We found 209236 price guide item(s) matching your search

Vintage Barbie Mattel Doll 'Sugar Plum Princess' from 'The Nutcracker' 50792. Rare 2001 Barbie 50792. With twirling stand, Barbie wearing a sparkling tutu and ballet shoes, with long cascading blonde hair.

A boxed Hornby Dublo 00 gauge 5080 Signal Cabin with rare green roof, damage to base

A boxed Mamod SW1 live steam wagon in rare brown and cream colourway

A very rare large Victorian 'weather station' or combination barometer by JJ Hicks, 8 Hatton Garden, London, c.1880, comprising a central barograph over thermometer, flanked by a clock with silvered dial and Roman numerals, with subsidiary seconds, and a barometer, with silvered dial, contained in a glazed oak caseProvenance: the Peto Family, formerly of Chedington Court, Dorset

A rare 19th century Ironstone College ceramics transferware plate, having belonged to Queens College Cambridge, the plate depicting a view of Queens College and a plaque in the border reading 'G. Germaney', for George Germaney who was porter 1825-1846, unlike other colleges, the porter at Queens was in charge of dinner services, 24.5cm diameter

Anon. Pomona's Frolic: or, The Grand Jubilee of the Animated Fruit, 4 parts in one volume, ?first edition, half-title, 12 hand-coloured engraved plates, contemporary red half morocco, bookplate of Merthyr Guest, 12mo, London: Didier and Tebbett, At the Juvenile Library of English, French and Italian Books, 1808 PROVENANCE: Caroline Louisa Nares (1812-1901), Biddenden, Kent. RARE. ** Light browning and offsetting.

Hugh MacDiarmid and William Johnstone. Twenty Poems by Hugh MacDiarmid with Twenty Lithographs by William Johnstone, number 20 of 50 copies only, signed by author and artist, 20 fascicles, each with an original lithograph by Johnstone, signed and numbered, original full morocco chemise, slipcase, folio, Privately published by William Johnstone, 1977 RARE. ** Signature of Hugh MacDiarmid bleeding into paper, slipcase slightly marked.

Charles Dodgson. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. By Lewis Carroll, first edition, second issue, frontispiece, tissue guard, and 41 further illustrations by John Tenniel, contemporary blue half calf, 8vo, New York: Clarendon Press for D. Appleton, 1866. This is the first American edition, known as the "˜Appleton Alice"™, which was bound from the sheets of the very rare, suppressed English first edition of 1865, with a new title page added by D. Appleton and Co. dated 1866. ** B1 with paper flaw, with some loss to margin, light browning, a few pages markedly so, boards with extremities rubbed.

Qianlong, Emperor of China and Isidore-Stanislas Helman. Suite de seize estampes représentant les conquêtes de l'Empereur de la Chine, avec leur explication, 24 engraved plates on 22 sheets, (plates 18-19-20 joined and folded), engraved sheet with descriptive text, contemporary boards, oblong folio, Paris: chez l'Auteur, 1783-1788. RARE. This rare series of engravings record the battles and victories the Chinese Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799). The first series of views (nos.1-16) record the many conflicts with the Zunghars between 1754-1760 and were commissioned by the Emperor Qianlong in 1765. The original scheme was ambitious and when the production of the oversized copperplates faltered, a new printer and engraver, Isidore-Stanislas Helman, took over production, producing detailed copper-engraved plates on a more manageable scale. The original series of sixteen plates proved so successful, Helman produced two further series, smaller in scope, in 1786 and 1788. All series are present here. ** Some watermarks to lower right margin, light spotting throughout, text leaf creased and soiled with lower edge torn with minor loss of engraved borders, boards with extremities worn.

Official Programme. Delhi Coronation Durbar, December 1911, illustrations, 4 folding maps in pocket at end, original boards, oblong 8vo, Delhi: Army and Navy Co-operative Society, 1911 Loosely inserted are two formal invitations to Mr and Mrs Darashaw N. Modi, for the State Entry of The King Emperor and Queen Empress, 7th December, 1911 and from The Lord High Steward to an Afternoon Party at Delhi Fort, 13th December 1911, a further invitation from the Maharajah of Jaipur, dated April 1908, on the occasion of his obtaining a Degree from the University of Edinburgh, and rare silk souvenir of the 1911 Coronation, with printed map and vignettes, 41cm x 52cm, folded. ** Hinges split, shaken, extremities bumped and worn, invitations damaged slightly by silverfish, head of spine chipped with loss.

J. Ham. The Manufacture of Cider and Perry, reduced to Rules, first edition, engraved plate, original wrappers, printed label, 8vo, Sherborne: Harker and Penny, 1827 RARE. ** Stained throughout, original wrappers soiled, spine chipped at head, some loss to label.

Rare Masonic oak casket (possibly for vote casting), decorated with a Masonic symbol front and back, cast metal handles, coin slot cut to top, fitted with two locks (one missing catch plate) and dummy key hole to left. Approximately 40cm long, 22cm wide and 24cm high.

A very rare pair of Staffordshire pottery pearlware models of begging spaniels sitting on their haunches on unusual tasselled cushion bases, date 1820, size 3 inches/8cm high. Prov.: Jonathan Horne. Condition: Front paws restored.

3 cards of glass buttons (220) to include: 1940s Czech, hand-painted parrots (very rare), 2 hand-painted dogs; Art Deco French jet, German lustre, French signed Le Chic, Art Deco, boot buttons, Chinese calico

Cornelis Springer (1817-1891), Ville fantaisiste, 1849-1869, huile sur toile, signée et datée, 65,5x55,5 cmProvenance: Gisèle Waterschoot van der Gracht (1912-2013), Amsterdam, c. 1948 Collection Geert van Mesdag (1929-2021), puis restée dans la famille jusqu'à ce jour Bibliographie: W. Laanstra, H.C. de Bruijm, Dr J.H.A. Ringeling, Cornelis Springer (1817-1891), Utrecht, 1984, p. 69, no. 49-6, ill. Etiquette au verso avec cachets de cire:  Ondergetekende verklaart dat deze schilderij door hem is vervaardigd in het jaar 1849 en grotendeels overschilderd in het jaar 1869, Amsterdam, C. Springer Traduction:  Le soussigné déclare que cette peinture a été faite par lui en l'an 1849 et retravaillée en l'an 1869, Amsterdam, C. Springer Cornelis Springer est considéré aujourd'hui comme l'un des peintres architecturaux néerlandais les plus importants et les plus influents du XIXe siècle. Issu d'une famille d'architectes d'Amsterdam, son père lui enseigne très tôt les principes de la perspective et du dessin pratiqué dans sa profession, compétences qui seront déterminantes dans le développement ultérieur de l'artiste qui se consacre aux paysages urbains. Après une formation artistique sous la tutelle du célèbre peintre architectural Kasparus Karsen, Springer s'oriente autour de 1850 vers des vues réalistes très détaillées, plus particulièrement d'Amsterdam, sa ville natale, mais aussi Haarlem, Enkhuizen, Zwolle, Kampen et Monnickendam. Ces peintures sont reconnues par les historiens comme un témoignage précieux d'une époque révolue.Le présent tableau peint en 1849 est une 'uvre s'inscrivant à l'apogée de la carrière de l'artiste, et clôture sa première période consacrée aux vues idéalisées de ville pour s'orienter vers des représentations photographiques réalistes. Voyageant beaucoup en Hollande, en Allemagne et en Belgique, Springer produit de nombreux croquis très détaillés servant de base à ses compositions. A cette époque l'artiste est déjà tellement renommé qu'il ne travaille plus que sur commande pour des collectionneurs et des marchands privés: une liste d'attente de deux ans pour obtenir une de ses 'uvres témoigne de sa grande popularité.Springer entraîne le spectateur dans une rue ensoleillée, où des citadins sont engagés dans leurs activités quotidiennes, certains baignés de lumière et d'autres adoucis dans l'ombre. Les bâtiments tout comme les personnages sont réalisés avec une grande virtuosité et sont d'une précision millimétrique. La lumière sublime la perfection architecturale et sa douceur nous transporte dans une atmosphère chaude et lumineuse.Cette 'uvre est inédite sur le marché et se trouve conservée à l'abri des regards du public depuis plus de 70 ans, ce qui en fait une 'uvre d'autant plus rare et exceptionnelle.

Poisson alpin Heterolepidotus ornatus, Autriche (Norien Seefeld Formation), Trias Supérieur (220 millions d'années), sur socle sur mesure, 45 x 33 cm, poisson seul: l. 23 cm.Ce poisson a été découvert dans les Alpes autrichiennes à plus de 2.000 mètres d'altitude. Ce site est désormais fermé et il est très rare que des spécimens de ce site se retrouvent sur le marché. 

A George III Satinwood, Tulipwood and Amaranth Marquetry Fall-Front SecretaireAttributed to Thomas Chippendale, Circa 1775Height 49 3/8 x width 31 1/8 x depth 16 inches.Provenance:Mallett Ltd., London (with memorandum)Note:This secretaire, with its elegant, restrained Neoclassical marquetry occupies a rare, if not unique position in Chippendale" oeuvre. Not only is it directly based on a French secretaire a abattant, a form seldom seen in English furniture, it is one of a pair which were presumably supplied to an unknown patron. Although French furniture designs had been an enduring source of inspiration for English cabinet-makers, so much so their drawings became known as the 'French Taste', few were copied directly and were almost always the work of French trained emigires such as Pierre Langlois (1718-1767) or Christopher Furlohg (1740-1787).This secretaire and its pair are part of a distinct group of closely related secretaires attributed to Thomas Chippendale. Unlike most of his 'French' furniture, they are the rare occasion where a distinctly French form is kept intact and used as a backdrop for Chippendale" creativity and ingenuity. Their prototype were the two secretaires supplied to Edwin Lascelles for two rooms in the State Apartments at Harewood House, Yorkshire from 1772-1773 and are the richest examples of this form. One, now in the collection of Temple Newsam, Leeds, was part of a suite of black lacquer and japanned furniture for the State Bedroom. It appears on Chippendale" 12 November 1773 invoice as 'a Lady" Secretary veneer'd with your own Japann with additions of Carved Ornaments…the front of the secretary to rise with balance weights.' The second, inlaid with marquetry against a satinwood ground, was supplied to the State Dressing Room and remains at Harewood (J. Sellers, ed., The Art of Thomas Chippendale, Master Furniture Maker, Leeds, 2000, p. 30).Chippendale" mention of the secretary" balance weight mechanism is particularly relevant as it was his own invention and allowed for the seamless rising and falling of the fall front. Hidden within the construction of the case, it allowed the writing surface to appear as if it was suspended in the air with no distracting brackets. This secretaire as well as the others in the group have this unique feature. Other constructional hallmarks of Chippendale" workshop are the hardware used on the drawers whose construction bears the typical finely executed details such as the mitered corners to the undersides, the triangular stoppers to the interior of the carcass for the drawers and the distinctive red wash visible in areas on the case.In addition to the present lot" pair, which was sold anonymously at Sotheby", London, 16 December 1990, lot 345 (£35,200 including premium), the other secretaires of this group display only minor variations. They have the same richly figured satinwood ground, Neoclassical marquetry central medallions punctuated by rosettes in the incurved corners, a single lower door and apparently identical interiors. They comprise: (1) A virtually identical example with square tapering legs from Lady Frye, Oare House, Wiltshire sold Christie", London, 21 April 1966, lot 68 and most recently sold from the collection of Zeinab and Pierre Marcie Riviere, Christie", Paris, 8 June 2016, lot 185 ($50,065 including premium).(2) Another with ebonized pilasters and square tapering legs supplied to William Windham (1708-1789) for Earsham Hall, Norfolk (Ronald Phillips, The Legacy of Thomas Chippendale, Exhibition Catalogue, 2018, no. 19, pp. 89-93). (3) One with marquetry fan medallions and identical legs to the present lot sold anonymously (Property of a Lady) at Christie", New York, 20 January 1996, lot 335 ($34,500 including premium).Overall well-conserved, original condition, with noticeable sun-fading and an orangey color. Typical cracking and infill to the veneers; some minor areas of lifting veneer / repaired fraying veneer. The top with a narrow shrinkage crack. The front of the fall-front with some darkened overpainting from repair to lifting veneers. A veneer repair in the bottom right corner of the fall-front. Faint traces of the original green heightening to the urns, a bit more visible on the lower urn. A shrinkage crack emerging now in the lower cabinet door running right below the medallion. The rosettes have lost much of their penwork and color heightening. Repairs to some of the stringing on the outside of the writing surface. The interior with a later tooled leather writing surface, and one or two of the small drawer liners with replaced parts of their lining.  The proper left front foot probably re-stuck, with replaced molding around its top. The proper right front top corner molding has been re-glued. The lock has probably been taken out and put back but is original. The pulls are original. Pine backboards. Pointed drawer stops on the inside. With one key.Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold "as is," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction. The physical condition of lots can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration. Prospective buyers are strongly advised to inspect a lot personally or through a knowledgeable representative prior to bidding. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Prospective buyers must review and agree to the Conditions of Sale before participating in an auction, and it is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that they have requested, received and considered any condition report.

