Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
Mau Mau Rebellion ephemera grouping.
An interesting, scarce and gruesome ephemera grouping pertaining to the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya from the mid 1950's. The group consists of a group of various original photographs showing various views from ' ethnic studies ' , rounding up of suspects, prisoners, victims and mutilated corpses. Also includes a Swahili language booklet produced by the African Information Service showing the appalling brutality of the Rebellion, a flyer advising the importance of ' guarding your gun '. Finally includes a Kikuyu photo employment ID card. All items in good clean condition and scarce. Much of the content is graphic.
21 SAS Battledress blouse.
An original size 10 194(?)9 dated '49 Patt Battledress blouse to a member of 21 SAS. ' Special Air Service ' embroidered shoulder titles with embroidered Artists Rifles patch to r/h sleeve and black Rifle Brigade buttons. 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles) were formed in the Rifle Brigade in 1947 to perpetuate 1st and 2nd SAS that had been disbanded in 1945. 21 were active in Malaya and other conflicts and many of it's members went on to form 22 SAS. This BD was owned by a man named Woods who saw previous service with the KAR but unfortunately the accompanying paperwork to the BD was disposed of before accquistion. In clean, used condition with minor moth damage to one sleeve and to the reverse.
Fife & Forfar Yeomanry Officer's cap.
Dress cap for an officer of the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry. Size 7 1/8 dark blue bodied cap with royal blue velvet band with bullion Fife & Forfar Yeomanry badge on red backing. Silvered buttons retain patent leather strap. Initials ' J.T.S. ' to leather headband. In excellent, clean and moth free condition. Minor scratching to peak. Other items acquired with the cap would suggest that this officer served with 1st FFY who served in Europe with 9th and 79th Armoured Divisions.
No.1 Commando shoulder title.
Another of the difficult to obtain printed shoulder titles, this one for No.1 Commando. This example shows clear evidence of use with slight fading and old stitching. Good, original piece.
FANTASTIC LUFTWAFFE GENERALS CAR PENNANT-DAMAGED!!
I have not owned one of these very rare beasts before, and the quality of this car pennant is absolutely stunning. Made in two halves of 100% quality dark blue serge wool material. The edges are bordered by thick gold bullion tresse, which has swastikas interwoven. The two large Luftwaffe eagles are hand embroydered in golden yellow cotton, and padded to give a releif effect. This item was purchased directly from the British soldier who bought it back as a souvenir. Unfortunately, when he took it, it was attached to the car with the wire frame and all-weather cover. He could not get it off the car, so cut it off!!!! He left part of the gold tresse and the all-weather cover, along with the supporting frame, still atached to the car. This is how it's remained for the past 70 years. The top part of the pennant is missing the gold bullion tresse, and all the stitching on that side is open!! What a shame, but it's a piece of history and that's how it got here. These are RARE items. A complete one is now £1000 to buy. I have tried to price this competitevley, taking into account the 'damage'. Where will you find another?
2nd PATTN FS knife
Purchased from a contact in America, this is a 2nd Pattn Fairbairn-Sykes knife that's seen some action! Has been stiched to a tunic and then removed, the original belt frog strap has also been properly removed, just leaving the scabbard body. These knives were meant to be adapted for many situations, and altering the scabbard like this was very common. Thick crossguard is stamped with 'England' one side and the WD arrow with a 'P' (could be a B) . Blade seems not to have been sharpened, and retains the needle point, but there is a little rust pitting along one edge for 1cm or so. Blade has most of the black finish. Brass checquered grip has about 50% of blackened finish remaining. An interesting knife that's been issued and used.
SMALL IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVY PENNANT-RARE!
I've not had one of these before. Super quality, printed, but double sided Imperial navy penant. I don't know where this would have gone, perhaps on a boat, but more likely a desk top or a table. Made of the same materials and construction as a large one. Even has small hem with the little rope and nickel clip at the top. Superb backdrop to an Imperial navy collection. There are a couple of mothed areas near the hem,,but nothing on the main body. Measures approximately 12"x8".
Luftwaffe boot knife.
WW2 German Luftwaffe Nahkampfmesser or fighting knife. Slab sided wooden grips with steel crossguard and approx. 17cm single edged blade with large false edge. Luftwaffe acceptance mark to ricasso. Enamelled steel scabbard with sprung steel clip for attachment to belt or the side of a boot. Good, clean condition, blade with some staining and clear signs of sharpening and use. Scabbard worn but in good clean condition with no corrosion. Good example.
WW1 German 5th Fusilier Regt shoulder straps.
A good original pair of sew-in shoulder straps for the German 1915 tunic. Field grau woolen boards with white infantry piping and featuring a felt and embroidery device indicating the 5th Queen Victoria of Sweden Fusilier Regiment. In excellent condition with some minor mothing, mostly to the reverse.
797 Co RASC 'Forgotten fleet' grouping.
WW2 Medal and paperwork grouping to T/117495 Dvr. F.M.Briggs 797Co. RASC. Briggs, a veteran of Dunkirk, served with 797 Co. RASC, one of the Motor Boat Companies, who operated in and around the Adriatic, Italy and Sicily, often involved with special and partisan operations in this area, transporting personnel,supplies and weapons. This grouping includes boxed medals, with entitlement in paybook, insignia, paybook, release book, driving permits and various other military ephemera. Interesting grouping to part of the 'Forgotten Fleet' that would bear further research.