GOLD. 1813 George III, 7th head Half Guinea. This is the final year that the Half Guinea was issued, soon to be replacedby the Half Sovereign. This coin is in excellent, EF plus condition and retains some of its original mint bloom.

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• A set of invites, passes and ceremonial booklets from Prince Charles’ 1981 wedding to Princess Diana
• Accompanied by a letter from the Office of the Lord Chamberlain
• A fascinating and well preserved insight into the “Wedding of the Century” from a guest’s perspective

Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding was one of the most widely watched TV broadcasts of all time, with billions tuning in from all around the world. Sadly their marriage was not a happy one and ended in a split in 1992. They were divorced in 1996. Diana was tragically killed in a car crash in 1997.

In the years hence, memorabilia associated with Charles and Diana (and particularly items relating to the wedding) have become highly valuable. Demand has increased following the wedding of their sons Prince William (to Kate Middleton in 2011) and Prince Harry (to Meghan Markle in 2018).

A couple (one of who was an employee of the Duchy of Cornwall) who attended the 1981 Royal Wedding kept these documents as a memento of the day.

The set consists of:

1. A gold bordered invitation (in its original monogrammed envelope)
2. Car parking pass
3. Two tickets for entry to St Paul’s Cathedral
4. Three sheets displaying information on arrival times, dress code and parking
5. Two large “Ceremonial” booklets, laying out the order of the day
6. An order of service containing hymns, prayers and the text of the wedding vows
7. A letter from the Lord Chamberlain’s office with arrangements for post-wedding refreshments

This is the most comprehensive set of guest documentation we’ve come across from the 1981 Royal Wedding. A rare and intriguing collection with huge eye appeal. 

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• A guaranteed genuine half inch strand of John Lennon's hair
• Exceptional provenance - acquired from his barber Klaus Baruck in Berlin 

John Lennon (1940-1980) was a leading member of The Beatles, the most successful pop group in history. Forming an incredible songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney, he penned some of the band's most famous hits, before going on to hold the most successful solo career following their split. 

Ranked 8th in the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons list, and the fifth greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, his enduring legacy continues to fascinate fans across the world. As a result, he is by far the most collectable Beatle, with his memorabilia achieving outstanding prices.

We believe these to be the only strands of John Lennon's hair available on the market.

You can own a single half-inch strand of John Lennon's hair trimmed in September 1966 in preparation for filming How I Won the War, along with a photocopy of Lennon's signed call sheet and certificate of authenticity from Heritage Auctions. 

The hair originates from a $35,000 lot sold by Heritage Auctions in March 2016 (image of the total lot can be seen to the left).

It was originally obtained directly from John Lennon's hairdresser Klaus Baruck, who trimmed Lennon's famous hair in Hamburg, Germany, just before Lennon's starring role as Gripweed in Richard Lester's dark comedy about a fictional British army troop and their misadventures in World War II.

Included is a photocopy of the original one-page 8.5 x 11 inch mimeographed page titled "Petersham Films Limited/ Call Sheet No.13" which is dated September 6, 1966, and bears an interesting blue ink signature that reads: "John Lennon/ oh yes".

John Lennon started wearing his iconic round glasses for this role. He continued wearing the same style for the rest of his life.

The hair can be dated to a specific time and location and has been in the collection of the original owner for nearly 50 years.

As an aside, this haircut took place just a month after the release of the legendary Revolver album.

Presented on a display sheet ready for framing.

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• A superb collection of vintage polo trophies and photographic archive relating to star player Eric Tyrrell-Martin
• Discover more about this item here 

Eric Horace Tyrrell-Martin (1905-1953) was an English international polo player who captained the English team in 1936. Born in Yorkshire, he attended Rugby and Cambridge before becoming a Lieutenant in the 16th Hussars. He married Edith 'Babs' in 1929, who was an exceptional sportswoman, playing tennis at Wimbledon and placing as a runner up in the All American Women's Golf Championship.