An Irish George II Gilt-Gesso TableCirca 1740Height 29 1/2 x width 35 1/2 x depth 21 inches.This lot is located in Chicago.Provenance:Moss Harris, London (with ivorine label)Partridge, London, 17 February 1989 (with invoice)Note: This table" distinctive lion" mask frieze as well as its top which is lushly decorated with sunflowers indicate its Irish origins. As the vast majority of gilt-gesso tables were produced in England, related Irish examples are rare and include a pair almost certainly supplied to the 14th Lord Howth, circa 1738 for Howth Castle (Glin and J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven, 2007, p. 83, fig. 105) and subsequently sold anonymously at Fonsie Mealy, 8 September 2021, lot 522 (€168,000 hammer). Another pair, also with sunflowers but heavily restored were sold anonymously at Christie", London, 14 November 2017, lot 156 (£10,0000). A related single table sold anonymously at Sotheby", New York, 31 March 2011, lot 385 ($37,500). A pier table possibly supplied to Alexander McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim (1713-1775), circa 1740, also features a lion" mask (Ibid, p. 222, fig. 66).Well-preserved, unrestored condition. Decoration largely original, with only minor areas of re-pouncing and restoration. The cutting and gesso finely-executed and largely intact. The underside with visible cracking across the length of the table; the underside re-inforced with three strips. A few chipped surface areas exposing the gesso beneath the gilding.Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold "as is," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction. The physical condition of lots can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration. Prospective buyers are strongly advised to inspect a lot personally or through a knowledgeable representative prior to bidding. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Prospective buyers must review and agree to the Conditions of Sale before participating in an auction, and it is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that they have requested, received and considered any condition report.

A George III 'Lac Bergaute' and Black and Gilt-Japanned Secretaire Cabinet-on-StandCirca 1765, Incorporating 17th Century Chinese Lacquer PanelsHeight overall 61 x width 26 x depth 18 1/4 inches.This lot is located in Chicago.Provenance:Sir Phillip Sassoon, Bt., Trent Park, Hertfordshire, recorded in Sir Philip's bedroom in 1939;Christie's, London, Works of Art from Collections of The Cholmondeley Family and the Late Sir Philip Sassoon, Bt. from Houghton, 8 December 1994, Lot 117 (with catalog)James Hepworth, London, 5 June 1996 (with copy invoice)Literature:C. Hussey, "Japanned Furniture at Trent Park," Country Life, 18 October 1930, p. 498, fig. 4P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed., 1954, Vol. I, p. 85, fig. 43R. Edwards, The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1964, p. 101, fig. 30Note:With its 17th century Chinese lacquer panels lushly inset with mother of pearl, this elegant secretaire epitomizes the height of the English fascination with the East popularized by the designs in Thomas Chippendale" The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker" Director, 1754-1763. Their frequent combination of Chinese elements within an at times blinding array of naturalistic and Classical forms served as inspiration and a creative ideal. Elements from Chippendale" designs, such as the fretwork seen on the legs of the present lot, depicted in China Shelves (plate CLXI) and the Chinese Cabinet (plate CXXIII) from 1761, were likely drawn upon by this as yet unknown cabinet-maker. The secretaire's sophisticated melange of Chinese and Western ornament, and particularly its use of lac bergaute, an incredibly rare and expensive form of Chinese lacquer, indicates it was almost certainly a specific commission by an unknown aristocratic patron similar to the 4th Duke of Badminton (1704-1759). His Chinoiserie bedroom apartment at Badminton, Gloucestershire, which was supplied by William and John Linnell in the 1750s has two related japanned china cabinets which show yet another interpretation of this all-encompassing aesthetic (H. Hayward, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, fig. 218).The descendant of two prominent Jewish banking families, the Sassoons and the Rothschilds, politician, patron and connoisseur Sir Phillip Sassoon (1888-1939) was at home in the highest aristocratic circles. Sassoon" aesthetic eye saw the potential of Trent Park, an unremarkable house with grounds designed by the pre-eminent 19th century landscape architect Humphry Repton (1752-1818) and hired the architect Philip Tilden (1887-1956) to transform the house into a Georgian mansion worthy of this setting. The eminent British architectural historian Christopher Hussey (1899-1970) said that Sassoon captured "that indefinable and elusive quality, the spirit of a country house... an essence of cool, flowery, chintzy, elegant, unobtrusive rooms that rises in the mind when we are thinking of country houses." Trent Park and its grounds were documented in the 18 October 1930 issue of Country Life. After Sassoon" death, this cabinet and other works from his collection went to Houghton, the home of his sister Sybil, Marchioness of Cholmondeley (1894-1989).Photo Credit: Japanned Cabinet, Trent Park from Country Life, 18 October 1930: Future Publishing Ltd.Overall well-conserved, original condition. The writing surface slightly bowed. The decoration throughouot is vivid and largely intact. Part of the upper section's gallery and one of its decorative fretwork brackets at the front have been minimally repaired after minor damage sustained in moving. One drawer bottom with a pencil inscribed inventory number 2,2,3,4,56. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold "as is," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction. The physical condition of lots can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration. Prospective buyers are strongly advised to inspect a lot personally or through a knowledgeable representative prior to bidding. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Prospective buyers must review and agree to the Conditions of Sale before participating in an auction, and it is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that they have requested, received and considered any condition report.

A Vincennes Bleu Celeste Plein Porcelain Sugar Bowl and Cover (Pot a Sucre 'a Cerceau' ou 'a Cuvier', 1ere Grandeur)Circa 1754 bearing blue interlaced Ls enclosing date letter A, incised 3; of flaring cylindrical form, the conforming cover with bracket finial, the finial and molded edges gilt, with gilt dentil rims.Height 4 1/2 x width 5 inches.This lot is located in Chicago.Provenance: Dragesco-Cramoisan, Paris, June 1996 (purchased at the International Ceramics Fair, London)Note:The Sevres archive retains a drawing dated 19 February 1753 that corresponds to the present Vincennes form, describing it as an accompaniment to both a gobelet 'a cuvier' and a gobelet 'a cerceau' (2011.3.249.1, reproduced here). A simplified variant without the molded banding also exists, designed to pair with a gobelet a la reine. The present bleu celeste plein pot a sucre 'a cerceaux', made the following year (1754), is covered in the first ground color produced by the factory, famously used for the first service made for King Louis XV of France, patron of the factory. It displays the lovely 'cloudy' yet translucent quality for which early bleu celeste is so prized.Of the 42 sugar bowls of this rare model recorded, the present lot and the pot exhibited at the Grand Palais in a seminal exhibition of Vincennes porcelain held October 1977- January 1978 would appear to be the only survivors. Later sold in The Arts of France, Christie's, New York, 16 November 2000, lot 113, this second pot, decorated with loose bouquets (fleurs detachees) between blue-line-and-gilt-dash banding, is an example of one of the least expensive versions-flower-decorated examples were priced at 18 livres. The present lot is an example of the most expensive version, priced at 54 livres for a sugar bowl covered overall with a turquoise sky blue (bleu celeste plein) ground. Cf. Porcelaines de Vincennes, les origins de Sevres, Exhibition Catalogue, Grand Palais, 14 October 1977-16 January 1978, no. 184.Photo Credit: © RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NYIn very good condition with negligible wear to gilding on cover finial. Having some wear to gilt dentil rim of the bowl from rubbing by the cover.Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold "as is," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction. The physical condition of lots can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration. Prospective buyers are strongly advised to inspect a lot personally or through a knowledgeable representative prior to bidding. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Prospective buyers must review and agree to the Conditions of Sale before participating in an auction, and it is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that they have requested, received and considered any condition report.

12th century AD (or later). An rare cast bronze footed incense burner in the shape of a Buddhist Stupa with an intricate openwork decoration and a long handle terminating in a finely detailed caracal protome with its one leg. Each corner of the main body is supported by a similar, but smaller, caracal finial standing on a single paw. Burning incense in this burner would create the illusion of smoke appearing from the sculpted animals. A stupa is the simplest type of sacred Buddhist building, having a hemispherical shape and serving as a reliquary. For a similar example, see Tareq Rajab Museum, Jabriya, Kuwait. Possible restoration in a later period. Size: L:235mm / W:350mm ; 2.1kgProvenance: Private London family collection; formed between 1970-2008.

