The Auction Report: May 2017

The next Marlow’s sale will be held on Thursday 4th May 2017 at Ravon Court, Stafford. Please note that all sales will now commence at 10.00am and live internet bidding is now available. Viewing will commence at 8am, but if you wish to view in the days preceding the sale then please do not hesitate to contact us to book an appointment. Cataloguing is now in progress for this sale and the new full colour catalogue containing over 650 lots will be available in late April. There will be the usual variety of categories including badges, medals, curios, equipment, uniforms and weapons.

Great guns

The Gun category has already received a consignment of an extremely fine F. Jung of Suhl target rifle; a fine quality F Jeannet Swiss target rifle; a scarce P1844 British military Yeomanry carbine; a P1858 British military carbine with regimental stamps; a rare P1842 British military musket; a rare P1838 East India Company Lovell’s rifle; an ‘in the white’ British military troop trials rifle; a rare Joseph Lang and Son Snider prize rifle presented by the NW Railways Volunteer Rifles for a volley match in 1891 and won by A Johnson; a 7-bore William Powell & Son percussion sporting gun; a 9-bore Joseph Kemp double barrel percussion shotgun; a Napoleonic War period Worcestershire Yeomanry Bromsgrove Troop flintlock pistol; a scarce pair of ‘Egg’ drum and nipple converted percussion pistols; a fine cased William Blanch Adam’s patent percussion revolver; a pair of early 19th Century French brass barrel pistol with finely figured brass eagle head butt caps; a 1777 pattern French Naval flintlock pistol with brass mounts; a fine large example of a 19th Century percussion pocket knife pistol, the blade with maker’s mark for Unwin & Rodgers Sheffield; a late 19th Century 5mm small pinfire revolver contained in its original fitted purse; a pair of early 19th Century flintlock greatcoat pistols and a fine 19th century percussion holster, the lockplate named to A Francis 2nd Dragoon Guards.

On the edge

The Edged Weapon category will include a French Napoleonic period Hussars Officer’s sword complete in its brass mounted scabbard; an 1821 pattern Light Cavalry Trooper’s sword; an early 20th Century German Officer’s sword; an 18th Century English Cavalry back sword with similar pattern hilt to a Highland basket hilt sword; a No 4 MKI cruciform spike bayonet complete in scabbard and a WWI SMLE bayonet in its economy double seamed scabbard complete with 1888 pattern buff leather frog.

The German category will consist of a scarce SA Stormtrooper’s dagger with Ernst Rohm inscription partly removed; a 1st pattern Luftwaffe Officer’s dagger; a Luftwaffe 1943 pattern field cap; a WWII Police side cap; an Army Officer’s peaked cap; an Imperial German Officer’s long dress tunic/ overcoat; a German Railway Official’s tunic; a WWI/WWII German fatigue denim tunic; a fine Kriegsmarine photograph album from a sailor serving on the Gneisenau and a pre WW2 RAD photograph album with many snapshots of the 1936 Nurenburg rally.

Badge of honour

The Badge section will comprise a good selection of anodised cap badges; a small selection of Royal Army Chaplains’ Department badges; a selection of women’s badges; Yeomanry cap and collar badges; Yeomanry shoulder titles; Indian cap and collar badges; Infantry cap badges; Cavalry cap badges; a selection of pre 1953 Special Constabulary lapel badges; a good cross section of various Infantry and civilian enamel lapel badges and a good selection of British Army WWII and later formation badges. All auctions are being held at Marlow’s venue at Ravon Court, Drummond Road, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 3HJ. www.marlowsauctions. co.uk

ROYAL REVOLVERS

Elvis Presley’s Revolvers up for auction, along with his gem-studded sheriff ’s badge and the signed sale documents for Graceland…

Two of Elvis Presley’s lavish revolvers will be available in a May firearms auction hosted by Rock Island Auction Company. They are accompanied by several items personally owned by the legendary performer, such as a diamond and ruby studded Shelby County sheriff’s badge, the Elvis-signed contract to purchase Graceland, and numerous personal files also signed by Presley.

The King himself purchased the revolvers in 1970 from a Beverly Hills sporting goods store before sending them to Germany to be elaborately decorated. One was presented to Vice President Spiro Agnew as a gift but was returned a short time later while Agnew was being investigated for corruption.

“We are thrilled to offer the memorabilia of an American rock and roll icon,” said RIAC President Kevin Hogan. “These revolvers are beautiful enough on their own to bring a great price, but when you add the iron-clad Elvis provenance things really get exciting. Authentic Elvis items can bring tremendous buzz and high totals at auction, so we’re anticipating a lot of action when these cross the block.” The pre-auction estimate for one revolver seen being held by Elvis in a period photograph is $160,000 to $275,000.

Rock Island Auction Company is no stranger to extraordinary firearms owned by historical figures, having sold a rifle owned by President John F. Kennedy for $149,500 and a Winchester rifle presented by Buffalo Bill Cody for $345,000.

The sale will also feature investment-grade antique collectible firearms, luxurious sporting guns, and nearly 100 machine guns. It will take place May 5th – 7th at the Rock Island Auction facility and will be open to the public. www.rockislandauction.com

HOLT’S

Holt’s Auctioneers’ first offering of 2017 saw a very encouraging start to the year, the 800 Lot auction totalling a hammer price of over £1.2 million with 84% sold on the day.

The highlights of the auction centre on some exceptional examples of best English sidelocks, with two pairs of Boss guns, Lots 1314 and 1315 achieving hammer prices of £70,000 and £80,000 respectively, Lot 1324 a pair Holland & Holland 20-bores selling at £60,000. The top single gun, Lot 1436 again a Holland & Holland, realised a hammer price of £38,000.

The Harold Bull collection of antique firearms held up the tradition that Private Collections drum up elevated levels of interest to pockets of all capacities, with a diverse and eclectic range of items selling at all levels from a couple of hundred pounds to several thousand. A reflection of the success of the collection was a sold percentage of 91% — which will undoubtedly rise following aftersales. With more of the Bull collection still to be offered up for auction in June and with a large number of items in a similar vein already consigned, there will be a rare opportunity to repeat the experience.

The next auction will be held on 22nd June 2017. www.holtsauctioneers.com