Shinto Period Samurai Battle Sword Katana, Kawachi no kami Kunisuke
This is a 17th century, signed, early Samurai battle sword from the time of the early Tokugawa shogunate era, in the British timescale, made some good few decades before the English Civil War. The blade has been recently repolished and it now looks dramatically improved. The Kawachi no kami Kunisuke smiths are a very highly prized line of very famous master sword smiths, that bear a highly respected name within the world of Samurai blades. The sword has it's original Edo period lacquer saya, in simple black, in very nice order, it's original tsuka has it's original binding in nice order, with a pair of very fine menuki of dragon, decorated with elements of pure gold. The fushi is patinated copper with a nanako ground, decorated with full relief figure of samurai in battle adorned full armour. All the figures are decorated in pure gold. The fushi is carved buffalo horn. The tsuba is plain, iron and circular, typical of shibui battle swords. Blade length tsuba to tip 26.25 inches, 37.5 inches long overall Small signs of age battle wear overall. This is not a sword for a blade perfectionist, but absolutely ideal as an historical sword, for those interested and fascinated by the history of samurai warriors.

Code: 15979Price: 3225.00 GBP

Italian 19th Cen. Carved Venetian Grotto Stool, Possibly by Pauly et Cie
in walnut with a seat shaped as a rotating scallop shell, docarated in ebonised lacquer, with a scrolled front, set on a relief carved gilded dolphin, and tripartite black ebonised lacquer base. Elaborately carved style of the rococo revival. Antique Venetian grotto furniture is now rare and immensely collectable. It has found favour with the finest interior decorators, with Italian fashion designers and film directors helping to place it at the forefront of collectability. The scallop form became increasingly popular between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, as focus on classical, organic and symmetrical forms became more and more popular. As the scallop form gradually became more used in architecture, its popularity started to be reflected in additional ways, predominantly having a vast influence on Italian Renaissance and Rococo furniture. Furniture makers in Venice were very prolific in their seating designs, and were particularly known for chairs that had nautical themes. Shells, coral, dolphins and seahorses were often sculpted into chairs that took inspiration from the designs of Venetian grottoes. First created by the ancient Greeks, the grotto was formed out of caves situated near a water source and decorated with tufa, stones and shells. The grottoes acted as shrines, a restful space to pay respect to the spirits of water. In the Renaissance, grottoes became a popular addition to the landscapes of villas for those who could afford it. The Italian landscape designers revived and created a new tradition of grottoes, elaborately decorated into man-made monuments of natural beauty. The Renaissance grotto symbolized the quest for knowledge and an awareness of one's surroundings.

The Italian grotto style peaked during the nineteenth century, and furniture was created to reflect this passion for nautical themes. From the mid to late nineteenth century, furniture makers in Venice fashioned chairs based on the feel of the grotto, creating an eclectic mix of Renaissance and Rococo inspired sculpted imagery. The nineteenth century Venetian grotto chairs were most likely intended for hallways and were aimed to be sold to visitors on their European tour. This stool is in suprb condition with just some light erosion of the gilt and lacquer areas. Apparently brought back to England by a British General after the Italian campaign in 1944/5. The Brighton Pavilion Palace of the Prince Regent is profusely decorated with items of furniture influenced in what is now called the grotto style, with a heavy rococo influence throughout. With fabulously carved gigantic beasts such as dragons and ho ho birds, and this same shell design on stools in the music room. Items of original antique Venetian grotto seating, with the nautical shell infuence, are now commanding prices in excess of $50,000.

Code: 15978Price: 5250.00 GBP

From the Earl of Portsmouth. The History of the Life of King Henry IInd.
and of the age in which he lived, in five books : to which is prefixed, a history of the revolutions of England from the death of Edward the Confessor to the birth of Henry the Second / by George Lord Lyttelton Printed for W. Sandby and J. Dodsley, 1767 [second printing] 2 original leather bound volumes, from the personal library of the Earl of Portsmouth. George Lyttelton, studied at Eton (1725) and Oxford (1726) before touring the Continent (1728-31) before becoming intimate with Pope's circle at Twickenham. He was secretary to the Prince of Wales (1732-44), member of Parliament from Okehampton (1735-56); succeeded as 5th baron Lyttleton 1751, and was lord of the treasury (1744-54) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1755-56). As an opposition politician, Lyttleton was allied to the Prince of Wales; as a poet he was associated with his near-neighbor at Hagley Park, William Shenstone.

