December 2004 Medal Newsletter

Auctioneer's Report
The cover lot from the November 30 medal sale, while not the most expensive medal in the auction, certainly gained the most press coverage. Helped by the coincidental unveiling in Hyde Park last week of the impressive monument to Animals in War, The Dickin medal to ‘Commando’ the pigeon was widely reported in regional and national newspapers, appeared in the Saturday Times magazine, was discussed by Sandy Toksvig on LBC radio, and, on the day of the sale, featured on the BBC national news, and within hours of the hammer coming down was reported in the Evening Standard. I had the good fortune to go on a Swan Hellenic cruise in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean at the beginning of November, and, on learning I worked for Spink, several of the passengers on board Minerva II immediately asked about ‘the pigeon medal’. Such is the power of the press! Finally, we were visited by a representative of the STTSP organisation (Save The Trafalgar Square Pigeons), and, as I pondered on the numbers of pigeons we have here in Bloomsbury, some of which crash into the windows of my corner office, I began to think perhaps things might be getting out of hand. Though we knew we would be hard pressed to match the astonishing £23,100 achieved by the medal to Simon the Cat which was auctioned at Spink in 1993, the final price for Commando’s medal, £9,200, was a very good result, and the owners and the press all went away happy. One gentleman (who shall remain anonymous) was even heard ‘cooing’ at the back of the saleroom.

The rest of the sale was a great success. Yes, the market is still strong (though some claim to have observed weaknesses in some areas), but the freshness of the material offered as always played a major part in this success. The many lots that were consigned by relatives of the recipients all did extremely well. On several occasions the medals were originally consigned by themselves, but then in the course of conversation in transpired that other items, some deemed of no importance by the family, were also available, and these were subsequently sent in and added to the lots. For example lot 183, the 1914 trio to Private Randall, 14th London Regiment (London Scottish) cost its new owner £1,380. This was certainly due to the addition of a pocket watch, a photograph in a silver frame, and a cigarette case, with engraving and identity disc. The Archangel Command M.M. to Sergeant Major Doe, R.F.A. sold for a strong £1,897, no doubt greatly helped by the rare letter from Major General E. Ironside, G.O.C. Allied Forces at Archangel.

A quick survey of the other medal lots in the ‘top ten’ gives a remarkably uniform picture, all selling above, but not wildly above, their estimates. As usual these estimates were ‘realistically conservative’, an important factor to remember when viewing an auction which has been put together with the aim of creating a genuine and enthusiastic buying atmosphere. Other interesting lots that did not make the top ten are lot 332, the ‘Isandhlwana’ Cornet, sold for 4,370, the small collection of Naval College and Training Ship gold medals, lots 547-551, which all sold for between £1,500 and £1,700, and lot 226, the Waterloo Medal to Anthony Dunn, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, which fetched a strong £5,060 due to its superb condition.

The next medal auction, scheduled for April 2005, is well under way. Yet another selection from the very sizeable ‘Collection of a Lady’ (this will be Part VI) will include a selection of life saving awards and another large group of interesting Victorian campaign groups and pairs. Notable among these is the superb and rare combination of campaign medals to Major the Honourable Barrington Reynolds Pellew, Rifle Brigade, late 43rd Foot. Pellew served with the 43rd Foot in South Africa 1851-51, in the Crimea, as Captain, Rifle Brigade, was wounded during the attack on the Redan, was A.D.C. to General Van Straubenzee in China and was present at the storming of Canton, and eventually died at Lucknow in December 1858. The group comprises South Africa 1834-53; Crimea, one clasp, Sebastopol; China 1857-58, one clasp, Canton; Indian Mutiny; Turkey, Order of the Medjidieh (£2,400-2,800).

Among the gallantry groups consigned for this sale is the D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar group to Squadron Leader James ‘Zulu Jim’ Malley, navigator-bomb aimer, first in Wellingtons (including the famous F for Freddie of ‘Target for Tonight’ fame) and later in Mosquitoes of 1139 Pathfinder Squadron. He flew a remarkable total of 127 operations over enemy territory including more than 30 raids over Berlin. The medals are offered with Malley’s Flying Log Book, Workshop Note Book, documents, photographs, and his Squadron Leader tunic complete with observer wings and riband bars (£5,000-6,000).

