Fine militaria at C&T
The two day auction in July saw a plethora of militaria up for sale, with everything from medals to uniforms, badges and daggers. Let’s start with medals and an Egypt and Sudan 1882-1889 campaign medal pair for Private Lindsey of the 4th Dragoon Guards. The Egypt and Sudan medal with dated reverse and single clasp for ‘Tel-El-Kebir’, accompanied by 1882 Khedives Star engraved to the reverse ‘R I D G 1948’ to the star points and the centre engraved ‘PRIVATE J LINDSEY’. Both complete with ribbons and medal ribbon bar. Private J Lindsey is confirmed on the medal roll as entitled to the clasp. Was sold by direct family descent, the lot went for £227.52 (includes Buyer’s Premium of 26.4%).
For collectors of the Far East, there was a trio of Japanese Order of the Rising Sun cased medals, being examples of 6th, 7th and
8th class of the award, all housed in the original lacquer boxes of issue. These went for £252.80. Also on the Japanese front, a selection of 10 cased medals. This lot comprised two China war medals, 1922 Siberia expedition medal, Russo-Japan war medal, National Sensus medal, two Rising Sun 8th class medals, two Red Cross and one Sacred Treasure 7th class medals. All in various conditions, the buyer got them for £227.52.
A Victorian army item next, with a Regiment of Foot c. 1839 Officer’s shoulder belt plate. Featuring a fine, plain copper brass, rectangular backing plate with silvered star overlay with brass crowned garter strap, ‘99’ to centre and laurel wreath. Reverse with two hooks and stud fittings. Polished. It came from the Jerry Withers collection and sold for £1,264. More
Victorian militaria from the Withers collection with a post-1881 Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers waistbelt clasp, an interesting example in gilt. Featuring a crowned anchor with ‘RN’ and ‘AV’ either side but missing the belt fitting. Smashed the estimate to sell for £404.48.
On the theme of belt buckles, how about an Imperial Russian Artillery officer’s belt buckle? A fine example of a rectangular brass belt buckle plate with separate piece in the form of the Imperial Russian double-headed eagle, with crossed cannon barrels underneath. Excellent quality indicating officer or higher rank. It sold for £278.08. Our next buckle is from WWII and the Imperial Japanese Navy. For an officer, it was a brass two-piece example with Japanese naval emblem to the centre. Complete with leather belt section. It sold for £107.44. Of course you can’t have belt buckles without a German contribution, so here’s a German Marine-marked Coastal Artillery buckle. It’s a scarce example of an olive drab finished German army pattern belt buckle, with eagle to centre and motto ‘GOTT MIT UNS’. Complete with fitting to the reverse. Attached to the buckle is a leather tab which has Marine acceptance stamp and makers details of ‘DRANSFELD & Co MENDEN i/W’, also ‘1942’ dated on the tab. It went for £429.76.
So, let’s round things off with some of the more unusual lots. Here’s an Imperial German Prussian State railway carriage plaque, interesting rectangular plate having Prussian eagle to the centre with ‘FR’ to chest. Bottom of the plaque with ‘K.P.E.V’. Four drill holes to the corners for attaching to a carriage. Sold for £252.80. Next is an Otto Von Bismarck character porcelain stein. It’s a fine example of the
0.5l stein in the form of head of the German leader with cuirassier helmet as the lid. Pewter fittings to the rear. The example is in a coloured glaze. Now on someone’s shelf for £214.88.
Finally, a bizarre piece of trench art from WWI. This was a Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force propeller that’s been made into a biscuit barrel, with a removable lid made from laminated aircraft propeller. Sold for £88.48.
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