His life was detailed by Samuel Johnson's Lives of the Poets series, published in 3 volumes between 1779 and 1781. In it Dr Johnson states 'His last literary production was his "History of Henry the Second," elaborated by the searches and deliberations of twenty years, and published with such anxiety as only vanity can dictate. The story of this publication is remarkable. The whole work was printed twice over, a great part of it three times, and many sheets four or five times. The booksellers paid for the first impression; but the changes and repeated operations of the press were at the expense of the author, whose ambitious accuracy is known to have cost him at least a thousand pounds. He began to print in 1755. Three volumes appeared in 1764, a second edition of them in 1767, a third edition in 1768, and the conclusion in 1771.

Andrew Reid, a man not without considerable abilities and not unacquainted with letters or with life, undertook to persuade Lyttelton, as he had persuaded himself, that he was master of the secret of punctuation; and, as fear begets credulity, he was employed, I know not at what price, to point the pages of "Henry the Second." The book was at last pointed and printed, and sent into the world. Lyttelton took money for his copy, of which, when he had paid the pointer, he probably gave the rest away; for he was very liberal to the indigent. When time brought the History to a third edition, Reid was either dead or discarded; and the superintendence of typography and punctuation was committed to a man originally a comb-maker, but then known by the style of Doctor. Something uncommon was probably expected, and something uncommon was at last done; for to the Doctor's edition is appended, what the world had hardly seen before, a list of errors in nineteen pages.

Code: 15977Price: 475.00 GBP

A Most Exceptional German, WW2, K98 Bayonet And Original Frog
Easily a 5 star collector's piece. Maker marked and dated 1941. In it's original, matching number blued scabbard, that is near mint and undented. Original celluloid grips, much original blue remaining to the blade, with sharpend blade end and tip. You could go a long way and still fail to find a better example. A bayonet that shows it has been used in combat, yet has still been exceptionally well cared for. Any museum would be pleased to show this bayonet as part of their exhibits. Do not confuse this with any other more usual and common, standard condition, German WW2 K98 bayonet.

Code: 15975Price: 185.00 GBP

A Superb WW1 British Officer's Vernier Compass
Owned by 2nd Lt. Archer. In capital order and a wonderful, fully operational example of the finest engineering in instrument making of the early 20th century. Made by Cruchons and Emons, London, 1916, with broad arrow mark. When the lid is opened, the prism viewer can be folded over the compass to function as a rear sight. Simultaneous viewing of the compass card and the sighted object is achieved by a magnifier located in the prism. To focus on the compass card, the height of the prismatic viewer can be adjusted. The lid has a scribed line in a glass window that serves as the front sight, and an exterior guard protects the glass. Excellent working condition.

Code: 15974Price: 225.00 GBP

A Stunning Aikuchi O-Tanto. Signed Inoue Shinkai
Signed on the nakago, and dated with kikumon 1672. The fittings are top quality and en-suite in iron in the form of a crayfish decorated with pure gold dragon. Gold and silver menuki of slumbering figures. The habaki is all gold. The omote side of the blade face has an horimono of a ken, and on the ura 4 bonji characters- (Bonji inscriptions are invocations to the spirits to help the wielder of the sword). Shinkai katana blades do not normally bear horimono at all, but a few of his wakazashi and tanto are recorded with horimono, similarly as this one, with ken on the omote and bonji on the ura. We have compared the mei with several surviving examples and there is extremely good similarity, the dating 12 year 8th month of Kwan bun, with kiku mon, on the ura is more often in cursive soshu or grass script, but this example is in the less cursive style. The saya still requires some small specialist attention at the throat, which we are completing, and is included in the price. Please note the only way of attesting this sword was made by Shinkai would require a shinsa in Japan to appraise the blade and the mei. However, we value this superb sword on it's quality, of both blade and fittings, and merits as if unsigned, which are without question first rate and quite stunning. Overall in fittings 61cm long, blade tsuba to tip 41cm long

Code: 15973Price: 11000.00 GBP

Victorian Cap Badge of the 6th Dragoon Guards Carabiniers
Bi colour badge with two lugs. Part of a small collection of original rare Victorian badges we have just been most pleased to acquire. The Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.

The regiment was descended from the Ninth Horse regiment, raised in response to the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion in 1685, the first year of the reign of King James II. Colonelcy of the Ninth Horse was given to Richard, 2nd Viscount Lumley of Waterford. In accordance with tradition of the time, the regiment became known as Lord Lumley's Horse. Shortly thereafter, Lumley petitioned the Queen Dowager to permit labeling the regiment The Queen Dowager's Horse, which request was granted. In 1691, during King William's Irish Campaign, the regiment distinguished itself, as a result of which it was posted to London and re-named The King's Carabiniers.

The regiment participated in putting down the rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745-46. By this time, it was recruited almost entirely from Irish Protestants, and so the regiment was redesignated the Third Irish Horse, but continued to be known as The Carabiniers. In 1788 a reapportionment of the army establishment resulted in the designation 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers), which was to remain in place for the next 133 years. The regiment fought under this title through the Napoleonic Wars, to include the Peninsular War; the Crimean War; the Boer War; and World War I.

