Over 2,000 Antique & Vintage Service Military, Maritime, Police & Fire-service Uniform Buttons Just Aquired.,Boer War, WW1, WW2 and ERII

All original and some jolly interesting ones. All pretty much collected in the 1960’s.

We will be selling them individually, but just in the shop, and for just a nominal price at one price fits all {some rare ones must be worth £10+ each or more}. Often, just as souvenirs for visitors.

Sadly they are impractical to sell online for delivery as even just a 1st class letter stamp is now ruinously expensive at £1.65, so they would not be prudent to sell online simply for the cost of packing and sending, let alone the half hour one way walk to our city’s main branch Post Office. Which is now located in a back room of the basement of our local WH Smith’s newsagents. Average queue wait, from a single attended counter, up to 35 minutes!. Our former magnificent edifice, that was once our main Royal Mail Brighton Post Office, somewhat reminiscent of the size of the British Embassy in Paris, with around 20 fully attended counters, servicing Brighton and its environs now two hundred and fifty thousand souls, is now part of a restaurant chain.
By the late 19th century, 130 Years ago!, there were between six and twelve mail deliveries per day in London, permitting correspondents to exchange multiple letters within a single day. Now we count ourselves lucky to get a single delivery a day, {if at all} with many letters arriving up to a week late. However, our regular ‘postie’, Mark Garoghan, is as devoted to his job as he was decades ago, when he first trod the streets of Brighton {for the past 47 years}. Our praise of him, and his loyalty to his profession, knows no bounds.  read more

Code: 25488

Super 1850's 'Crimean War' Russian Military Officer's Campaign Trunk

A wooden and steel strap banded military officer's campaign trunk from the Crimean war. Painted in faded pale Russian blue-grey. From family history, it was been used by an officer of the 17th Lancers after he acquired it from various kit and officers campaign equipment captured from a Russian baggage train in 1854 around Balaklava. The British officer then used it for his gun case and military kit during his campaign in the crimean, and later by his sons. Campaign furniture is an umbrella term for the portable items of furniture used by the military in the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is comprised of a huge number of objects, from chairs to chests, wardrobes to washstands and games tables to camp beds. A number of celebrated British furniture makers created pieces of campaign furniture, elevating it beyond its roots in functional, army-based design to desirable, collectible decor that continues to add a beautiful, innovative touch to homes today. The Crimean War started with Russia's invasion of the Turkish Danubian principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (now Romania). Britain and France both wanted to prop up the ailing Ottoman Empire and resist Russian expansionism in the Near East.

Although Russia fought a largely successful war against the Turks in Armenia, and British and French fleets operated in the Baltic Sea, it was the events in the Crimea that had the biggest impact on Britain. In September 1854 the allies landed troops in Russian Crimea, on the north shore of the Black Sea, and began a yearlong siege of the Russian fortress of Sevastopol. Major engagements were fought at the Alma River on September 20, at Balaklava on October 25 (commemorated in ?The Charge of the Light Brigade? by English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson), and at Inkerman on November 5. On January 26, 1855, Sardinia-Piedmont entered the war and sent 10,000 troops. Finally, on September 11, 1855, three days after a successful French assault on the Malakhov, a major strongpoint in the Russian defenses, the Russians blew up the forts, sank the ships, and evacuated Sevastopol. Secondary operations of the war were conducted in the Caucasus and in the Baltic Sea. The last picture shows the bottom rear strap loops for mounting the trunk on the rear of a horse drawn baggage coach. 13 inches deep x 21.5 inches wide x 11.5 inches high.  read more

Code: 22604

A Fine Cased Pair of 1840's Victorian Rear Admirals Epaulettes.

