A Hard Day’s Imaging

I have spent my entire working day imaging auction lots for James and Sons November Auction (Saturday 29th November, Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse, starts 10AM sharp). I have already tweeted some of the images and will be doing some more before today is out. Meanwhile collected here is a a selection of the best images…

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Imaging With Three Different Cameras

Two batteries going phut in quick succession, first on the old Nikon that is our official work camera, and then on the second camera I used immediately afterwards meant that with my Nikon Coolpix P520 still at the repair shop most of my imaging today was done on my old Samsung, which after almost 5 years and 16,000 photos is still working as well as ever. Finally I concluded a day devoted entirely to imaging by using the scanner for some small items. I have plenty of decent pictures, some of which I have already put on twitter

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Databases, imaging and reaching the century of twitter followers

I spent this morning working on post sale reports, and ensuring that everything on said reports will fit on one page. Then  in the afternoon I did a nicely varied set of imaging. Away from the work front today saw a milestone worth a brief shout out: my personal twitter account, @aspitweets,  gained its 100th follower.

I have some interesting images for you…

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Personal Twitter Account After One Week

Exactly a week ago (almost to the minute) I launched my personal twitter account, @aspitweets as a companion to this blog. I was inspired by the success of @great_auction, which I have administered for some time, and which now has 271 followers. In its first week of existence aspitweets has garnered 34 followers, and quite a few appreciative mentions. No new photos today, but I shall find some from the past…

This box of stamps (not originally imaged by me) went for a whacking £370 at our most recentt auction.
This box of stamps (not originally imaged by me) went for a whacking £370 at our most recentt auction.
This propeller went for £725 in our July sale.
This propeller went for £725 in our July sale.

Amazing Autumn Auction

Actually given the weather that title is a trifle optimistic! Nevertheless, the October auction of James and Sons was a MASSIVE success. There will be press releases in the near future about Hornby train sets, stamps and militaria to name but three successful areas. Also look out for related posts on my personal twitter account. The single most astonishing story from the auction concerns a box of loose penny red-browns, with may be a few penny rose reds in there as well, which started at £30 and ended up fetching a cool £350!

I do have some photos for you, but because my good camera is at the repair shop they were taken with my old camera and are therefore not as good as they would be had I been using my camera of choice…

A scene from the walk from Fakenham town centre to the racecourse.
A scene from the walk from Fakenham town centre to the racecourse.
The Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse, all set for auction action!
The Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse, all set for auction action!
This pair of U-Boat binoculars went for a mere £3,000
This pair of U-Boat binoculars went for a mere £3,000
The tax discs had some advance publicity in the Lynn News.
The tax discs had some advance publicity in the Lynn News.
This cake stand sold.
This cake stand sold.
The Fitzroy Barometer was a rare disappointment on a very successful day.
The Fitzroy Barometer was a rare disappointment on a very successful day.
In spite of being carefully presented by yours truly most of these suffered the usual fate of books of auction.
In spite of being carefully presented by yours truly most of these suffered the usual fate of books of auction.
The banner, behind the rostrum.
The banner, behind the rostrum.
The view out of the window.
The view out of the window.
The Hornby stuff was a monster success!
The Hornby stuff was a monster success!

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This lot sold reaasonably well, and just sneaking into shot is the Connaught Rangers helmet which sold for £160
This lot sold reaasonably well, and just sneaking into shot is the Connaught Rangers helmet which sold for £160
This is not an auction lot - it is marble pestle and mortar bought in Dimitsana and now in residence in my kitchen.
This is not an auction lot – it is marble pestle and mortar bought in Dimitsana and now in residence in my kitchen.

Auction in Norwich

On Saturday James and Sons had their September Auction in the Erpingham Room at the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich. The auction featured two lifetime stamp collections, a large amount of militaria, some interesting coin lots, three folders of Liebig Company Picture Cards and sundry other items.

In order to assist with setting things up, and to be ready for action at the 10AM start time it was necessary for me to catch the 6:00 bus from King’s Lynn, arriving at Norwich Bus Station just after 7:30. After a slightly slower than usual start (for the right reason – lots of bidding), the pace picked up in the later stages of the auction. On a whim I purchased a tub of thru’penny bits for £7, and a little later a made a more considered purchase of a set of Liebig Picture Cards featuring “Divers systemes de Chemins de Fer” for the same price.

Although the massive lot 83 (all 16 boxes of it) did sell, it went to an internet bidder, so it still had to be loaded back on the van. Overall it was a very successful sale, and in the end I got back to my flat a mere 13 hours after setting forth.

I have some pictures from before, during and after the sale, and you can expect pictures of thru’penny bits, and when the coin in question comes out juxtapositions of thru’penny bits and the new style of £1 coin to feature in future posts!

Swaffham Church early in the morning
Swaffham Church early in the morning
The nearest place to this church is  so insignificant that  I have forgotten its name.
The nearest place to this church is so insignificant that I have forgotten its name.

Dereham Rotary Club clock ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

A light source doubling up as a hanger!
A light source doubling up as a hanger!

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Most of this headgear did sell.
Most of this headgear did sell.
The Auction Database ready for action (but revealing no confidential information) - all I will enter manually during the day are paddle numbers and hammer prices.
The Auction Database ready for action (but revealing no confidential information) – all I will enter manually during the day are paddle numbers and hammer prices.
This spiked helmet did not go due to having an overly high reserve.
This spiked helmet did not go due to having an overly high reserve.

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This is part of the Norwich Cathedral complex.
This is part of the Norwich Cathedral complex.

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Making use of a renewable resource the Norfolk is abundantly blessed with!
Making use of a renewable resource the Norfolk is abundantly blessed with!

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Auction Imaging and the Birdman of King’s Lynn

I have had a very hectic week imaging for James and Sons, but it is now nearly all done for this auction. On Wednesday evening I got several excellent shots of a hang-glider and I have various other pictures to share with you…

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Penny Black
Penny Black
This was one of ten album pages of penny reds being sold as single lots
This was one of ten album pages of penny reds being sold as single lots

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There were ten of these giant military maps to image.
There were ten of these giant military maps to image.

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In our August auction some of these picture cards sold, so some more are in the September auction.
In our August auction some of these picture cards sold, so some more are in the September auction.
Hollywood Central Cinema aka thye Fakenham Fleapit
Hollywood Central Cinema aka thye Fakenham Fleapit

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Red sky at night - shepherd's delight! I ate supper outside again
Red sky at night – shepherd’s delight! I ate supper outside again

A Busy Couple of Days at James and Sons 2: Invoicing and Imaging

As well as the press releases I have been producing invoices for the August Auction and have made a start on the imaging for the September auction (Saturday 27th, Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, starts 10AM sharp). This upcoming auction features industrial quantities of stamps (one of the lots I imaged today required 20 shots to do it something approaching justice – it was that big) among other stuff. 

Here are todays images…

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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…

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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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