Henry Aldridge & Son

The Devizes Auctioneers

More Titanic Prices In Devizes

                                        Press Release

September 13^th 2003 was a very busy day at Henry Aldridge and Son the Devizes auctioneers. As well as an afternoon auction of Titanic Memorabilia , there was also a sale of Antiques and Collectors items held in the morning.

As is the trend with Collectors Sales at present, the auctioneers have built up a very strong client base for Medals and Militaria, quickly becoming one of the regions top salerooms in this area. Leading the way was a World War One Mons Star Yeomanry Trio complete with Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Tin that sold to a telephone bidder for £1200.

The ceramics and clocks sections were particularly well attended with most items selling for middle to upper estimate figures. These included a Jaeger Le Coultre Atmos clock which sold to a collector for £900, a wall mounted F.W. Mann of Ealing Regulator £1400, a pair of Late 19^th Century  Meissen Figures £600 and a Lalique Opalescent Bowl £700.

Although Henry Aldridge and Son deliberately kept lots to a minimum in the Collectors auction due to the Titanic and Maritime auction in the afternoon, a large number of visitors from all over the UK attended to view those lots for sale. Furniture sold well with a 19^th century Writing Desk selling for £500, A Early 19^th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers £500, Mid 19^th Century Chest of Drawers £720 and an Edwardian Mahogany Bookcase £1100.

After the success of the April maritime sale where a hatband from Titanic sold for a world record £34000, there were a number of high profile entries consigned for the September 13^th afternoon auction from both the UK, USA and Australia.

One of the more interesting lots was an album of photos taken on board Titanic owned by First Class Passenger Stanley May. Mr May had booked passage on Titanic to go to Queenstown, Titanic’s last port of call before her Atlantic crossing, for a fishing holiday. The album gives a fascinating snapshot into a typical Edwardian family trip that happened to take in a voyage on the most famous Ocean of all time on her ill fated maiden voyage.

Although the album contained only nine snapshots of life on board, during the days sailing on April 10^th 1912. These included the last known photograph of Titanic as she left Queenstown.

Showing the value of using specialist auctioneers in niche markets such as this. An English collector against fierce competition from the room and the telephones purchased the photographs for a world record £37000 against an estimate of £20000-£25000. Coincidentally a major London saleroom sold the sister album to this piece in May 2003 for £13000.

The second high profile item in the sale was a letter written on board Titanic on Titanic notepaper. This brief one page note was penned by a second class passenger Clear Cameron. A letter of similar content was sold in Bond Street last year for £7500. The Clear Cameron letter sold for a top estimate £25000 to a American Collector against an English collector in the room. The letter itself was consigned from a specialist New York Auctioneer/Dealer who had been recommended to Henry Aldridge and Son by a New York based contact.

The higher end of the Titanic and White Star market shows little of waning as with many other niche fields it seems to be oblivious to the worlds economic situation. A Spode Cobolt Blue cup and saucer proved that it if it is rare enough, condition need not be a problem. The demitasse cup and saucer were one of only 190 examples made for Titanic’s maiden voyage. Consigned from a member of the public in South Wales and with the cup having a base crack and the saucer chipped. Two American Collectors went head to head over the telephone with the hammer going down at just above top estimate at £4500. Another item in a distressed condition was a very rare sailing schedule of the White Star Line which showed Titanic’s intended dates of departure in April, May and June of 1912. Despite being heavily torn and stained it still sold for top estimate £1900. Other notable items included a photograph of J.J. Astor for £1500, a period image of 5^th Officer Harold Lowe £2000 and a letter written several weeks after the disaster by Second Class passenger Jane Herman £3300.

RMS Carpathia picked up the survivors of the Titanic disaster and memorabilia from this little known liner is quite collectable. Every member of the crew who was onboard during the April 14^th 1912 voyage was awarded either a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal for their gallant actions in recovering those saved. Sixth Engineering Officer Richardson’s Silver Carpathia medal was sold together with supporting documentation to a collector from London for a mid estimate £5000.  A First Class menu from the Carpathia sold for £950 and a collection of postcards taken from photographs of the Titanic’s passengers being taken aboard sold for £2400

Contact Alan or Andrew Aldridge BA Hons MRICS for no obligation advice on single items for auction or full house clearances on 01380 729199 or andrew@henry-aldridge.co.uk.