Overall in jolly good condition for age, in their original Japanned lacquer tin case. Made and used in the days of sail, aboard the great ships-of-the-line and the '100 gunners'. Admirals always served aboard the larger vessels in the fleet [also known now as capital ships] in the Royal Navy, His vessal would be known as the admiral's 'flag ship' and flying his personal rank flag. Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore (U.S. equivalent of rear admiral lower half) and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks".
It originated from the days of naval sailing squadrons and can trace its origins to the Royal Navy. Almost all of the modern traditions of the world's navies can trace there traditional origins back to the British Royal Navy. Each naval squadron would be assigned an admiral as its head, who would command from the centre vessel and direct the activities of the squadron. The admiral would in turn be assisted by a vice admiral, who commanded the lead ships which would bear the brunt of a naval battle. In the rear of the naval squadron, a third admiral would command the remaining ships and, as this section of the squadron was considered to be in the least danger, unless from a surprise attack from the rear. The admiral in command of the rear would typically be the most junior of the squadron admirals. This ranking has survived into the modern age, with the rank of rear admiral the most-junior of the admiralty ranks of many navies. Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. In the French and other armies, epaulettes are also worn by all ranks of elite or ceremonial units when on parade. It may bear rank or other insignia, and should not be confused with a shoulder mark - also called an shoulder board, rank slide, or slip-on - a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform (although the two terms are often used interchangeably).

Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or passenten, a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the underside of the epaulette passing through holes in the shoulder of the coat or by a metal slide arrangement. Colloquially, any shoulder straps with marks are also called epaulettes. The placement of the epaulette, its colour and the length and diameter of its bullion fringe are used to signify the wearer's rank. Although originally worn in the field, and they certainly were when these were made, epaulettes are now normally limited to dress or ceremonial military uniforms. A photo in the gallery of Nelson's shot-through epaulette from Trafalgar. He has two stars due to his superior Admirals rank.  read more

Code: 21806

Imperial German Bronze Zeppelin Forced Landing Medal 50mm With Symbolic Cockeral & Eagle

This is Goetz’ first satirical medal. The French made quite a clamor when one of Germany’s airships developed engine trouble and was forced to land in Luneville. Goetz couldn’t hold himself back from making light of the obvious over reaction by the French.
Obverse: The French Gallic coq is speaking to the German eagle, “Par ici c’est la terre Francaise, Compris-“ ( This is French soil, do you understand?). The eagle replies, “Sehr richtig, aber mein Schiff ist deutscher boden, verstanden!!” (Right indeed, but my ship is German territory, understand!!). ZXVI in Luneville, 3. April 1913 is in exergue. Reverse: A zeppelin airship involuntarily lands in Luneville as armed French troops scurry towards it and a French bi-plane surveys the situation below. Inscription: “Vive la politesse Francaise (Cheers for the French politeness). German Empire. Due to the forced landing of the airship Z IV (LZ 16) in Lunéville on 3 April 1913. Karl Goetz, medalist.

Obv: VIVE LA POLITESSE FRANÇAISE.
Airship flying left; plane above; below, french cavalry and infantry rushing to the zeppelin.
Rev: PAR ICI C'EST LA TERRE FRANÇAISE COMPRIS - SEHR RICHTIG, ABER MEIN SCHIFF IST DEUTSCHER BODEN VERSTANDEN!!! / ZXVI IN LUNÉVILLE 3. APRIL 1913.
Cock standing right arguing with eagle standing facing.
The H class Zeppelin IV, or LZ 16, landed at Lunėville in Lorraine on 3 April 1913. This Zeppelin was powered by three 160cv engines and stretched some 148 metres in length. With a maximum diameter of 14.4 metres, it enclosed a volume of some 21,000 cubic metres.

This landing could have been construed as a provocative act by the Germans, given French sensitivity over the territories of Alsace and Lorraine. Indeed Lunėville was the seat of the last Duke of Lorraine, before Louis XV annexed the Duchy in 1766, and turned the Duke’s castle into barracks.

Indeed the Zeppelin landed on the cavalry parade ground of the French Army’s camp at Lunėville. However, the Zeppelin was still undergoing testing at this time, and was carrying civilian engineers as well as military personnel.

The crew claimed that poor atmospheric conditions had led to navigational error and the low fuel carrying capacity of the Zeppelin meant they needed to refuel.

The landing on French soil does not appear intentional as the French were able to give the airship a thorough going over. General Hirschauer, head of French aircraft inspection, rushed to the scene to oversee the examination of the Zeppelin. German technical advances were thus revealed to the French before the Zeppelin was allowed to leave.

