Whyte’s History, Literature & Collectibles Sale
Saturday 13th November 2010

85 % of lots sold with a total hammer realization of €320,000.

No sign of the recession in the History collectors’ World!

As expected the highlight of the sale was Lot.62 A Fenian flag dating from 1867 with a pre-sale estimate of €30,000-50,000 sold for €52,000.

Elsewhere military items stole the show with Lot .23. 1798 Model Lead soldiers – scarce set of “the rebels”. Est.€200-300 sold for €520.

Lot .111. Royal Irish Fusilliers Bearskin Helmet  Est. €800-1,000  sold for €3,000!

Lot. 111. Royal Irish Fusilliers Bearskin Helmet (not PC with animal right activists) sold for €3,000.

And, an incredibly important piece of Irish history – Lot.141. 1914 (20 March) The Curragh Mutiny – letter from General Sir John French to General James Wolfe Murray. Est.€500-700 Sold  €950 – which, to me anyway, was for nothing and I only hope that it went to the National Museum.

Lot.141. The Curragh Mutiny letter from 1914 - sold for a paltry €950!

Coins and banknotes also did very well with Lot.504. A 1943 Irish Half crown. Est.€300-400 Sold €520. The large selection of Gun money sold well with most lots achieving more than their pre-sale estimates.

Lot.504. 1943 Half Crown - sold for €520. Have a look in your attic!

Not surprisingly Whyte’s declared themselves well pleased with the sale.

The full catalogue with prices achieved is online here: http://www.whytes.com/i7.asp?Auction=20101113&Lot=1