Tag: Militaria

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.

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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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A confusion over swords and more imaging

Today started with the discovery that the sword which will be a subject of press releases in the near future was not the one I imaged yesterday for the June sale, but one which I imaged today and which will be going under the hammer in the Great Centenary Auction on September 21st and Raynham Hall. There are signs that Archant having become a sponsor are really getting into gear, with an article, reproduced here, that appeared in yesterday’s Fakenham and Dereham Times. I have already as Great Auction publicly thanked both the publication and the journalist, Chris Hill. If you have not already liked http://www.fgacebook.com/GreatAuction and/or followed http://www.twitter.com/great_auction please do so.

Having taken many images of this old and very ornate sword, and kept those that were good enough to be usable I then finished the stamp imaging from yesterday and did most of the postal history, leaving fifteen lots of that, plus whatever new comes up for Tuesday.

As usual I have a highlights package of images from today for you….

Just to whet your appetite for later.
Just to whet your appetite for later.

357 383 591 592 Fakenham + Dereham Times

Imaging

Another interesting and varied day at James and Sons. My first activity of the day was to image and prepare a press release (needs further discussion tomorrow) about an old and very ornate sword that will be in our June auction, at the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich on the 21st. The sword is in a leather scabbard, has a very ornate pommel featuring among other things a crown and a sconce horn and also has some very ornate decoration on the blade. Most of the sword images will be displayed just once on this blog, tomorrow, but I will whet your appetite with one image today.

The other imaging I did today was almost entirely of stamps, which usually come out fairly well, and I have some highlights from there as well.

If you have not already like http://www.facebook.com/GreatAuction and/ or followed http://www.twitter.com/great_auction please do so.

Now for the images…

The sword, with leather scabbard.
The sword, with leather scabbard.

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June Imaging/ Databasing

Just finished a productive day at James and Sons, imaging for the June sale and also updating my stock database (I am looking to provide a demonstration of what I can do on this part of the database by recording details of all June lots there so I can provide a real time demonstration.) There were some interesting militaria lots, including some Hungarian stuff. I also sent out a press release about our May sale, which took place on Saturday. Although it attracted early interest from other quarters, my advance bid of £20 proved sufficient to secure the postcard reproductions of classic London Underground posters as an early birthday present – the actual price was £18.

Alongside this of course I continue to build up the Social Media profile of the Great Centenary Auction – don’t forget that if you have not already done so you should be liking http://www.facebook.com/GreatAuction and/or following http://www.twitter.com/great_auction.

As usual I am taking this opportunity to show you some highlights from today’s work…

This medallion was a first for me
This medallion was a first for me

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This rather nice wooden souvenir features a real eagle, rather than the heraldic version that features on medals.
This rather nice wooden souvenir features a real eagle, rather than the heraldic version that features on medals.

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Both the cloth badge and the medallion were new to me - the rest while interesting is not important
Both the cloth badge and the medallion were new to me – the rest while interesting is not important
I was sufficiently intrigued by the medallion to a close up scan of it in addition to the main image.
I was sufficiently intrigued by the medallion to a close up scan of it in addition to the main image.
All of these items made over their top estimate, in some cases well over.
All of these items made over their top estimate, in some cases well over.

SUCCESSFUL AUCTION IN NORWICH

Imaging for June Auction

James and Sons May auction is tomorrow at the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich, starting from 10AM. Today I have been working on the June auction, which is on the 21st, also at the Maids Head. As well as plenty of imaging I also created a poster advertising some old and precious banknotes which will be kicking off the sale.

Only one more thing before the added media: If you have not yet liked http://www.facebook.com/GreatAuction and or followed http://www.twitter.com/great_auction, please do so.

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New donations for Great Centenary Auction and Archant are on board

The Great Centenary Auction continues to gather momentum. Among recent donations are a bayonet and complete run of World War One magazines.

I am holding fire on the magazines because one of the other people involved in this has an artist friend who may be doing a painting based on one of them, but the bayonet is on facebook and twitter, and I have sent out a press release about it, with the enthusiastic approval of Lord Townshend at whose home the Auction will be taking place.

Also, following a meeting at way higher levels than those I operate at, Archant who publish most of Norfolk’s local newspapers are backing us 100%, and there will be an article appearing in the near future about the Canadian Cross which was the subject of my first press release.

If you have not already liked www.facebook.com/GreatAuction and or followed www.twitter.com/great_auction please do so.

As usual I have some added media for you, mainly images for James and Sons’ June sale but also the bayonet press release…

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Training Session and Press Release

I have just attended a training session for my role on the social media side of things for the Great Centenary Auction , and I now feel that I can handle twitter and facebook. The website is not fully up and running yet, but that will be a doddle compared to the other stuff. I have also sent out a press release about another of our donated items, as you will see from the attached media.

Don’t forget: if you have not already liked http://www.facebook.com/GreatAuction please do so.

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