An account of a day at James and Sons, with lots of lovely images, and a selection of quality links to round things off.
INTRODUCTION
The body of this post features today at James and Sons, but also I have plenty of other stuff for you…
BACK TO WORK WITH A BANG
Today was devoted to catching up on imaging for our August sale (two weeks tomorrow, Fakenham Racecourse). The day started with some coin lots done with the aid of the scanner…
After the coind there were some general lots done with the camera…
My final items of the day were militaria, and involved both scanner and camera…
The next six pics relate to lot 22, which I scanned first and than also did with the camera to see if I could improvee the images.
Lot 160, done exclusively with the camera.
Lot 187 was a scan job.
Lot 199, back to the camera.
LINKS
I start this final short-ish section with two pieces that refer to…
An account of James and Sons’ July Auction and its aftermath, with plenty of pictures. Also a mention of a Calendar being sold by The Art of Autism.
INTRODUCTION
This post, with one exception, deals exclusively with yesterday and todat at James and Sons. The exception which I shall deal with now is a link that will be appearing again in this blog. The Art of Autism are selling 2016 calendars for $12 each. If this takes your fancy, more detail is available in their post announcing the offer. I will be doing a more substantial blog post later.
A picture to show you why as well as wishing to support the activity I am genuinely enthused by this calendar.
YESTERDAY: THE AUCTION ITSELF
Being in Norwich, the auction necessitated a seriously early start (certainly ridiculous o’clock, possibly even qualifying as ludicrous o’clock), but being a fairly small auction it finished reasonably early, and I was home only twelve and a half hours after having set off (for a Norwich auction that is not too bad).
There were some spectacular triumphs, some flops and lots of middle of the road sales. Old football programmes fared well, one which was not expected to get more than £10 going for £28. Overall, it was a successful sale, and here are some pictures from yesterday…
This little display section was organised by meThe arrowheads in their new home.Not an auction pic, buth I just had to include the rainbow flag fluttering from Norwich Castle.A close up shot with the cover of the display case removed.The obsidian arrowheads found a good home!
Reoghrnasing these display boxes to better effect.Two gold coins, which sold very well.The whole auction in all it’s glory
TODAY
Most of my day at work today was taken up with making sure I had full and accurate records of all the people who had registered bid online via the-saleroom but I did also get some work done on the August sale, imaging a couple of new lots and locating images in our archive of items that were being given another chance to sell…
These Pevsner’s are in impeccable condition – let’s hope it is second tiem lucky for them.
AFTERWORD
Sharing is a running theme of this blog, and I hope that some of you have enjoyed this post enough to share it with others.
The title section of this post refers to today’s activites at James and Sons, but I also have some important links and quality infographics to share. On the subject of sharing, I hope that some of you are encouraged to share this post.
ADVERTS AND IMAGING
Today was productive, but not as productive as it might have been due to the fact that my efforts on the imaging front were interrupted by the need to send a couple of very basic adverts to the Diss Express and the Bury Free Press respectively about collector’s fair. A copy of one of the ads is below and I will provide links to the original word documents for both…
COLLECTORS FAIR AND AUCTION VALUATION DAY
WEDNEDAY 5TH AUGUST
STOWMARKET FOOTBALL CLUB 10AM TO 3PM
A wide range of coins, stamps, postcards,
banknotes, militaria etc. for sale.
The imaging workload was nicely varied, featuring most kinds of item we sell save for militaria…
COINS
The coin lots I choose to share come in the form of high resolution scans…
STAMPS
The stamps were all in albums and hence required the use of the camera…
EPHEMERA AND TOYS
These items were also done with the camera, and apart from a few football programs I will sharing the full range. The items categorised as toys are actually as you will see collector’s models – not intended to be played with…
This gazeteer is not in great nick but then it is over 250 years old
POSTCARDS
To end the section on today at work, some more scans, this time of postcards…
LINKS
I do not have as many links as sometimes, but they are all very important, starting with…
CECIL THE LION
This is a story about a self-indulgent rich bastard (I make no apologies for the strong language – I do not often resort to it) from Minnesota named Walter James Palmer and an African icon. The circumstances of this particular piece of “trophy hunting” – Mr Palmer apparently has a long history of such activities – have generated it vast international publicity. The lion was decoyed out of the protected area in which it lived by bait, shot with a crossbow and ultimately finished off with a rifle – all so a rich American could indulge his perverted sense of fun. I have two links for further information about the story:
My first infographic comes with a link this article on Discover…
Next, a return to the Telegraph – unlike the story which I am told was big and bold this correction was tiny and in the bottom corner of a page, so I am giving it a bit of extra exposure!
Finally to end this post two excellent infographics relating to the Conservative Party…
Coverage of some aspects of today at work, lots of quality pictures, a good link and a superb infographic.
INTRODUCTION
This post is about today at work and features some quality photographs. There is also a solitary link and a quality infographic.
