Crow’s in Dorking is conducting a timed online sale of The Michael Kent Collection.
This single-owner group amassed over 40 years is devoted to a single event: the coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother) on May 12, 1937. The sale runs until June 6.
It was the late Michael Kent’s quest to find every George VI coronation item issued by every business, hotel, town and borough in Great Britain and the Commonwealth – all displayed and archived.
Kent’s singular collection covers everything imaginable to do with the coronation, from fabric woven for Westminster Abbey, tickets issued for guests, plans for seat arrangements, procession schedules etc to an endless number of commemoratives from food packaging to head scarves.
The sale of close to 5000 objects will be conducted in around 200 lots in an exhaustive catalogue of close to 23,000 words penned by valuer Cecile Shannon.
Shown top is a rare unopened 1937 coronation souvenir glass bottle of Eau de Cologne Blue Orchid by Delavelle, London, together with a pull-out comb in a silver plated coronation case, guided at £30-50.
crowsauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Portrait miniature of an unknown Georgian gentleman painted by Scottish artist Archibald Skirving – estimate at £2800-3800 at Fellows on May 27.
This portrait miniature of an unknown Georgian gentleman was painted by Scottish artist Archibald Skirving (1749-1819) some time after his return to Edinburgh following a spell in a French prison.
Skirving had worked in Rome for more than a decade, but on his journey home was taken captive by the French off the coast of Gibraltar and accused of being a spy. He was imprisoned at Brest for nine months during the Reign of Terror before his release with the help of a plea from fellow artists.
This miniature, previously sold at Bonhams in April 2004, is estimated at £2800-3800 at Fellows’ Fine Jewellery sale on May 27.
fellows.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Wendy Ramshaw signature gold and diamond stacking ring set comprising nine elements on a brass ring tower, 1986 – estimate £1500-2500 at Chiswick Auctions on May 28.
The Jewellery sale at Chiswick Auctions on May 28 includes six pieces by Wendy Ramshaw consigned for sale by a personal friend of the designer and goldsmith. They are believed to have been bespoke commissions.
This signature gold and diamond stacking ring set comprising nine elements on a brass ring tower dates from 1986 and has a guide of £1500-2500.
chiswickauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Brameld pottery plate, commissioned by the Dundee & Hull Steam Packet Company with a view of the Forfarshire Steamer – part of a collection offered without reserve at Tennants on May 28.
This 10in (26cm) Brameld pottery plate, commissioned by the Dundee & Hull Steam Packet Company, c.1834, is printed in sage green with a view of the Forfarshire Steamer.
A few years after the plate was made, on September 5, 1838, the Forfarshire left Hull, bound for Dundee. The following day the ship ran aground. Many on board perished but nine souls were rescued by Grace Darling and her father, the lighthouse keeper, in what became the most romantic sea rescue of the Victorian era.
The plate, cracked and with crazing, is part of a collection offered without reserve at Tennants’ Antiques & Interiors sale in Leyburn on May 28.
tennants.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Colt percussion revolver, the 1849 London Pocket – estimate £2000-3000 at Holts on June 21-22.
This Colt percussion revolver, the 1849 London Pocket, retains virtually all its original blued finish.
It comes complete with its James Dixon flask, Colt cleaning rod, signed double cavity iron bullet-mould and ‘L’ shaped nipple-key plus an American-style walnut case retaining an original parchment instruction label.
With the serial number 2942, for 1854, it comes for sale at Holts in Wolferton, Norfolk, on June 21-22 with a guide of £2000-3000.
holtsauctioneers.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Famous image of Lord Kitchener created by Alfred Leete as an advert for the September 5, 1914, edition of The London Opinion – estimate £2000-4000 at Onslows on May 28.
A collection of First World War posters has been consigned to Onslows in Dorset on May 28. The 64 items – with great visual, social and military content – include this famous image of Lord Kitchener created by Alfred Leete as an advert for the September 5, 1914 edition of The London Opinion.
By adding the words Britons in place of the magazine logo, it was later turned into a recruitment poster and one of the most enduring images of the Great War.
At the time The London Opinion, which sold for a penny, had a circulation of around 300,000. However, this poster is now as scarce as the later Britons poster, examples of which have sold for up to £24,000.
Bogue says: “This is the elusive missing link and holy grail of First World War posters. We are extremely excited to announce that this rarity has at last turned up. We think this news stand version is even rarer than the handful of known examples of the recruiting poster.”
It has a guide of £2000-4000.
Pair of Derby campana form vases painted with named views of Monmouth – estimate £300-500 at Stamford Auction Rooms on May 29.
The sale at Stamford Auction Rooms in Lincolnshire on May 29 includes, estimated at £300-500, this pair of Derby campana form vases painted with named views of Monmouth, 7in (18cm) high.
stamfordauctionrooms.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Three set designs (one shown here, estimate £500-700) for Cambridge Arts Theatre by Edward Seago are to be offered at Cheffins on May 27.
Three set designs (one shown here, estimate £500-700) for Cambridge Arts Theatre by Edward Seago are to be offered at Cheffins on May 27.
