Strong interest in coinage and stamps

1st January 1970

An excellent entry of coins went under the hammer on 11th November and was greeted with strong bidding in the room and over the internet with a top price achieved of £1300 for a Brazilian 12800 reis gold coin dating from 1728.

Many similar gold coins achieved values of between £800 and £1200 and many buyers have been attracted to the auction rooms since the launch of bi-monthly sales of coinage.

A good selection of stamps also generated interest with a number of enthused bidders in the room. A quantity of mint stamps in Stanley Gibbons albums including stamps from across the Commonwealth saw fierce bidding with a value of £800 achieved. A further collection of Great Britain stamps met equally strong bidding selling for £500.

During 2024, Killens will be staging specialist sales of music, manuscripts and books and it was appropriate that a signed copy of Novello's Original Octavo edition of Edward Elgar's 'The Kingdom' generated strong interest selling for £800, well above the estimate of £300 - 500. This bound copy of sheet music was used in the premier performance at the Birmingham Music Festival on 3 October 1906, by the soloist William Higley. It is signed by the composer and conductor Edward Elgar, and Higley's fellow soloists Agnes Nicholls, Murial Foster and John Coates. Higley sang the role of 'Peter' in the performance and this very special edition came from the personal library of William Higley.

A first and historic book, 'Eusebius' 1577, 'The Auncient Ecclesiasticall Histories of the First Six Hundred Years After Christ.' attracted strong bidding selling for £1100. It was published by Thomas Vautroullier who was a French Huguenot refugee who became a printer in London and died in 1587. It was printed in English with contemporary annotations and impressed decoration to the leather cover.

A pair of George Jones bisque porcelain figures of a man and a woman riding goats also led to keen bidding with a hammer price of £900 achieved, well above estimate. George Jones (&Sons) were manufacturers of decorative earthenware and majolica-style wares (ca.1861-1951) based in Stoke-on-Trent. From 1872 porcelain was also produced and these figures were early pieces.
Art Nouveau remains popular and a pair of late 19th century glass vases in the style of Tiffany sold well above estimate for £650.