May 2018 Sporting and Collectors Auction Preview
Published 11th May 2018
A cased double barrel percussion cap shotgun by J Purdy London est £1,800-£2,000 (SC26/151) offered in our Two Day Sporting and Collectors Sale starting 16 May 2018 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.
‘As ever the Sporting & Collectors sale has been spread over two days on the 16th & 17th May and has a number of single owner collections including a large collection of Action Man figures, that will make it another #Epic sale! It is not always easy to pick out the highlights of a sale that has over 1300 lots, from silver sporting trophies to autographs of Laurel and Hardy Est £300-£400 (SC26/410A) and just about anything you can imagine. For those who like traditional field sports and equestrian antiques there are always pieces like the gold bracelet Est £350-£400 (SC26/37) or the Georgian mahogany and brass horse measuring stick Est £500-£700(SC26/64) or for the more macabre touch why not the Potteresque anthropomorphic taxidermy tableau of The Squirrel School Est £1000-£1200 (SC26/82). Once again there is a good selection of antique firearms, arms and militaria with a cased double barrel percussion cap shotgun by J Purdey, London Est £1800-£2000 (SC26/151) a George III silver mounted flintlock pistol signed Richards with silver assays for Birmingham 1779, Est £1500-£2000 (SC26/169) and a 18th century brass barrelled flintlock blunderbuss by Thomson & Co, London, Est £1500-£2000 (SC26/185). Standing out among the selection of edged weapons on offer in the sale is the George III silver handled short sword, maker IC, London 1762, Est £500-£700 that should attract international attention from buyers on the internet on the day of the sale. Medals and medal groups have seen a strong market continue and the sale includes a good Military cross group (SC26/247) as well as an interesting WWI medal and Merryweather Fireman’s Helmet group (SC26/265) which should attract interest with the good family histories and provenance that accompany them. The first day continues with the inclusion of a good Longines Military issue watch (SC26/298) Est £500-£700, and the Hardy Fortuna reel (SC26/307) as well as a good collection of Victorian and later postcards, Est £700-£900 (SC26/426) that includes erotic and glamour from the Art Nouveau to the Art Deco period. Artists included are the likes of Kirchner, Asti, Pepin, Penot, Peltier, Ney, Ogilvie, Hammick and others. The second day of the sale contains several single owner collections of original diescat Corgi and Dinky cars as well as a large collection of over 300 Palitoy Action Man figures in original uniforms. Traditionalists will probably sigh in disbelief seeing them in the saleroom, but will probably dash home to look through the attic when they see how eager collectors are to acquire them. Hopefully the traditionalists will be a little more please to see the early tinplate clockwork open top tourer, possibly by Carette in cream with red and gold coach lines, Est £500-£700 (SC26/1016). Whatever you are looking for, I’m sure that somewhere among the 1300 lots there will be something that strikes a nostalgic chord and get you bidding!