It would not be long though before the looming shape of the Zeppelin would threaten the allies in WWI. LZ 16 would undertake reconnaissance duties over East Prussia and take part in the bombing of Warsaw.
There an identical example in the Metropolitan Museum in the USA. Accession Number: 2009.266  read more

Code: 23602

Scarce Original Silver Medal for Graf Zeppelin's Launch of the German Airship LZ127 "Graf Zeppelin"

Weimar Republic. Graf Zeppelin launch silver Specimen Medal 1928 SP65 Matte PCGS, Kienast-408. By Karl Goetz. 36mm. TAUFE DES Z127 AM 90. Geburtstag / 8. JULI 1928. Bust facing slightly right, wearing suit / GLÜCK AB GRAF ZEPPELIN. Coat of arms of the noble lineage of Zeppelin, flanked by a boy to left and girl to right each playing with a balloon; in background, zeppelin. On the christening of the airship LZ127 "Graf Zeppelin" on the 90th birthday of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838-1917). Germany Karl Goetz 1928 Graf Zeppelin silver medal; Kienast reference 408. Nicely toned matte finish with original patina; rare this nice Rare Karl Goetz German airship medal struck in 1928 to mark the christening of the famous airship Graf Zeppelin (D-LZ127), as well as Graf Zeppelin’s birthday; Kienast reference 408. An excellent finish specimen with original light-gray with golden overtones patina; a scarce type. The medal is about 36 mm in diameter; the rim is stamped BAYER HAUPTMUNZAMT FEINSILBER (Bavarian State Mint Fine Silver in German). Early Zeppelin medals are very collectible and highly thought-after by many collectors. A scarce “airship type” medal by the famous German medallist in excellent overall condition; LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin (Deutsches Luftschiff Zeppelin 127) was a German passenger-carrying, hydrogen-filled rigid airship that flew from 1928 to 1937. It offered the first commercial transatlantic passenger flight service. Named after the German airship pioneer Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a count (Graf) in the German nobility, it was conceived and operated by Dr Hugo Eckener, the chairman of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin.

Graf Zeppelin made 590 flights totalling almost 1.7 million kilometres (over 1 million miles). It was operated by a crew of 36, and could carry 24 passengers. It was the longest and largest airship in the world when it was built. It made the first circumnavigation of the world by airship, and the first nonstop crossing of the Pacific Ocean by air; its range was enhanced by its use of Blau gas as a fuel. It was built using funds raised by public subscription and from the German government, and its operating costs were offset by the sale of special postage stamps to collectors, the support of the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, and cargo and passenger receipts.

After several long flights between 1928 and 1932, including one to the Arctic, Graf Zeppelin provided a commercial passenger and mail service between Germany and Brazil for five years. When the Nazi Party came to power, they used it as a propaganda tool. It was withdrawn from service after the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, and scrapped for military aircraft production in 1940.  read more

Code: 23636

A Beautiful Unokubi Zukuri Blade Samurai Armour Piercing Tanto. Ise-ebi or Kamakuraebi Sayajiri 鞘尻, & Matching Matsushiro Sinano School Kozuka and Kogai. 16th To 17th Century Blade, Original Edo Koshirae, Of Nagano Province

A wonderful earliest Shinto bladed armour piercing tanto, with its unique original Edo period “Matsushiro” koshirae made in Matsuro-han in Shinano (Nagano) province, with a Matsuhiro kamakuraebi lobster tail mount on the end of the deep red urushi lacquer saya, that is overdecorated with black speckling and dragonflies.

Sometimes called "the old man of the sea" because of its bent back, the Japanese lobster (ise-ebi or kamakuraebi) is a symbol of longevity. Here it appears on the saya as a sayajiri but it can also appear in many ways, such as the back of a vest worn for theatrical performances. Kyōgen is a comic form of Japanese theatre performed together with the more serious Noh. Boldly patterned overvests (kataginu) were worn for important kyōgen roles, such as Tarōkaja, the comical servant.