Tyrrell-Martin had a colourful polo career: he captained the English polo team against America for the Westchester Cup at Hurlingham, and was invited to represent England at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, but wasn't able to accept.

He and Edith moved to California in 1936 and he spent much time travelling the world playing polo. He and Babs led a glittering social life with many famous friends and connections.

They visited the Roosevelts at the White House in 1939, and with the backing of King Farouk, Tyrrell-Martin promoted and developed polo in Egypt. Tyrrell-Martin died in 1953 as a result of injuries sustained while playing polo.

The superb collection of silver and silver-plated vintage polo trophies is complemented by two photo albums relating to the life and career of Tyrrell-Martin, as well as two address books belonging to his wife, Edith. These contain details for many celebrities including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Clarke Gable, Walt Disney, Bing Crosby and Charley [sic] Chaplin.

Trophies with inscriptions include: Carlow Hunt Races, Light Weight, 1911; Carlow Hunt Races, Light Weight, 1912; Beaufort Hunt Polo Club, Spring Cup, April 1929 (x2); W.S.P.C., Junior Cup, 1925, Templeton, 1. E.H. Martin...; W.S.P.C., Novices Cup, 1925, Chapel Brampton, 1. E.H. Martin...; W.S.P.C., Senior Cup, 1928,...; W.S.P.C., Visitors Cup, 1925, Ridley House, 1. E.H. Martin...; Midwick Country Club Open Championship, 1937, Won by Texas Rangers...; Hurlingham Club, 1926, Oxford v Cambridge; Gans Challenge Cup Deauville, 1930; Polo de Laversine, 1929; San Mateo-Burlinghame, Polo Club, High Goal Handicap, Won by...; Coupe de Bourg de Bozas, Polo de Deauville, 1929 Meadow Brook Club, 1939, Presented by The Hurlingham Club...; Cannes-Brioni-Vienna-Challenge-Cup...; Polo de Paris 1929; Chateau D'Oex, September, 1913; C.A.V., Conference, Eastbourne, 1969.

There are a small number of other trophies not inscribed.

The first photo album contains approximately 100 photographs together with some newspaper cuttings. The second houses a collection of newspaper articles mostly tracking press coverage of the Westchester Cup at Hurlingham. It includes signatures from Gerald Balding (British) and Stewart B Inglehart and Winston FC Guest (America).

There are also approximately 200 loose black and white photographs, some mounted. The largest measures 30cm x 39.5cm, with the majority at 18cm x 12cm or smaller. They depict polo matches, social events and family holidays. 

A truly unique and most important collection of vintage polo memorabilia worthy of exhibit.

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Please note many of the above hairs are in very limited quantities and will be sold on a first come first served basis.

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Aden 1937 (1 APR) registered 'J. Stephen' cover, SG10/12, from ADEN CAMP to Isle of Man, bearing Dhow 2r, 5r, 10r, tied with individual very fine strikes of circular date stamps on first day of issue, with blue/white registration label at lower left. The 2r with trivial soiling from cancel but most attractive and scarce.

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Aden 1937 10r olive-green 'Dhow', fine unmounted original gum. A key King George VI stamp. Unmounted Mint. SG 12

Aden 1949 Royal Silver Wedding 1½a and 10r, in lower marginal blocks of 4, the 10r with imprint, unmounted original gum. Unmounted Mint. SG30/1

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• An authentic lock of Admiral Horatio Nelson's hair presented in a circular agate box decorated with a gold band 

Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) was a British naval officer famous for his victories against the French during the Napoleonic Wars.

Nelson was known for his superb leadership skills and somewhat unconventional strategies.

Nelson was involved in battle almost constantly between 1793 until his death in 1805. During this time he lost the sight in his right eye at the Battle of Calvi in Corsica and lost his right arm at Santa Cruz in Tenerife.

