Letters to the Editor

Blue skies have been a rare sight in the UK for quite some time now thanks to the wettest period from February to March ever.

The Alastair drawing (Books & Works on Paper, ATG No 2633) may have been done for 'The Birthday of the Infanta', but it did not appear in the published book.

The princely present to the Prince Imperial at Chiselhurst (Letters, ATG No 2633) is a sad reminder of a boy desperate for some glory.

Daniel Fearon has raised an interesting issue, concerning the British Museum’s name change to their Department of Coins and Medals, on which Brian Clivaz and Michael Graham-Stewart have since commented, not entirely uncritically (Letters, ATG Nos 2632 and 2633).

One hundred and fifty years ago this year the ‘Ladies of Chislehurst’ [sic] presented this inkstand to the Prince Imperial, the son of Napoleon III, for his 21st birthday.

Re: ‘New Name is a Worthless Choice’, Letters, ATG No 2632). Daniel Fearon, as a regular visitor to the department, should know better than most that ‘money’ better describes the collection than ‘coins’ which is quite restrictive.

The postponed Midlands Art Design Antiques Fair (ATG No 2632) raised the problem for organisers of such quality fairs finding suitable venues, particularly when geographic location and costs have to be taken into account.

As a layman who enjoys reading the ATG and dabbles in small buys, I applaud Sotheby’s initiative [to change the buyer’s and seller’s fees].

I recently received an online numismatic journal that informed me that The Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum has undergone a reorganisation.

Sotheby’s recent decision to lower and simplify its charges sparked a flurry of reaction which we published in last week’s issue (ATG No 2630). Letters to our bulging postbag followed soon after.

I would like to thank 1818 Auctioneers and specifically Sheryl who packed and posted.

I am in search of a 16th century brass parade plate by the goldsmith Oratio or Horatio Fortezza who was born in around 1530 in Sebenico, Dalmatia, then part of the Venetian Republic, now Šibenik in Croatia where he died in May 1596.

Following on from my letters last year and articles in Antiques Trade Gazette about the issue of robberies from dealers at markets, I feel compelled to write again.

Sworders’ advertisement (ATG No 2625) for the forthcoming sale of furniture and objects from the late Dick Turpin recalls an anecdote which may amuse.

I read your article in ATG No 2623 regarding UK imports set to become easier and the topic of Temporary Admission (TA) with interest.

The report in ATG No 2615 that some copies of the Agatha Christie titles in the Charlie Watts sale at Christie’s were sold with dust jackets supplied from other copies raises some concerns.

UNESCO is at it again, launching an initiative linked to antiquities with a series of bogus statistics to justify it.

I am writing to share my recent experience attempting to bid in an auction. I completed the online registration and received an email from the auctioneer requesting additional verification (ID & utility bill), fair enough, and also a deposit of several thousand pounds.

The jury is still out, in respect of the sexuality, not to say the erotic urges, of the aesthetically inclined Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), who – arguably, quite innocently – took numerous photographs of very young ladies, sometimes in the nude (the girls, that is).

Following on from my correspondence regarding security for the trade at markets earlier this summer (ATG No 2599), on a recent visit to Kempton I saw first hand that organisers Edward and Jenny Cruttenden have stepped right up to the mark and I would say are offering one of the most secure environments for traders in London and the south east and deserve much praise.