A Miniature Waterloo Period 'Brown Bess' Musket Bayonet

Original hand engineered miniature, made post war by renown miniaturist engineer Ronald Platt. Photographed alongside the original bayonet to show perspective. the Third or India Pattern became the standard British musket in use throughout the remainder of French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was used in almost every theatre in which the British were present. It was the musket that the British soldier carried during the Peninsular War and the Hundred Days campaign including both the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. It was also used in the War of 1812 in North America.  read more

Code: 21596

An Early Fine Miniature Single Shot Bolt Action Rifle

Showing all the minute detail of the original bolt action rifle. European armies continued to develop bolt-action rifles through the latter half of the nineteenth century, first adopting tubular magazines as on the Kropatschek rifle and the Lebel rifle, a magazine system pioneered by the Winchester rifle of 1866. The first bolt-action repeating rifle was the Vetterli rifle of 1867 and the first bolt-action repeating rifle to use centerfire cartridges was the weapon designed by the Viennese gunsmith Ferdinand Fruwirth in 1871. Ultimately, the military turned to bolt-action rifles using a box magazine; the first of its kind was the M1885 Remington Lee, but the first to be generally adopted was the British 1888 Lee-Metford. World War I marked the height of the bolt-action rifle's use, with all of the nations in that war fielding troops armed with various bolt-action designs. Probably a Colt or Remington pattern. 6 inches long Non working original hand engineered miniature, made post war by renown miniaturist engineer Ronald Platt.  read more

Code: 21285

A Georgian 18th century Carved Horn Primer or Pistol Flask

made in the 18th and used into the early 19th century. With powder measure screw on cap. Cow horn with wooden base plate.
Firearms became more and more sophisticated during the 16th-century but still required a number of accessories to load and operate them. The main charge, placed in the barrel with the shot, was carried in the powder flask. Smaller priming flasks contained fine-grain powder for priming the pans of wheel-lock firearms. Flasks were attached to a bandolier, a type of sling worn over the shoulder or around the waist, from which hung the various accessories required for a weapon including spanners for the mechanism, measured charges, powder flasks and priming flasks.  read more

Code: 21666

A Victorian Durham Light Infantry Helmet Plate Ist Volunteer Battalion

In white metal with black centre. The 1st Durham Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed at Stockton-on-Tees in 1860, and in 1880 was amalgamated with other Durham corps, from Darlington, Castle Eden and Middlesbrough, to form a battalion of eight companies.

The 1st Durhams later became the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and as such gained the battle honour `South Africa 1900-02' for the services of its members during the Boer War.  read more

Code: 16734

An Edwardian West Yorkshire Regt. Large Helmet Plate

World War I saw numerous battalions of The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) serving at Neuve-Chappelle, Loos, the Somme, Passchendaele, Ypres, Marne, Arras, Cambrai and Gallipoli. At its peak The West Yorkshire Regiment numbered 37 battalions, 66 Battle Honours were bestowed and four Victoria Crosses were awarded.

The four TF battalions formed the West Yorkshire Brigade, which mobilised as 146 Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division on the outbreak of World War I and served in France 1915?18. They raised duplicate battalions (2/5th, 2/6th, 2/7th, 2/8th) that constituted 185 Bde in 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division, which also served in France 1917?18. In 1915 they formed further reserve battalions (3/5th, 3/6th, 3/7th, 3/8th) Battle honours in WW1 The Great War [31 battalions]: Aisne 1914 '18, Armenti?res 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Hooge 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 '18, Albert 1916 '18, Bazentin, Pozi?res, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, Arras 1917 '18, Scarpe 1917 '18, Bullecourt, Hill 70, Messines 1917 '18, Ypres 1917 '18, Pilckem, Langemarck 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 '18, St. Quentin, Rosi?res, Villers Bretonneux, Lys, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Marne 1918, Tardenois, Amiens, Bapaume 1918, Drocourt-Qu?ant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, ?p?hy, Canal du Nord, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914-18, Piave, Vittorio Veneto, Italy 1917-18, Suvla, Landing at Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915-16  read more

Code: 19251

A Pair of WW2 Gas Shield Eye Protectors, Afrika Korps Dessert Campaign Souvenirs, 'Rommel' Type

Made for the British forces in the earliest part of the war, initially as gas protectors, but actually soon realised to be far better as sand storm eye protection, made of an early form of clear celluloid with elastic.

Used to great effect by our so-called Desert Rats in North Africa, but many were captured in the early part of the war in Afrika by the German forces, and re-issued and used by them. In fact Rommel used the very same protectors for that purpose as one can see from the numerous photos of Rommel taken in Africa.