Admiral Lord Nelson is remembered as one of the greatest British war heroes in history. He died during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

This is a generous, fine, blonde lock of Lord Nelson's hair.

• Half a letter from Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson to Captain William G Rutherford, commander of HMS Swiftsure
• Signed in June 1805, just over five months before Nelson’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar
• Written amidst the British pursuit of the French fleet to the Caribbean 
• Find out more about this fascinating letter here 

Nelson (1758-1805) was a British naval officer famous for his victories against the French during the Napoleonic Wars. He was known for his superb leadership skills and somewhat unconventional strategies. Nelson was involved in battle almost constantly between 1793 until his death in 1805. During this time he lost the sight in his right eye at the Battle of Calvi in Corsica and lost his right arm at Santa Cruz in Tenerife. Admiral Lord Nelson is remembered as one of the greatest British war heroes in history. He died during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

This is the bottom half of a letter Admiral Nelson sent to Captain William G Rutherford (commander of the HMS Swiftsure) in June 1805. That's five months before the Battle of Trafalgar. Rutherford took command of the Swiftsure in May 1805, after Nelson appointed him to the position during the blockade of Toulon.

The British blockaded the port, intending to draw out the French fleet. But the French, under Admiral Villeneuve, gave the British the slip and escaped through the Strait of Gibraltar – heading west to the Caribbean.

Nelson took several ships (including the Swiftsure) and set off in hot pursuit. On June 4, 1805, the British fleet arrived into Barbados. Nelson had received word from the governor of St Lucia that the French had gone to Trinidad and Tobago. He picked up troops from Barbados, intending to smash the French. But on June 9 he learned the information was incorrect. The French fleet had actually gone north to Martinique. There they'd captured a strategic sea fort (Diamond Rock) and headed home.

Dejected, Nelson ordered the fleet to return to Europe. They dropped the extra troops at Antigua on June 13.

But this 6.5 x 8 inch letter dates to June 4-9, when Nelson still believes he's on the tail of the French fleet. He orders Rutherford to give troops the full complement of food and provisions, to steel them for the battle ahead.

The letter is likely written by a secretary and reads: “…any distinction in victualling them would under the present circumstances be in my opinion very improper, it is my intention as we may soon be in Battle with the Enemy and the stay of the troops on board cannot be many days, that they shall be victualled the same as the respective ships companies.

“It is therefore my direction that you cause the troops who may be embarked from Barbadoes onboard his majesty’s ship under your command to be victualled at full allowance of all species of provisions the same as your ships company during their continuance on board.”

Below Napoleon signs “Nelson & Bronte”.

Spanish King Ferdinand III appointed Nelson First Duke of Bronte in 1799, in thanks for his help in subduing a rebellion in Naples. Nelson was proud of his new title and incorporated it into his signature. He tried out a few different ways of writing it (including "Bronte Nelson of the Nile”) before settling on the current form. He changed his autograph often throughout his life. This is the last variant he used.

The present example is clear and fine. Its connection to a key moment in British naval history provides enhanced appeal.

The flight of Admiral Villeneuve was the last major naval action before the Battle of Trafalgar. After arriving back to the UK in August, Nelson was hailed the saviour of the British colonies in the Caribbean.

On September 2, he was told the French and Spanish had combined fleets at Cadiz. So began the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Swiftsure would play a decisive role at Trafalgar, taking on four French ships and dealing the final blow to the Achille. After the battle it attempted to tow the Redoubtable, the French ship from whence Nelson’s fatal shot came, but cut it free when it started to sink.

Rutherford was a fascinating character and the only American-born commander at Trafalgar.

Born in North Carolina to loyalist parents, who fled to the Caribbean at the outbreak of the American Revolution, he rose quickly through the ranks of the British Navy – taking his first command post in 1794.

Nelson’s signature is in high demand, with letters relating to his naval career particularly sought after. This is a particularly important specimen, directly connected with the last manoeuvres before the Battle of Trafalgar.   

