Tag: Militaria

James and Sons: Auction and Aftermath

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.
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 me
This little display section was organised by me
The arrowheads in their new home.
The arrowheads in their new home.
Not an auction pic, buth I just had to include the rainbow flag fluttering from Norwich Castle.
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.
A close up shot with the cover of the display case removed.
The obsidian arrowheads found a good home!
The obsidian arrowheads found a good home!

DSCN9778 DSCN9776 DSCN9775 DSCN9773 DSCN9772

Reoghrnasing these display boxes to better effect.
Reoghrnasing these display boxes to better effect.
Two gold coins, which sold very well.
Two gold coins, which sold very well.
The whole auction in all it's glory
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…

4 4a 4b 4c 195 349

These Pevsner's are in impeccable condition - let's hope it is second tiem lucky for them.
These Pevsner’s are in impeccable condition – let’s hope it is second tiem lucky for them.

552 561 564

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.

Emails and Imaging

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

66a 116 122a 252

This is the composite image that I created from the first four pictures.
This is the composite image that I created from the first four pictures.

TWO COLLECTORS FAIRS COMING SOON

AUGUST IMAGING

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.
I quite liked this painting.
The oriignal art dealer's label from the reverse of the painting.
The oriignal art dealer’s label from the reverse of the painting.
Lot 8 - a tiny little ting.
Lot 8 – a tiny little ting.
Lot 10 - the whole picture.
Lot 10 – the whole picture.
A close up photo of the three medals.
A close up photo of the three medals.
A high-resolution scan of the three medals for comparison.
A high-resolution scan of the three medals for comparison.
Lot 347
Lot 347
Close ups of the two earthenware receptacles.
Close ups of the two earthenware receptacles.
And a close up of the curious bottle.
And a close up of the curious bottle.

390 392

Lot 502 - a bulky mixed lot.
Lot 502 – a bulky mixed lot.
A close up of the brass (?) plaque
A close up of the bronze (?) plaque
Close ups of the ashtray and the metal figure.
Close ups of the ashtray and the metal figure.

A LINK AND AN INFOGRAPHIC

The link is to a collection of “The Ten Scariest Theories Known to Man”

The infographic is a devastating illustration of the extent of America#s problem with gun homicides…

Gun Homicide

A Very Varied Day’s Work

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!
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.
This is the image that is available online.

317J5 317J4 317J3 317J2

And close-ups of each
And close-ups of each
The selection I chose to serve as highlights.
The 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.

PETITIONS

The first petition I have for you comes via change.org and is aimed at putting pressure on Pakistan to overturn Asia Bibi’s death sentence.

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:

1)The petition itself

2)An accompanying blog post by Maggie Zolobajluk

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:

1)The original petition

2)An article on kentonline.

Last and in the chief place among the petitions is Joanne Fowler’s petition motivated by the needless suffering inflicted on her father in his last years

AUTISM RELATED STUFF

My first piece in this section comes from Dr Lisa Sulsenti, who runs an autism related facebook group of which I am a member and takes the form of an open letter to someone who responded badly to an autistic child in a restaurant.

Secondly, here is Autism Mom’s latest offering.

AUGUST IMAGING

I conclude this post with pictures of some of the items I imaged for our August auction (26th, Fakenham Racecourse)…

Lot 5, a very fancy boxed Meerschaum
Lot 5, a very fancy boxed Meerschaum

5a

This metal strong box is lot 337
This metal strong box is lot 337
This wooden cabinet type box is lot 339
This wooden cabinet type box is lot 339

339a 339b

This British made tobacco shredder is lot 340
This British made tobacco shredder is lot 340

340a 340b

This clock is lot 343
This clock is lot 343
A close up of the face.
A close up of the face.
The mechanism
The mechanism

Imaging and Press Releases

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
These four pics are of lot 66

66a 66b 66c

Two images for lot 434
Two images for lot 434

434a

Two images for lot 436
Two images for lot 436

436a 436b

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 76
This one, which went out with the bulk email is a combined pic of lots 2 and 76
This 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.
This 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.
This is lot 319 in the August sale.
These four ornamental plates constitute lot 328
These four ornamental plates constitute lot 328
Lot 310
Lot 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”:

1) The current state of the petition

2) An article about the petition, courtesy of Huffington Post

My other link is to a piece by Mike Sivier on Vox Political about Labour’s stance on welfare.

