Some glimpses into James and Sons next live auction (October 28th, The Maids head Hotel, Norwich).
INTRODUCTION
This post deals with things I have been doing at James and Sons today. Before I go into the main meat of the post, the photographica that I have previously mentioned on a couple of occasions will be going under the hammer on November 25th. This auction on October 28th, which puts us back on shcedule after our previous auction happened six days later than planned is a small auction, but very high quality.
CHINESE BONDS
Lots 1-12 in this auction are old Chinese Government Bonds (I will be putting out an official press release tomorrow) ranging in face value from £100 to £1,000. Imaging these items took a lot of work, particularly lot 12.
Lot 12 waqs so difficult because of the effect of overhead lighting on it (see earlier pic with coupons on display) that ultimately it had to be done in the kitchen with the light in that room switched off.
BANKNOTES
I only did a couple of banknotes today – producing smarter images of a couple that needed that treatment…
STAMPS
Although I did image some stamp lots day there will be far more about the stamps tomorrow when I have put out a press release about them. For the moment a handful of today’s images…
A full catalogue listing for this auction can be viewed at the-saleroom.com
This is my personal account of our auction which took place yesterday at The Prince of Wales Stand, Fakenham Racecourse. This story features two days worth of action, the setup on Monday and the auction itself yesterday.
SETUP
Three of us were involved in loading the van up with everything we needed to take down to the racecourse for the auction, and once we had unloaded at the racecourse the other two then headed to the silo in the village of Syderstone that James and Sons use for storage to retrieve the rostrum and the stools that the two of us who are on the rostrum occupy while I endeavoured to lay the stuff out to best advantage. My efforts were largely successful – when I arrived the following morning very little of what had done was changed. I noticed a new decoration behind the bar while setting up…
I am certain given the high moral and ethical standards of the people who run the Racecourse that the turtle to whom this shell previously belonged would have died before 1947.
THE DAY OF THE AUCTION
A seriously early start was necessary, since I had to catch the 6:50AM bus. Fortunately the bus ran smoothly (there is no excuse for not doing so at that time of the morning!), and I was at the racecourse significantly before 8AM – and as it happened the first James and Sons employee to get there on the day. In between doing the IT setup and assisting customers I was able to take some photographs before the day started…
This lot is going to be the subject of a blog post all to itself – for the moment suffice to say that it sold to the photographer for £25.
Lot 435 was the subject of a last minute query. The pictures of the front side of the item were online right from the moment the catalogue was put up, but someone wanted images of the back……and my briefcase was the only available dark background I had against which to image it!
Lot 612 – an antique folding camera – there are many more cameras due to feature in our next auction, including at least ten of the folding type.
This barometer with thermometer sold first time, unlike the other barometer in this auction, lot 24, which is a seasoned veteran of the auction room.
THE AUCTION
The auction started quietly, until lot 7, an Indian bronze figurine which stood 13cm high and was slightly damaged. The estimate was a moderate £15-20, but the final hammer price was an eye-popping £120.
Note that no attempt had been made to hide the damage to the base of this figurine.The back of the figurine.The front side only.
Apart from lot 51 finding a good home, the next significant highlight was lot 222, a set of three challenge coins which were estimated at £5-10 but ended up making £22.
The stamps (generally a strong area at a James and Sons auction) started at lot 251, and lot 274, an album page of Chinese stamps with an estimate of £10-15 sold for £75. Lots 298 and 301, achieving £180 and £55 against top estimates of £100 and £15 respectively also generated considerable excitement, while in percentage terms lot 295, in selling for £170 against a top estimate of £20 was the star lot of the whole auction. Lot 364, an album of GB stamps, was estimated at £40-50 and actually went for £95. The coins and banknotes later in the auction also sold well, with lots 507-9, lot 519 and lots 569 and 570 among the coins doing especially well, and the banknote albums that were lots 590-8 inclusive all selling for good prices. An additional plus about the coin lots specifically was that a lot of the bulk coin lots were sold in the room to one of our regular large buyers, which meant that apart from assisting him to carry them to his car we were done with them. I have no pictures available here at home of the coin or banknote lots, but here are those of the stamps I do have…
Lot 295, in percentage terms the star lot of the auction.
