First Class Results

It was a first-class day for stamps, with a collection of Royal Mail Elizabeth II to Charles III Smiler Sheets of First Class stamps delivering one of the sale's standout results, finally selling for an impressive £950 under the hammer.

Stamp specialist Craig Bennett highlighted the growing popularity (and value) of modern issues from the past 25 years, as collectors increasingly turn their attention to contemporary philately. With results like these, now might just be the perfect time to start a collection…

Why have one sovereign when you can have five? A Queen Victoria 1887 quintuple sovereign, weighing an impressive 39.8g, was the undisputed star of the sale. The coin achieved a final hammer price of £3,200, making it the highest-selling lot of the day, and evidently, worth every penny.

Every second counted during the sale of watches on Thursday, as bidders battled for a timely investment. An Omega Speedmaster triple-calendar chronograph bracelet watch was our second highest-selling lot of the sale, with a final hammer price of £1,500. This lot wasn’t the only watch that had its moment; elsewhere in the sale, a Zodiac Lady's 1960s 18ct gold bracelet watch reached £620 on the rostrum, and a Concord - Saratoga diamond-set stainless steel bracelet watch sold within estimate at £520.

Vintage appeal again dominated the jewellery, with a 9ct gold charm bracelet proving to be the standout lot. The winning bidder took the coveted piece home for £950, making it the highest-selling piece of jewellery in the sale. Charm bracelets continue to be highly popular for their intricate links and nostalgic appeal. The example offered in Thursday's sale was no exception, featuring an eclectic collection of charms including a compass, a '585' clog and a ballet dancer. 

Also in jewellery, old cut diamonds proved that their sparkle never fades. Two old cut diamond rings ranked as the second and third highest selling jewellery lots, achieving impressive prices of £920 and £680 respectively.

The saleroom witnessed incredible prices during the sale of pictures, with bidders demonstrating a keen eye for quality, and horticulture. Most exciting was the sale of a watercolour study of the Chelsea Apothecary (Physic) Garden attributed to James Fuge (fl. 1832-1838), which reached an impressive £750 on the rostrum, far exceeding its initial estimate of £100- £150. Initially a retirement present of the vendor’s relative, bidders were clearly confident in its attribution, battling over its estimate for ownership.

Our sale on Thursday also included nineteen total lots of pieces by the esteemed Bristol artist Barrington Tabb. Increasingly sought after by collectors, he was renowned for his textured, expressive oil paintings capturing Bristol's streets, docks, and daily life. His work made its mark in the saleroom, with the highest-selling lot achieving £360 under the hammer. Collectors will be pleased to know that more of Tabb's distinctive paintings will be appearing in our forthcoming auctions.

With two valuation events this week, we are continuing to consign for our upcoming interiors sale on the 13^th August, and our next fine art sale, the Autumn specialist sale on September 10^th, for which entries are invited.