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Albert Einstein signed letter addressed to Corliss Lamont

For Sale: £8,250

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German born theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner.

The letter, dated January 2, 1954, reads in full: "Dear Mr Lamont I thank you for sending me your excellent statement which I had, of course, already seen. Through your attitude you have rendered the country an important service. There is one point in your statement which I regretted. It is your declaration that you have never been a member of the Communist party. For party membership is a thing about which no citizen has any obligation to give an accounting for. Sincerely Yours Albert Einstein"

Einstein has signed the bottom of the letter in black ink 'A. Einstein'.

Corliss Lamont has typed his reply (Dated January 25, 1954) on the reverse of Einstein's letter, in full:

Dear Dr Einstein Thank you very much for your kind note on January 2nd. You have a real point about my voluntary statement to Senator McCarthy, that I was not a member of the Communist Party. I have worried about this a great deal and I am not at all sure that I should have included that. I am preparing for publication a pamphlet on this whole subject, entitled Challenge to McCarthy. The heart of it consists of a re-write of the enclosed article that was published in The Nation in its special issue on civil liberties in December. Since I discuss the case of Dr Sadowitz and the whole matter of the Congressional inquisitions, I would like very much to include as one appendix of your excellent letter to Mr Frauenglass of May 16, 1953. Since this was published in the New York Times, I presume that you have no objection to me using it. However, I want to check with you specifically before going ahead. Sincerely yours, Corliss Lamont Given

Einstein's links to Germany and Zionism, his socialist ideals, and his links to Communist figures, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation kept a file on Einstein that grew to 1,427 pages.

Corliss Lamont (March 28, 1902 – April 26, 1995), was a socialist philosopher, and advocate of various left-wing and civil liberties causes. As a part of his political activities he was the Chairman of National Council of American-Soviet Friendship starting from early 1940s.

A unique piece of Einstein memorabilia

• An illustrated portrait of Albert Einstein signed by Einstein himself

Albert Einstein was one of the world’s greatest scientific minds. In the early 1900s he developed the Theory of Relativity, a work that set the template for modern physics. A German citizen, he left the country shortly before Hitler seized power and never returned – choosing instead to spend the rest of his life in America. 

He was instrumental in developing the first atomic bombs in the 1940s, in spite of a lifelong commitment to pacifism. Over the course of his career he published hundreds of scientific papers. His name has become interchangeable with genius.  

This is a 4.9 x 3.9 inch illustration of Albert Einstein by the Danish amateur artist Carl Werner Skogholm. Skogholm drew portraits of celebrities and sent them off with a request they be returned with a signature. Einstein was one of those who obliged. 

Einstein has signed crisply in black pen, dating the piece "48". One of the nicest Einstein autographs you'll see. 

This is a unique piece of considerable charm. Demand for Einstein’s signature has been growing, with one inscribed paper selling for a record $1.5m in 2017.

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• An authentic strand of hair from actor Alexander Skarsgad

Alexander Skarsgad’s first major role was as sergeant Brad Coleman in HBO series Generation Kill (2008), a show based on the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. He became a household name soon after with his portrayal of vampire Eric Northman in the HBO series True Blood.

This is a guaranteed authentic half inch strand of Alexander Skarsgad’s hair.

It comes presented on an 8 x 5.75 inch display card, perfect for framing.

The hair comes directly from a wigmaker who has worked on several major recent films and TV programmes. The wigmaker takes hair samples from celebrities to ensure the wigs exactly match their hair. 99% of TV and film stars use wigs or hair extensions on screen.

Free global shipping. Certificate of Authenticity and our Lifetime Moneyback Guarantee of Authenticity included. 

• A March 26, 1965 clipped front page of Time Magazine signed by Alexei Leonov

Alexei Leonov is a Russian cosmonaut who in 1965 became the first person to perform a spacewalk. In 1975 he commanded the Soyuz capsule on the Soyuz-Apollo mission, the first collaborative mission between the US and the Soviet Union.