THE CLEAR UP OPERATION
Once all the customers had departed with their purchases we had to load up the van, get everything back to the shop, return to the racecourse to pick up the rostrum and stools and drop those off at the silo and finally return to the shop to load up the van ready for travel to the collectors fair that will just about be under way as I write this. I was able to get the 17:38 bus home, meaning that I got back to my flat a mere 12 hours after departure, thoroughly exhausted. It is not just the heavy lifting, of which there was a large amount. Also, I find being on the rostrum, as I was for the first 470 of the 650 lots draining, and though I handle it fairly well these days I still find the direct customer service work involved on auction days hard.
An account of working on various things in connection with James and Sons’ next auction (Tuesday October 6th, action starts at 10AM).
INTRODUCTION
This brief post is about James and Sons next live auction. Regular readers of this blog will recall that it was scheduled for September 30. Events intervened, and the date was changed to Tuesday October 6th, but all is now back in order.
THE PREPARATIONS
We thought that all the gremlins had been dealth with when the first batch of catalogues arrived back from the printers until someone glancing at the inside of the catalogue just after they had arrived in the shop noted that something was amiss in about a nanosecond and had put a finger on the problem in not much longer. Unbelievably, although the cover was right the listing was the August listing reproduced in its entirety. Fortunately, the printers did not argue over whose mistake it was (the evidence against them being absolute) and set about rectifying the mistake. Even more fortunately the speed with which a certain individual (one of those advantages of autism mentioned in this post) had spotted the problem meant that none of the faulty catalogues had even been put in envelopes, much less posted. The catalogue is also available for viewing online.
A MAMMOTH EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE
Most of Thursday at work was taken up with dealing queries about the upcoming auction. There was one individual who had sent requests for images of every banknote in lots 590-8 inclusive, each of which was a whole album full of said items. Here is a sample image which just happened to be the last note of the last lot in this list…
FILLING IN THE GAPS
Also in the last fewf days I have been filling in the remaining gaps in the imaging (in most cases gaps that were there because the lots had not actually been assembled – they were bulk coin lots in the main). Here a few highlights…
With this lot, the box merited attention at leats as much as the coins within.
Not a bulk coin lot – a late description change.
This also necessitated a late change of description on the online catalogue.
GETTING THE WORD OUT
Principal among yesterday’s tasks was getting an email out to our online customers about the auction. I prepared the text part of the email using word, assembled a montage of a few of the better images and once I got the go ahead sent it out. I conclude this post by sharing the images and the text with you.
This is how I assembled the six foregoing images into a montage.A JPG of the original word document, created by screendumping and cropping.
A section on IDS and benefit deaths, a section on the Labour leadership contest and some other stuff including pictures.
INTRODUCTION
This post is about the recent revelations from the DWP of just how many people have died shortly after having their benefits axed – revelations that were carefully timed to coincide with the dissolution honours in an effort to minimize the coverage they got. Having finally had to admit defeat after fighting a long rearguard action against making any revelations at all (well done Mr Sivier and Ms Zolobajluk for your roles in making this happen) they produce the figures at this time of all times!
THE INHUMANE DESPICABLE SOCIOPATH
Others have done a splendid job of publicising the figures already, and most of this section is devoted to linking to the best of the many pieces that this scandal has generated. First however, a couple of pics to set the scene…
This, courtesy of Mike Sivier at Vox Political is devastating revealing of the kind of monster we are talking about.This is a partial acrostic of my own creation – I could not think of sufficiently opprobrious words to link to the secondary letters of each of his names!
