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Click here to subscribeJohnson (B. S.) Fern, one of 3 copies signed by the author, this out-of-series copy inscribed "special of John", single leaf, printed on one side, folding creases, some light spotting, 248 x 172mm., Gregynog Albion, 1970.⁂ Exceptionally rare limited issue of this poem that would later appear in Johnson's collection Poems Two in 1972.
Joyce (James) Ford Madox Ford, William Carlos Williams, D. H. Lawrence and others. Imagist Anthology 1930, first edition, very light browning to endpapers, original cloth, spotting to covers, dust-jacket, light toning to spine, chip to head of upper panel, light creasing to head, an excellent copy, 8vo, 1930.⁂ Rare is such bright and clean condition.
Johnson (B. S.) and Zulfikar Ghose. Statement Against Corpses, signed by both authors on front free endpaper, original boards, spine ends a little bumped, dust-jacket, light sunning to spine, a few small nicks or tears with neat tape repairs to verso, creasing to head and foot, rubbed, 1964; and The B.S. Johnson-Zulfikar Ghose Correspondence, edited by Vanessa Guignery, 8vo (2)⁂ Rare signed by both authors.
Williams (Tennessee) Suddenly Last Summer, first edition, signed by the author to endpaper, original cloth, spine ends and corners lightly bumped and frayed, dust-jacket, light browning to spine, minor chipping to extremities, still excellent overall, [Crandell A20.1.a], 8vo, New York, 1958.⁂ Rare signed, this celebrated one-act play by Williams was originally presented along with Something Unspoken under the overall title of Garden District.
Johnson (B. S.) The Unfortunates, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to inside upper cover of box, 27 original parts in printed wrap-around, housed in original box, light rubbing to joints, some light fading, otherwise excellent, sm. 4to, 1969.⁂ Johnson's masterpiece and his most famous work. Rare signed or inscribed.
Chapman (Guy) A Passionate Prodigality, first edition, ink ownership stamp to endpaper, original cloth, light browning to spine, extremities rubbed, dust-jacket priced at 7/6, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, short closed tear to head of joints, short tear with creasing to head of rear panel, light rubbing to extremities, but a very good copy overall, 8vo, 1933.⁂ A rare First World War memoir. We can trace no other example in the dust-jacket at auction.
Awdry (Rev. W.) Branch Line Engines, fifth printing, 1977; Gallant Old Engine, fourth printing, 1976; Very Old Engines, fourth printing, 1977; Enterprising Engines, third printing, 1978, all signed by the author, illustrations, original pictorial boards, some spine very slightly sunned, minor bumping, but near-fine generally, oblong 16mo (4)⁂ Four titles in the Thomas the Tank Engine series, rare signed.
Lewis (Wyndham).- Sitwell (Sacheverell) Doctor Donne and Gargantua, number 16 of 101 copies signed by the author, woodcut frontispiece by Wyndham Lewis, original marbled wrappers with paper label to upper cover, spine chipped and worn, light creasing to extremities, house in custom drop-back box, [Morrow & Lafourcade B12], 8vo, Favil Press, 1921.⁂ Rare.
Black lacquer panel with gilt chinoiserie floral and bird motif. Maison Bagues or Maison Jansen. Mid-20th century (of that period) coffee table with 18th-century Chinese gilt lacquer panel set within gilt-brass frame styled as bamboo with x-shaped stretcher intersecting in a ring. The exquisite gilded bronze mount frame is of the highest casting quality. Such exceptional condition of the panel is extremely rare. Condylis Collection Dimensions:18 in (H) x 43 in (W) x 19 in (D) The world-famous Parisian company Maison Baguès has created lighting and furniture works famous all over the world and is now recognized as synonymous with elegance and refinement. Baguès was born in Auvergne around 1840 and specialized in bronze works. The society developed considerably at the end of the nineteenth century, with the advent of electricity, with objects for lighting.
Red lacquer panel with gilt chinoiserie landscape containing pagodas, fauna and flora. Maison Bagues or Maison Jansen. Mid-20th century (of that period) coffee table with 18th-century Chinese gilt lacquer panel set within gilt-brass frame styled as bamboo with x-shaped stretcher intersecting in a ring. The exquisite gilded bronze mount frame is of the highest casting quality. Such exceptional condition of the panel is extremely rare. Condylis Collection Dimensions:18 in (H) x 43 in (W) x 19 in (D) The world-famous Parisian company Maison Baguès has created lighting and furniture works famous all over the world and is now recognized as synonymous with elegance and refinement. Baguès was born in Auvergne around 1840 and specialized in bronze works. The society developed considerably at the end of the nineteenth century, with the advent of electricity, with objects for lighting.