PREPARING AND SENDING A BULK EMAIL
One of my tasks for today was to put out a bulk email about the collectors fairs that James and Sons will be involved in at Stowmarket on August the 5th and Diss on August the 7th. The plain text version is below, while I have a link to full word document and copies of every image used as well.
TWO COLLECTORS FAIRS COMING SOON
Collectors Fairs on August 5th at Stowmarket and 7th at Diss
James and Sons will:
Provide free valuations
Make purchases
Have a wide range of our own stock available for viewing and purchase
We look forward to seeing you there!
DISS STOWMARKET
Diss Youth & Community Centre
30 Shelfanger Road
IP22 4EH
Stowmarket Football Club
Bury Road
IP14 1JQ
This is the composite image that I created from the first four pictures.
I am not going to attempt to kid anyone that the stuff I was imaging today included any potential record breakers, but a few items came out decently…
I quite liked this painting.The oriignal art dealer’s label from the reverse of the painting.Lot 8 – a tiny little ting.Lot 10 – the whole picture.A close up photo of the three medals.A high-resolution scan of the three medals for comparison.Lot 347Close ups of the two earthenware receptacles.And a close up of the curious bottle.
Lot 502 – a bulky mixed lot.A close up of the bronze (?) plaqueClose ups of the ashtray and the metal figure.
Accounts of some elements of yesterday at work, some important petitions, a couple of autism related links and some cracking pictures.
INTRODUCTION
Apart from a substantial links section, this post focuses on yesterday at work. I hope that you will enjoy it and that some of you will be encouraged to share.
CATALOGUE OUT
The catalogue for James and Sons’ auction on Wednesday is now out in print form. It can also be viewed online at the-saleroom.com…
Our feature image!
The auction will taking place at the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich, and those who cannot be there but see something of interest can bid online via the-saleroom or Delcampe or leave bids with us either by emailing admin@jamesandsonsnorfolk.com or phoning 01328 855003.
RESOLVING A QUERY
One of the tasks I was given yesterday was answering a query about one of our lots in the next sale. The request was for some extra images, and here is how I resolved it…
This is the image that is available online.
And close-ups of eachThe selection I chose to serve as highlights.
LINKS
My selection of links divides into two subsections, a selection of important petitions and a couple of autism related pieces.
My next petition grew out of a Freedom of Information request submitted by Mike Sivier of Vox Political regarding deaths following the stopping of benefits. I have two links relating to this:
My next petition is one that has already achieved its original goal but is being used as a jumping off point for tackling similar behaviour by an authority in Kent:
An account of the last couple of days work at James and Sons, with the latest on Fiona Paddon’s petition about Group B Strep, a link to a Mike Sivier piece and a final coin pic.
INTRODUCTION
I have had a couple of richly varied days at work, and the body of this post will be covering some of that variation. I also have some links to share.
TWO RICHLY VARIED DAYS
THE JULY AUCTION
James and Sons’ auction for July is now ready to go, and a full catalogue can be viewed online. Here are some of the more recent images…
These four pics are of lot 66
Two images for lot 434
Two images for lot 436
PRESS RELEASES AND BULK EMAILS
I have put out an email to everyone who bought online at The Great Centenary Charity Auction and have created draft press releases for collector’s fairs at Stowmarket, Diss and Newmarket. As these have not been approved yet I will share only a couple of composite images I created in connection with this…
This one, which went out with the bulk email is a combined pic of lots 2 and 76This one combines 5 different items, all new in stock – note that the arrow/ axeheads are obsidian which is a much less common material for such than flint.
AUGUST IMAGING
I have already imaged some lots for our August auction (takes place on the 26th of that month). Although there is little so far that is truly eye-catching, I have som pictures that are worth sharing…
This is lot 319 in the August sale.These four ornamental plates constitute lot 328Lot 310
LINKS
My first two links are related, both being connected with Fiona Paddon’s change.org petition “Provide tests for Group B Strep to prevent any more avoidable deaths of newborn babies”:
I hope that you have all enjoyed this post and that some at least of you will be encouraged to share it. Also do check out my twitter feed and of course enjoy my closing image…
I spotted that this £2 coin was a special one and took a picture of it before using it for it’s appointed purpose. The only problem given that it commemorates 150 years of London Underground (2013 was the anniversary year) is that the train is obviously of deep-level tube stock – a train of “surface” stock would have been more appropriate.
I do not have a lot of links or infographics to share, but my title piece will be accompanied by plenty of pictures. I hope that you all enjoy this post and will be inspired to sahre it.
NEAR MIRACULOUS CATCH UP OPERATION
Because of all the fuss over the Great Charity Centenary Auction work for James and Sons own June auction was somewaht delayed. However, unlikely as it seemed only a few days ago, the catalogue for this auction will be back from the printers by the end of Thursday, and we should be up online at the-saleroom by not long after that as well.
I was working with the scanner and the camera all day today. An example of scanner work is this collection of militaria (nine lots in total, which I show as the original scan, and then the individual images I extracted from it…
Lot 267Lot 279Lot 285Lot 286Lot 295
Lot 305The original nine lot scan.Lot 269Lot 272
Another set of images that I used the scanner for were these very old coins…
Also, as mentioned, I took photographs of a wide variety of items, some of which are below…
This image of a set of gold proof coins from Jersey was obtained with the scanner.