Finally we mention a rare silver medal commemorating the German Atlantic Expedition 1925-27 undertaken by the survey ship Meteor, one of the most important oceanographic expeditions of the 20th century. Estimated at just £300-400, this is for the specialist collector. Once again we are looking forward to assembling a interesting and wide ranging sale with ‘something for everyone’. Consignments can be accepted until the end of January (contact JOHN HAYWARD on 020 7563 4049, RICHARD BISHOP on 020 7563 4053 or MARK QUAYLE on 020 7563 4064).

Auction News
Again we are pleased to report a very successful sale on 30 November with the usual strong prices, which reflected the quality and interesting nature of the items we had to offer.

The highly important Field Marshal's Baton to the Earl of Lucan, now especially remembered for his part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea, where he commanded the Cavalry Division, sold at £52,900 (estimate £50,000-60,000).

Among the groups and bars for gallantry and distinguished service, many lots made excellent prices, among these was the rare Burma 1887 gold Distinguished Service Order group of five to Colonel G.E. Golightly, Imperial Yeomanry, late King's Royal Rifle Corps, whose service extended from Afghanistan 1878-80 to the First World War; this brought a healthy £6,325 (£4,000-4,500). Similarly strong were an extremely rare crowned head Military Medal/General Service Medal clasp 'Palestine' pair to Fusilier W. Vines, Royal Scots Fusiliers, which sold at £4,830 (£3,000-3,500); and two RAF gallantry groups, one an outstanding Immediate Second War Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal group of six to Air Gunner, later Squadron Leader, J.I.C. Waddicar RAF which made £3,220 (£1,400-1,800), and a rare Air Force Medal and Waziristan 1925 combination group of four to Flight Sergeant B, Crane RAF which brought £4,485 (£2,800-3,200).

The section of campaign groups and pairs contained many fine quality and interesting items which was inevitably reflected in the prices realised. Among them, the attractive and extremely rare Naval General Service Medal clasps 'Martinique' and 'Algiers' in combination with a Prince Regent Presentation Medal for the bombardment of Algiers to Commander R.H. Fleming, RN produced sustained interest and sold at £9,775 (£5,000-6,000), whilst the Light Brigade group of four to an officer, Major T.G. Johnson, West Yorkshire Yeomanry, late Captain 13 Hussars, produced a hefty £11,730 (estimate £6,000-7,000). An Afghanistan and Egypt group of five named to Piper A. McLennan, 72 Highlanders was strongly contested (medals to Pipers only rarely appear for sale) until it sold at £5,865(estimate £800-1,200).

We have become accustomed to the classic nineteenth century Peninsular War period campaign medals making excellent prices. As a precursor to the emphasis that will be placed on items associated with the battle of Trafalgar in 2005, its centenary year, a single Naval General Service Medal clasp 'Trafalgar' to Midshipman James H. Johnston brought £10,580 (estimate £6,500-7,500), while another example to Thomas Brooks made £4,600 (estimate 1£,200-1,500), even though there was another man of this name (clasp 'Navarino') on the Admiralty Roll). The Field Officer's Gold Medal bar 'Guadaloupe' to Major Luke Alen, 3 West India Regiment, performed well to sell at £12,075 (£7,000-9,000). Other single medals that brought very strong prices included a South Africa Medal 1877-79 clasp '1878-9' to Private A. Hayball, 1/13 Foot which created such interest that it outstripped its estimate severalfold to make £1,610 (e£stimate 420-450).

Our first sale of orders, decorations, and medals in 2005 will take place on 28 April 2005. Cataloguing has already commenced so please contact us as soon as possible if you wish to consign items for auction.

Prices Realised
Click here to view the prices realised for the 30 November auction.

Orders & Medals Research Society, London Branch
The Spink Medal department is pleased to announce that it will be hosting regular meetings of the new London Branch of the Orders & Medals Research Society. The inaugural meeting will take place on Tuesday, 11 January, 5.30pm for 6.00pm.

