That Was The Week That We Got Through ... Somehow

Our two November catalogues are now in preparation and will shortly be heading off to Pardys the printers but it will be a long time before we again allow the finishing of a describing period to coincide with an auction week. Most of us are very tired indeed.

There can be no complaints about the success of our September auction, however. The exceptionally high numbers of viewers and bidders that we had already noted resulted in an overall realisation in excess of 60% above the pre-sale estimate ! The Francis Kiddle Kuwait created a number of new records and the market for rare India material continued its impressive trend.  It would be difficult to pick out weak areas from an auction that was very wide-ranging.

From the auctioneer's point of view, it may slow the pace but it is always gratifying to welcome telephone bidders from around the world, their contributions to the success of the sale being particularly notable. Due to time differences some were more awake than others and it was a challenge for those at the Grosvenor end of the lines to pass on their instructions quickly and clearly. It was a tough welcome back for Nick Mansell who limped his way though the week whilst still recovering from his recent leg operation.

Many thanks are due to all the consultants and part time helpers, members of the extended Grosvenor family who join us at sale times to ensure that everything works smoothly and efficiently. Our illustration shows new director, Chris Lawrence, as he prepares to gather in payment for invoices that will total almost £1.5 million from this auction.

This was the first sale at which we have employed a video link of the auction to both our floors and all worked smoothly, even if it may have tempted the auctioneer (yours truly) to greater flamboyance than usual.

It is always a pleasure to welcome a new man to the rostrum and my colleague Andrew Williams impressed all with his confident and competent handling of a difficult section of the sale that included both the Hong Kong and India.

***

As we have suggested, coin collectors are an odd lot who probably start to collect the shiny things only because stamps are too difficult for them, but professional numismatists are rather like us stamp professionals - hardworking and rarely teetotal.

It was most enjoyable, then, after our auction to meet up with two of the breed, Charles Riley, and fellow auctioneer, Chris Webb of Dix Noonan Webb (those with long memories might remember that the first stirrings of Grosvenor were felt in the stamp department of that auction house). This evening the two of them made much mention of ‘Coinex,’ which may be some kind of tissue that numismatists use to clean up after themselves.

Chris had just wielded the gavel over a £1 million banknote that had been issued by the Treasury in 1948 - one of only two still in existence. This had sold for the excellent price of £67,200 and if I possessed one I am sure that I would not swap it for all the tea in China (as they say).

All the stamps of China would be an entirely different matter, though, as the £93,912 paid at our sale this week (lot 577) for the stamps of just 50 years of that country’s production would certainly indicate !

JG