Ca. AD 1425. This rare manuscript page is from the remains of part of a Quran covering from the end of Juz’15 to Juz’16-30. It originated in the state of Bihar, India, Ca. AD 1425. The state became Muslim in the 12thC, originally under the Bengal governors but from the 15thC under the Delhi emperors. Its capital is Patna and is a prosperous and vital province, south of Nepal and bordering the Ganges. The Muslim calligraphers in the area developed a distinctive script named Behari (after the state). It is characterised by wide, heavy, and extended horizontal lines and thin, delicate verticals. Because its use was confined to a relatively small area, it is extremely uncommon. Bihar is a warm and humid province. Manuscripts from there do not keep well. This on is in unusually good condition, damp staining being confined largely to one corner hardly affecting the script. The calligrapher is exceptionally competent, with a lovely firm touch. The artist for the marginal devices is also from the top echelon of the sultanate school. The type of device is typical of the late 14th/ early 15th century in Sultanate India. Each verse ending is marked with a gold floret. Chapter headings are in white on illuminated panels with palmettes extending into the margins. The sacred word of ALLHijrah is in gold throughout. A very fine, imposing and collectible item depicting Bihari work at its best and in exceptionally fine condition for this area considering its age of nearly 600 years. Size: L:360mm / W:300mm ; 78.28gProvenance: Private London family collection; formed between 1970-2008.

1071 Hijrah / 1661 AD. This valuable and rare copy combines the Hashiyya or comentry by Hamid and Sayyid a’s Sherif on the book by Muhammad MHijrahdi al Rammadan. In Black in and Riq'Hijrah script.Size: L:200mm / W:130mm ; 170gProvenance: Private London collection of F.A; formerly acquired on the UK and International art market; 1970s-2020.

A Thai verdigris patinated bronze figure of a standing Buddha, hands held to chest in the rare posture of contemplating the metaphysical, lead export seal attached 32 cm high including base

A RARE 16TH-17TH CENTURY INDIAN BRONZE BULL, 16cm long.

A RARE LARGE 17TH CENTURY PERSIAN SAFAVID BLUE AND WHITE GLAZED POTTERY BOX, with three open compartments and raised on four bracket feet, 25cm wide, 16.5cm high, 17cm deep.

A RARE COLLECTION OF THIRTY 12TH-13TH CENTURY PERSIAN SELJUK BRONZE PENDANTS and other jewellery pieces, (30).

A RARE CHINESE CELADON GLAZE CARVED DRAGON VASE, the relief decoration with dragons surrounding the flaming pearl of wisdom amongst stylised clouds, the base with six-character mark, 30cm high.

A RARE 13TH-14TH CENTURY EGYPTIAN MAMLUK ENGRAVED BRASS TOP SECTION OF A TRAY STAND, with panels of calligraphy, 26.5cm diameter, prov. Sotheby's April 2016.

Lithuania Excellent collection in one replete volume, highlights including the 1918 typeset issues virtually complete from first Vilnius duo onwards, 1921 1auk airmail imperf block of four MNH (SG.106a; Sc#C5a), 1922 surcharges on White Knight issues incl. 3cts on granite paper set (SG.157, 159, 161, cat. £730; Sc#120/122, $350), 1923 rhomboid set MNH, 1924-'26 charity surcharges incl. gold ovpt set, scarce imperf sets of the 1939 Basketball and 1940 Recovery of Vilnius issues, South Lithuania (Grodno) surcharge set all signed and most MNH (SG.2/9, cat. £880; Sc#L2/L8, $480 as hinged), through to an unusually good representation of the WWII German occupations with 1941 'Vilnius' ovpts set cto on cover (SG.10/18, cat. £1,000; Michel €1,500 for set on cover) and a wonderful range of locals over eight pages, many of the best MNH and signed Krischke BPP. The rare Alsedziai issues however are requiring expertization including on sixteen Agriculture Exhibition issues, though several do have an expert's mark (would be cat. €80,000 if all genuine). Then at the back of the book the Memel with seventeen pages of surcharges on French issues incl. gutter and 'millésime' pairs, followed by a great showing of the Klaipeda issues (eleven pages) incl. May 1923 thick figures 10c on 400m and 15c on 25m, June surcharges on lighthouse set used, December 'Centai' surcharges complete, etc.

An interesting ‘Colonial Service’ O.B.E. and Somaliland 1920 group of four awarded to Sir Douglas J. Jardine [K.C.M.G.], who held the posts of Governor of North Borneo, 1934-37; Sierra Leone, 1937-41 and the Leeward Islands, 1941-44. The recipient of the rare British North Borneo Company’s Medal 1937-41, he also authored The Mad Mullah of Somaliland, and went on to suggest a daring plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, hallmarks for London ‘1919’, in Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issue; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (D. J. Jardine. O.B.E.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, last two mounted for wear, toned, generally good very fine (4) £800-£1,200 --- Provenance: Jardine’s K.C.M.G., British North Borneo Company’s General Service Medal 1937-1941, Ethiopian Insignia and miniature K.C.M.G., O.B.E. and A.G.S. appeared for sale with Dixons Medals in 2008. Douglas James Jardine was born in 1888, and educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He joined the Colonial Service, and was appointed to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Cyprus in 1910. Jardine was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Government in 1912, and was employed there as Acting Chief Assistant on several occasions, 1912-1916. He was employed as Secretary to the Administration of Somaliland, 1916-1921 (O.B.E.), during which time he accompanied the mission to Abyssinia on the occasion of the coronation of Empress Zauditu (awarded Star of Ethiopia, 3rd Class, 1917). Jardine was employed as officer in charge H.Q. Services, Somaliland 1920 (A.G.S. and mentioned in despatches). Jardine was next employed as Senior Assistant Secretary Nigerian Secretariat in 1921, and as Deputy Chief Secretary, Tanganyika Territory from May 1927 (various mentions in Governor’s despatches). He was employed as Acting Governor of Tanganyika Territory, 1929-1933 (C.M.G. 1932), and as Governor and Commander in Chief, North Borneo 1934-37 (K.C.M.G.; British North Borneo Company Medal 1937-41, of which only 44 were issued). Jardine served as Governor and Commander in Chief, Sierra Leone, 1937-1941, and in the same capacity for the Leeward Islands, 1941-1944. An article written by the recipient’s daughter, that featured in The New Yorker, 28 July 1977, gives the following with regards to Jardine in Sierra Leone: ‘Amory Bradford’s letter regarding Clare Boothe Luce’s idea for the assassination of Hitler reminded me of an ingenious plan devised by my father, Sir Douglas Jardine, when he was the British Governor, in 1941. The Germans were gaining ground in North Africa, and he was secretly approached by the German High Command with a proposal that he move his troops in Sierra Leone to the wrong border when the German Army invaded the country. For this help, my father was to receive “clement treatment” in the event of a German victory. My father wrote to Whitehall suggesting that he should agree to go to Berlin to discuss the moves he might make. In his pocket he would have a box of Swan Vesta matches with yellow-fever germs sealed inside. My father had been vaccinated against yellow-fever, a fatal disease, so while talking to Hitler he would be able to light his pipe or cigarette and crush the box of matches. Whitehall replied that on no account was he to do any such foolish thing; it would not be cricket to murder Hitler.’ Jardine was the joint editor of The Cyprus Handbook, 1913-1919, wrote an article about the coronation of Empress Zauditu which appeared in Blackwood’s Magazine of October 1917, and authored The Mad Mullah of Somaliland in 1923. After he returned to the UK, he resided at “The Quarries”, Bathurst Hill, Itchingfield, Sussex and died in December 1946. Sold with copied research, including photographic image of recipient in uniform wearing his awards.

Pair: E. A. Floyer, Inspector General of Egyptian Telegraphs, a scholar, explorer and scientist, who accompanied Kitchener on his mission to see the Mudir of Dongola, and subsequent disguised forays from Debba. Known to General Gordon, he corresponded with him at Khartoum, and also heavily contributed to Sir Reginald Wingate’s history of the Egyptian Campaigns Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Insp: Genl Of Telegrs E. A. Floyer.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, generally good very fine and rare (2) £800-£1,200 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 1999 (when sold as a single Egypt and Sudan 1882-89 medal) Ernest Ayscoghe Floyer, the British telegraph engineer and explorer, was born on 4 July 1852, at Marshchapel, Lincolnshire, eldest surviving son of the Rev. Ayscoghe Floyer by his wife Louisa Sara, daughter of the Hon. Frederick John Shore of the Bengal Civil Service. After education at Charterhouse from 1865 until 1869, Floyer served for seven years in the Indian telegraph service, being stationed on the coast of the Persian Gulf. On receiving his long leave, in January 1876, he started for the unexplored interior of Baluchistan. His journeys there occupied him until May 1877, and his observations and surveys earned him a reputation as a bold and intelligent explorer. His results were published in ‘Unexplored Baluchistan’ (1882), with illustrations and map. The narrative describes a journey of exploration from Jask to Kirman via Anguhran. There are appendices on dialects of Western Baluchistan and on plants collected. In January 1878 he was appointed Inspector General of Egyptian telegraphs, a post which he held until his death.
He and his telegraph staff played an important part in maintaining communications with the Egyptian garrisons in the Sudan at the beginning of the Mahdist revolt. In 1884 he made a journey from Halfa to Debba, in the Dongola province with H. H. Kitchener, then in the intelligence department of the Egyptian army. He also regularly corresponded with General Gordon: ‘Dear General Gordon, I send you the above as the last public news we have heard. I have been appointed Inspector General of the Soudan Telegraph, but at present I can’t get beyond Debba to inspect them, as Mr Hudai has captured the Merowi telegraph office, and the Sirdar will not let us advance. I am ordered back to Halfa, and am leaving by boat this morning. With kind regards to Colonel Stewart. Yours sincerely, E. A. Floyer. Debba, 22 August 1884.’ (The Journals of Major General C. G. Gordon C.B. at Khartoum refers) Later in the journal Gordon writes the following having used telegraph forms for his journal, “Floyer wil be furious at this misuse of telegraph forms.” The following report from Floyer appeard in Reynolds Newspaper 24 August 1884: ‘Writing from Dongola: ‘The people here go about armed to the teeth. Even my barber comes to me with a huge spear in one hand and his shaving tackle in another. The Mudir of Dongola has ordered his men to collect and mass at Sarras, the railway terminus, 1,000 camels to aid in the transport of stores southwards; 1,500 out of the 2,000 men promised by the Mudir are on their way to Sarras, under the charge of Issedin Bey, a Vakeel of Dongola.’ Floyer so administered the department as to convert an annual loss into a substantial annual surplus. He induced the government to devote a portion of this to experiments in the cultivation of trees and plants upon the soil of the desert. He took charge of these experiments in the capacity of director of plantations, state railways and telegraphs of Egypt. He cultivated successfully cactus for fibre, casuarina for telegraph poles, Hyoscyamus muticus yielding the alkaloid hyoscamine, and other plants. Having discovered nitrate of soda in a clay in Upper Egypt, he was appointed by the government to superintend the process of its extraction. At the same time he engaged in exploration. In 1887 he surveyed two routes between the Nile and the Red Sea in about N. lat. 26°. In 1891 he was appointed by the Khedive to the command of an important expedition in a more southern part of the same desert (about N. lat. 24°). In this expedition he rediscovered the abandoned emerald mines of Sikait and Zabbara which had been worked at various epochs from early times. As the result of Floyer’s report these mines were reopened. The outcome of this expedition, antiquarian, scientific, and economic, is fully described in his official publication ‘Etude sur la Nord-Etbai entre le Nil et la Mer Rouge’ (Cairo, 1893, 4to, with maps and illustrations). For services to the military authorities Floyer received the British medal ‘Egypt 1882,’ with clasp ‘The Nile 1884-85,’ and the Khedive’s bronze star. Floyer, who was popular with his native employees, had a mastery of Arabic and possessed an ear for minute differences of dialect. He described his Egyptian explorations in ‘The Mines of the Northern Etbai’ (Trans. Roy. Asiatic Soc. October 1892); ‘Notes on the Geology of the Northern Etbai’ (Trans. Geol. Soc. 1892); ‘Further Routes in the Eastern Desert of Egypt’ (Geogr. Journ. May 1893); and ‘Journeys in the Eastern Desert of Egypt’ (Proc. Roy. Geogr. Soc. 1884 and 1887). To the Journal of the ‘Institut Egyptien’ for 1894-96 he contributed many papers on antiquarian, botanical, and agricultural matters. (Ref. Dictionary of National Biography and Biographical Dictionary of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan). Floyer died in Cairo in 1903, and is extensively mentioned in several works including Life, Letters and Diaries of Lieutenant General Sir Gerald Graham and The Story of My Life by Sir Harry H. Johnston. Sold with a copy of Notes on a Sketch Map of two Routes in the Eastern Desert of Egypt by the recipient, extensive copied research, and several photographic images of the recipient.