A LINK AND AN INFOGRAPHIC
I am treating these together, asthere is only one fo each. The link is to one of Vox Political’srecent offerings. The blog post ends with the feature image, this infographic courtesy of Jon Swindon..
As well as my title piece I have some photos which connect to that and some cracking links to share with you. Read, enjoy and please share…
OPERATION CATCH UP
The combination of two auctions happening in the space of four days and a degree of failure on the organsiation front has made things somewhat hectic of late. However, after a full day imaging for our June auction today, I believe that we will be able to give our online viewers a week to look at the items that will be going under the hammer, which did not look likely at one point. Today’s imaging has been very varied, including some lovely Hornby toys (Hornby for the uninitiated are THE name when it comes to railway themed toys and models). There were also some decent stamp lots and some interesting militaria. To end this section here are some pictorial highlights…
LINKS
Here as promised are those links, starting with a fistful on the subject of…
RELIGION
My first three links are all related to the same organisation:
A single link, being given a subsection to itself. This is a petition being run by Avaaz to ensure that the South African government does the right thing and takes the opportunity to arrest and incarcerate former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir
SCIENCE AND MUSIC
An unusual juxtaposition, but both my science related pieces are concerned with planets, and there is a very well known piece of music called The Planets, so I considered it acceptable on this occasion. The music related link is to a piece by Charlotte Hoather about Madama Butterfly, in a production of which she will soon be appearing. My two planets themed pieces both come from Cosmos Up:
I have a few links to share with you, but most of the post will be taken up with the title piece.
CATALOGUE FOR GREAT CENTENARY CHARITY AUCTION IN PRINT
The catalogue for the Great Centenary Charity Auction is now available in printed form. For more detail please consult the official post on www.greatcharity.org, which can be viewed here. Just to whet the appetiite further here is a glimps of the cover…
A HARD DAY’S IMAGING
Having knocked the Great Charity Centenary Auction on the head, today was almost entirely devoted to imaging for James and Sons own June auction. I imaged a wide variety of lots today, and reckoning that pictures speak louder than words, the rest of this section will be images of some the better lots…
This is lot 1 – starting as we would like to continue!
LINKS
Just three links with this post, these two related stories from Patheos:
2) Miley Cyrus shows herself to be capable of being sensible.
Our final link is to a piece in The Mirror about the DWP’s continuing effort to avoid revealing just how many people have died as a result of welfare cuts.
I hope you have enjoyed this post and will be inspired to share it.
This is going to be one of my ‘interesting mixed posts’ as John P Ointon of notesfromthenorth recently described one, featuring my main body piece, links, infographics and photos.
AUCTION AND ITS AFTERMATH
James and Sons had their May auction this Wednesday just gone, at The Maids Head Hotel, Norwich and Thursday was therefore tied up with attending to tasks created by the auction. I made sure that my database was fully updated with details of people who had bid online, produced a word document containing a full list of all of these individuals for our records and also made a start on the press releases.
The auction day was marred by the fact that the venue was far too hot, and for much of the day we could not open any windows due the noise of roadworks going on outside. Nevertheless, there were some good moments, as there should have been given the quality of the stuff we had going under the hammer…
The dog decides to sample the view from the auctioneers chair!
There were two items which stood above all else, and gave the themes for my press releases, lot 218 a gold $20 coin in a sealed plastic box which having been estimated at £1,000 actually went for £1,800, and lot 251 a Waterloo medal, which was estimated at £1,500-2,000 and went for an eye-popping £4,700.
One the Thursday, while prepping the press releases I assembled a composite of all the images I had of the gold coin, and I will conclude this part of the post bu sharing the full gallery with you…
This is the composite image…While this image and the next five are the component parts of that composite.
INFOGRAPHICS AND LINKS
First up, my one stand-alone infographic…
A POST FROM AUTISM MOM
This wonderful post fully deserves a subsection to itself, and comes with some excellent infographics, which I have included here:
I have gained another new follower both for this blog and for my twitter account this morning, and I take this opportunity to share her latest blog post, a wonderful open letter to a fellow parent.
WIND POWER
Take Part Daily provided this superb feature on the possible future of wind power in the United States. As well as links to both the full post and the graphic I include a still of one part of the graphic:
I have three more links to share. First of all, this one from Vox Political on the DWP’s desperate attempts to avoid revealing what they obviously know will be a devastating truth. From Manchester comes this horrible story of a speeding motorist who killed someone, bragged about his speeding, and still only got sentenced to six years in jail. Finally, an important petition: El Salvador has one river still capable of providing it with clean drinking water, which will soon not be the case if one greedy mining company gets its way. I urge all of you to sign and share this petition.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Just before moving on to my final set of photographs I hope you have enjoyed this post, and if you have I urge you to share it. These last pics are all from a display in Fakenham Library…
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