BRITISH EDUCATIONAL AWARD MEDALS FROM THE COLLECTION FORMED BY THE LATE T.H. WATTS


BRITISH EDUCATIONAL AWARD MEDALS FROM THE COLLECTION FORMED BY THE LATE T.H. WATTS


The collection of educational award medals formed by the late T.H. Watts has acquired an aura of mystique over the past 50 years or so. Mr Watts, a schoolmaster himself, appears to have most active in acquiring pieces in the 1950s and early 1960s and was an occasional visitor to the London dealers, particularly A.H. Baldwin & Sons, at


that time. After the British Museum had made a photographic record of it, the collection was acquired by Baldwin’s and a listing made by Thomas Curtis, who shared some of his findings with students, including the late Margaret Grimshaw (1904-90), lecturer in Mathematics at Cambridge, bursar of Newnham College and author of the trilogy of catalogues on the subject published between 1981 and 1989.


Quite apart from its sheer breadth, the Watts collection, originally numbering some 1,500 pieces, is particularly noteworthy for its stunning quality. The majority of medals are in superb condition, a testament to the keen eye of its creator. DNW will be selling portions of the collection over the next few auctions and, in so doing, the cataloguer wishes to acknowledge the prior work and research undertaken by Daniel Fearon, much of which is incorporated within the descriptions below. P.J.P-M.


1537


BEDFORDSHIRE, Kempston, Bedford County School, Ampthill Road, c. 1875, a silver medal, unsigned, shield of arms on latticework background, rev. legend in and around wreath, 48mm, 60.75g. Virtually as struck, toned


£60-80


The Bedford County School, founded in 1867 as the Bedfordshire Middle Class Public School with financial backing from the Duke of Bedford and the Liberal MP Samuel Whitbread, opened in 1869. The name was changed in 1875 because, as the Bedfordshire Times reported, "The word Class grows more and more odious and its disappearance from the name of a public institution must have an advantageous effect." In 1907 the name was changed again to Elstow School, but the facility was closed in 1916 and the buildings requisitioned for use as a military college


1538


CAMBRIDGESHIRE, Cambridge, Cambridge University, Chancellor’s Prize Medal of Henry, Duke of Grafton, 1768, a silver award by J. Kirk, laureate and armoured bust of George III right, rev. draped female figure with lyre crowning student with a wreath, cherub above, un-named, 53mm, 57.88g (BHM 112; E 728). Virtually as struck, attractively toned, very rare


£200-300


Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC (1735-1811), statesman. He was appointed Chancellor in 1768, the same year he became Prime Minister at the age of 33. The obverse of the medal was used again on the medal of his successor Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1776-1834)


1539


CAMBRIDGESHIRE, Cambridge, Christ’s College, Beilby Porteus Medal, 1808, a gilt-bronze striking of the gold award by J. Phillp, laureate bust of George III left, rev. façade of the College with main gateway, edge a continuous line of leaves, 69mm, 55.99g (BHM 632; Taylor 29c; E 991). Trifling obverse rim nick at 2 o’clock, otherwise brilliant mint state


£100-150 Beilby Porteus (1731-1808), Archbishop of Canterbury, Chaplain to George III and a Fellow of Christ’s College All lots are illustrated on our website www.dnw.co.uk


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