The Waterloo Medal awarded to Surgeon Francis Burton, 4th Foot, later Surgeon attached to the 66th Foot at St Helena, where he was present at Napoleon’s death on 31 March 1821, presided over the subsequent post-mortem autopsy, and is renowned for having made Napoleon’s death mask Waterloo 1815 (Surgeon Burton, 4th Regiment Foot.) fitted with original steel clip and silver straight bar suspension, nearly extremely fine £5,000-£7,000 --- Francis Burton was born in Ireland in 1784 and, prior to being commissioned to the 5th Garrison Battalion on 5 March 1807, was assistant surgeon to the North Devon Militia, his subsequent appointments being assistant surgeon 36th Foot, 10 March 1808; surgeon 4th Foot, 9 September 1813; half-pay, 10 December 1818; full-pay surgeon, 66th Foot, 16 December 1819; M.D., Edinburgh 1820; surgeon 12th Lancers, 30 June 1825. Burton served in the Peninsula in 1808-09, was present in the Walcheren Expedition later in 1809, and served again in the Peninsula, with the 36th Foot from March 1811 to October 1813, including the siege and battle of Salamanca; and with the 1/4th Foot from November 1813 to January 1814, including actions in the Pyrenees, Battle of the Nive and the investment of Bayonne. He afterwards accompanied the 1/4th Foot to North America in 1814 and was present with the battalion at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Burton was one of the five army medical officers present at the autopsy of Napoleon on St Helena, where he had only arrived, as surgeon of the 66th Foot, on 31 March 1821. He was present at Napoleon’s death on 5 May 1821, and features in the famous painting by Baron Charles Steuben, based on accounts of the event. Burton not only presided over the post-mortem but is also renowned for having made Napoleon’s death mask. Burton died in London on 24 October 1828. Note: Some historical accounts contend that Dr François Carlo Antommarchi, Napoleon’s personal physician but both disliked and distrusted by Napoleon, cast the original parent mould, which would later be used to reproduce bronze and additional plaster copies. Other records, however, indicate that Dr Francis Burton, the surgeon attached to the 66th Foot at St. Helena, presided at the emperor’s autopsy and during that post-mortem procedure cast the original mould. Antommarchi obtained from his British colleagues a secondary plaster mould from Burton’s original cast and with that second-generation mould, Antommarchi in France reportedly made further copies of the death mask in plaster as well as in bronze. There have been a good number of books and articles written over the years about Napoleon’s death masks and it seems fairly conclusive that Antommarchi’s mould was indeed a copy taken from Burton’s original. Original casts from either mould are very rare and most reside in museums around the world. In 2013, one of the last remaining original death masks taken by Burton was made the subject of a U.K. export ban after selling at auction for £175,000.

An extremely rare ‘Korean War’ group of three awarded to Senior Nursing Sister Miss Mary E. Hereford, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Snr. N.S. M. E. Hereford. Q.A.R.N.N.S.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, good very fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- One of only 13 Korea Medals awarded to Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service. Mary Elizabeth Hereford was born in Hereford in 1917 and served with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service in Korea in H.M. Hospital Ship Maine. When the Korean War broke out the Maine was at Kobe, Japan, with units of the British Far East Fleet; the complement of nurses in the ship, under a Superintendent Matron, was six, together with six members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Placed under United States operational control on 14 July 1950, she was used for transporting wounded mostly from Pusan to Osaka or Kobe in Japan. Altogether nine voyages were made, the last returning to Kobe on 1 October 1950, before the ship was withdrawn for refit at Hong Kong. Those who served after the refit received the U.N. Medal only. Mary Hereford subsequently married Lieutenant-Commander R. K. Wood, R.N., and died in Plymouth on 15 August 2009. Sold with copied research including photographic images of the recipient and of H.M.H.S. Maine.

A rare Great War ‘Konigsberg’ D.S.C. group of ten awarded to Rear-Admiral G. A. Scott, Royal Navy Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. G. A. Scott. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. G. A. Scott. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, the reverse dated 1914-1918, very fine and better (10) £4,000-£5,000 --- D.S.C. London Gazette 10 July 1919: ‘For distinguished services in H.M.S. Severn.’ The following recommendation was submitted by Captain E. J. A. Fullerton, R.N.: ‘Lieutenant Scott was Executive Officer of H.M.S. Severn, during the bombardment of the right flank of the German Army in September, October, November and December, 1914, and behaved with exceptional gallantry on several occasions. He was also Executive Officer of H.M.S. Severn during the attacks of S.M.S. Konigsberg in Rufugi River, July, 1915. On this occasion Lt. Scott showed great coolness, ability and excellent leadership when under heavy fire. He showed quick decision and a disregard of danger in taking a motor boat away by himself with a Marine, in the heat of the action, to rescue the observers from an aeroplane which had been shot down. The major part of the burden for preparing H.M.S. Severn for being towed out to East Africa and subsequent fitting out of the ship for action fell on Lieutenant Scott's shoulders. He has received no reward of any kind, nor was he mentioned in Sir H. King-Hall's despatches, although very strongly recommended by me.’ George Arthur Scott was born on 5 September 1888, and entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman on 30 November 1904, becoming Sub-Lieutenant on 30 January 1908, and Lieutenant on 1 October 1910. On 9 February 1914, while studying at Osborne College, he was admitted to Haslar Hospital for an injured knee. He returned to service on 6 March. He was appointed to Collongwood on 1 August 1914, but this was cancelled and a week later he was appointed to the monitor Severn. He took part in the bombardments off the Belgian coast, September to December 1914, and in Severn’s operations in the Rufiji Delta, including her two epic engagements against the Konigsberg in July 1915 (see The Konigsberg Adventure and Severn’s Saga, both by E. Keble Chatterton, for full details of these actions). He was invalided from Severn at Simonstown on 8 September 1915, with further knee problems and he was not fit until 8 December when he was appointed to Tyne for command of the “C” Class destroyer Bat. During the remainder of the war he commanded, successively, H.M. Ships Arun, Nymphe, Mons and Urchin. Scott was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October 1918, becoming Commander on 31 December 1923, and Captain on 30 June 1931. During this period he held various commands but his record was tarnished on at least two occasions when he was found to be at blame for collisions with other ships. On 24 April 1939, Scott was appointed the first commanding officer of H.M.S. Belfast upon her commissioning for trials. However, diagnosed with ‘nervous dyspepsia’ on 15 January 1940, he left Belfast at the end of that month for duty outside the Admiralty not exceeding six months. Scott was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 8 July 1941, and placed on the Retired List the following day. Sold with copied research.

The rare and important ‘Egypt and Sudan’ pair awarded to George Zeidan, an Interpreter attached to the Intelligence Department, who was a prolific Christian Lebanese Journalist, editor and teacher, who wrote 23 novels, and is also considered to have been one of the first thinkers to help formulate the theory of Arab Nationalism Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (323. Interpr. G. Zeidan.) edge bruise, scratch mark to edge after naming; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, generally good very fine and rare (2) £800-£1,200 --- Provenance: J. Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008 and Dix Noonan Webb, May 2019 (both times as a single Egypt and Sudan Medal). One of 11 interpreters shown on the roll as entitled to the clasp Abu Klea, and the only one entitled to this combination of clasps. George Zeidan or ‘Jurji Zaydan’, ‘Jorge Zaydan’, ‘Georgie Zeidan’ or ‘Jirji Zaydan’ was born in Beirut, Ottoman Syria (present day Lebanon) in December 1861. He was a prolific Christian Lebanese journalist, editor and teacher, most noted for his creation of the magazine al Hilal (The Crescent) in 1892, which he used to serialise his twenty-three historical novels. His primary goal, as a writer and intellectual during the Nahda (Awakening), was to make the common Arabic population know their history through the entertaining medium of the novel. He is also considered to have been one of the first thinkers to help formulate the theory of Arab nationalism. Zeidan ‘equipped with letters of recommendation... arrived in Egypt in 1883. In Cairo he soon took over the editorship of al-Zaman, a daily newspaper. He remained its editor until 1884. The reason for leaving this job are not evident. Neither are his motives clear as to why with his friend Gabr Dumit he joined Wolseley and his expeditionary corps that was to relieve Gordon at Khartoum. Zaidan [sic] was attached to this army as a dragoman, and guide. We may catch a glimpse of his life with the British Army in the description by Nasib Abdallah Sibli al Lubani, tension developed between the British officers and the Syrian dragomans. An English officer commanded Zaidan to do some menial work which Zaidan refused. It came to blows between the officer and Zaidan until a high ranking officer and friend of Zaidan re-established order. After the Wolseley expedition, sent too late, had been unable to save Gordon it returned to Egypt. Zaidan took his leave of the Army and returned in 1885 together with Gabr Dumit to Beirut where they both started studying languages.’ (Gurgi Zaidan, His Life and Thought BY T. Philip refers) Zeidan had been attached to the Intelligence Department for service in Egypt and the Sudan, and had served with Captain W. W. C. Verner who was employed in an intelligence gathering capacity. Zeidan gets several mentions in The Military Diary of Colonel W. W. C. Verner: ‘April 2nd: Sent Zaidan [sic] to Ambokul Market. He hot the usual news about revolt in Kordofan, sickness etc. and that 2,000 spearmen and 60 regulars with rifles were at Birti. April 17th: George Zaidan, my interpreter’s subordinate refused to obey an order and said “You cannot make me”. Severe crisis, ending in my having to show him my revolver and George doing as he was bid. May 4th: George Zaidan visited Ambokul in order to interview a man I had heard of recently come from Khartoum, but who was sick and unable to come and see me. His name is Mohamed Kheir Aga and he said that he left Khartoum on the day it fell and was kept a prisoner at Omdurman for two months. Gordon was killed near the church when about to blow up the magazine. He was killed with sticks, no other weapon was used. His head was cut off and taken to Omdurman. He saw it there all the time he was at Omdurman. It was there when he left about April 12th. May 28th: Drifted about 4 miles. Landed with George Zaidan and found the villagers in great fright as they had heard the ‘Bashi Bazouks’ were coming down stream and would kill their cattle!’ Zeidan died in Cairo, Egypt in July 1914, and The Zaidan Foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A was set up by members of his family in 2009 to enhance intercultural understanding and the dissemination of Arabic culture. Sold with copied research, and photographic images of the recipient.