During the 1800s there was an attempt to convert the regiment to Light Cavalry, and various appropriate changes to uniform were made, however this change did not come to fruition, leaving various oddities, such as a Light Cavalry sabre, and the Blue and Yellow of British Light Cavalry that would be a lasting legacy.

In 1906, the regiment was part of The Cavalry Brigade at the Grand Durbar (the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Bangalore), during which HRH presented a new standard to The Carabiniers. The regiment was in the First and Second Battle of Ypres in France, at the Battle of the Somme, Allenby's attack at Arras, and at Longueval. Following the war, the regiment was on constabulary duty in Ireland from 1919-1922.

Code: 15972Price: 75.00 GBP

An Early Issue, Red Army, Russian AK47 All wood stock model
All wood stock model, fully marked by the USSR Russian maker. Probably the most famous Auto Rifle in the world. Based on the German MP43/4 of WW2, Kalashnikov's most famous gun of the Cold War and modern era.The AK-47 has always enjoyed a reputation of rugged reliability. It is gas operated, using the gas from the barrel to push a piston attached to the bolt carrier, thus operating the action. The gas tube is fairly large and is visible above the barrel with ports or vents to allow the excess "dirty" gas to escape without affecting the action. The AK-47 is often built with generous clearances, allowing it to function easily in a dirty environment with little or no maintenance. While these clearances may not greatly harm accuracy, they certainly do not contribute to it either. It is very simple to disassemble and clean, easily maintainable by "a peasant with a flat rock." The AK-47 was the result of Soviet combat experience during World War II. Studies of battlefield reports showed most combat occurred within 300 meters, and the winner was usually the side with the most firepower. The bolt-action and semi-automatic rifles used on the Eastern Front were not optimal choices for this kind of combat, and the late-war submachine guns employed to compensate for these shortcomings lacked range and accuracy, leading to compromise designs such as the SKS, and later AK-47, with the AK-47 considered the ultimate answer to these goals. It gave the average soldier a high rate of fire rendering an AK-equipped squad’s firepower equivalent to submachine guns at close range, while also having a sufficiently powerful cartridge to engage moderately distant targets. The AK-47 was never meant to be a rifle that was effectively accurate at ranges beyond 600 meters since in mobile warfare, distances were covered rather quickly. It also had the advantage of not needing particularly experienced soldiers to be effective—it required very little maintenance, and accuracy was not very important which was ideal for the large conscript-based Soviet army. Deactivated. Sold to over 18's only. Not suitable for export.

Code: 15971Price: 340.00 GBP

A Most Rare and Collectable 19th P.W.O. Hussars 1898-1902 Cap Badge
Indian elephant on the earlier one line scroll [as opposed to the later, two line scroll, used till 1909]. An original, very fine quality, near mint example. This is one of the scarcest and most collectable Victorian cap badges in the field, and in the past 20 years we have seen only two or three original examples of this badge, and hundreds, if not thousands of copies. Part of a small collection of original rare Victorian badges we have just been most pleased to acquire. The regiment was originally raised in Bengal by the British East India Company in 1857 as the 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry, for service in the Indian Mutiny. During the Mutiny, a lieutenant of the regiment, Hugh Henry Gough, received the Victoria Cross.

As with all other "European" units of the Company, they were placed under the command of the Crown in 1858, and subsequently formally moved into the British Army in 1862 when they were designated as hussars as the 19th Hussars. At this time, the regiment was authorised to inherit the battle honours of the disbanded 19th Light Dragoons. The 19th Hussars saw service in the 1882 Egyptian expedition, fighting at Tel el Kebir, and in the 1884-5 expedition to the Sudan at the Battle of Abu Klea. During the South African War they fought in the relief of Ladysmith. The regiment was titled 19th (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars after Alexandra, Princess of Wales.

Code: 15969Price: On Request

Original Victorian 7th Dragoon Guards Cap Badge, 1898 1906
A superb example in pristine condition. Crisp and sharp and superb quality. Part of a small collection of original rare Victorian badges we have just been most pleased to acquire. At Dettingen, Cornet Richardson of the 7th received thirty-seven wounds whilst defending the Regimental Standard. This standard is the oldest surviving in the British Army.
7th Dragoon horsemen carried out the last cavalry charge of World War 1 when they galloped for 10 miles to capture LESSINES in BELGIUM and the crossings there over the RIVER DENDRE suffering no casualties themselves, but taking 4 German officers and 167 men prisoners. As was required by higher command this action was completed as the clocks were striking 11 o’clock when hostilities had to stop in accordance with the terms of the Armistice.

Code: 15968Price: 75.00 GBP