Unokubi (鵜首): Is an uncommon tantō blade style akin to the kanmuri-otoshi, with a back that grows abruptly thinner around the middle of the blade; however, the unokubi zukuri regains its thickness just before the point. There is normally a short, wide groove {hi} extending to the midway point on the blade, this is a most unusual form of unokubi zukuri blade tanto with a short wide hi. It has a copper, habaki, with original Edo period lacquered saya large with lobster form Sayajiri 鞘尻 & a fully matching suite of sinchu and contrasting silver line mounts to the kozuka and kogai of the fine Matsushiro Sinano school, including the tsuba and fuchi kashira. Carved buffalo horn fittings and kurikata. the original Edo urushi lacquer is over decorated with speckles and black dragonflies in flight. The tsuka is also bound in rare, original Edo period micro thin tsuka-ito. Over a fine pair of shakudo menuki of butterflies and a bird combined.

Japan was once known as the “Land of the Dragonfly”, as the Emperor Jimmu is said to have once climbed a mountain in Nara, and looking out over the land, claimed that his country was shaped like two Akitsu, the ancient name for the winged insects, mating.

Dragonflies appeared in great numbers in 1274 and again in 1281, when Kublai Khan sent his Mongol forces to conquer Japan. Both times the samurai repelled the attackers, with the aid of huge typhoons, later titled Kamikaze (the Divine Winds), that welled up, destroying the Mongol ships, saving Japan from invasion. For that reason, dragonflies were seen as bringers of divine victory.

Dragonflies never retreat, they will stop, but will always advance, which was seen as an ideal of the samurai. Further, although the modern Japanese word for dragonfly is Tombo, the old (Pre Meiji era) word for dragonfly was Katchimushi. “Katchi” means “To win”, hence dragonflies were seen as auspicious by the samurai.


Japanese lacquer, or urushi, is a transformative and highly prized material that has been refined for well over 7000 years. The use of natural lacquer, known as urushi, has a 9,000-year history in Japan. Lacquered artifacts dating back to the prehistoric Jomon period (10,000–300 BCE) have been found at various archeological sites throughout Japan.
Cherished for its infinite versatility, urushi is a distinctive art form that has spread across all facets of Japanese culture from the tea ceremony to the saya scabbards of samurai swords
Japanese artists created their own style and perfected the art of decorated lacquerware during the 8th century. Japanese lacquer skills reached its peak as early as the twelfth century, at the end of the Heian period (794-1185). This skill was passed on from father to son and from master to apprentice.
The blade has an amazingly vibrant and active hamon.

It has spent two full weeks in our workshop being conserved and cleaned by hand by our artisans for around 65 hours, returning it to near exactly how it looked 150 years ago. Of course there are slight signs of natural wear and aging on the exterior etc., but it was important to leave this as intact as possible to complete a museum grade conservation.

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us  read more

Code: 25483

A Most Fine & Beautiful Koto Period Katana Signed Sukesada of Bizen Dated 1560. With Original & Exceptionally Rare Original Dutch Black-ship 1540’s Imported Leather Bound Tsuka. With Original Japanese Insect Pattern Embossing

Signed Bizen kuni ju Osafune Sukesada. One of the Sukesada, Bizen smiths. A very nice Koto blade, that has seen battle, with fine mounts and, most unusually, a very interestingly, embossed Dutch leather, called goudleer, bound tsuka, with cloisonne enamel menuki. Embossed Dutch leather goudleer was imported to Japan by the Dutch and Portuguese in the 16th century and was highly prized as screens and other decorative works of art. We have also seen, although most rarely, other items decorated with this distinctive Dutch leatherwork such as samurai purses and saya coverings. The embossing on the leather are various insects, highly popular in samurai fittings decor. The fushi tsuka mount is very fine, signed by the maker, and decorated with flowers and gold buds.

