What you do not mention is the sad demise of Messrs Glendining & Co, dropped at the same time from that same stable in effect.
Glendining’s was a fine firm with a formidable reputation, established at the start of the 20th century to specialise primarily in the sale of coins and medals though also running Oriental sales into the 1960s.
It became a part of Phillips, though remaining fiercely independent; however, it fell victim to their money-saving policies of the 1990s.
The once well-recognised name was passed to Bonhams at the time of the Phillips/Bonhams merger and then was left to drift away.
As of June 30, Bonhams in London no longer has a coin and medal department, by any name [see News in this edition for more details].
A case, it would seem, of the small, specialist department having no place in the glamorous surroundings of an ambitious 21st century auction house.
Daniel Fearon
One-time managing director, Glendining & Co New Malden, Surrey
