Spink to Auction Medals Awarded to ‘Daisy’ Sismore, The Man Who Left Goering ‘Speechless in Berlin’
Jul 15 2014

On 24th July, Spink London will hold a diverse auction of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria, comprising 472 highly sought after lots. At the forefront of the sale are the decorations and medals awarded to Air Commodore E.B. 'Daisy' Sismore of the Royal Air Force, recognised as the R.A.F.'s finest wartime low-level navigator, and the man who planned and participated in some of the most daring raids of WWII.  Lot 52; Estimated £40,000 - £50,000  Born in Northampton...

Spink Auctions Important Battle of Britain Medal Group
Apr 24 2014

On the 24th April 2014, Spink London held a diverse auction of over 800 lots of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria.  The highlight of the auction was lot 10, the Battle of Britain decorations and medals awarded to Spitfire Ace, Air Commodore 'Ras' Berry (CBE, DSO, DFC and Bar).  Berry, a noted Battle of Britain pilot, was accredited with at least 14 victories in air combat and over 30 claims on enemy aircraft during 1940. Due to his ongoing service devoted to aerial...

Important Battle of Britain Group Offered at Spink
Apr 14 2014

Spink London is thrilled to announce the sale of an important Battle of Britain group in their upcoming sale of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria. The auction, which comprises of over 800 lots, will take place on 24 April 2014 at its London saleroom.  At the forefront of the sale are the decorations and medals awarded to Spitfire Ace, Air Commodore 'Ras' Berry (CBE, DSO, DFC and Bar), estimated at £80,000-£120,000. Berry was accredited with at least 14 victories in air co...

Unique D.S.O. Group of Medals for China Fetches Five Times Estimate at Spink
Nov 21 2013

Significant interest in a number of important medal groups sold by Spink in today's auction has resulted in some remarkable prices realised. The star of this successful auction was the unique and well documented China 'Defence of Legations' D.S.O. Group to Lieutenant Colonel F.G. Poole, East Yorkshire Regiment, who commanded the International Volunteers in Peking and was wounded during the defence. Our London auction room was filled to capacity this morning when the D.S.O. Group sold for a ma...

Unique D.S.O. Group of Medals for China to be Sold Alongside Historically Important Diaries at Spink
Nov 14 2013

Among the many interesting lots to go under the hammer at Spink on the 21st of November is the unique and well documented China 'Defence of Legations' D.S.O. Group to Lieutenant Colonel F.G. Poole, East Yorkshire Regiment, who commanded the International Volunteers in Peking and was wounded during the defence.   This is undoubtedly one of the finest campaign groups from the period, and will be sold alongside the remarkable diaries of Lieutenant Colonel Poole and his brother Dr. Wordswort...

The Man Who Saved Stanley: Spink to Sell Awards Bestowed Upon Doctor on Stanley’s Last African Expedition
Nov 04 2013

Above: Lot 29 On the 21st of November, Spink will be offering the opportunity to own the historically important group of honours and awards bestowed upon Surgeon-Major T.H. Parke, who saved the life of Henry Morton Stanley, the most famous African explorer of the age. Surgeon-Major T.H. Parke was a Doctor, Soldier, Explorer, and Naturalist. He served alongside Stanley in the Advance Column as Medical Officer on the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition of 1887-89, on which he saved the lives of both...

Medals of Sir Thomas Ussher Break World Record at Spink
Jul 25 2013

Today in London, 448 lots of British and Foreign Orders, Decorations, and Medals went under the hammer. The sale received considerable international interest, and the morning began with a buzzing room of bidders, as well as countless clients joining us online and by phone. The sale featured many items of tremendous historical and aesthetic appeal, each one of them telling a unique and personal story of valour, loyalty, and often dramatic military adventure. Generating the most interest in the...

Historically Important Naval & Air Force Medals for Sale at Spink
Jul 12 2013

On the 25th of July 2013 in London, Spink's record-breaking medals department will be selling a wide range of British and Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals. These include the unique K.C.H. and Five Clasp Naval General Service Medal Group awarded to Rear Admiral of the Blue Sir Thomas Ussher, the man who conveyed Napoleon to start his exile on Elba.   Above: Lot 62 Sir Thomas Ussher was an extraordinary individual. Known for always leading from the front, even when injured and on c...

