Strong prices were achieved for singular rarities in this, our inaugural Cabinet of Curiosities Auction.
The backbone of this most unusual sale was formed by a private Highland collection of natural history, with these important pieces selling for record sums. A rare quadruple sea lily crinoid dating to the Jurassic period made £5,750 on the hammer, whilst a Gibeon meteorite of good and attractive form fetched £5,000, and an unusual nest of six Hadrosaur eggs were snapped up at £4,200.
Fine books also permeated the auction, with the best sellers being a set of five of Andrews’ Botanist Repository at £1,300, and an important copy of the pre-Darwinian On Naval Timber by Patrick Matthew at £1,300.
A spy was amongst us too, with the early Demon Detective Camera produced by the American Camera Co. in the 1880s making £1,500, as well as a gold digger, a prospector’s blowpipe kit by Fletcher & Sons making £800.
This sale was such a rip roaring success, another is currently scheduled for February of next year. For a complimentary, no-obligation valuation, make an appointment to visit our Glasgow Galleries, send details to our specialists by clicking this link and completing the short form, or call us on 0141 810 2880.
Lot 663 - LOWE'S BEAUTIFUL LEAVED PLANTS and NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES
Sold for £300
Estimated at £60 - £100
Lot 666 - SOWERBY'S GRASSES OF GREAT BRITAIN and BRITISH WILD FLOWERS
Sold for £170
Estimated at £40 - £60
Lot 667 - MORRIS' HISTORY OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES, ALONG WITH CURTIS' FARM INSECTS
Sold for £160
Estimated at £80 - £120
Lot 677 - A GERMAN ANATOMICAL TEACHING MODEL OF THE HUMAN HEAD
Sold for £280
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 681 - A LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY WAX ANATOMICAL STUDY
Sold for £190
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 684 - A GIBEON IRON OCTAHEDRITE METEORITE OF GOOD SIZE AND ATTRACTIVE FORM
Sold for £5,000
Estimated at £4,000 - £6,000
Lot 685 - A FINE SET OF SIXTEEN EARLY 19TH CENTURY CELESTIAL CHARTS
Sold for £550
Estimated at £500 - £1,000
Lot 687 - THE INSTRUCTIVE PICTURE BOOK OR LESSONS FROM THE VEGETABLE WORLD
Sold for £50
Estimated at £40 - £60
Lot 688 - TAISEI SHINSHA FU 大成真写譜 (COMPREHENSIVE ALBUM OF REALISTIC SKETCHES)
Sold for £280
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 715 - A LARGE & IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF MINERAL SPECIMENS
Sold for £650
Estimated at £400 - £600
Lot 718 - A COLLECTION OF FOSSILISED PLANT AND MARINE LIFE SPECIMENS
Sold for £30
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 720 - A PAIR OF EARLY 20TH CENTURY MAHOGANY SPECIMEN CABINETS
Sold for £550
Estimated at £200 - £400
Lot 721 - AN AMERICAN CAMERA CO. DEMON DETECTIVE CAMERA
Sold for £1,500
Estimated at £1,000 - £1,500
Lot 723 - A FOSSILISED OTODUS OBLIQUOS SHARK'S TOOTH, ALONG WITH AN AMBER SPECIMEN
Sold for £65
Estimated at £20 - £30
Lot 730 - AN AMMONITE FOSSIL IMPRESSION AND THREE MINERAL SPECIMENS
Sold for £40
Estimated at £30 - £50
Lot 731 - AN EXTENSIVE VICTORIAN ROSEWOOD AMATEUR SPECIMEN CABINET
Sold for £1,600
Estimated at £500 - £1,000
Lot 733 - A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE MALACHITE MINERAL SPECIMEN
Sold for £750
Estimated at £500 - £1,000
Lot 734 - A LARGE QUARTZ STAR-TERMINATION CLUSTER MINERAL SPECIMEN
Sold for £120
Estimated at £200 - £400
Lot 737 - A SOUTH AFRICAN INESITE WITH CLEAR CALCITE AND MANGANESE MINERAL SPECIMEN
Sold for £120
Estimated at £40 - £60
Lot 750 - ON NAVAL TIMBER AND ARBORICULTURE BY PATRICK MATTHEW
Sold for £1,300
Estimated at £800 - £1,200