Part of a collection of Afrika Korps campaign souvenirs, including the tinted celluoid goggle type, and a complete pack of goggles, in all original packing, very rare to survive complete packet and contents  read more

Code: 19025

Set of Three German Mutterkreuz, Early Ist Pattern in Silver, Two 2nd Patterns in Gold & Silver

The first is a very rare example of the first pattern Mutterkreuz [Mother's Cross] in silver in good condition.
The Cross is more or less identical to the more common later pattern, except that on the back is stamped "Das Kindadelt dir Mutter' and the early style signature of Adolf Hitler. Later models have '16 Dezember 1938' and the later version of his signature. From 1933 to 1945 Hitler's signature changed a few times.
The 2nd is the gold cross 2nd pattern and the third a silver 2nd pattern.
The first pattern only existed for a very short time thus,. as a result, it is one of the rarest non military awards.
It was Adolf Hitler’s joint experiences of witnessing the manpower losses on the Western Front in WWI and deaths in his immediate family that were the behind a desire to encourage German mothers to have large families.
Three of Adolf’s siblings died as children and even his mother, who he doted on, died when he was just 18. By the time the National Socialists gained power Hitler had already formulated plans for expansion in the east with Lebensraum, or living space. The army, as well, would need those large families to provide a stream of new recruits. The honouring of motherhood was also another way of encouraging traditional German values to counter what Hitler, and many saw as the decadence of the more liberal, roaring ‘20s and early 1930s.

The result was a civil award that recognised the contribution of German mothers to the nation. The Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter, translated as the Cross of Honour of the German Mother, or as it more informally known, the Mother’s Cross, was instituted by statutory order on 16 December, 1938 by Adolf Hitler. The Cross was originally to be awarded on the second Sunday in May, or Mother’s Day, but as some three million German women were already eligible this was extended to include other important national occasions. It did mean that the first awards weren’t given until May 1939. The Mother’s Cross came in three grades, as follows:
Gold Cross – for mothers with eight or more children
Silver Cross – for mothers with six or seven children
Bronze Cross – for mothers with four or five children
Size: 36 x 46mm
Acquired from the estate of a late collector, acquired by him from his collecting period that commenced in the 1950's. Please note 90% of the value of this small collection is the the most rare ‘1st pattern’ silver example, these single and highly rare medals can easily achieve over £1000 today, 10 times the value of the 2nd patterns as we show here.

Photo 5 in the gallery shows the rear view of this 1st pattern mutterkreuz medal used to illustrate the versions in Militaria History published in 2018  read more

Code: 23744

We Are Thrilled To Congratulate Our Dear Friend Steve Ellis’ Release of His 10 CD Career Defining Boxed Set

After a friendship going back 30 years we heartily congratulate the iconic music legend, Steve Ellis, for his career spanning 6 decades, and launch of his 10 CD boxed set, and further thrilled to know his world classic single, Everlasting Love, by his group Love Affair, featured as the musical centrepiece of the incredible Academy Award winning film Belfast by Sir Kenneth Branagh. His forthcoming 10 CD boxed set will be the culmination of the career of one of England’s most iconic soul singers and a music legend.  read more

Code: 24215

A King George IVth Police Tipstaff

With areas of painted finish lacking. Traditional of uppermost cylindrical form with a turned grip. The 18th century had been a rough and disorderly age, with mob violence, violent crimes, highwaymen, smugglers and the new temptations to disorder brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Clearly something had to be done. In 1829 the Metropolitan Police Force, organised by Sir Robert Peel, was established to keep the order in London. The force, under a Commissioner of the Police with headquarters at Scotland Yard, was essentially a civilian one: its members were armed only with wooden truncheons and at first wore top-hats and blue frock-coats. The "Peelers" or "Bobbies" were greeted largely with derision by Londoners, but they did become accepted fairly quickly. Thier primary purpose was to prevent crime, and some London criminals left their haunting grounds of London for the larger provincial towns, which in turn established their own forces on the Metropolitan model. The pattern followed through to the small villages and countryside. To secure co-operation between the spreading network and establish further forces, Parliament passed an act in 1856 to co-ordinate the work of the various forces and gave the Home Secretary the power to inspect them. In the counties, under the Police Act of 1890, the police became the combined responsibility of the local authorities - the County Councils - and the Justice of the Peace, while in London, the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard remained under the Commissioner appointed by the Home Office. At the turn of the century, the British police force established a reputation for humane and kindly efficiency. Their mere existence undoubtedly did a lot to prevent crime, and they built up what was on the whole a highly effective system of investigation and arrest.  read more

Code: 16913

Many Wonderous Pieces Added Every Day. There is Probably Nowhere Else In The World You Can View Such Fabulous & Historical Wonders,.. & Where Everything Is For Sale

