The runaway highlight of our February Jewellery, Watches & Silver timed online auction were two Victorian Bank of Bombay Ten Rupee notes, dated 1856 and 1857. The far from mint condition notes were consigned by a Reading household together with a suite of Indian silver, Lot 117 presented to Willian Howard Hussey Esq., Deputy Auditor and Accountant of The Great Indian Peninsula Railway on his retirement, dated 1925, see photo of the event below.
The silver tea set and tray has a scroll with a silk parchment commemorating the event and even has a surviving group photo of the staff marking the event.
After prolonged bidding over the week-long sale, both banknotes totalling £36,600 (including fees) are to return to India to private collectors while the silver suite was purchased by the London trade for £1,755.
Both prices were undoubtedly abetted by their interesting provenance so often lacking when items end up at auction, their stories lost in the mists of time. And no doubt the Deputy Auditor and Accountant himself would approve of the return on his investments.
Other highlights included a 1940s bubble-back Rolex for £1,950; a 1960s IWC Shaffhausen Automatic watch and a 1950s Omega Seamaster Automatic watch getting away for £990.
Our March 18th timed online auction will feature a large consignment of gold commemorative coins. Suitable items for this and all future sales are invited via our weekly valuation sessions.
Our weekly valuation sessions continue throughout 2024 in Wokingham, Bagshot, Henley-on-Thames and Hartley Wintney so bring your items along. See here for times/venues.
Alternatively, send photos by email to: [email protected] for larger items like furniture and pictures.
