Gold, books and railways - a more diverse mix would be hard to find but all these things found keen buyers in The Cotswold Auction Company’s Books and Collectables sale on February 2nd in the Cheltenham Saleroom!
Gold is king in these present times of uncertainty and hopefully will prove a good investment for the collectors and dealers who pressed into the saleroom to buy the large amount on offer on Tuesday 2nd February in Cheltenham. A George VI gold proof specimen coin set dated 1937, was the subject of very keen bidding both on the internet, in the room and on the telephones and sold well at £2,800. Three Krugerrands each sold at £600 , while a Victorian gold £2.00 coin dated 1887 found a hammer price of £340. A very large quantity of gold sovereigns of various dates averaged £150 each. Remembering the commission of 17.5% plus VAT is added to the hammer price these were good prices indeed.
An interesting and varied collection of books came for sale from the Gloucester Library Services for their regeneration plans. It was very satisfying to see such special works come into the public domain to be enjoyed and valued in another life! William Stukeley’s work ‘Itinerarium Curiosum or An Account of the Antiquitys and Remarkable Curiosities in Nature and Art, observed in Travels through Great Britain’ printed in 1774 in two volumes - the second volume being printed in 1776 - with wonderful folding plates and maps bound in red calf found a hammer price of £580. Two superb volumes by Edgar Gorer and J.F. Blacker ‘Chinese Porcelain and Hardstone’ 1911, a limited edition no 658 of 1000 copies, went well above estimate for £450. These two books had colour and black white full page illustrations. An unusual and rather relevant book in today’s changing climate was ‘The Erruption of Krakatoa and Subsequent Phenomena’ edited by G.J. Symons. This reached £400. In all, the collection raised a realistic sum for the Library Services to put to good use for the future.
A very special edition of D.H. Lawrence’ ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ had created a deal of interest before the sale. This was signed by Lawrence and numbered 970 of a limited edition of 1000, privately printed in Italy due to the then Lord Chamberlain’s ban on the book, in 1928. This rare book sold eventually in the room despite fierce opposition on the net and phones for £1150. Another rare work from the same vendor was Florence Nightingale’s ‘Notes on Nursing; what it is and what it is not’. This made a very healthy £280. A delightful vellum bound album of watercolour miniature portraits of society ladies c. 1790 sold for £800. A rather curious collection of ephemera and books relating to Eric Gill was offered for sale. This included a hand written letter from his wife, a typed and signed letter from Gill himself, a drawing by his wife of the tunic he always wore and three volumes of books. It was difficult to value but cataloguer Jenny Low was pleased that it realized £340.
Tartan ware -or mauchline ware - is very collectable under any guise and when a boxed set of six volumes of Walter Scott with all the books having mauchline ware boards, a few pulses were set racing! And indeed the final hammer price sent the vendor’s pulse racing as it was £950, £300 above its original estimate!
Now to the Railway enthusiasts amongst our readers! A collection of metal and enamel railway badges with a very modest estimate of £20-£30 raced at a speed to rival the TGV to a final hammer price of £1100! Prior to the sale detailed condition reports were being requested which alerted the cataloguers that these badges might realise somewhat more!
The Cotswold Auction Company’s next Books and Collectables sale will include Medals and Militaria and will be held in the Chapel Walk Saleroom, Cheltenham on June 29th.
Please contact Jenny Low regarding Books and Henry Meadows for Medals, Militaria and Collectables for valuations for sale on 01242 256363 or email:- info@cotswoldauction.co.uk and www.cotswoldauction.co.uk