All under one roof, intriguing and collectable artefacts, and specialist 1st edition rare books, plus militaria such as, an original, huge, and very rare 88mm WW2 Shell from a German 'King Tiger' tank, ranging to an original Imperial Roman Legionary’s gladius sword, a museum quality samurai sword by one of the great sword makers of early 14th century Japan. Or, a most rare, and absolutely stunning museum grade Christian samurai’s sword from circa 1630.
These past few weeks we have added, and are still adding, original, ancient artefacts, from Rome, France, Carthage, Persia, Greece, and Britain, many from fine English collections, originally acquired in the early 19th century, and then re-acquired from the descendants of those original collectors, in the 1990’s or even before by other collectors who subsequently sold them to us.
We have thousands of pieces, that you can can view [and buy] from our website. View and buy such treasures as a 2000 year old roman soldier's gladius sword, from the time of Julius Caesar, Augustus and Nero. A museum grade 1000+ year old sword of a Viking chieftain, king or earl [in Viking times called a jarl] that is inlaid with traces of knotwork silver inlay. A bronze and iron Archemeanid sword from the time of the Greco-Persian wars of Xerxes the Great against the Spartans at Thermopylae, or a Circa 2,500 Scythian infantry warrior’s bronze helmet. Plus, Imperial Roman 1st and 2nd century rings, the type such as worn by a Roman freed gladiator, or, the owner of slave gladiators, the Imperial Pretorian Guard, legionary officer's or nobles, often with the traditional symbols and figures, from the time of the Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. A superb 3rd to 4th century BC Falcata sword similar to the Greek Kopis, the sword used by Hannibal’s army in the 2nd Punic War and his invasion of Rome across the Alps, and a 3rd Century Imperial Roman Sword, from the time of Emperor Constantine and the Battle of Cibalae. Plus a remarkable 900 to 1066 period Original Viking- Norman Iron Four Plate Helmet, as seen depicted in the world famous so-called Bayeux Tapestry, plus, early and rare books, such as, an original very early printing of a 5th century Roman treatise on Roman warfare, and an 18th Century biography on 18th century Warfare, or a very rare 15th century incunabula by Bartolomeus Platina personally commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV.

Plus, as usual, many, many thousands of pieces of historical interest, from one of the oldest and still thriving [if not the oldest surviving] traditional, purveyors of original ancient, antique and vintage historical militaria, companies in Europe, family based through generations in the city of Brighton, and for over 100 combined years located in the Brighton Lanes.

Our family partners Mark and David have dedicated between them, a combined 90 plus years together, serving the world's collectors. Some are the simplest of collectors, some with most eclectic tastes, covering all fields of interest spanning millennia, others, highly specific, if not profound. Very recently we found for a specialist book collector a most rare ‘Subscriber’s Edition’ 1926 Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by T.E. Lawrence, a book that the collector had been searching for for 20 years, and we had joined in that search for him around 10 years ago. He had seen two volumes of that edition around 10 years ago, but discounted both of them, as not quite the perfect volume he was looking for. The dedication of a collector who could spend 20 years to find a single book, that specifically suited his needs, is simply remarkable, although strangely, not that unusual in our line of country. Despite the fact that the book we found for him was approaching six figures, he actually had spent over twice that sum during his 20 year worldwide search to find just the perfect one he was looking for. When asked by us which specific book he was seeking of that printing, he replied that he didn’t actually want or need a perfect condition example at all, just the one that was perfect for him “ I am not entirely sure which one I seek, but I’ll know it when I hold it”

The best part of our field is that, in the most part, of all of what we regularly offer can be remarkably affordable compared to almost every other form of fine and rare collectable. For example, the best available fine art paintings etc. can run into millions, even hundreds of millions of pounds, the finest pieces of furniture can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions, the best silver, coins or stamps can also be worth millions, and even 20th century motor cars can reach tens of millions of pounds. So although some of our pieces might appear expensive, by comparison to almost every other field in the world of collecting, they can be amazingly affordable to all and every rank of collector.

We suppose that is our raison d’etre, every year we buy many thousands of pieces, and pass them on to similarly thousands of collectors, from postmen to presidents, from Chelsea pensioners to field marshals, from law clerks to Lord Chancellors. I [Mark] remember one such interesting and jolly conversation, I and my wife Judith had over lunch, with the soon to become Lord Chancellor Quentin Hogg, in Jermyn St., during our London honeymoon in 1978. Judith had, on occasion before our marriage, worked with Sir Michael Havers, [Quentin’s successor as Lord Chancellor in 1987] so they had mutual acquaintance. The general chit chat got around to the efficacy of hanging, the effectiveness of the hangman’s knot, against the much earlier system of the executioner’s axe that was only afforded only to those of high status!. Quentin remarked at the conclusion [tongue in cheek] “ I have a little list of likely candidates, just in case it is re-introduced”

By way of coincidence, a few years later we sold a 16th century executioner’s axe to a ‘Beefeater’ Yeoman Warder of the Tower of London, Geoffrey Abbot, near identical to one that executed Lady Jane Grey, who was proclaimed Queen of England in 1553, reigned for just 9 days and subsequently executed within the grounds of the Tower, aged just 16 or 17, and our former axe appears amongst other places, illustrated in his books on the execution at Tower of London. He was even consulted some years later for the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Many of our collectors have become lifelong and dear friends, with conversations on every subject imaginable, covering every conceivable avenue of interest, and it has been a privilege to know every single one, friendships valued beyond pearls.  read more

Code: 23775