The American Numismatic Society
NEWS RELEASE
96 Fulton Street
New York, 10038
Tel: (212) 571-4470
Fax: (212) 571-4479
http://www.numismatics.org
The American Numismatic Society NEWS RELEASE |
|
96 Fulton Street New York, 10038 Tel: (212) 571-4470 Fax: (212) 571-4479 http://www.numismatics.org |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MORTON & EDEN ANNOUNCE THE SECOND SALE OF MEDALS, ORDERS AND DECORATIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY TO BE HELD IN LONDON, 25-26 OCTOBER, 2006
Following the successful sale of Part One of World Medals, Orders and Decorations from the Collection of the American Numismatic Society in May 2006, the ANS Collection will continue to be auctioned in a further two sales by Morton & Eden. Part Two is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, October 25-26 at Sotheby’s New Bond Street salerooms. It will feature the remaining British and German items, further European and Near Eastern material, including Turkey, and a strong section of Russian orders, medals and badges. This second sale is expected to realize around £500,000. The final portion, Part Three, principally comprising the Far Eastern and South American decorations and awards, will be sold in the Spring of 2007.
In the October sale, the British medals are led by a "blue ribbon" (i.e. Naval issue) Victoria Cross awarded to George Bell Chicken for his valour during the Indian Mutiny in 1858. A volunteer with the Indian Naval Brigade, Chicken was one of only five civilians ever to be honoured with Britain's premier gallantry award. Unfortunately Chicken did not live to receive it, as he was lost at sea in a shipwreck, and records indicate that his VC was sent to his father in London in March 1862.
The story does not end here, however, since a further Victoria Cross named to Chicken survives, and both medals appear to be genuine. A possible explanation is that the original medal was forwarded to India for presentation to the recipient but was lost after it was realized that Chicken had died. It was therefore necessary for the production of a second medal to be issued to George Chicken, Sr. in his son's memory. The ANS example comes from the Sanford Saltus Collection and is believed to have been acquired in a private treaty sale in London before 1922. It is expected to realize around £30-40,000.
The October auction will also include an Army Gold Medal awarded to Captain Francis Scott, a casualty at the Battle of San Sebastian in 1813 (estimate £8-12,000); an extensive run of miniature medals, a series of awards for lifesaving, and a particularly fine example of the Prussian Pour Le Mérite gallantry medal, better known by its nickname, the "Blue Max" (estimate £6-8,000)
Strong pre-sale interest has already been shown in the Russian orders, one of the most appealing specialist pieces in this section being a very rare reduced-size badge (for neck wear) of the Order of the White Eagle, made by Adolf Sper, an outstanding craftsman of Swedish origin who worked in St. Petersburg circa 1850 (estimate £12-15,000).
Sale schedule:
Wed 25 October 2006
10:30 am: German orders, medals & decorations
2:00 pm: Russian, Turkish, other European, Allied Victory medals and dress miniatures.
Thursday 26 October 2006
1:00 pm: British orders, medals & decorations
MORTON & EDEN AUCTION CATALOGUE WINS AWARD FOR 'EXTRAORDINARY MERIT'
Award for specialists responsible for sale of World Medals, Orders, and Decorations on behalf of the American Numismatic Society
An auction catalogue published by London specialist coins and medals auctioneer Morton & Eden has won an award for "Extraordinary Merit" from the prestigious Numismatic Literary Guild, an American organization for the advancement of numismatic knowledge.
The annual NLG Writers' Competition award was for Morton & Eden's catalogue for their highly successful £1 million Part One sale of World Medals, Orders and Decorations sold on behalf of the American Numismatic Society in May, 2006.
Morton & Eden Ltd., are specialist auctioneers of Collectors’ Coins of all periods and types, War Medals, Orders and Decorations, Historical Medals and Banknotes. The company was founded in 2001 by James Morton and Tom Eden, who were both directors of the Coins and Medals Department at Sotheby’s, with whom the company maintains a close association.
For more information regarding Part 2 of the ANS sale please contact:
Press Officer: Christopher Proudlove, Tel/Fax: 01492 544 514. Email: chris@Chris-Proudlove.co.uk
At Morton & Eden: James Morton, Tom Eden or Paul Wood, Morton & Eden Ltd, 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE. Tel: 020 7493 5344. Fax: 020 7495 6325; Email: info@mortonandeden.com
At Sotheby’s: in New York: Matthew Weigman, Tel: (001) 212 606 7176. Email: matthew.weigman@sothebys.com; in London: Mitzi Mina, Tel 020 7293 5169. Email: mitzi.mina@sothebys.com