Spink China Success as Historically Important Medal Sells for HK$ 8,640,000
Jul 08 2013

This weekend, Spink China's Hong Kong offices sold the historically important Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun, attributed to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. It sold for an astounding HK$ 8,640,000.   Above: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun, the central medallion portraying the Chinese Sun on a blue background surrounded by a band of gold, the reverse officially numbered in Chinese characters "Special One". The Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun w...

FIRST VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO A NON COMMISIONED OFFICER OF THE INDIAN ARMY TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT SPINK
Oct 24 2012

FIRST VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO A NON COMMISIONED OFFICER OF THE INDIAN ARMY TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT SPINK                     London. October 23, 2012. Spink announced today that it will offer for sale the Indian Mutiny V.C. awarded to Sergeant Major (later Lieutenant) Peter Gill of the Loodiana Regiment. The Victoria Cross, which is the highest military decoration bestowed for bravery and gallantry in the face of the enemy, was...

MEDALS AWARDED TO AVIATION LEGEND JOHN ‘CAT’S EYES’ CUNNINGHAM DOUBLE THEIR PRE SALE ESTIMATE RAISING £384,000 FOR CHARITY
Sep 06 2012

 MEDALS AWARDED TO AVIATION LEGEND JOHN 'CAT'S EYES' CUNNINGHAM DOUBLE THEIR PRE SALE ESTIMATE RAISING £384,000 FOR CHARITY                         London. September 6, 2012. The outstanding collection of medals and memorabilia relating to Group Captain John 'Cat's Eyes' Cunningham, the highest-scoring night fighter ace of the Second World War and pioneering chief test pilot for de Havilland during the jet age, sold...

MEDALS AWARDED TO AVIATION LEGEND
Aug 22 2012

MEDALS AWARDED TO AVIATION LEGEND JOHN 'CAT'S EYES' CUNNINGHAM TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE AT SPINK                   London. 22nd August 2012. The outstanding collection of medals and memorabilia relating to Group Captain John 'Cat's Eyes' Cunningham, the highest-scoring night fighter ace of the Second World War and pioneering chief test pilot for de Havilland during the jet age, will be offered for sale at Spink on the 6th September 2012 as pa...

First V.C. of the Great War sells at Spink for £276,000
Jul 19 2012

London. 19th July, 2012. Today Spink UK offered for sale the first V.C. ever awarded to a private soldier in the Great War (1914-18). The medal group sold to a private collector for £276,000, far exceeding its' pre-sale estimate of £140-180,000.   The Victoria Cross group of six was awarded to Private S.F. Godley, Royal Fusiliers, for his defence of the Nimy Bridge at Mons on the 23rd August 1914, during the first infantry attack of the Great War.   The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is th...

Spink Sells Bomber Command V.C. for World Record Price
Nov 13 2009

On 19th November 2009, Spink had the great privilege of selling the Victoria Cross, and accompanying medals of Flight Lieutenant W. 'Bill' Reid in their Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria Auction.  The Outstanding Second War Bomber Command Victoria Cross Group of Six to Lancaster Pilot, Flight Lieutenant W. 'Bill' Reid, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who whilst on a sortie with 61 Squadron to Dusseldorf, 3.11.1943, was 'wounded in two [fighter] attacks, without oxygen,...

R.A.F Hero's Medals Go for Big Money at Spink
Apr 19 2007

Today Spink auctioned the remarkable and unique Medal Group of Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry. After an intense bidding battle the group was sold to Michael Naxton, an agent, for £155,350. The sheer scale of his medal group, a total of 18, was truly remarkable. They represent innumerable acts of heroism and are a symbol of daring deeds performed by Embry over the course of his spectacular military career. Described as "both charming and rude, prejudiced and broad-minded, pliable and obstin...

The Most Noble Order of the Garter
Nov 24 2005

On 24th November 2005, Spink sold The Most Noble Order of the Garter, a superb lesser George Garter Jewel, by Santarelli Sold for £28,750. The Order was possibly acquired by either Henry, 5th Duke of Beaufort, for use on the occassion of his installation at St. George's Chapel, Windsor 29.5.1801, or by his son Henry Charles, 6th Duke of Beaufort, Installed 23.4.1805. The maker Giovanni Antonio Santarelli (1769-1826), was a gem engraver, modeller in wax, and medallist, who worked at t...