The Sale Room (article 2 february 1923)
The Sale Room is an article published in The Times on 2 february 1923.
The Sale Room
£468 FOR CONAN DOYLE MANUSCRIPTS.
The remarkable series of MSS, of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, described in The Times last week, produced a total of $2,340 (£468) at the American Art Galleries, 30, East 57-street, New York, on Wednesday afternoon.
The total was probably a somewhat disappointing one to the vendors, the Paget Literary Agency of New York City. The highest single price, $360, was paid for the author's original MS. of "Micah Clarke," 1888, written in ink on 648 pages, over three hundred words to the page. A similar MS. of "The Refugees. A Tale of Two Continents," 1891, on 369 sheets, on one side only, brought $300; the story is of unusual interest to the American collector, as it is an historical tale of the early French settlements in Canada, and the only novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle relating directly to America. The MS. of "Rodney Stone," 1898, on 530 pieces of paper of various sizes, sold for $275, and at the same price was also sold "The Valley of Fear," 1914, on over 175 sheets.
SYSTON PARK BRONZES.
A collection of bronzes, the property of Sir John G. Thorold, of Syston Park, Grantham, was sold at Christie's yesterday, and realized. with some pieces of sculpture and furniture, a total of £1,605. The highest price, 480 guineas, was paid by Mr. M. Sporo, for a figure of a piping faun, and one of Narcissus. after the antique, both about 12in. high, and on marble plinths. The same buyer gave 95 guineas for a pair of oviform vases. decorated with festoons of fruit and masks in relief, 20in. high. A pair of groups illustrating two of the Labours of Hercules, 16in. and 18in. high, brought 160 guineas (R. W. Partridge). In another property an Old English bracket-clock, by Thomas Tompion, with brass dial chased with cherubs, in ebonized case, 14in. high, brought 100 guineas (Webster).
A show-cabinet by William Kent, enclosed by three glazed doors, the framework carved with garlanda of foliage, flowers, rosettes, and ribands, partly gilt, on a painted brown ground, 84in. high by 69in. wide, was bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum for 180 guineas. The day's total amounted to £4,233.
BAXTER COLOUR PRINTS.
Baxter colour prints, Le Blond ovals, and Licensee prints, including the property of Major Arthur J. Gale, of Oakleigh Park. Whetstone, formed a sale at Puttick and Simpson's yesterday. A record price, £105 (Lewis), was paid for a very fine impression, unvarnished, of Baxter's "Opening of Parliament," the same buyer giving £30 10s. for "Queen Victoria on Dais," with full pocket-book lettering. A fine impression of Baxter's "Passion Flowers and Roses," on white background, brought £28 (Lewis): two copies of the Baxter print "Flora" sold for £11 10s. (Etheridge) and 216 10s. (Lewis) respectively.
JAPANESE SWORD FURNITURE.
A total of £2,300 was realized by the three days' sale, at Messrs. Glendining's, 7, Argyll street, W., of the collection of Japanese sword furniture formed by Professor Oscar Björck, vice-president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts at Stockholm.
Messrs. Sotheby's two days' sale of old and modern pictures and drawings realized £2.881 10 d., yesterday's portion including a little Watteau picture of a garden scene, with figures, 9in. by 11in., which was bought by Mr. Nicholson for £300.