A March 26, 1965 front page cover of Time Magazine featuring a cover image of Alexei Leonov’s 1965 spacewalk. Leonov has signed on the white section of the image. Folded but in fine condition.

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• A signed photograph of Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma

Alfred Hitchcock is a hugely influential filmmaker whose unique take on the thriller genre revolutionised cinema. Among his most celebrated movies are Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959) and Psycho (1960).

Here we have a large 10 x 8 inch photograph of Alfred Hitchcock with his wife Alma, having just stepped off the plane in Hawaii circa 1962-1963. A photographer for the Pacific News Bureau, an organisation based in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, took the shot.

To the bottom right Hitchcock has included his wife’s name in his signature: “Alfred Alma Hitchcock”. Alma was a script editor and regularly worked with her husband on his movies.

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• A piece of early history from one of America's greatest financial institutions

William Fargo (1818-1881) was an American businessman who co-founded the famous express firm Wells, Fargo & Co. in 1852.

The company provided financial services to miners, merchants and ranchers during the Gold Rush, and became the biggest mail deliverer, bank, express agency and stagecoach company in the West.

Fargo was also a co-founder of American Express, which began life as a mail delivery company in Buffalo, New York in 1850, before expanding into money order services in the 1880s and becoming one of the world's biggest financial institutions.

Fargo served as the president of American Express from 1868 to his death in 1881. Today, the company is the 22nd most valuable brand in the world, estimated at $14.9bn.

This stock certificate for fifteen shares in the American Express Company was issued to an Edward A. Hastings on May 17, 1873.

It is signed at the bottom by William Fargo as the company president.

The certificate measures 11.5" x 7.5", and features expected stamps and cancellation holes.

Country: Ancient Greece

King (reign): Fifth Democracy, c214-212 BC

Denomination/metal: Silver 12 Litrai

Type Syracuse mint

Ref. no: Burnett, Enna Hoard, SNR 62, 1983, pl. 9, D 21 (these dies); McClean 2957 (these dies); SNG ANS 1040

Obv. Head of Athena facing left, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a snake on the bowl.

Rev. SYPAKOSION, Artemis standing left, drawing bow, a hound springing left at her side, A on left.

1.02g.

EF - Very well-struck from pretty dies on a broad flan, attractive light iridescent tone, good extremely fine and most attractive.

• A copy of Interview magazine signed by Andy Warhol and Truman Capote

Andy Warhol’s work explores themes of consumerism, manufacturing and celebrity. His work is enormously popular with collectors. The record at auction stands at $105m, set in 2013 for a canvas titled Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster).Truman Capote was a writer and actor best known for inventing the true crime genre with his novel In Cold Blood (1966), which details the brutal murder of an ordinary family in rural Kansas.

A copy of Interview magazine (measuring approx 17 x 11 inches) from July 1979 signed on the cover in black pen by its co-founder Andy Warhol and the writer Truman Capote - who had a regular column in the publication. 

A rare double outing from two titans of 20th century art and literature.

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• An excellent signed photograph of Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol’s work explores themes of consumerism, manufacturing and celebrity. His work is enormously popular with collectors. The record at auction stands at $105m, set in 2013 for a canvas titled Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster).

An iconic 10 x 8 inch black and white photograph of Andy Warhol (1928-1987) by Richard Schulman, signed on the left side by Warhol in black felt tip pen.

The image is from a 1984 photo shoot, taken three years before Warhol died. Warhol will have signed here between 1984 and 1987. 

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Antigua 1938 1s black and red brown (Unused) SG105

1938-51 1s black and red-brown, FRAME PRINTED DOUBLE, ONE ALBINO, brilliant original gum.

The albino impression is 2mm above and 4mm to left of the printed frame, and readily visible in the top margin.

A major KGVI rarity, of which only a few examples are recorded.

An ex Stanley Gibbons stock item.

SG Catalogue Price: £6,000