Three: Gunner J. Morrisy, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, last clasp unofficially affixed (81838 Gnr: J. Morrisy. 15th. Coy. S.D., R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (81838 Gr. J. Morrisy. No. 91 Co. R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (81838 Gnr. J. Morrissey [sic]. R.G.A.) surname officially corrected on all three, generally very fine and a rare combination of award (3) £400-£500 --- One of only 35 Queen’s South Africa Medal, China Medal, and King’s South Africa Medal combinations awarded, all to Reservists of the Royal Garrison Artillery. J. Morrisy (also recorded as Morrissey) served as a Reservist with No. 15 (Siege Train) Company, Southern Division, Royal Garrison Artillery, and embarked for South Africa in R.M.S. Tantallon Castle at Southampton on 9 December 1899, reaching Cape Town on 26 December 1899. He served in South Africa during the Boer War for the next six months, with the company particularly distinguishing itself at Paardeberg on 26 February 1900, before embarking with the company for China in S.S. Antillian at Cape Town on 18 July 1900, and arrived at Wei-hai-Wei on 30 August 1900 for service in the latter stages of the Boxer Rebellion. After wintering in Hong Kong, and with the Boxer Rebellion over, the Reservists of the company returned to South Africa, landing back at Cape Town on 30 March 1901 and saw further service with No. 14 Company, Western Division, qualifying for the Transvaal clasp. Eight of the Reservists left South Africa for England before the end of the year (and so were only entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp to their Q.S.A.), but 35 (including Morrisy) stayed in South Africa until the cessation of hostilities, and so qualified for the King’s South Africa with both clasps. On 1 January 1902 the Divisional System of the Royal Garrison Artillery was abolished, and all companies were re-numbered sequentially from 1 to 105, with 15 Company Southern Division being renumbered 91 Company. The China Medal (being issued after 1902) is correctly named to the re-numbered unit. Sold with copied research.

A scarce Second War ‘Indian Army’ R.R.C. group of four awarded to Principal Matron Miss Leonora G. Hughes, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, reverse dated 1944, on lady’s bow riband; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Sister L. G. Hughes. Q.A.I.M.N.S.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine, the IGS rare to unit (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- R.R.C. London Gazette 29 December 1944. The original Recommendation, submitted by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief India, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, states: ‘Miss Hughes has been Principal Matron of North Western Army since 12 October 1942 during which time the standard of nursing in this Army has been maintained in a high standard in spite of the many vicissitudes inseparable from the great shortage of nursing sisters and from the fact that a large proportion of existing staffs have been inexperienced and unqualified. She has been unremitting in her efforts to overcome these difficulties and through her own initiative, frequent personal contacts and skilful guidance has achieved an exceedingly large measure of success. In addition her devotion to duty has been further evidenced by the deep and active interest she has taken in the training of the new nursing cadre of the I.A.M.C., in the success of which has been largely due to her zeal and enthusiasm.’ Miss Leonora Gladys Hughes was born at Northwich, Cheshire, on 11 September 1890, and trained as a nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, where she obtained her nursing certificate in 1919, and passed her Central Midwives Board examination on 14 August 1920. She was appointed Staff Nurse to the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service on 1 March 1921, having been appointed to the permanent Nursing Establishment of the Military Families and Military Isolation Hospital on 10 January the same year. Shortly thereafter, Miss Hughes volunteered for Imperial Service and embarked for Egypt in 1925, where she is recorded as serving with the Military Families Hospital, Abbassea, Cairo. Following her promotion to Sister in the Queen Alexandra’s Military Families’ Nursing Service, on 1 July 1926, she was posted to India where she served at the British Military Hospital at Peshawar during the ‘Red Shirt Rebellion’ of 1930-31, being one of only seventeen members of Q.A.I.M.N.S. to be awarded the Indian General Service Medal with clasp North West Frontier 1930-31. Appointed Matron on 25 January 1939, Miss Hughes served in India throughout the Second World War, being appointed acting Principal Matron and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class. Post-War, she continued to serve in India and Burma, before returning to England on appointment as Principal Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Southampton, following which she retired the service in 1947 with the honorary rank of Principal Matron. She died in Southampton on 18 April 1963. Sold with copied research.

Jubilee 1887, Metropolitan Police, bronze (PC, G. Fitch. B. Divn.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (2) (P.C. S. Hotching; P.C. F. Stops.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Cmdr. James Churchill) good very fine, the last rare to rank (4) £120-£160 --- James Churchill served with the Somerset Special Constabulary, and was released, at his own request, on 7 March 1939. Sold with torn Release Certificate.

‘Far too much has been made about “knights of the air” and chivalry... you couldn’t have operated like that... I just felt that I wanted to survive... and my best way of doing it was to kill the other fellow. I had no qualms about going down again and shooting him to pieces, I mean, I wasn’t going to be insulted in that way... But if you met 12 or 24 of them, as you did sometimes, well then discretion is the better part of valour. It’s no use just fighting and killing one and then being killed... You want to fight another day.’ The recipient’s own recollections refer The outstanding and rare Second War C.B.E., Great War D.S.O., M.C. and Bar, A.F.C. group of eleven awarded to Air Commodore P. F. Fullard, Royal Air Force and Royal Flying Corps, who with 40 confirmed aerial victories during 1917 would at the War’s end be the seventh highest scoring British Ace of the Great War and the second highest living. A pilot of supreme skill and confidence in his ability as a pilot, his 40 victories were claimed in just eight months at the front, a staggering feat that far surpassed those Aces with higher scores; indeed, his score would have been more had several balloons been added to this number which, whilst recorded by the squadron, were not by granted by a higher authority. Fullard’s war was cut short, not by a German bullet but by a fracture of his leg sustained during an off duty football match in November 1917. What could have been, had he not broken his leg, can only be guessed, but Fullard’s ratio for front line flying time to the number of aerial victories obtained would be unsurpassed by any of the British Aces who had more victories during the Great War. Had Fullard carried on flying, it is quite possible he could have surpassed the victory score of any Ace of any nation The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, unnamed as issued; Air Force Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. P. F. Fullard. R.F.C.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (S/L. P. F. Fullard. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., with bronze palm, the pre-Second War awards all mounted as worn; the Second War medals loose, generally good very fine (11) £40,000-£60,000 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1941 D.S.O. London Gazette 16 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As a patrol leader and scout pilot he is without equal. The moral effect of his presence in a patrol is most marked. He has now accounted for fourteen machines destroyed and eighteen driven down out of control in a little over four months’ M.C. London Gazette 9 January 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when engaged in aerial combat. He has on four occasions attacked and destroyed enemy aircraft, and has in addition engaged in 25 indecisive combats, in which he has shown fine leadership, great dash and determination to close with the enemy.’ M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 9 January 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has on many occasions displayed the utmost dash and fearlessness in attacking enemy aircraft at close range and in destroying at least eight hostile machines during a period of about ten days. His determination and fine offensive spirit have in almost every instance resulted in disaster to the enemy.’ A.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919. Belgium Croix de Guerre London Gazette 1 April 1919. Philip Fletcher Fullard was born in Wimbledon on 27 June 1897 and was educated at the King Edward VI School, Norwich. Here he developed a reputation as an accomplished sportsman and played for Norwich City Reserves football team. Still at school on the outbreak of the Great War, he enlisted into the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps in 1915 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant, Royal Irish Fusiliers on 5 August 1916. Barely a week later he was instructed to report to the School of Military Aeronautics, Oxford, to train as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. Passing his ‘dual’ and ‘solo’ tests in under two days’ of instruction, he was awarded his wings in December 1916 and shortly afterwards, due to his exceptional flying abilities, was appointed as an instructor at Central Flying School, Upavon. An extremely confident young man, he described himself “as good a pilot as there was” and remarked: “I had a total lack of fear. I was very conscious of what I could make the machine do.” In desperate need for pilots and demoralised by the devastating looses sustained by the Royal Flying Corps during ‘Bloody April’, later that month Fullard was ordered to the Western Front and in early May 1917, was posted to 1 Squadron. Based next to Bailleul Asylum, a few miles southwest of Ypres in Flanders, 1 Squadron had recently been fully equipped with French Nieuport 17 fighters. Initially Fullard found the Nieuport to be “frightfully heavy-handed” and “unwieldy”, with a cramped cockpit and experienced his first ‘flip’ during a practice flight. Once mastering, his views changed and he came to regard the Nieuport with supreme respect, describing it as “immensely strong” and capable of withstanding “the most enormous strains and dives and spins and rolls”. Into Combat Fullard’s first combat flight came just days after his arrival at 1 Squadron, with an offensive patrol on 5 May. For all his self-assurance and ability, Fullard’s introduction to the Western Front was a difficult baptism of fire. During his first patrol he was so distracted by the “sight of the enemy in their brightly coloured liveries” that he stalled and spun “right down almost to the top of them”. His flight leader thought he was “a goner”. Days later he became embroiled in combat only to discover he was unable to use his gun due to an oil-covered sight. Worse still was the “rotten prospect” of a hazardous sortie against observation balloons that, following a “contour chasing” practice sortie flown over the trenches at heights of little more than “25 or so feet”, became a deadly reality late on 26 May. Of the six assigned to hit a group of balloons with Le Prieur rockets, Fullard was one of only two to make it home. Two balloons had been destroyed at the cost of four pilots killed, wounded or captured. Landing after a fruitless search for a balloon that had already been hauled down, Fullard vented his frustration. The outburst was indicative of a trait and did little to endear him to senior officers. The headstrong youngster soon exacted partial revenge with his first victory. During a frantic dogfight over Quesnoy, he spotted an Albatros D.III scout attacking a British machine. In what would become his trademark style, Fullard closed to 20 yards before opening fire. Half a magazine was enough to send it spiralling down and, with Fullard unable to follow, he was credited with having despatched it ‘out of control’. Two days later, Fullard was credited with a second Albatros Scout out of control. He reported firing 15 rounds at close range, the Albatros flying straight for some moments and then went into a spin, it...

