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 been 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 the 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 notable for its 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 subsequent auctions and, in so doing, the cataloguer wishes to acknowledge the prior work and research undertaken by Daniel Featon, much of which is incorporated within the descriptions below. P.J.P-M.
1
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, Eton, Eton College, Duke of Newcastle Medal, 1833, a copper specimen medal by W. Wyon, bust of Henry Pelham right, rev. legend in wreath, edge un-named, 36mm, 27.58g (BHM 1646; MJP p.39; cf. DNW M7, 2231); Earl of Strafford Prize for Shakespeare, 1881, a copper specimen medal, unsigned [by L.C. Wyon], bust of William Shakespeare three-quarters left, rev. legend in and around a border of stars, 44mm, 34.76g (MJP p.39; cf. Bonhams 13.xii.2012, 536) [2]. Extremely fine and better, first an early striking without the usual die flaw in field on obverse
£80-100
The Newcastle Scholarship is Eton College’s most prestigious prize. It was instituted in 1829 by Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle (1785-1851), with the winner being awarded a cash sum of £250 and the runner-up receiving a gold medal. The Strafford Prize for Shakespeare was endowed by George Stevens Byng, 2nd Earl of Strafford (1806-86), in 1881
2
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, Eton, Eton College, Fencing Prize, an artist’s proof in white metal for a medal by F. Bowcher, arms over crossed foils, rev. classically draped students pay homage to seated female, indication of award details inked in (First Prize, 1920, Name), 63mm, 112.01g; Henry VI Prize, a silver medal by J. Pinches for Johnson Walker & Tolhurst, statue of Henry VI dividing two shields of arms, rev. representation of the coronation of the Virgin from the College seal, plinth engraved 75 above 1923, edge named (O.E.C.S. Henry VI Medal won by E.R. Campbell, Stoke Poges), 64mm, 121.36g (MJP p.39; cf. DNW 54, 652) [2]. First about very fine, second very fine and toned but with rim nicks, both rare
£80-100
The origins of the Henry VI Prize are obscure, but a small number of un-named specimens were struck at the time of the College’s 500th anniversary in 1941
3
CHESHIRE, West Kirby, Braeside Preparatory School, a silver Winning House award medalet, unsigned [by Vaughton], legend above tablet engraved 1922, rev. legend, un-named, 23mm, 7.25g; LANCASHIRE, Liverpool, Collegiate Institution, Everton, silver Prize Medals by and after T. Ottley (2), elevation of the Institution, revs. shield in Garter, bishop’s mitre above, engraved (Penmanship; Freehand Drawing), different dies [second after T. Ottley], both un-named, 31mm, 14.72g, 13.36g (Taylor 141b; D & W 239/283) [3]. Last extremely fine, others very fine and better; first in red case of issue by Vaughtons Ltd, Goldsmiths & Medallists, Birmingham
£50-70
Braeside Preparatory School, Devonshire road, West Kirby, occupied two semi-detached houses; the school closed in the 1930s. Liverpool Collegiate School, a Grade II listed building, was opened by William Gladstone in January 1843
4
CORNWALL, Helston, Death of Sir Isaac Newton, 1727, a silver medal by J. Croker, draped bust left, rev. Science holding a plan of the solar system, edge impressed PRIZE MEDAL FOR HELSTON SCHOOL 1785, 52mm, 57.06g (D &W233/243, this piece; MI II, 469/83; E 504). Brilliant mint state, attractively toned, extremely rare as a prize medal £400-500
Helston Grammar School, the ‘Eton of Cornwall’ would later have Derwent Coleridge (son of the poet) as Head Master and the author Charles Kingsley was a pupil. It seems odd that the school would take such an effort in engraving a rare medal without naming the recipient
All lots are illustrated on our website
www.dnw.co.uk
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