury Wilkinson Pictorials1927 Bradbury Wilkinson 10/- imperforate Plate Proofs in near issued colours affixed to card 164 x 107mm. One (in light blue and brown) headed ‘Fixed Ink’; the other (in darker blue and brown, with a treated area) headed ‘Fugitive ink’, and marked ‘approved’ in red ink beneath. B.W. label at base, ‘as submitted’ in pencil at top left. A fine and rare item, ex De Villiers
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