A productive day

Even though half of today was spent at Raynham Hall, I still got plenty done at James and Sons (and have some pictures of new donations to edit later). I should get some database time tomorrow, as well as on Thursday and Friday, which will get the stock database complete and (I hope) get me started on the auction side of things in advance of the sale. I then have Tuesday of next week to finish things off in terms of advance preparation.

The Great Centenary Charity Auction is starting to look reasonably healthy, and I will have some new material for social media before long.

As usual I have some pictures for you…

355 - Stamps 355a - stamps ?????????? 355c ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? 396 - coins 398 - Post History 398a - Post History 398b - Post History 399 - Post History 501 - Medals/ Militaria 519 583 - Militaria Medals - 588 Postcards/ Militaria 590 - Medals

Sunday’s Sporting Successes

After a superb Sunday lunch at my aunt’s place (parents away) I returned to catch up with the cricket, and got the last rites of the match as India’s response to a 338 run deficit on first innings was to be all out 94, demonstrating all the backbone of a jellyfish. What made things even worse for India than the abysmal score was the way in which some of those wickets were lost. One of the last few that I heard was a run out, which in a situation like that is absolutely crazy. 

India looked like a side who had mentally checked out. They had nearly been all out for under a hundred in the first innings (a catch went down when they were 95-9), and in the second they were much worse, because the conditions were better for batting.

Later that night I watched the last session of the European Athletics Championship on iplayer (I refuse to get a TV license, being quite happy to watch stuff at a time of my choosing once it is available). GB had been locked in battle with France at the top of the medals table, but by the time Mo Farah had won his expected gold in the 5000 metres, Greg Rutherford had won the long jump, the men’s 4×400 relay team and both 4X100 relay teams had also taken gold, and GB were convincingly top of the medals table. 

As usual I have a selection of pictures for you…

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England in Command

After just two days of the fifth and final test match against India, England appear nailed on for a 3-1 series win, and a second straight innings victory. Joe Root is on the brink of another ton, and India look like they have already conceded. India very rarely play five match test series these days, and it is starting to show. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who dominated the first two matches is now hardly able to raise a gallop, now bowling at a gentle medium pace and without menace. 

Congratulations to the Indian women for winning their one off test against England. The outcome was more or less settled when England were put out for 92 on the first day although in the end it took some good batting from Mithali Raj to see India over the line (perhaps she could replace one of the men in their currently ineffectual top order?!)

As usual I have some photos for you…

Wader prepares to fly Birds congregate by the Great Ouse ?????????? Taking the long view ??????????
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Swimming Tern
This little beauty was in the Nar Outfall, just where it joins the Ouse

?????????? Boats and Bridge

Butterfly
White butterfly.

Rabbits

fruit tree
This heavily laden fruit tree grows in the less than salubrious environment of the Hardwick Industrial Estate

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? Magpies Wading Birds

A hectic end to a hectic work week

No further progress on the database front today, but lots of imaging, and resolving queries (for the last hour, after the new images had gone off to ATG Media).

The lots I imaged today covered a very wide range and left me spoilt for choice as to what to include.

I notice that India, needing a win in the final test at The Oval to square the series are currently 125-9 (albeit having been put in, unlike in the previous test, when  they chose to bat first and did not do a whole lot better). I also note, encouragingly for England, that it has been Woakes and Jordan who have done most of the damage (or been the principle beneficiaries of poor Indian batting?) rather than the much more established Broad and Anderson.

Now for those pictures…

?????????? Roman Jars Coins (344) ?????????? Coins

Coins
some very

More coins ?????????? 359 - Stamps Ornate sword Sword inscription ?????????? ?????????? 751 751a 762 - Railwayana/ Toys ?????????? 763 - watch

764 - watch
This watch has its original box as well.

Medals - 521 745 - Ephemera 748 - Ephemera 348 - coins 348a - coins

Full Steam Ahead for August Auction

I got to image some very quirky lots, including what we think is a Bar Billiards set, and one or two other very interesting items. I have also continued to make progress on the database front.

Here are some of the quirky things I imaged today…

199 ?????????? 349 - coins 349a - coins 350 350a 376 - Stamps/ Postal History 595 - Militaria 595a - militaria 596 596a 597 637 - Ephemera 637 - Ephemera

Bar Billiards?
Bar Billiards?

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Making good progress on August auction

Having gone in for an extra day this week (yesterday), I am making good progress on the August auction. My stock database now has full details of over 400 lots, so I am fairly confident of having it complete by the end of the week, which will enable me to produce pre-auction vendor advice notes (and ultimately, when I have full details of advance bids, a bid book). 

I also did some imaging of course, and have some fine pictures to share with you all…

Bulk coin lots of this nature are best handled by selecting a few choice specimens to do close ups of and photographing the whole lot.
Bulk coin lots of this nature are best handled by selecting a few choice specimens to do close ups of and photographing the whole lot.

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337 - coins
This lot was so large it had to photographed in two tranches and the two images then joined together.

337a - coins 337p1 - coins 337p2 - coins 338 - coins

338a - coins
Pre-decimal pennies across the ages from Victoria to Elizabeth II

335 - coins 338a - coins 340 - coins 340a - coins

340b - coins
The Royal Mint insignia in all it’s glory
341 - coins
Five ceremonial coins – four crowns and a 50p (centre)

342 - coins 342a - coins 342b - coins 342c - coins 592 - medals and militaria 592a - medals

592s
This is the first of a series of special images of these medals I have produced for use in publicity – there are four in total, this one, one of each set of medals and a 400dpi scan of the big set of medlas

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Debenhams
These windows belong to Debenhams, and I am probably the only person who regularly gets to see them.
Debenhams close up
A close up shot o one of the three panels.

A productive day at James and Sons

I have had a very productive day at James and Sons. I spent the morning imaging for our next auction and the afternoon working on the stock database for the same.

As a result of this work I have some good images to share with you, leavened with some not work related…

47 53 53p1 53p2 ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? 343a Coins close 716 ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? Full Moon 1 Full Moon 2

Two new posts on www.greatcharity.org

The Great Centenary Charity Auction has been postponed, and now that the postponement has been made public there are two new posts on www.greatcharity.org, the official press release and a piece about a propeller we have had donated. Two view these directly click

http://www.greatcharity.org/propeller-mach-2/

http://www.greatcharity.org/postponement/