Three: Bombardier C. E. Mitchener, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, last clasp loose on riband (79417 Gnr: C. E. Mitchener, 15th. Coy. S.D., R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (79417 Bombr. C. Mitchener. No. 91 Co. R.G.A.) surname partially officially corrected; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (79417 A. Bomb: C. E. Mitchener. R.G.A.) good very fine and a rare combination of awards (3) £600-£800 --- One of only 35 Queen’s South Africa Medal, China Medal, and King’s South Africa Medal combinations awarded, all to Reservists of the Royal Garrison Artillery. C. E. Mitchener served as a Reservist with No. 15 (Siege Train) Company, Southern Division, Royal Garrison Artillery, and embarked for South Africa in R.M.S. Tantallon Castle at Southampton on 9 December 1899, reaching Cape Town on 26 December 1899. He served in South Africa during the Boer War for the next six months, with the company particularly distinguishing itself at Paardeberg on 26 February 1900, before embarking with the company for China in S.S. Antillian at Cape Town on 18 July 1900, and arrived at Wei-hai-Wei on 30 August 1900 for service in the latter stages of the Boxer Rebellion. After wintering in Hong Kong, and with the Boxer Rebellion over, the Reservists of the company returned to South Africa, landing back at Cape Town on 30 March 1901 and saw further service with No. 14 Company, Western Division, qualifying for the Transvaal clasp. Eight of the Reservists left South Africa for England before the end of the year (and so were only entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp to their Q.S.A.), but 35 (including Mitchener) stayed in South Africa until the cessation of hostilities, and so qualified for the King’s South Africa with both clasps. Mitchener was discharged in South Africa on 8 September 1902. On 1 January 1902 the Divisional System of the Royal Garrison Artillery was abolished, and all companies were re-numbered sequentially from 1 to 105, with 15 Company Southern Division being renumbered 91 Company. The China Medal (being issued after 1902) is correctly named to the re-numbered unit. Sold with copied medal roll extracts which confirm all clasps.

Three: Captain C. E. E. Sullivan, Uganda Intelligence Department, and Assistant District Commissioner during the Lamogi Rebellion, 1911-12, and the Kigezi Operations, 1914-16. During the latter, accompanied by only 20 policemen, Sullivan repeatedly saw off an invading force of approximately 1,200 tribesmen, who had crossed over the border from German East Africa 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. E. E. Sullivan. Uganda I.D.); British War and Victory Medals (T. Capt. C. E. E. Sullivan.) generally very fine, rare to unit (3) £300-£400 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2015. Charles Eric Eugene Sullivan was born in Plymouth, Devon in 1883. He was appointed Assistant District Commissioner, Uganda Protectorate in November 1909. Sullivan briefly served in this capacity in Kampala, before transferring to Hoima in May 1910. After this he was appointed Assistant District Commissioner for Gulu and Kigezi, and was in situ during The Lamogi Rebellion of 1911-12, and the Kigezi Operations of 1914-16. Both of which are extensively covered in The Uganda Journal, frequently featuring Sullivan and his part: ‘In February 1911 the Lamogi declared themselves openly defiant to Government orders, and in July 1911 they refused to comply with the order then issued for the registration of firearms, of which they had a good number. “We will not be disarmed. If any man wants to disarm us, he must first take our lives before he does that”. Mr Sullivan, the then Assistant District Commissioner at Gulu, visited Lamogi in September 1911. Mr Sullivan tried to effect the registration. He failed, was fired at and returned fire but was unable to take the necessary action to round up these people. Between September and the end of the year the Lamogi were determined on their intention to fight if need be. They held war dances in the various villages, fortified the Guruguru Hills and stocked them with food. On 26 December 1911, the A.D.C. at Gulu wrote the following letter to the District Commissioner, Nile, at Nimule: “The people of Guruguru have again stated that they refuse to bring in their guns, and that all the Lamogi wish to fight. I trust that you will be able to arrange to tackle these people during the coming full moon, say January 8. This infection appears to be spreading through southern portion of this district. I can only raise 25 police here. Can you arrange for 40 to come from Nimule and the Wadelai Patrol to meet me on my way through the Madi country?” Following Mr Sullivan’s visit in September, the unrest among the Lamogi was working itself to a climax. However, the time most propitious for the government had come and in January and February 1912 the long waited preparation was ready. It was the dry season and the weather was most auspicious for dealing with the Lamogi. On January 17 Mr Sullivan and the Gulu police arrived at Guruguru. An attempt was made to parlay and reason with the Lamogi people, but without any success. On the 18th Mr Sullivan moved back for about three hours in the hope of getting in touch with the Rwot Onung of Lamogi. Onung, however, declined to co-operate with him. Mr Sullivan was fired at by the chief’s men, but he acted very quickly with his police. He tried to round up the chief and counsellors and make an arrest, but he failed. The chief and all his men escaped. Mr Sullivan then set the chief’s village on fire for all his pains. On 29 February 1912 the people managed to prevail on Onung and he finally gave up and asked for peace. Between 29 February and 1 March 1,070 prisoners were taken including 413 fighting men, also 79 guns and 200 bows and arrows. Police casualties amounted to two killed and eight wounded, and eight porters wounded. The official figure stated that the Lamogi lost 91 killed in action.’ In August 1914, Sullivan was made a temporary captain and district intelligence officer in the Uganda Intelligence Department: ‘At the beginning of the war in 1914, the duty of keeping open communications between ourselves and the Belgians in the Congo fell on the police stationed in Kigezi. The Assistant District Commissioner in charge of Kigezi, C. E. E. Sullivan showed resource and courage in confronting the unrest with the help of such police as were available. On the morning of 10 October whilst Lieutenant Sullivan was talking to some natives pointing out that their attitude in following him from hill to hill, blowing horns and shouting abuse, could hardly be expected from a friendly people, and demanding an explanation for this act, an arrow was fired at him from close by. At the same time a Mututsi on a hill top shouted out, “This is now German territory, and Nyindo will fight”. This was the signal for blasts on war horns, and some hundreds of natives rushed forward firing arrows; as Lieutenant Sullivan had only six police with him he withdrew, keeping the attackers at 200 yards distance, shooting at anyone who came nearer. On reaching the plain an ugly rush forward was made, and as the arrows were coming thick, he fired two volleys, this enabled him to get away, though the Batwa hung about on his flank shooting arrows. While this was in progress large bodies of natives between 1,000 and 1,500 strong crossed from Mulera, German East African, and came close to Kigezi, but on seeing the hill occupied, withdrew to Nyindo’s boma. Lieutenant Sullivan estimates that he was attacked by at least 300 men. On 11th at about 6am these raiders from German East Africa over 1,200 strong, advanced towards Kigezi in several columns and began setting fire to Musakamba’s village below Kigezi, about 1,500 yards from the camp, where they killed three people and wounded others. The war cry seemed to be Nyindo and the Germans against Musakamba and the English. Lieutenant Sullivan accompanied by Mr Harmsworth and 20 police descended the hill, first clearing the Kigezi plain of raiders who were all driven towards the Batwa returning again and again to attack, firing arrows from every bit of cover; as large reinforcements came up to assist the attackers. Lieutenant Sullivan ordered volleys at 200 yards after which they retired over the border. Owing to instructions Lieutenant Sullivan was unable to follow them. These raiders had literally to be forced back, it took over three hours to drive them across the frontier. Had Lieutenant Sullivan not been at Kigezi, our loyal natives would have been slaughtered, all their food burnt and stock captured.’ (Ibid) Sullivan was appointed Provincial Commissioner in 1928, and retired two years later. He died in Tangiers in December 1951. Sold with copied research.

Three: Captain A. R. Peel, South Wales Borderers, attached Nigerian Mounted Infantry, who was killed in action leading his men in a bayonet charge at Kosseoa, Cameroons, 17 November 1914 - the Regiment’s only ‘African’ casualty of 1914 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. R. Peel. S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. R. Peel.) good very fine and rare to an officer casualty for this theatre (3) £400-£500 --- The following is given in The Roll of Honour: ‘Captain Alan Ralph Peel South Wales Borderers (24th Regiment), eldest surviving son of Herbert Peel, of Taliaris Park, county Carmarthen. Born Taliaris Park 7 July 1886. Educated Cheltenham College and Sandhurst. Gazetted 2nd lieutenant to the South Wales Borderers 24 January 1906. Promoted lieutenant 1 December 1907, and captain 12 September 1914. Served with the 1st Battalion in India 1907-9, and at Pretoria 1910. Attached to the South African Mounted Infantry February 1911, and quartered at Harrismith and Bloemfontein to 1912 in which year he was seconded to the West African Frontier Force (Nigeria Regiment). Returning home on furlough in 1914, he was the same year seconded for service with the Nigerian Mounted Infantry, and left again for Africa in June; he was killed in action leading a bayonet charge, at Kossoea, near Marna, North Cameroons, 17 November 1914. His commanding officer wrote as follows: “I had made application for him to join me, knowing his ability. You have the honour of knowing no soldier could have met a more gallant death, viz. at the head of his men, leading them to the charge and showing an example of great bravery. He was buried with all honours by the Captain of the French company with whom he was operating at the time. The latter wrote: “I paid the funeral honours... to the two brave English officers MM. le Capt. A. R. Peel and Lieut. Percival, who fell on the field of honour while giving to their men an example of great bravery”. The Commandant Nigeria Regiment wrote as follows: “To lighten your sorrow you have the honour of knowing that your son died in a manner worthily upholding the finest traditions of the Service, and setting an example of valour to the whole regiment among whom he was deservedly known as a brave and upright officer and the best of good comrades”. Captain Peel is commemorated on the Zaria Memorial, Nigeria and is the regiment’s only ‘African’ casualty of 1914. Further details of his death are given in The Carmarthen Journal & South Wales Weekly Advertiser, 12 March 1915: ‘It is stated that the Captain arrived at Kosseoa entered the village without seeing any signs of the enemy, and proceeded to water and feed the horses. He made some enquiries of some of the inhabitants, who treacherously told him that there were no Germans in the neighbourhood, and that they had never seen any. Very soon the advance scouts reported the presence of the enemy in the near front. Captain A. R. Peel handed over the horses to the No. 3 and sent them behind the village. He himself, with the remainder of the men at his disposal, advanced towards the southern end of the village, and almost immediately came into contact with the enemy, formed his men in extended lines, advanced by rushes and charged with the bayonet when within about thirty yards of the enemy, who had got down into a little “donga”. He himself was the first killed, leading his men to the charge, and falling dead into the “donga” shot through the heart. At this moment Lieutenant Percival, who had not previously joined up, appeared on the scene of action with his section, reinforced those already engaged, and also charged their position. He, too, was immediately shot. Two native sergeants and one private were also killed and three men wounded. The men, who, were naturally shaken by their leaders having been shot down in this manner, then retired, apparently in good order as they brought away their wounded, and must have behaved well under trying circumstances.’ Sold with copied research, including photographic image of recipient in uniform.