An 18/19th century Ottoman dagger with a jade hilt set with precious stones, and a gilt hand-worked scabbard. Blade inscribed with 'hafez' meaning 'guardian'/ 'protector' in Arabic. Materials:Jade, gold, silver, rubies, emeralds (?) and Steel. The hilt is formed of a single block of Jade with absolutely no faults. The colour is not the traditional green, but rather of a light white colour. The pommel is inlaid with a thick and bright layer of gold vines and flowers. These vines are crafted to precision and to house the en suite rubies that form the flower heads. The gold work and red rubies encapsulate royalty and provide a splendid contrast to the light hilt and the present example has profound comparable examples in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number: 23.232.1). ...flamboyant gem-studded weapons that were probably made in Istanbul in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. Their traditional shapes and luxurious materials were intended to evoke romantic notions of the exotic orient, Arabian Nights, or perhaps the sultan's treasury. (The Met Museum, Accession number 23.232.6a, b) At the forte of the serpentine shape blade, there is elegant, and greatly preserved, gold damascened work, with kofgari design and Quranic script. The accompanying scabbard is also very fine with an intricate, handworked chased design with applied gold decorations at either end. Overall, this is a rare type of dagger. It is in very fine condition with a fantastic gem-set and gold embossed Jade hilt. The blade is also immaculate. A rare collectible item. Dimensions: 11 inches (length with scabbard) 7.5 inches (scabbard length)
Property of a Gentleman. View of Dover Harbour from Dover Castle. Thomas Whitcombe (1763 - 1824). Oil on cradled panel. In gilded frame. A beautiful and rare topographical work by Thomas Whitcomb, one of the great painters of the Golden Age of British marine painting. Whitcombe was born in London and regularly exhibited works at the Royal Academy between 1783 and 1824. Some his best know works were the 50 paintings he produced entitled the "The Naval Achievements of Great Britain" of which many engravings were produced and sold. His works can be seen in the Tate, The Yale Center of British Fine Art, and The British Museum, along with many other great institutions. Dimensions: (Frame) 21 in (H) x 28.5 in (W)(Panel) 17 in (H) x 25 in (W)
HMS Henrietta (Charles II's Yacht) Racing to Windward under a Foresail in a Strong to Gale Force Wind (the ship belonging to Charles II). Attributed to William van de Velde The Younger (1633 - 1707). Oil on canvas. Willem van de Velde (1633-1707) was the leading Dutch marine painter of the later 17th Century. Son of Willem van de Velde the Elder, also a painter of sea-pieces, the younger was instructed by his father and afterwards by Simon de Vlieger, a marine painter of repute at the time, and had achieved great celebrity by his art before he came to London. By 1673 Van de Velde the Younger had moved to England, where he was engaged by Charles II at a salary of £100, to aid his father in "taking and making draughts of sea-fights", his part of the work being to reproduce in colour the drawings of the elder Van de Velde. Willem the younger was also patronised by the Duke of York and various other members of nobility. He died in London on 6th April 1707 and was buried at St James' Church, Piccadilly where a memorial to him and his father lies. Many of Van de Velde's works represent views off the coast. His paintings are notable by the delicate, spirited and finished hand. They are also correct in the drawing of the vessels and their rigging, a rare attribute of marine paintings at the time. Van de Velde is successful in his renderings of the sea, whether in calm or storm. His ships are portrayed with almost photographic accuracy and are the most precise guides available to the appearance of 17th Century ships. His later paintings shaped the development of seascape painting in England in the 18th Century. The ship depicted in our painting is believed to be HMS Henrietta, one of Charles II's pleasure yachts used for racing but with the capability of being used as a war ship if necessary. HMS Henrietta 1679: In J David Davies, 'Kings of the Sea: Charles II, James II and the Royal Navy', Seaforth Publishing, Pen & Sword Books, 2017, p.84, Davies reports: "The yachts' exteriors were also elaborately decorated, with a profusion of sculptures and gilding." Contemporary models, such as that of the Henrietta Yacht of 1679, on display in the Portland Collection at Welbeck Abbey, reveal beautiful, sleek craft, gloriously gilded; on the Henrietta, a small 'well deck' of sorts divided the great cabin into two, providing a semi-enclosed space in which the monarch could take the air upon a damask-clad throne. Unsurprisingly, none of this came cheap. Provenance:Collection of Sir Richard Cotterell Bt, Garnons, Hereford Sotheby's, London, 27 November 1957, lot 47 (as Van der Velde) Collection William Drown, London Spink & Son, London Alfred Brod Gallery, London Collection R.P. Schweder, London Chaucer and Van Dam Galleries, London Collection of a prominent family, the Netherlands Dimensions: (Framed) 65 in (H) x 56 in (W) inches (in the period carved and gilded frame) (Canvas) 59.4 in (H) x 49.5 in (W)