Insects in general have been celebrated in Japanese culture for centuries. The Lady Who Loved Insects is a classic story of a caterpillar-collecting lady of the 12th century court; the Tamamushi, or Jewel Beetle Shrine, is a seventh century miniature temple, once shingled with 9,000 iridescent beetle forewings. In old Japanese literature, poems upon insects are to be found by thousands, Daisaburo Okumoto is director of the Fabre Insect Museum. An avid insect collector and a scholar of French literature, he has translated many of Fabre's works. He ascribes the popularity of insects in Japan to national character. It seems like Japanese eyes are like macro lenses and Western eyes are wide-angle, he says. A garden in Versailles, it's very wide and symmetrical. But Japanese gardens are continuous from the room and also very small. We feel calm when we look at small things. The medieval Japanese monk Yoshida Kenko put it this way: “If man were never to fade away like the dews of Adashino, never to vanish like the smoke over Toribeyama, how things would lose their power to move us”

Harima, Mimasaka and Bizen provinces were prospering under the protection of the Akamatsu family. Above all, Bizen province turned out a great many talented swordsmiths. A large number of swords were made there in the late Muromachi period not only supplying the demand of the Age of Provincial Wars in Japan but also as an important exporting item to the Ming dynasty in China. At the onset of the decline of the Ashikaga shogunate in 1565 ad., and Yoshiteru's assassination the shogunate of Yoshiteru was filled by his two-year old son, Yoshiaki. Yoshiteru's brother was the abbot of a Buddhist monastery. He resigned this position and attempted to assume the shogunate. These efforts ultimately failed. The demand for swords began an accent to unimaginable levels. The national unrest and violent civil war did not cease until the successful takeover of the shogunate by Tokugawa Iyeyasu. The "Osafune - Kozori" group was the major supplier of blades for these events. 29 inch blade Tsuba to tip. On just one side of the blade there are combat stress hagire marks near the top section. This blade has certainly seen combat, and is simply ideal for the historical collector of beautiful samurai weaponry of battle, rather than those seeking blade condition perfection. 40 inches long approx overall in saya  read more

Code: 22916

A Most Rare Imperial German Elite ‘Gardes du Corps’ Officer’s Cap, In White and Scarlet, The Very Same General Officer’s Cap of The Regiment As Worn By Kaiser Wilhelm IInd & Crown Prince Wilhelm of Hohenzollern

In the gallery is a portrait of Crown Prince Wilhelm wearing his identical cap of a General of The Guarde du Corps.
The most elite regiment of Imperial Germany, with officer's drawn from the imperial Prussian nobility including the Kaiser himself. A dress cap for an officer, as worn by a General of the Gardes du Corps (Regiment der Gardes du Corps). In superb condition for age, not faded and crisp scarlet, some natural age use wear to the interior, no moth, with some stiching adrift on one side of the extreme peak corner. In parade dress they wore the most extravagent eagle mounted steel helmet.
This is only the second Gardes du Corps officers cap we have had in 20 years.

The Gardes du Corps was the personal bodyguard of the king of Prussia and, after 1871, of the German emperor (in German, the Kaiser). The unit was founded in 1740 by Frederick the Great. Its first commander was Friedrich von Blumenthal, who died unexpectedly in 1745; his brother Hans von Blumenthal, who, with the other officers of the regiment had won the Pour le M?rite in its first action at the battle of Hohenfriedberg, assumed command in 1747. Hans von Blumenthal was badly wounded leading the regiment in a successful cavalry charge in the battle of Lobositz and had to retire from the military. Unlike the rest of the Imperial German Army after German unification in 1871, the Garde du Corps was recruited nationally and was part of the 1st Guards Cavalry Division. The Regiment wore a white cuirassier uniform with certain special distinctions in full dress. These included a red tunic for officers in court dress and a white metal eagle poised as if about to rise from the bronze helmet on which it sat.

Other unique features of the regiment's full dress worn until 1914 included a red sleeveless Supraweste (survest) with the star of the Order of the Black Eagle on front and back and the retention of black iron cuirasses edged with red which had been presented by the Russian Tsar in 1814. These last replaced the normal white metal breastplates on certain special occasions. During the First World War, the Garde du Corps served in Belgium, Poland, Latvia and the Ukraine.

Photo 6 in the gallery is the personal and identical Garde du Corps general officer’s uniform cap of Kaiser Wilhelm IInd that sold for 12,500 € last year..