The watercolours were created for Mother Goose, staged in December 1950 and January 1951. The pantomime was produced by and starred Cyril Fletcher and was written and devised by his wife, Betty Astell. Seago is known to have produced 16 watercolours for the set design in total. The couple had been friends with Seago since 1942 and had managed to convince him to take on the Mother Goose work.
These were the first professional set designs undertaken by the artist, who then went on to design sets for several more pantomimes by Fletcher and Astell, as well as the 1958 production of The Brass Butterfly by William Golding.
They have been consigned by a private collector who bought them from the daughter of Astell and are being offered to the market for the first time.
cheffins.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Carved Tongan club (akau tau) engraved to the flat top Tongataboo War Club 1830 – estimate £5000-7000 at Woolley & Wallis on June 8.
The sale of African and Oceanic Art & Antiquities at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury on June 8 includes this carved Tongan club (akau tau) engraved to the flat top Tongataboo War Club 1830. Probably collected by an ancestor of the vendor in that year, it comes from a private collection in Ireland.
Estimate £5000-7000.
Copy of The Nuremberg Chronicle, published in 1493 – estimate £40,000-60,000 at the Cotswold Auction Company on June 8.
On June 8 The Cotswold Auction Company is offering one of best documented early printed books. This copy of The Nuremberg Chronicle, published in 1493, has been consigned from a private collection, formerly residing at Bowden Hall, Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire.
The author was Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514), a German historian, physician, humanist and one of the first cartographers to use the printing press. The book was produced by printer Anton Koberger (c.1440-1513) in Nuremberg.
The Chronicle depicts the Seven Stages of Biblical History and is lavishly illustrated with more than 1800 woodcuts, overseen by two Nuremberg artists Michael Wolgemut and Hans Pleydenwurff. The work also features extensive geographical information of the world as known at the time, showing many European cities never before illustrated, as well as biblical scenes. This copy was rebound in pale blind stamped pigskin by Bayntun in 1977.
Estimate £40,000-60,000.
cotswoldauction.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Complete 26-issue year of The Beano comic for 1948 in a bound volume – estimate £900-1400 in the Comic Book Auctions timed online sale closing on June 6.
The complete 26-issue year of The Beano comic for 1948 in a bound volume is estimated at £900-1400 in the Comic Book Auctions timed online sale closing on June 6.
It heralds the first appearance of Biffo The Bear by legendary DC Thomson artist, Dudley D Watkins. Biffo went on to grace The Beano’s front cover for over 50 years. The Christmas issue for 1948 boasts more than 20 Beano characters on its front cover, as illustrated. The comics are described as being in ‘unusually fresh condition’.
compalcomics.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Walnut sideboard by Edward Barnsley – estimate £2000-3000 at Bonhams on June 3 (with an accompanying signed letter from Barnsley to the original owner in 1956).
This 6ft (1.8m) walnut sideboard by Edward Barnsley will be offered by Bonhams on June 3 with an accompanying signed letter from Barnsley to the original owner in 1956.
It seems the owner had been asking Barnsley’s advice on how to sell it on because the designer responds by saying: “These large pieces are not easy to ‘move’ sometimes.” He goes on to advise the owner to put an advert in The Times or Connoisseur, telling her that it would be worthwhile mentioning the sideboard was made for and exhibited in the Industrial Design Exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1935 and took 318 hours to make, requiring £17.9.3 to be paid in wages.
For whatever reason, the owner must have decided not to part with the sideboard because it has been in the same family ever since.
It is estimated at £2000-3000 in the 20th Century Decorative Arts and Design sale.
bonhams.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
George V silver and enamel pin with marks for JM, Birmingham 1912 and banner bearing the initials WSPU for the Women's Social Political Union – estimate £300-500 at Special Auction Services in Dudley on May 27.
A lot of purple, green and white jewellery is erroneously associated with the Suffragette movement simply on account of its colours.
However, there is no doubting the credentials of this rare George V silver and enamel pin with marks for JM, Birmingham 1912 that carries a guide of £300-500 at Special Auction Services in Dudley on May 27.
It takes the form of a female knight standing on a purple base who holds a sword in one hand and a green and white enamel banner in the other bearing the initials WSPU for the Women's Social Political Union.
specialauctionservices.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Charles I silver Newark siege shilling from 1646 – estimate £800-1200 at Lawrences of Crewkerne on May 27.
This Charles I silver Newark siege shilling from 1646 is estimated to fetch £800-1200 at a sale of Militaria, Coins & Medals stage by Lawrences of Crewkerne on May 27.
Newark siege pieces were issued with dates of 1645 and 1646, the shilling being the first denomination to appear with a crude ovoid crown design The letters obs are an abbreviation of the word obsidional which means ‘of the siege’.
The dated coins of 1646 are rare, as the new year at that time did not commence until March 25. Given that Newark surrendered on May 6, it is likely the issue was short lived, lasting perhaps just 40 days.
lawrences.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Pair of Leeds Fireclay Company garden fountains – estimate £300-500 at Catherine Southon on June 9.
Expecting to receive the seal of approval, Chistlehurst firm Catherine Southon has hopes of £300-500 for this pair of Leeds Fireclay Company garden fountains in an online auction on June 9.
catherinesouthon.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
