21st September 2018
The Warwick and Warwick auction, held on 19 September, contained a large and important section of artist-drawn cards, which certainly underlined the point that good condition is important to achieve good results when the market is restricted, as it is with “top of the market” continental glamour artists. A large section of cards by Raphael Kirchner saw some spectacular results for sets of cards in perfect condition.
7 cards from the “Wiener Typen” set made £660
“Fleurs d’Hiver” set of 10 made £780
“Les Parfums” set of 6 made £372,
“Marionettes” set of 6 made £372
“Girls’ Heads in a Circle on White Background” set of 6 made £372
“Girls’ Faces with Red Borders” set of 10 made £720.
The demand for Alphonse Mucha’s Art Nouveau designs was smaller, despite pristine condition, many of the cards selling at the 60% reserve figure. The following prices were realised
Champenois 5th series Sarah Bernhardt (481) £204
Champenois 7th series “Pieres Precieuses” set of 4 (527-30) £1020
Champenois 7th series “Le Fruit” and “La Fleur” (531-2) £504.
Topo collections with good social history content always find ready buyers and the auction contained a fine section of Cambridgeshire and Fenland cards which proved very popular with bidders.
A 250 strong collection of Wisbech, estimated at £900, realised £1800 and a 180 strong Fenland collection, estimated at £750, realised £1740.
Malta was in demand amongst the foreign cards, a collection of 370, estimated at £270, realising £689. A collection of 47 early cards of the island of Gozo, of which 42 were real photographic, was estimated at £120 and the bidding stopped at £574.
In Massachusetts, U.S.A., an unususal railway ran 9 miles between Nantucket Town and Siasconset. A real photogaphic postcard of the so-called “Little Bug and Cage” sold fot £41.
Amongst the subject cards, pioneer aviation sold well, all collections realising more than estimate. However the best result compared with estimate was achieved by a collection of 500 WW I military cards, estimated at £700, which saw extensive bidding and a final result of £3240.
Warwick and Warwick’s next auction is on 21 November and it is strong in British topos.