Made by Eduard Sachs, special class {sonderclaas}

Photo 7 of the portrait Crown Prince Wilhelm in his uniform of the Garde du Corps wearing this cap. Crown Prince Wilhelm of Hohenzollern, c.1916 (oil on canvas) by Nedomansky Studio, Vienna (fl.1914-18); Museo della Guerra di Rovereto, Trento, Italy  read more

Code: 21480

A Most Scarce Victorian Antique Honourable Artillery Company Officer's Sword. In Field Service Scabbard

Typical gilt metal hilt with the HAC grenade. Etched blade, with surface wear. Regulation field service steel mounted leather scabbard.

The South African War: 1899-1902
Around 200 members of the Company fought in the South African War with various units. The majority of these members served with the artillery, infantry or mounted infantry sub-units of the City Imperial Volunteers (CIV) between January and October 1900. The CIV was formed under the auspices of the Lord Mayor of London. The HAC’s Colonel and Commanding Officer, the Earl of Denbigh and Desmond, was instrumental in raising and equipping the CIV Battery, which was officered and, for the most part, manned by members of the HAC. This was the first occasion that the Company’s membership saw active service overseas and six members died whilst serving during this war.

The HAC can trace its history as far back as 1296, but it received a Royal Charter from Henry VIII on 25 August 1537, when Letters Patent were received by the Overseers of the Fraternity or Guild of St George authorising them to establish a perpetual corporation for the defence of the realm to be known as the Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, Crossbows and Handgonnes. This body was known by a variety of names until 1656, when it was first referred to as the Artillery Company. It was first referred to as the Honourable Artillery Company in 1685 and officially received the name from Queen Victoria in 1860.

The regiment has the rare distinction of having fought on the side of both Parliament and the Royalists during the English Civil War 1642 to 1649.

Pictures in the gallery of the HAC HQ, the HAC Armoury, and the HAC parade and cricket ground, all in the heart of the City of London  read more

Code: 25484

A Most Rare Early19th Century, Georgian to William IVth Irish, Crum Castle Infantryman's Large Shako Helmet Plate

This is a super, and incredibly desirable large Bell-Top Shako helmet plate, from one of the small Irish Militia of the early 19th century. Their motto was 'Rebels Lie Down'. Surviving artefacts of this militia are so scarce that we know of only one other surviving piece of early uniform militaria, a shoulder belt plate, regimentally named and also bearing their motto.
Early 19th century Irish Militia helmet plates are incredibly rare, highly prized and very collectable indeed.

Crum Castle was the alternative old spelling of Crom Castle, County Fermanagh. Although the Yeomanry’s official existence ended in 1834, the last rusty muskets were not removed from their dusty stores till the early 1840s. With unintentional but obvious symbolism, they were escorted to the ordnance stores by members of the new constabulary. Although gone, the Yeomen were most certainly not forgotten. For one thing, they were seen as the most recent manifestation of a tradition of Protestant self-defence stretching back to plantation requirements of armed service from tenants then re-surfacing in different forms such as the Williamite county associations, the eighteenth-century Boyne Societies, anti-Jacobite associations of 1745 and the Volunteers. Such identification had been eagerly promoted. At the foundation of an Apprentice Boys’ club in 1813, Colonel Blacker, a Yeoman and Orangeman, amalgamated the siege tradition, the Yeomanry and 1798 in a song entitled The Crimson Banner:

Again when treason maddened round,
and rebel hordes were swarming,
were Derry’s sons the foremost found,
for King and Country arming.

Moreover, the idea of a yeomanry remained as a structural template for local, gentry-led self-defence, particularly in Ulster. When volunteering was revived in Britain in 1859, northern Irish MPs like Sharman Crawford tried unsuccessfully to use the Yeomanry precedent to get similar Irish legislation. Yeomanry-like associations were mooted in the second Home Rule crisis of 1893. The Ulster Volunteer Force of 1911-14—often led by the same families like Knox of Dungannon—defined their role like Yeomen, giving priority to local defence and exhibiting great reluctance to leave their own districts for training in brigades. Two loop mounts [one with old re-bedding] 6.25 inches high.  read more

Code: 23283