A rare early 20th century Gustav Becker brass torsion anniversary timepiece, the circular cream dial with black Arabic hour numerals, the backplate with stamped maker's mark and numbered '2057412', above an unusual twin mercury compensated disc pendulum, on a gilt painted circular base with glass dome, total height 27cm (pendulum detached).Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
Brosche mit Diamanten, wohl deutsch um 1730- 60, Silber, teilvergoldet, mittig Opal (sek.),Diamantrosen in verbödeten Fassungen, orig.Abhängungen, sehr selten, Nadelung sek., wohl urspgl. aus anderem Zus.-hang, ca. 5 x 6 cm , sammelwürdig, musealBrooch with diamonds, probably german approx. 1730-60 , silver, partly gilt, centered opal(sec.), diamond roses in closed settings, orig. suspensions, very rare, needling sec., originally from another context, approx. 5 x 6cm , collectable, museum
House of Correction, ‘Anti-Flogging Note’, 30 January 1819, serial number 222, signed by I. Flogwell, produced by George Cruikshank in a similar style to the more famous ‘Anti-Hanging Note’, stuck to thin brown paper (corners only), extremely fine and very rare, a fantastic contemporary political statement Outing unlisted £400-£500
Bank of Exchange & Co-operation, 1 Penny, dated/serial numbered 1879, signature of C. Wetum, with the address listed as ‘Dark Street, Bush Town, Founded by Adam & Eve’, and the text ‘Immense capital deposited in the vaults, of which every member has a special key’ and promising ‘to Preserve and Protect on demand the Morals of the Rising Generation’, with a crowned vignette entitled ‘The Fig Leaf Period’, showing an African man and woman and several spears, slightly ragged edges, tape strengthening and repairs on reverse, about fine and very rare Outing unlisted £300-£400 --- This note probably refers in some way to the Zulu War which began in 1879. It seems likely was produced by a liberal individual or group who were morally opposed to the war. It is unclear whether the vignette refers to the innocence of the Zulu, or the supposed celibate military system, or something else entirely.
National Bank of Greece, specimen 100 Drachmai, ND (1870), serial number 00000, red SPECIMEN handstamp, three small cancellation holes, counterfoil at left, considerable handling and a few folds, overall good very fine and an exceptionally rare and attractive note, no examples of which have appeared in auction for almost a decade Pick 32s £3,000-£4,000
Central Bank of Nigeria, a green leather presentation album commemorating the 20th anniversary of the bank, hand-signed by the Governor and dated 15th April 1980, including notes from each of the issues from 1959-1979, each page shows the obverse and reverse of each note, 1959 Issue: a full set of reproduction notes, 1965 Issue: full set of post production specimens, 1968 Issue: full set of post production specimens, 1973 Decimal Issue: full specimen set, 1977 Issue: specimen 20 Naira, 1979 Issue: 1, 5 and 10 Naira specimens, each note mounted on the card, a couple notes with light foxing, a high quality presentation folder, attractive and rare TBB 201-220, Pick 2-18 £1,200-£1,800
Mendham’s Tea Warehouse, Ipswich, a note promising to pay the bearer 5 Shillings on demand, hand dated 1803, no serial number or signature, vignette of a tea chest at top left, complete with with naive depiction's of Chinese characters, wonderful condition, good very fine and extremely rare Outing unlisted £240-£300 --- William Mendham was born in 1770 in Ipswich. In September 1792 he opened a new grocery and tea warehouse in Bank Buildings, Ipswich. He was quite successful and operated the business for several decades, and married Hannah Baker in 1793 and died in August 1838. The wording on this note is extremely interesting, unequivocally promising to pay the bearer 5 shillings. It is possible it was a real voucher of some kind. Ex. Godfrey Burr Collection, 2007
Government of India, Burma issue, 100 Rupees, ND (1937), serial number T/32 831493, Kelly signature, black LEGAL TENDER IN BURMA ONLY overprint, in PMG holder 40, extremely fine, with some minor graffiti professionally removed from the watermark area and is only visible under ultraviolet light, the usual spindle hole at left, a few additional pinholes, otherwise an exceptional note with lovely original paper, embossed serial numbers and an exceptional overall appearance, very rare in any form, even more-so with the black overprint TBB B103a, Pick 3 £15,000-£18,000
Bank of Elegant Engraving, a beautiful note denominated £100 advertising the services of H.H.Collins & Co., October 1854, signature of H.H.Collins, with a wonderful reverse depicting the Crystal Palace and and underprint describing the note as a ‘Bank Note of the Crystal Palace’, clearly attempting to cash in on the Great Exhibition of 1851, original good very fine, rare and a very attractive and well produced note Outing unlisted £200-£260 --- Henry Haley Collins was an engraver who appears to have had an interesting and well travelled life. Born in 1818 in London, he lived all over southern and western England. When this note was produced he was running a successful business with two apprentices from Great Winchester Street in London. He died in the Hospital for Incurables in Putney in 1890, with an estate worth the fairly paltry sum of £101.
