WWI soldier medals the star attraction at town inaugural sale
A SET of medals awarded to a First World War soldier have sold at a auction this week for £5,800.
The ‘exceptional’ World War One medals were those of Midland hero Percy Pearson.
Pearson’s decorations include the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal.
The online sale took place at Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ inaugural sale at the family firm’s new Church Street premises in Tamworth.
More than 500 online bidders from across the globe joined the full room at Gungate.
The collectors’ sale featured around 200 lots including medals, militaria, cameras, stamps, ephemera, records, and toys.
Other highlights of the sale included various sets of collectable Pokemon trading game cards, realising in excess of £10,000.
A huge collection of modern and vintage cameras and accessories made £3,650 and records and vintage audio equipment totalled £3,800.
Sales of stamps topped £3,300 and indentures and ephemera – including Tamworth legal documents, maps, books and drawings – exceeded £2,500.
Musical instruments in the auction included a 1785 Thomas Perry violin with a one-piece back, which sold for £1,900. Two live steam locomotives totalled £800 and the logbook documenting a Canadian airman’s World War Two operations flew well above estimate to land a £600 hammer price.
Auctioneer Mr Winterton – well-known for his appearances on BBC Bargain Hunt and Dickinson’s Real Deal – said: “What a sale!
“We promised it would be a cracker and it certainly lived up to expectations, with some terrific results across the board.
“We had a local, national and international audience with bidders as far away as Australia and Asia joining us online.
“It was a pleasure to bring the world to Tamworth and to be auctioneering in this lovely historic town centre building. Roll on the next one.”