AFTERWORD AND FINAL IMAGE

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 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.

Anatomy of a Press Release

INTRODUCTION

This fairly short post is just reminding people of my existence, as I have not blogged for a few days. On Tuesday and Wednesday I was very busy with James and Sons’ June Auction, and although yesterday, a day out in Norwich with my parents, sister and nephew will yield several posts in due course I have not yet had time to finish prepping the photos. As well as my title piece I have a couple of links to share.

ANATOMY OF A PRESS RELEASE

This was a matter of great urgency, since it was referring to events that will happen tomorrow and on Sunday connected with the Great Centenary Charity Auction. I had some text, detailing the schedule, which is as follows:

Saturday 2PM – 6PM Viewing Session
Saturday 6PM to close – Hog Roast and WWII Concert

Sunday 8PM – 12 noon Viewing Session
Sunday 12 Noon – approx 4PM The first Great Centenary Charity Auction (another is scheduled for March 2016)

Fortunately, I am not required at all on Saturday and on Sunday I will be required to do IT for the auction itself, but  have established that arriving at the venue at approximately 10:30 (the earliest I can manage under my own steam) will be sufficient.

As well as the text, I had to select soem good images that had previously not been used in press releases. These were the images I came up with…

150b 155a 186 503 566

I turned the original word document, a link to which is included to end this section, into a jpg for use on social media, which I now reproduce…

A jpg of the press release, and our feature image.;
A jpg of the press release, and our feature image.

SPECTACULAR MILITARIA AUCTION NOW ON VIEW

LINKS

My first link is to details of a new study at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge. If you have a diagnosis of Autism or Asperger’s, are aged 18-45 and can get to Cambridge I urge you to volunteer for this study on attention and perception.

Faraday’s Candle, a regular favourite, have produced a very interesting post about some the stranger snippets of science to come their way.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post and will be inspired to share it.

A Classic Game of Cricket

INTRODUCTION

As well as my title piece, which refers to yesterday’s fourth ODI between England and New Zealand I have some links to share and some photographs from today at work. I hope you enjoy it all and will be encouraged to share.

TRENT BRIDGE THRILLER

Although in the end this cannot be described as a close game, since England won by seven wickets with almost six overs to spare, the word thriller is nevertheless well merited – it was one of the best games of cricket I have ever been priveleged to see or hear.

A New Zealand total of 349 appeared to present England with a very serious challenge, especially given that the previous biggest successful run chase by an Engalnd team in one day international was 306 to beat Pakistan in Karachi. However, the new (this series) opening pair of Jason Roy and Alex Hales launched a blitzkrieg that yielded 97 off the first ten overs of the reply. After both openers were out in a short space of time Joe Root and Eoin Morgan then shared an all-comers record for a third wicket partnership in an ODI at Trent Bridge of 198 before Morgan holed out just after completing an extraordinary hundred. Then, with the game already well and truly in England’s grasp Ben Stokes came in and provided some late fireworks to put yet more gloss on an already sparkling victory.

This result leaves the series level at two matches all, and given the cricket both sides have produced and the spirit in which the series has been contested I for one would say that the appropriate result for the final match up at Durham would be a tie, as neither side deserves to lose this amazing series.

What makes this series all the more remarkable is of course that only a few months ago English ODI stocks were at all time low, following a performance in the world cup that can only described as atrocious (with all due disrespect to the abysmal 1996 ‘effort’ surely the worst ever world cup for an England team).

LINKS

Just the two links today…

1)A petition via change.org calling on the Chinese government to put a stop to the Yulin Dog Meat Festival.

2)notesfromthenorth provides a detailed analysis of Britain’s Social Security spending to counter right wing myths.

