Tag: Medals

Heritage Open Day 3: Masonic Temple

The Masonic Temple, at the heart of Philanthropic Lodge 107, is quite remarkable, all the more so  for being housed within another building that serves an altogether different purpose – The Dukes Head which faces the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn.

Masonic regalia frequently goes under the hammer at James and Sons auctions and has been known to do well, but this collection was astonishing.

There are rumours that Mozart joined a Masonic Lodge, while Sherlockians will recall that Jabez Wilson in “The Adventure of the Red Headed League” is a freemason. For fans of more modern literature, Matthew Reilly’s Jack West series features freemasonry.

The next installment of this series features a house on Ferry Lane and in the meantime here are my attempts to do photographic justice to Philanthropic Lodge 107…

Philanthropic 107
The door mat tells you what you are entering.

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Even the ceiling had points of interest!
Even the ceiling had points of interest!

Throne Sword Flags

Globes
I particularly liked this display

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Atc and Compass
The famed arc and compass

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Medals
Medals

New Post on greatcharity.org – Gold Medal

There is a new post on www.greatcharity.org.uk regarding the most spectacular donation we have yet received: an Olympic gold medal from London 2012!! This is also available on the James and Sons website and has been featured on facebook and twitter. To go straight to the full report click here.

GM Montage 1 GM Montage 3 GM Montage 4 GM Montage 7 ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

A Busy Couple of Days at James and Sons 1: Press releases

I have decided to do two blog posts today because I wanted to devote one exclusively to press releases. 

There were som many fantastic results at this auction that I decided to split the press releases into categories: Coins, Medals, Militaria, Stamps and a portmanteau category that I privately dubbed “quirkies”. Thus below thsi you can find links to all five press releases and view any or all as you choose. Also I am including full photo galleries of associated images…

Coins montage Coins MEDAL SUCCESSES AT FAKENHAM AUCTION ?????????? Militaria Makes Massive Money at Fakenham Auction Militaria Montage Quirkies Quirkies Stamp montage STAMPS SELL WELL AT FAKENHAM AUCTION ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? 325 330 ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? 511 ?????????? 542 565 573 592 ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? 640 ?????????? 686 709 745 ?????????? ??????????

Racecourse Auction Success

Yesterday James and Sons of Fakenham had their August auction at Fakenham Racecourse, and the day went very smoothly. The database system that has been 16 months in the development process is now functioning very well for purpose – at no time was I more than about 10 lots behind the action, meaning that I was able to produce invoices without many delays. The internet connection worked perfectly, so we got our full ration of internet bids.

After I have pulled everything together today I will begin writing up the best success stories (my role at James and Sons could be described as at least a quadruple one – database developer, data input clerk, imager and press release creator). Without as yet revealing any content I can say that Coins, Medals, Militaria and Stamps will all definitely feature. 

I have some pictures from the auction venue for you…

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Auction Preparation

I have done no new imaging today because I have been getting my database in order before James and Sons August Sale takes place on the 27th at Fakenham Racecourse. A full catalogue of the sale can be viewed at www.the-saleroom.com by searching live auctions until you find the name James and Sons.

I have a working bid book, and will print off pre-auction Vendor Advice Notes tomorrow morning.

A new advert, principally for James and Sons upcoming auction but also making mention of the Great Centenary Charity Auction, will be in the EDP on Saturday and can be viewed now on the following link: http://www.greatcharity.org/advert/

By way of pictures, as I have nothing new from today I will offer for your inspection the full gallery on the Scouting regalia and a couple of other pictures of similar vintage, plus putting the advert itself up here as well…

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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

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.

Morning coffee Al Fresco and a day spent imaging auction lots.

Even though my outside seating area was still in the shade this morning I could not resist sitting outside for my second cup of coffee of the day, and I got a couple of decent pictures while doing so.

My entire working day today was spent imaging for the dress rehearsal auction at Raynham Hall (aka James and Sons July sale), although tomorrow will be more varied, with some press releases to go out. Most of the imaging was of course done with the camera, but some items do genuinely work better done with the scanner, and there are couple of these among the pictures the accompany this post. I am going to start posting on the Great Auction facebook and twitter pages with some of these images and the suggestion that if anyone has similar items that they would like to donate to a really good cause, please get in contact with us.

I have just had an email from Phil Pell at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge confirming that we have a session booked for August 27th. The new feature (for me) of this particular research project as that it will entail spending time in an MRI scanner. As group leader of the King’s Lynn Asperger Support Society (KLASS) and as someone who wants Asperger’s Syndrome to be better understood by the world at large I always accept invitations to take part in research projects of this nature.

Now for the photos…

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As both sides of this item were interesting I decided to take two pictures and produce a composite image.
As both sides of this item were interesting I decided to take two pictures and produce a composite image.
I went for the secondary image for the purposes of this blog.
I went for the secondary image for the purposes of this blog.

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I always use the scanner for small stamp lots.
I always use the scanner for small stamp lots.

355 359 361 384 385 ??????????

This flagpole, atop the Clifton House Tower is a popular perching place
This flagpole, atop the Clifton House Tower is a popular perching place
I had not previously seen a bird perching on this wall.
I had not previously seen a bird perching on this wall.

Cricket, Imaging Auction Lots and a bit more

Another day, another collection of splendid pictures.

I notice that England are going well in the first test match of the summer, having bounced back from a decidedly shaky 120-4 to 575-9d – and that after being put into bat. Joe Root with 200 not out played the big innings around which others, notably Prior (86), Moeen Ali (48), Broad (47) and Plunkett (39) could chip in. Tomorrow I will actually be able to listen the play, and it promises to be an interesting day.

At James and Sons I have been imaging lots for the July sale (PR drive coming soon), and have some interesting pictures from that. I also have some non-work pictures for you. I was also given r3esponsibility for safely storing three pieces of Chester silver which will be lots 1-3 at that sale.

If you should chance to visit www.facebook.com/GreatAuction you will see one picture that I have posted today, and there is another scheduled for this evening. Also of course do not forget www.twitter.com/great_auction and of course extra detail, including ideas for donations, and how you could make such donations can be seen at www.greatcharity.org

Now for the pictures…

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I decided to include the whole gallery for this Daguerrotype from the US Civil War
I decided to include the whole gallery for this Daguerrotype from the US Civil War

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A Hectic Day at James and Sons

Today has been a busy day at James and Sons, with lots coming in for the July sale, and needing imaging. I have some cracking photos, including one which I have used as a marketing ploy on the Great Centenary Auction facebook and twitter pages, giving people a link to follow to find out how to donate if they are so minded, which I now repeat here: http://bit.ly/1l53uOh. As usual I have some pictures for you…

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