As this will be the 'launch' meeting of the Branch, a little time will be given over to considering future Branch activities, but the focus of the meeting will take the form of a group discussion led by John Hayward of Spink concerning fakes, forgeries, oddities etc. Those attending the meeting are invited to bring along such items from their collection for examination and discussion.

Enquiries about the Branch and its activities should be addressed to: Bob Barltrop on 01582 715472 or Stan Bates on 07810 790817 (email stanley.bates@ukonline.co.uk).

BRITISH BATTLES AND MEDALS
Seventh Edition

Our thanks to the many collectors who have supplied corrections, addenda and suggestions. We have had a wide variety of interesting contributions which will add significantly to the comprehensiveness and accuracy of this book. Further information about British Battles and Medals and its publication will follow in due course.

NEW REFERENCE WORKS FOR MEDAL COLLECTORS
The Spink Book Department maintains a website list of both new and second hand books on orders, medals and decorations. The list can be accessed here. Below are details of two recently published specialist works of reference that will interest collectors:

BRITISH RED CROSS REGISTER OF OVERSEAS VOLUNTEERS 1914-1918
Including: Voluntary Aid Detachments, Order of St John, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, Friends Ambulance Unit, Serbian Relief Fund, Scottish Women's Hospitals, covering all theatres of war. Hardcase, 390 pages, £44

Throughout the 1914-18 War, the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem organised voluntary medical assistance to the British Forces. Initially trained men and women were sent overseas, but it was not long before the scale of the war led to a severe shortage of those available to give medical assistance and to provide ancillary services. The problem was solved by the creation of the General Service Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) which enabled women with little or no medical training to undertake more routine jobs. So appeared the cooks, laundry maids, waitresses, housemaids and wardmaids, as well as hospital storekeepers, dispensers, laboratory attendants, typists, and drivers and mechanics for Ambulance Convoys.

Accurate records were kept and published by the British Red Cross, of which this reprint is the last and largest, of over 18,000 men and women. It includes: individual details, including rank, unit and destination to which each person was sent; Lists of Headquarters Staff in London and Boulogne, and of Commissioners and Representatives Abroad; and a Roll of Honour etc.

Many of those named in this register received campaign medals or honours for their contribution to the War and this volume gives essential information about their services which may also provide a base for further research.

CASUALTY ROLL FOR THE CRIMEA 1854-55
Papercase, 286 pages, £18
Compiled from contemporary editions of the London Gazette, this work lists approximately 16,000 battle casualties, many of whom do not appear on the medal rolls. The nine Army sections, each relating to a specific battle, engagement or series of bombardments, are listed in regimental order, with casualties then listed in rank and alphabetical sequence together with the details, date and authority. There are two similar lists for the Royal Navy arranged by ship. Previously available only in hardback, this book has established itself already as a classic work of reference.

Catalogues
To take out an annual subscription for our auction catalogues, or to purchase catalogues individually, please contact Client Services on 020 7563 4089, or email catalogues@spink.com. A breakdown of charges is provided here.

Buying Medals on the Spink Website
We continue to offer more items for sale via our Website sales list. For those who have expressed an interest in receiving updates by email from Spink, we can contact you when new items are added to our online stocklists, usually every two to three weeks. If you are unsure whether we hold an email address for you, please email your details to enquiry@spink.com, stating that you wish to receive medal stock updates from Spink.

Please note that items cannot be reserved and will remain on the site available for purchase until a firm sale has been completed.

Auction Service
For those who prefer to engage an agent to bid on their behalf at the major auctions in London of Orders, Decorations and Medals, Spink now offer this as a free service. A representative from the Medal Department attends all major auctions and will be pleased to act on your behalf. The procedure for retaining Spink in this capacity is very straightforward, just contact John Hayward on 020 7563 4049

Selling Medals at Spink
Although sale at auction of orders, medals and decorations is very successful, some clients still lean towards sale by private treaty. We at Spink are most interested in the straight purchase of both collections and individual items and will be pleased to discuss such arrangements. 

•Click here to browse a selection of medals online