Currency Commission, Bank of Ireland, specimen £50, 5 September 1978 (fictitious date), serial number 00ZK 000000, Brennan and Gargan signatures, red SPECIMEN overprint, three cancellation holes, one fold, some light handling, about uncirculated, a fully redeemed issue, thus this is the only way to acquire the type, a beautiful and exceptionally rare note PMI CBI 5, Pick 12s £5,000-£6,000
Wiener Stadt Banco, Austria, 100 Gulden, 1 June 1806, manuscript serial number 1569, the city arms of Vienna low centre, printed signatures below, embossed seal at left and right and in each corner, lovely embossing across the note, staining in top margin bleeds into centre of note, an extremely presentable very fine, a superb example for type, rare Pick A42, Kodnar-Kunstner 45 £600-£800
Currency Commission, Irish Free State, specimen £10, 13 May 2006 (10 September 1928), serial number V/01 000000, Brennan and McElligott signatures, red SPECIMEN overprint and two cancellation holes, light handling, about uncirculated to uncirculated, a stunning and extremely rare Waterlow specimen PMI LTN 4, Pick 4As £1,200-£1,600
Banco de Espana, 1000 Pesetas, 10 May 1907, serial number 026283, Guerra, Rodero and Fabiani signatures, in PMG holder 30, very fine, 19mm tear in lower margin, stain in three margins, arguably one of the most beautifully designed and engraved banknotes ever printed, rare TBB B100, Pick 61 £1,500-£2,000
Banca d’Italia, specimen 5000 Lire, ND (1947), serial number A00 0000, no signatures, perforated SPECIMEN twice, four CAMPIONE overprints in magins, two pinholes, significant glue residue along left and right margin otherwise about uncirculated and very rare TBB B445s, Pick 85s, Gavello 596 £500-£700
Brotherly Love Bank, for the Three Grand Principles, a Masonic note promising to pay Brother Secrecy the sum of 1 Shilling, Newcastle, 7 April 1806, serial number A48, manuscript signature of Faithful Hope, with Masonic symbols engraved at left, with a small but beautifully executed hand coloured element, minor mounting remnants on reverse low left corner slightly damaged, overall very fine and rare Outing unlisted £240-£300 --- Given the issue location, it seems likely that the serial number is A48 because the oldest Masonic lodge in the ‘Province of Durham’ is in Gateshead and is lodge number 48. There are other such Masonic notes known, with several different ‘branches’ and payees known to have been printed. The purpose or use of the notes is unclear.
Currency Commission, Irish Free State, specimen £5, 13 May 2006 (10 September 1928), serial number T/01 000000, Brennan and McElligott signatures, red SPECIMEN overprint and three cancellation holes, a beautiful about uncirculated to uncirculated example of an extremely rare Waterlow specimen PMI LTN 3, Pick 3As £800-£1,000
Central Bank of Ireland, specimen 10 Shillings, 13 May 2006 (fictitious date), serial number 01N 000000, McElligott and Whitaker signatures, red SPECIMEN overprint and two cancellation holes, staple holes, good extremely fine and rare, a lovely Waterlow specimen PMI LTN 33/40 for similar, Pick 56ds £300-£400
Manchester & Gibralter Bank, for the Governor of the Gibralter Hotel, Pall Mall, a note promising to pay the bearer 2 Pence for winnings at Bagatelle, Manchester, 17 January 1810, serial number 1639, signed by William Murray, with a very nicely printed and ornate vignette of a contemporary steam train in a crowned frame at top left, partially stuck on card, very good, extremely rare and a wonderful item Outing unlisted £240-£300 --- Bagatelle was a very popular 19th century precursor to Bar Billiards, and this note may actually be serious in promising to pay the bearer two pence for winning at it. The reasons for the naming of the note, and the subject matter of the vignette are unclear, but there was once a Gibralter Street in Manchester, and it was right next to the new Victoria Railway station in 1840. There may have been a Hotel on or near the street. Alternatively, it is possible that the Gibralter Hotel may have been on Pall Mall in London, and the ‘winner’ of the note might have had to catch the train to Manchester to cash in his almighty prize of 2 pence. Alternatively, and most likely, the note is simply nonsense, or was some kind of in-joke that we now lack the context to understand.
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