The outstanding and extremely rare ‘double long service’ group of three awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major E. Morel, Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, late Life Guards Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (100 Q.M. Sgt. E. Morel, 1st Impl: Yeo:); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (714. Tp. Cpl. Maj: E. Morel. 2nd Life Gds.); Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (232 R.S. Maj: E. Morel. R. Wilts: I.Y.) mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-£1,200 --- Approximately 38 Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C. Medals awarded to Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry. Edward Morel was born in 1854 at East Grinstead, West Sussex, the son of Alfred Morel and Ellen Tate. By family repute his father was the illegitimate child of the union between a Madame Morel of France and William, 3rd Baron de Blaquiere, of Ardkill in the County of Londonderry, who later committed suicide at Norwood in consequence of failing health associated with lithropic disease and smallpox. The 1881 England Census records Morel as married to Sarah Ann and living at the barracks of the Life Guards in Regents Park whilst serving as corporal of horse in the 2nd Battalion. A decade later he is noted as R.M. of 'G' Troop at Rood Ashton (The Annals of the Yeomanry of Wiltshire, refers) and the 1911 Census records the couple living at West Ashton, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, his occupation described as ‘Army pensioner and storage agent’. He is also father to a 20 year old daughter named Nora. Affectionately known as ‘The Sergeant Major’ in his village and known for his bluff and hearty manner and burly structure and build, Morel died in 1933 having struggled with failing health for two years. His obituary, which was published in The Parade (Trowbridge) Newspaper, adds a little more detail regarding his career: His was an interesting and varied career. As a young man he served for two years in the St. George’s Volunteers, London - for he was a Londoner and in all his years in Wilts never quite lost the accent of the Metropolis. After this he joined the Life Guards, and served in this famous regiment for 15 years, qualifying for the Long Service Medal. On leaving the regular army at the expiration of this period he became attached to the permanent staff of the Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, with the rank of sergeant-major, and served the county’s cavalry regiment for twenty-two years, qualifying for another long service medal - a very rare distinction - and retiring with the rank of regimental sergeant major in 1908. He was made the recipient at the annual camp, of a handsome cheque and piece of plate from his comrades of the Yeomanry, Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Palmer making the presentation. When the two companies of the Royal Wilts Imperial Yeomanry were raised at Trowbridge in 1900 for service in the South African War, Sergt.-Major Morel did splendid work in recruiting and training the men, and himself went to the front with them, with the rank of quartermaster sergeant. Though when the Great War came in 1914 he had long passed the age for active service, his heart was always with the forces, and many were the ways in which he served the country’s cause at home. It will be recalled that it was Mr. Morel who provided Trowbridge with its first “Roll of Honour” board, which hung outside the Town Hall until the list became too long to be shown thereon, and a larger one became necessary. After his military service had concluded he settled at West Ashton, carrying on the business as a forage merchant, but finding time for many public duties.’ This was in fact not the first time that details of Morel had appeared in the local press. He regularly wrote home to his wife during his service in South Africa, and details from these letters featured in the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser. He also provided details of the service of the 1st Wiltshire Yeomanry during the war, which appeared in the Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 14 March 1901: ‘The Battalion reached Bloemfontein on 1st May and expected to join Lord Roberts in his advanced to Pretoria. They were turned to the right and sent to Thaba Nchu when they joined General Rubdle’s (8th) Division. They were practically the only cavalry of the Division, and their business was to round up all those commandos who were coming away over the Free State border for Natal. In this Rundle was successful Prinsloo surrendered with 6,000 Boers, although De Wet got away. Then they went to Harrismith anticipating they would soon go home, but instead of that they were sent away for two months trek to round up cattle. With the headquarters it was not thought the 1st Company would see any fighting, but it turned out that they fell in for a lot of sniping and small actions, and were the defenders of Ladybrand. Only a portion of the Wiltshire Yeomanry entered the Transvaal that was when they went to Standerton for supplies. Summing up the work of the Wiltshire Yeomanry, Quarter Master Sergeant Morel thinks they had the maximum of work and hardships and the minimum of glory. They had come in for a lot of sniping and had a number of deaths in that manner but they had not been in a general action, except when Prinsloo surrendered, and the 1st Company in the Defence of Ladybrand.’ Morel suffered from bouts of Enteric Fever, and was invalided home. He died in February 1927: ‘In Morel we found the finest characteristics of an Englishman: Brave as a lion, generous to a degree, and that unselfish and unfailing virtue of always being able to smile, and above all to encourage others to smile, in the face of serious adversity. His glorious record of service to his King and Country is known to all Wiltshire men. In our hearts we may store the one consolation - that were indeed the richer for his friendship, and the poorer for his passing.’ (Obituary refers). Sold with copied research, including several photographic images of recipient in uniform.

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Royalist 29 Decr 1812 (Henry Hackman.) a very minor edge bruise, otherwise good very fine and extremely rare £22,000-£26,000 --- Provenance: Fergus Gowans Collection (1947-71); Christie’s, April 1984. Royalist 29 Decr 1812 [3 clasps issued] - Alexander Brown, coxswain, also with Syria clasp, medal named as gunner (Dix Noonan Webb, February 2016, £38,000); Henry Hackman, able seaman; Lewis Rees, midshipman. Henry Hackman is confirmed on the roll as an able seaman for the capture of La Ruse by the Royalist on 29 December 1812. At 11 p.m. on the night of 29 December 1812, the eighteen-gun brig Royalist, Commander George Downie, cruising in the Channel off Hythe, fell in with, and after a short action captured, the French privateer lugger La Ruse, sixteen guns, with a crew of sixty-five men. The prize had her main mast shot away, and one of her crew killed, and another wounded, before she struck her colours. She was a new vessel on her first cruise and had made no captures. Commander Downie, who was promoted for this action, was killed when in command of a British squadron on Lake Champlain during the battle of Plattsburg in September 1814.

The Brass River campaign medal awarded to Mr E. Hunt, Niger Coast Protectorate Force East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Brass River 1895 (Mr E. Hunt, Niger C.P. Force.) officially impressed naming, good very fine and rare £700-£900 --- Provenance: J. Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2003. The Brass River operations were essentially a purely naval affair. A few army officers and civilians, however, accompanied the expedition and their medals were issued and authorised by the Admiralty, as shown in the following letter to the Foreign Office, dated 21 August 1896: ‘I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that they have been pleased to award Ashanti Medals and Brass River 1895 Clasps, forwarded herewith to Major A. G. Leonard and Mr E. Hunt of the Niger Coast Protectorate Force, and also to “Africa”, the Head Kroo Boy employed during the operations, for services in connection with the Brass River Expedition.’

The rare ‘Ashanti 1900’ C.M.G. group of four awarded to H. B. W. Russell, Private Secretary to Colonel Sir James Willcocks, Commanding Ashanti Field Force, whose actions during the course of the campaign to relieve Kumassi went above and beyond the conventional duties of a private secretary - often acting as a guide, and being involved in the fighting, despite being present in a civilian capacity The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle; Coronation 1902, bronze; Ashanti 1900, 1 clasp, Kumassi, high relief bust (H. B. W. Russell, C.M.G., A.F. Fce:); Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Capt. H. B. W. Russell, C.M.G.) mounted as worn but lacking pin; together with original Warrant and Statutes for C.M.G. and contemporary portrait photograph of recipient in uniform, rank partially officially corrected on last, generally good very fine (4) £2,600-£3,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2014. Henry Blythe Westrap Russell was born in Toronto, Canada, on 3 August 1868. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute and at Freiburg in the German State of Baden. He travelled extensively in West Africa and in the 1880s founded the firm of H. B. W. Russell and Co., merchants on the Gold Coast, Southern Nigeria. The company later had offices at Kumassi, Accra, Lagos and Liverpool. Whilst at Cape Coast in June 1900, Russell volunteered his services as private secretary to Colonel J. Willcocks, then assembling his staff for the Ashanti Field Force that he was to lead to the relief of Kumassi. Russell receives several mentions in From Kabul to Kumassi by Brigadier General Sir James Willcocks: ‘On this same day a gentleman at Cape Castle, Mr H. Russell, a trader of whom I had heard a good deal, and who had considerable experience of the Gold Coast, came and offered his service to me in any capacity. I was only too glad to accept them, and offered him the post of Private Secretary, an appointment which was at once approved by the Secretary of State; he proved most valuable. His knowledge of the country and language and his untiring energy were godsends in those days, and he accompanied me to Kumassi. For his services he received the C.M.G. at the close of the campaign, and it was well deserved.’ Further into the campaign, Russell was to prove considerably more hands on than a normal private secretary acting as a guide and indeed taking part in the fighting (despite being there in a civilian capacity): ‘Mr Russell, my Private Secretary, whom I had sent with this column, owing to his knowledge of the people, rendered very useful service, not only in a political sense, but by more than once accompanying the scouts and joining in the fighting.’ (Ibid) Some ‘spoils of war’ brought back to the UK by Russell have appeared on the market in recent years, but not his gift from Willcocks: ‘Among the souvenirs given to me by the officers was a fine donkey from Berekum. I took it down to the coast when I left, and gave it as a Christmas present to my Private Secretary, Mr Russell.’ (Ibid) Russell’s all action approach is further recorded by the Morning Post, 4 October 1900: ‘Operations from Kumassi - Punitive Measures. Hardships of the Campaign: On the following day a fighting column of 900 men with three guns and five Maxims under the command of Colonel Brake, who had with him as staff officers Captains Bryan and Reeve, and as political officer [sic] Mr Russell, a merchant on the West Coast left Bekwai with orders to attack Ejesu, where Queen Ashantuah was supposed to have concentrated a large force, and to have massed a quantity of loot. Advance on Ejesu: Our scouts, who were under the command of Lieutenant McKinnon, and with whom were the guides in charge of Mr Russell, were suddenly fired on by the enemy, who were lying snugly hidden behind a stockade on the bank of a river bed which crossed the road obliquely. Mr Russell went back and reported the situation personally to Colonel Brake, who hurried to the front with two 75 millimetre guns under the Hon. Lieutenant Halfpenny, of the 3rd West African Frontier Force.’ Russell was mentioned in the despatch of Colonel J. Willcocks, Commanding Ashanti Field Force, London Gazette 4 December, 1900: ‘Mr H. B. W. Russell, Private Secretary. - This gentleman volunteered his services at Cape Coast, and I was most fortunate in getting him; he has worked incessantly ever since I landed, and I strongly recommend him, especially as his chief object in coming was in order to have an opportunity of doing some service to the State.’ Russell was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, London Gazette 9 November 1901 ‘in recognition of his services while employed with the Ashanti Field Force.’ This is believed to be 1 of only 2 such awards for the Ashanti campaign. In 1906 Russell was appointed Consul of the Netherlands at Cape Coast Castle, for the Gold Coast, Lagos and Nigeria, Togoland and Dahomey. In the same year he was appointed a captain in the Gold Coast Volunteers. Russell was honourably discharged in 1912, at his own request, upon his departure from the Gold Coast for England. He died in a motoring accident, when his car collided with a pony trap driven by man under the influence of alcohol. The accident occurred outside of Chester, 24 July 1912, and the other driver was put on trial for manslaughter. Russell resided at Brock House, Tattenhall at the time. Sold with copied research.