PHOTOGRAPHS

All of the pictures with which I end this post are of items going under the hammer on Wednesday. A full listing can be viewed at the-saleroom.com…

Lot 95
Lot 95
Lot 321
Lot 321
Lot 341
Lot 341
Lot 345
Lot 345
Lot 363
Lot 363
Lot 364
Lot 364
The first of three images of lot 374
The first of three images of lot 374

374a 374b

The first of three images of lot 403
The first of three images of lot 403

403a 403b

The first of two images of lot 404
The first of two images of lot 404

404b

Lot 246
Lot 246
The first of six images of lot 391
The first of six images of lot 391

391a 391b 391c 391d 391e

Lot 397
Lot 397
Lot 400
Lot 400
Lot 607
Lot 607

Photography and Scanning

INTRODUCTION

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 267
Lot 267
Lot 279
Lot 279
Lot 285
Lot 285
Lot 286
Lot 286
Lot 295
Lot 295

296

Lot 305
Lot 305
The original nine lot scan.
The original nine lot scan.
Lot 269
Lot 269
Lot 272
Lot 272

Another set of images that I used the scanner for were these very old coins…

755 756 757 758 759 760

Also, as mentioned, I took photographs of a wide variety of items, some of which are below…

40 181 274 425 425a 681 682 687 688 688a 688b

This image of a set of gold proof coins from Jersey was obtained with the scanner.
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’s recent offerings. The blog post ends with the feature image, this infographic courtesy of Jon Swindon..

HRights

Operation Catch Up

INTRODUCTION

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…

277 277a 283 283a 294 503 503a 506 506a 512 512a 519 594 594a 596 596a 600 618 622 623 623a 623b 641 658 658a 664 665 685 764 764a 767 767a 794

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:

1)Atheist Republic home

2)Atheist Republic blogs

3)Atheist Republic’s brief explanation of atheism.

Patheos, so often a source of good material have done it again, this time with a piece about Christian extremist opposition to higher education.

A CHANCE TO BRING A VILE CRIMINAL TO JUSTICE

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:

1)Juxtaposition of Jupiter and Venus

2)A possible preponderance of Neptune sized planets in our galaxy.

A FINAL SELECTION

Three more links, starting with this from Jayne Linney.

Stop Homophobia have collected some superb responses to hate mail.

Last but most definitely not least is this piece from network autism about gender dysphoria and autism.

A Hard Day’s Imaging

INTRODUCTION

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…

GCCA Catalogue

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!
This is lot 1 – starting as we would like to continue!

1a 517 589 626 626a 630 630a 647 647a 647b 777 777a 786 786a 791

LINKS

Just three links with this post, these two related stories from Patheos:

1) Yet another creationist (Ken Ham in this case) makes a fool of himself.

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.

Great Centenary Charity Auction Approaches

INTRODUCTION

As well as my title piece, I have a few links to share. I also have some good pictures, so it will not all be text.

UPDATE ON THE GREAT CENTENARY CHARITY AUCTION

The Great Centenary Charity Auction takes place on June 28th, and after two hard days at the silo in Syderstone where stcok for this auction is currently being stored and an intense day of editing at my desk on Fakenham (today), virtually all the images are ready. Given the situation we were in not very long ago (the Irishman in the joke about directions would definitely have been saying that he wouldn’t start from there – and he would have been 100% justified!) this is little short of miraculous.

The VC in the pictures below has a particularly interesting history – it was stripped from the person to whom it had been awarded when he was convicted of several serious criminal offences…

527 527a

As a very keen bridge player, this twin pack of cards naturally appealed…

150 150a 150b

My last set of pictures is of lot 537…

537 537a 537b 537c

LINKS

Just a few links for you this time. Firstly, from the Visit Norfolk website, a very interesting piece about our region’s 1,000,000 year history of human habitation.

Cosmos Up, regulars in this links section have two interesting offerings today:

1) Blue patches on Mars

2) An esimate of the total weight of our galaxy!

CLOSING STATEMENT

I hope that you have enjoyed today’s offering from aspiblog, and that you will be encouraged to share it with others.