March 2005 Medal Newsletter
AUCTION NEWS
Included in the 28 April auction is a selection of medals and
decorations from the family of the Dukes of Savoy, formerly the kings
of Italy, including items dating from the period of the Kingdom. The property
is being offered at Christie's in London by Princess Maria Beatrice, the
third and youngest daughter of King Umberto II, and nineteen lots of medals
and decorations have been separated for inclusion in the April auction
at Spink.
ORDERS AND MEDALS RESEARCH SOCIETY, LONDON BRANCH
The second meeting of the London Branch of the Orders and Medals
Research Society was held at Spink on Tuesday 15 March. William Hustwitt
gave an illustrated talk on The China Rebellion and the Relief of Pekin.
He brought his collection of China 1900 medals for members to examine,
and several members brought other interesting items for discussion. From
our next auction the D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar group to Squadron Leader Mally,
with its interesting log book and other documents, was greatly admired,
as were two Great War trios with documents, one to Captain S.G.H.Watts,
21 (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment, commander of ‘B’
Company at the attack on the Starfish Line at High Wood, 15 September
1916, and the other to Corporal A.J.Cook, Northamptonshire Regiment, Commended
for Gallantry during Captain Colyer-Fergusson’s V.C.action at Jacob
Trench on Bellewaarde Ridge 31 July 1916.
With tea, coffee, biscuits, and many other medals to sustain the interest,
the meeting finally finished at 8.30 only to immediately reconvene, in
a slightly different guise, in a nearby watering hole. The next meeting
will be held on Tuesday 10 May. For more information about future meetings,
including planned trips to the R.A.F. Museum at Hendon and the National
Army Museum in Chelsea, please contact Bob Barltrop 01582 715472, or Stan
Bates 07810 790817 (stanley.bates@ukonline.co.uk).
SPINK TO TAKE PART IN SOUTH WALES BORDERERS OPEN DAY
The Anglo-Zulu War weekend ‘Supreme Courage' will take place at
the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon, on the weekend 28/29 May 2005
– part of Museums & Galleries Month in the UK. This event promises
to be of keen interest to those with a passion for this campaign. Displays
will bring together medal groups (including Victoria Crosses) of many
legendary participants in the Anglo-Zulu War 1877-79; many will be on
loan just for the event. Members of the public are encouraged to bring
along medals and militaria of all periods for a consultation with John
Hayward, Spink Ltd, who will be pleased to examine, value for insurance,
and advise on auction or purchase by private treaty where appropriate.
A detailed programme for the event will be posted on the museum
website nearer the date. Email: swb@rrw.org.uk
Tel: 01874 613310.
NEW REFERENCE WORKS FOR MEDAL COLLECTORS
The Spink Book Department maintains a website list of new books on orders,
medals and decorations. A new book list of medallic books will be published
in March to be sent out with the Orders, Decorations and Medals Auction
Catalogue for the 28 April sale. Anyone who does not subscribe to the
auction catalogue should ring the Book Department if they require a copy
of the list.
Below are details of a recently privately published work of reference
that will interest collectors:
THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AS AWARDED
TO THE ROYAL NAVAL AUXILIARY SICK BERTH RESERVE by Rick Thornton and Peter
Beighton. Hardcase, 62 pages, illustrated, £14.99 (plus postage and
packing). Available from Rick Thornton, 116 Long Lane, Stanwell, Staines,
Middlesex TW19 7AJ Tel: 01784 259346
The main purpose of this publication is to provide an alphabetical roll
of recipients of this medal, but in fact the book provides much else besides.
The opening pages give quite a detailed understanding of the institution
of the medal, eligibility, numismatic information, and an incite into
the medal rolls and the problems of interpretation. The roll itself provides
service numbers, names, rates, dates of issue, clasps and, where known,
issue addresses, St John Ambulance Units and whether the medals are known.
There is an Appendix giving details of recorded groups which contain a
RNASBR Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Prices Realised
Click
here to view the prices realised for the 30 November auction.
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
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