Dealers Matthew Nunn and Keith Petts and auctioneer Jonathan Brown teamed up to set up Flints earlier this year and the first sale, held in Stoke Newington West Reservoir Centre on Green Lanes in north London, took place on September 21.
The firm said around 90% of lots were sold online with around a third of those going to overseas buyers. The hammer total of the 205 lot sale was £58,875.
Among the sale highlights was this Foucault-Secretan reflecting telescope c.1858. Estimated at £3000-5000, it was hammered down at £5200. Made of polished French walnut it was the first telescope to use glass as the reflecting mirror with all modern reflecting telescopes based on this design. Although made in large numbers, due to their fragile nature, few survived. This example is thought to be a prototype as it does not have a serial number which was typical at the time.
An Edmund Wheeler ‘Stand A’ compound binocular microscope, English, c.1870, sold on its low estimate at £4000.
A late 19th century dissected human skull, in a glazed case with painted areas to show major vessels and nerves, sold at £1900 against a £800-£1200 estimate.
Flints next auction will be its Fine Photographica sale on October 20.