When to comes the various articles and other pieces that have been produced, I have to start with the instigator of it all…
I finish with a brief comment of my own: these figures should without a doubt gain IDS the prize of a one way ticket to The Hague – they constitute ironclad evidence of crimes against humanity carried out on a shocking scale.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERLUDE
Here are some photographs from yesterday…
This will be lot 251 in James and Sons September AuctionA close up of the two stamps – a 2d blue (quite rare) and a 1d red/brown (common as muck)
This coin is lot 560A few pictures from yesterday morning’s walk
Close ups of each face of the coin.
Lot 601
THE LABOUR LEADERSHIP CONTEST
This will be a brief section. I am not a part of this process, not because I have been purged (although the Labour right are currently purging with truly Vyshinskian enthusiasm in a desperate bid to win by foul means a contest that are being thumped in by fair means) – I never sought a vote in this contest. I have three links to share:
This piece in the Guardian about the way this leadership election has degenerated. The only time I can recall an election looking sillier than this leadership election has been made to look by those who are hell bent on ignoring the will of the bulk of their support was when Baldrick got 16472 votes – and that was funny on purpose.
A new find for me, scriptonitedaily, provide this account of someone who is precisely the type of person Labour should be looking to win back but who has been purged for having previously voted Green. The piece contains details of a very friendly and constructive exchange with her (Labour) MP.
In this section I have three links that I wish to share that did not belong in the main body of the post. After that I have a request, an advance notice and a closing picture.
My second offering courtesy of Cosmos Up segues naturally to my last link, as it concerns a discovery made by Stephen Hawking.
The Mighty, so often a source of wonderfully inspiring material today provide an account of a cashier who helped when an autistic child was experiencing sensory overload – a story that should not stand out, but in today’s world alas it does.
My request is that everyone who has made it through this post should please share it as widely as possible. In line with this request I encourage you to use anything in this blog post that appeals to you just so long as you, as I always try to, give credit where it is due.
My advance notice is that I am working on a post that will be much longer than anything I have previously offered for public consumption.
Bilbo Baggins was once reduced at a banquet to saying “Thag you very buch” – I now conclude this post by offering the clarfiied version…
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:
Welcome to the latest installment in my series “London Station by Station“. I hope that you will enjoy this post and be encouraged to share it.
THE ULTIMATE IN TRANSPORT NODES
A SOUPCON OF HISTORY
Victoria Underground station first opened as part of the Metropolitan District Railway in 1868. The construction of this of the system was combined with the building of the Victoria Embankment, and was designed and overseen by Joseph William Bazelgette who was also responsible for the design of London’s sewer system. Peter Bazalgette, the TV producer who has a bridge programme from the 1980s to his credit and Big Brother to his debit is a great-great nephew of Joseph William.
The infighting between the Metropolitan District (now the District line) and it’s supposed senior partner the Metropolitan meant that the Inner Circle (now the Circle line), the other line to serve these platforms was not completed until 1884.
In spite of giving its name to the line in question, Victoria was not one of the original Victoria line stations, opening as part of the second of three tranches in 1969, before the final section from Victoria to Brixton opened in 1971.
A PHILATELIC DIGRESSION
One of the quirks of the Victoria line is that every station features a pattern o a picture of some sort used as a motif. The pattern used at Victoria, is based on one of the most famous items to feature a picture of Queen Victoria, the 2d blue postage stamp. I do not have a picture of the London Underground pattern based on it to hand, but this was lot 682 in James and Sons’ May auction…
THE TRANSPORT HUB
Victoria is the most used station on the entire London Underground network. In excess of 60 million passenger journeys per year start or finish at this station. Victoria is a major train station, serving a wide variety of destinations to the South and East of London, including running the Gatwick Express, which connects to London’s second busiest airport. There is at the moment a bitter rivalry between Gatwick and Heathrow over who will get a new runway. My own view? Neither – do not build the thing at all – instead encourage people away from aeroplanes.
In addition to the train services there is Victoria Coach Station, from which you can reach most parts of the country, although some of the journey times are very long.
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC FINALE
As usual for these posts I have some map pictures…
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