News from Spink

Positive News for Medal Auction Market;

Spink Sale Exceeds Estimate by 54%

The auction room at Spink’s London headquarters was once again overflowing today for the sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria. Bidders from around the world participated in the sale in person, via telephone and through Spink’s online bidding service, Spink Live. The sale’s total was an outstanding 54% more than the estimate. Mark Quayle, Head of the Medals Department at Spink commented, “It is reassuring to see that in a time of global financial crisis the market for Orders, Decorations and Campaign Medals remains buoyant for both vendor and purchaser alike.”

Top Five Lots from today’s sale:

Lot 61 – Sold for £41,500

The ‘Immediate’ Dieppe Raid C.G.M. group of five to Ordinary Seaman T.A. Lee, Royal Navy, for his outstanding courage as part of the gun crew of LCT (Landing Craft, Tank) 127 at ‘Red Beach’, where she was subjected to devastating mortar and shell fire for approximately 15 minutes, rendering all of her gun crew killed or wounded. Ordinary Seaman Lee finally crawled away from his post and reported to his C/O just as they were about to withdraw: “I can’t do anything else for you Skipper”; His left leg was later amputated. The lot sold included the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.299940 T.A. Lee. O.Smn.), 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star and five Defence and War Medals mounted as originally worn.

Lot 78 – Sold for £33,450

Sold by the order of the family

An exceptionally rare November 1942 M.C. Group of Six for the raid on Vichy French held Oran Harbour to Major H.V. Holden-White, No. 2 Special Boat Section, Late Royal Sussex Regiment, who commanded the S.B.S. in folboats (canoes) From H.M.S. Walney, and who launched small torpedoes from his canoe against a French destroyer. The Oran Harbour attack was the 1st British-American combined operation of the Second World War, which also produced a superb Victoria Cross for Walney's Captain, and was described by Winston Churchill as 'The finest British Naval engagement since Trafalgar'; As C/O of 'A' Group SBS Holden-White personally led several daring moonlight canoe sabotage and reconnaissance raids against Japanese positions on the Arakan Coast, 1944-45. The lot sold included the Military Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1944', and engraved 'H.V. Holden-White', 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star and Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf, mounted court style as originally worn, with related contemporary items and documents.

Lot 457 – Sold for £20,225

Turkey, Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmania, a scarce First Class in diamonds set of insignia, attributed to Sir A.S.J. Block, President of the British Chamber of Commerce, Constantinople, 1907-18, sash Badge, 80mm including Star and Crescent suspension x 61mm, gold, silver, and enamel, embellished with 28 diamonds in angles, enamel damage to two points of badge, and lacking reverse plate; Star, 95mm, silver, gold, and enamel, embellished with 415 diamonds, very fine, with full sash riband in slightly damaged case of issue.

Lot 212 – Sold for £18,500

Naval General Service 1793-1840, two clasps, Acre 30 May 1799, Egypt (E. Mourilyan, Midshipman) in original named card box of issue. Edward Mourilyan was born in Deal, Kent, and entered the Royal Navy as a Landsman, July 1798. His first posting was as a Midshipman to H.M.S. Tigre, a 74 gun ship of the line under the command of Sir William Sidney Smith.

Lot 448 – Sold for £17,925

Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Anne, First Class set of Insignia, attributed to Sir A.S.J. Block, President of the British Chamber of Commerce, Constantinople, 1907-18, by Eduard, St. Petersburg, sash Badge, 52mm, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, manufacturer's name and mark on reverse, 1908-17 kokoshnik marks on obverse angles, suspension ring, and suspension loop; Star, 93mm, silver (84 zolotniki), silver-gilt, and enamel, manufacturer's name and mark, and 1908-17 kokoshnik mark on reverse, with additional kokoshnik marks on two points of star, about extremely fine, with full sash riband, in case of issue.

About Spink

Spink is the world’s leading auctioneer of coins, stamps, medals and banknotes with offices in London, Singapore, New York and Dallas.  Since its foundation in 1666, the Spink name has become synonymous with tradition, experience and integrity. Holders of three royal warrants and numerous records for prices achieved at auction, Spink offer an unparalleled range of services to collectors worldwide.

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