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…

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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

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

A Norfolk Sunday

Sunday lunch at East Rudham, a spot of imaging (37 magic books, of which some of the better pictures feature in this blog) and finally home to check and edit the pics (left the cable here, so could not do it at Rudham). The weather although pretty unpleasant at times was not as apocalyptic as we had been led to believe.

I managed to catch the last rites of the Somerset v Sussex 50 overs a side game once I had got back. Sussex were always in command, and reached the target easily. 

Now for those pics…

Dominatricks
Dreadful puns are a common feature of magic book titles!

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Swimming gull
Rough conditions did not deter the gulls.
Four swimming gulls
To get as many as four swimming gulls in a shot is something of a rarity.

Spectacular Victory for England

Yesterday England found the best way to avoid being hampered by the possible intervention of hurricane Bertha by wrapping things up very early. Not even a freak injury to Stuart Broad could prevent England from settling the matter. For the second time in the match India’s top order failed abjectly, and although I did not witness the events of the first two days being busy working, some of the dismissals suggested a team who had lost all semblance of fight. 

Moeen Ali, who is not even a regular bowler for his county, took (or was handed) four cheap wickets. The only triumph to go India’s way on this day was the Brian Johnston Champagne Moment, which went to Pankaj Singh who ended a very long wait for his first test wicket – only two bowlers with test wickets to their name had conceded more runs before getting their first. 

Perhaps the biggest single gainer on the day was new wicket-keeper Jos Buttler who after making a swashbuckling 85 in his first test now showed that he could adapt to different circumstances by making a much more restrained 70. 

As usual I have some fine photographs from in and around King’s Lynn to share…

Baker Lane Bird between two whirlpools ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Bus station changes
Long overdue changes to the bus station

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Gulls
Two gulls look on while a third takes wing

Three Gulls

While two gulls like their rooftop perch, a third flies off.
While two gulls like their rooftop perch, a third flies off.

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Rose within a pentagon
This rose within a pentagon appears just outside the main door to King’s Lynn library.

Preparing for August Auction

I am now deep into preparing for the August auction at James and Sons. I have about 140 lots already in my Stock database for this auction, and have also streamlined the input process in the Auction side of the database.

As usual I have plenty of pictures to share with you…

Magpie Bird ?????????? ?????????? Aeroplane

Small birds
Two small birds.
Seagull on Chimney
Seagull on Chimney

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Corn Exchange Statue
This statue sits atop the Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn

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64
This postcard album forms the bulk of lot 64, but there were three other images of loose cards as well.

64a 64b 64c

This collection of coins is lot 251
This collection of coins is lot 251ds

 

A Festive Saturday

I was needed in East Rudham yesterday to do some imaging for my father, and took the opportunity to visit the Rudham Village Fete that was running at the same time, and got some good photos. Then for an encore I went down to the east bank of the Great Ouse to watch the fireworks display that is a regular feature of Festival too. I have some fine pictures for you, especially of the fireworks…

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A productive day at James and Sons

Very little imaging to do today, but there was all involved quality items. I put out two press releases, one mainly targeting organisations with an interest in aviation history and focussing on the propeller, and a general press release about the auction taking place at Raynham Hall as a trial run for the big event (will soon be communicating these details on the appropriate facebook and twitter pages). Note for my newer followers/ those who have more recently liked my posts: I would be even more grateful if you could like the facebook page I have linked to above and/ or follow the twitter page.

Now for the images and links to the press releases…

This little brass clock with visible mechanism and very battered carrying case appealed strongly.
This little brass clock with visible mechanism and very battered carrying case appealed strongly.

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Watches like this one caused me grief with the old camera - no probs with this one.
Watches like this one caused me grief with the old camera – no probs with this one.

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This Chinese tea set required security measures - each part of individually bubble-wrapped, then a top layer of bubble wrap to house it more safely in the very stout box I selected with care, and then black marker pen to indicate the lot number and most importantl;y the word FRAGILE!!
This Chinese tea set required security measures – each part of individually bubble-wrapped, then a top layer of bubble wrap to house it more safely in the very stout box I selected with care, and then black marker pen to indicate the lot number and most importantl;y the word FRAGILE!!

PROPELLER IN NORFOLK AUCTION RAYNHAM HALL TO HOST JULY AUCTION

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.