The Boer War pair to Sergeant J. Glen, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), who was taken prisoner at Uitval Nek in July 1900, and killed in action at Klippan in February 1902 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (4225 Corpl: J. Glen. 2nd Dragoons); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4225 Serjt: J. Glen. 2nd Drgns:) toned, nearly extremely fine, and very rare with a K.S.A. to a casualty (2) £600-£800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2005. J. Glenn was taken prisoner at Uitval Nek, along with the rest of his squadron under Captain J. Maxwell, 11 July 1900, all being subsequently released. Glen was killed in action at Klippan, 18 February 1902, in a fight mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s final despatch of 8 March 1902: ‘On the 18th February General Gilbert Hamilton was sharply engaged at Klippan, twenty miles south-east of Springs, with a body of Boers which was estimated to number about 500. Upon this occasion, I regret to say, a portion of a squadron of the Scots Greys detached to one flank was cut off, surrounded, and partially captured. Our casualties were Major Fielden and Captain Ussher mortally wounded, Lieutenant Rhodes and 2 men killed, and 6 wounded. The Boers were reported to have 8 men killed and wounded.’ The above was sketched in the Illustrated London News, 5 April 1902, and titled “The Mishap To The 2nd Royal Dragoons At Klippan.’ Sold with copied research, including the above mentioned image.

The fine Ashantee 1873-74 medal awarded to Captain A. W. Baker, known as “Baker of the Bobbies”, who distinguished himself as Commissioner of Armed Police, Cape Coast Castle and Inspector-Commandant of Police in Trinidad Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (Capt: Baker, Commr. Of Police, Cape Coast Castle, 73-74) very fine and a rare award to a Special Service Officer £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2003 and September 2006. Arthur Wybrow Baker was the son of the Reverend John Durand Baker of Bishop’s Tawton, Barnstaple, and the brother of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Durand Baker, K.C.B. (whose medals were sold in these rooms in March 2005). Baker was educated at Rugby, originally commissioned into the 66th Regiment in July 1862, and was advanced to lieutenant in August 1865. Sometime thereafter, having obtained a captaincy, he resigned his commission and travelled to Africa, where, as the following letter to Downing Street from Major-General Wolseley reveals, he volunteered his services to the British cause in 1873: ‘I cannot over state the importance of having this post [Inspector-General of Police] filled at the present moment by an able organizer, and by a man full of energy and of great physical health and strength. No one but a military man would be fit for it, as the efficiency of this police force will depend largely upon the manner in which strict discipline is maintained in it. The management of bodies of armed men is an art that few possess intuitively, and is one that can only be acquired by military service. I have therefore selected Captain A. W. Baker, late of the 66th Regiment, who, having left the army, is one of the many similarly circumstanced who have recently come to the coast at their own expense to join the force under my command. He is no relation of mine and I never heard of him until quite recently, but I have selected him for what I consider to be his especial fitness for the post of Inspector-General of Police. The force at present numbers 438 men, but its efficiency is by no means what it ought to be. It has been hurriedly collected and time has not admitted its organization and the selection of men enlisted being properly attended to: much remains to be done before it can really be a thoroughly efficient force. Captain Baker assumed command of it today [16 December 1873] as explained to your Lordship in my despatch previously alluded to ...’ As evidenced by Wolesley’s subsequent despatch regarding the Coomassie operations, dated 7 February 1874, Baker quickly knocked his police force into shape: ‘The police duties in connection with the recent military operations have been most effectively performed by Captain Baker, Inspector-General of Police. He has rendered the force under my command most valuable service and his zeal and energy mark him out as peculiarly suited for the post he occupies ...’ After his success in Africa, Baker went on to be employed as part of the Police Service in Trinidad. He was appointed Inspector Commandant of Police in 1877, Inspector Commandant & Inspector of Weights & Measures in 1881, and as Inspector of Prisons in 1904. The following is given in The Years of Revolt, Trinidad 1881-1888 by Fr. A. de Verteuil, with regards to this period of his career: ‘Baker, the Chief of Police, Arthur Wybrow Baker was a man’s man. At this period he was over forty, but still a fine figure of a man, over six feet tall and broad in proportion, with dark black hair and moustache and striking eyes. He was a “broth of a boy” as the Irish say, with a loving wife and children. Keen on athletic sports, and well mannered on top of that, he was the clean type of man that everyone in that Victorian age could look up to. Even the French creoles who hated the English officials admired him; “With the exception of Captain Baker”, one wrote, “there is not a single one (of the English officials) that any man with the slightest pretension to respectability would introduce to his family or his club.” As a macho man he appealed to the lower class blacks who could measure his worth even on the purely physical level. As Inspector Commandant - Chief of Police - Baker had been an immediate success. A man of integrity and energy, of coolness in action and firmness in decision, possessing a close sense of identification with most of his men, he won their respect and the respect of all. Even “the very rowdies whom he kept down with a strong hand, admired him for his courage and fearlessness in tackling them”. As head of the Voluntary Fire Brigade, he graced their social functions, with his wife and was in the forefront to put out the frequent fires. When Carter’s Races (on 1st August, Emancipation Day) fell into decline, Captain Baker instituted athletic sports which afforded lots of sport to the police, soldiers and the general public for many years. Before his arrival in Trinidad, he had spent three years in the 66th Regiment in India, and was in command of the Houssas on the West Coast of Africa; and by 1884 he had been in command of the police in Trinidad for eight years. After he had been some years in Trinidad, he relaxed the reins a little and let his subordinate officers have more of a free hand. This was regrettable, as some of them at the very least, lacked sound judgement, and gave the police and Baker a bad name. As a man of colonial experience, he fitted in well with the circle of British officials in Trinidad and particularly with the commander of troops at the St. James Barracks. And so - “He was a man, take him for all in all”. But marred, fatally marred by the stamp of one defect. As a typical British official of the time, he looked down on all non-English mortals, and this in an age of growing Trinidad nationalism. In three years in India he had not acquired a word of Hindustani. So he bravely bore alone “the white man’s burden” to the end for better - or perhaps worse. A strong man, in more ways than one, his impact on Trinidad went beyond the police to politics.’ Sold with a photographic imaged of recipient in uniform, and copied research.

A rare Condiment gavel. Birmingham 1903. With ebonised handle.9 cm long.

Rare and Superb World Cup 1966 Scrapbook Containing Autographs from Player and Managers From England V West Germany. Contains the Signatures of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Alan Ball, Gordon Banks, Ray Wilson, George Cohen, Roger Hunt, Alf Ramsey, Harold Shepherdson, Hans Tilkowski, Horst-Dieter Hottges, Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang Weber, Wolfgang Overath, Helmut Haller, Uwe Seeler (c), Helmut Schön. Also the Signature of Iconic Commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme. English and German Pennants. Fantastic Well Sought After Item. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99

KIDDYS FAVOURITES, Popular Cricketers, complete, inc. rare no. 48, with staple holes as issued, G to EX, 52

WILLS, Musical Celebrities 2nd, rare variation for no. 37 Kreisler, VG

FRANCIS, British Uniforms of the 19th Century, complete, Grenada issue (rare), EX, 25

TRADE, complete sets (14), inc. Dryfood Zoo Animals, Lucky Dip Wonders of the Universe, Esso Football Books, Ewbanks Miniature Cars & Scooters, CBT British Butterflies, Glengettie Tea Medals of the World, Glengettie Tea Rare British Birds etc., in modern album, VG to EX, 380*

A Rare uncut 2 x Original Russ Gibb Postcard - The two cards are still attachched - Include Festival Postcard from 1968 Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Howlin Wolf etc . Plus the other card Howlin Wolf Chrysalis Card. The entire card measures approx 21 cm by 18 cm.The Festival Postcard is printed on the reverse .Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River Ave, Detroit, Michigan, 48204. Telephone ( 313 ) 834-9348. The other attached card as pictured.Russel James Gibb (June 15, 1931[1] – April 30, 2019) was an American rock concert promoter, school teacher and disc jockey from Dearborn, Michigan, best known for his role in the "Paul is dead" phenomenon, a story he broke on radio station WKNR-FM in Dearborn,[2] and as the owner of the Grande Ballroom, a major rock music venue in Detroit

GENESIS - Rock Poster - Rare original A Trick of the Tail. New Bingley Hall Stafford - Charisma Records original 1976 but in poor condition, It measures 40 x 30 inches. 

Legend of the Seeker 'Darken Rahl' Hero Sword.It was purchased directly from Craig Parker's personal collection. Craig kept the sword from the show and the vendor bought it direct from him.This is a real metal sword (it is not resin or rubber) and the ONLY Hero sword, there were no stunt swords made.The sheath is included and autographed by Craig Parker.It is accompanied by a detailed and lengthy note hand-written by Craig. Also included is a printed photograph of Craig holding the sword.This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have such a unique item from not only a great under rated show but also one of the best actors who has appeared on a grand scale of both television and major motion picture films such as Underworld, Lord of the Rings and Spartacus.The sword displays wear from use on the Legend of the Seeker show but is still in good condition and the sheath is in great condition and shows intricite detailing in gold on the red leather. This has also been autographed as can be seen in the photos. Everything on the show was 100% custom-made for the production and therefore the quality of the props and costumes was extremely high.This is being offered as a one of a kind item from the personal collection of Craig Parker aka Darken Rahl star of Legend of the Seeker. This is surely a rare opportunity for fans of the show to aquire such a rare piece of memorabilia.Also along witht the sword is signed photograph of when the vendor met and has been signed 'Dear Kit' and signed by Craig Parker.

LP Jerusalem - Deram Records. A rare Vinyl LP Record from 1972 Original. Cat no SDL 6 - In gatefold sleeve - Matrix XZAL-11230.P-2W. In excellent condition with a little plastic sleeve residue on side 2. it shows very little signs of play.Hard rock band from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.Members: Bob Cooke - lead guitar Bill Hinde - rhythm guitar Paul Dean - bassRay Sparrow - drums Lynden Williams - vocals.Aliases:Deckchair Poets, ZorbonautsMembers:Bill Hinde, Bob Cooke, Lynden Williams, Paul Dean (3), Ray Sparrowckchair Poets, ZorbonautsMembers:Bill Hinde, Bob Cooke, Lynden Williams, Paul Dean (3), Ray SparrowDeckchair Poets, ZorbonautsMembers:Bill Hinde, Bob Cooke, Lynden Williams, Paul Dean (3), Ray Sparrow

Collection of Jimi Hendrix Records / Books, Framed item ( 2 bags and 1 x frame ) Including a framed display of Jimi Hendrix, including 15 books including some Sheet Music/Tab Books. Plus 25 Vinyl LP Records mostly Polydor repressings including Smash Hits, Loose Ends, Isle of Wight, Rare Hendrix, Crash Landing, Get that feeling usa press, Rainbow Bridge, Are You Experiences, War Heroes, Soundtrack Etc. All in very good condition.