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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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 King George VI 1937 “Dhows” ½a to 10r set of 12, SG1/12.

A fine mint lightly mounted set of fresh appearance of this very popular set being the first stamps issued from the former capital of the People's Republic of South Yemen. Aden was only a British Crown Colony from 1937 to 1963.

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue price for this set is £1,200.

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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• A hugely rare and intimate piece of British history: Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson's snuff box

Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson (1758–1805) is one of the most celebrated figures in British history, best remembered for his heroic efforts during the Napoleonic wars.

Nelson's career as a naval officer saw him lead the British fleet to several victories, during which he suffered injuries, including the loss of his right arm and the sight in his right eye.

His most famous victory came in October 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the Royal Navy decimated the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies.

Prior to the battle, Nelson sent out the famous message "England expects that every man will do his duty". Tragically, he was shot by a French sniper and died on board his ship the HMS Victory mid battle.

His body was returned to England where he was granted a state funeral, and numerous monuments were erected in his honour, including Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London.

This tortoiseshell composition snuff box was originally owned by Lord Nelson, and features a miniature watercolour scene of the Amalfi coast on the top.

The box was gifted by Nelson to his personal secretary George Unwin, during a dinner party in Sicily in late 1798 or early 1799 which was also attended by Nelson's mistress, Emma, Lady Hamilton.

Nelson had first met Hamilton in 1793 and the pair were reunited in 1798 following the Battle of the Nile.

Having been severely injured, Nelson recuperated in Naples, during which time he was nursed back to health by Lady Emma and her elderly husband, Sir William Hamilton.

It was during this period that Nelson and Hamilton began their famous love affair, which lasted until Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

It seems highly possible that Nelson gave this gift to Unwin as a show of generosity, in an attempt to impress his mistress over dinner.

The snuff box is offered along with a manuscript letter by Unwin's son, George, which reads in full:

"My Father had either lost his own snuff box on going ashore or in some shop in Palermo and upon mentioning the circumstances at Lady Hamilton’s table where Lord Nelson was one of the party his Lordship handed over to him this identical box and desired him to keep it until he could get a better one."

The box was later passed down to Unwin's own son George, then via his wife Anne Oxenham to her brother Rev. William Oxenham, and by descent through the family for several generations.

A beautiful and rare item from one of Britain’s most famous heroes, and a small piece connected to one of history's greatest love affairs.

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• 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 

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.

Nelson writes: “…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 he 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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• 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.

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Ancient Greece Silver Stater Calabria-Tarentum c 340-325 BC. 

Obv. Horseman riding r., brandishing spear, he holds speares and shield. Rev. Taras riding dolphin r., holding crested helmet, stars to left and right. 20mm, 7.83g. EF - beautiful old cabinet tone, a little softness of strike at high-points, otherwise of attractive style and extremely fine.

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Ancient Greece. King Attica, Athens. Silver Tetradrachm (c. 449-415 B.C.)

Obv. Head of Athena facing right, wearing a crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and a palmette. 

Rev. ATE, owl standing to right, its head facing, an olive-sprig and a crescent behind; all within an incuse square. 2mm, AEF - Almost Extremely Fine.

The 'owl' silver tetradachm of Athens are perhaps one of the most familiar of all ancient Greek coins. As the animal associated with the goddess Athena, the owl became the obvious emblem to represent the city on its coinage. During the fifth century B.C., Athens was remarkable for its democratic political system, its architecture, as well as its artistic and philosophical achievements. Indeed, some of the most important figures in classical Western culture were active at Athens, including the dramatists Aristophanes and Euripides, the  historians Herodotos and Thucydides, and the philosophers Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. This coin was struck just prior to, or during, the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.

Prince of Aquitaine. 1362-1372. Half length facing figure; ED POS... REG AGL E / Long cross, lis and lions in opposite quarters.

Good Very Fine. 

Crowned leopard left, rev. cross fleury with lions in angles.

Good Very Fine. 

• An authentic strand of hair from actor Antonio Banderas

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas (born 1960) began his onscreen career working with the celebrated auteur Pedro Almodovar. He made the move into Hollywood with The Mambo Kings in 1992. By the end of the decade he was one of the biggest stars in the industry, starring in blockbuster The Mask of Zorro (1998).  

This is a guaranteed authentic half inch strand of Antonio Banderas’ 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 unique full Apollo 11 crew-signed block of 32 1969 10c "First Man on the Moon" stamps

The Apollo program was NASA’s third foray into human spaceflight and operated from 1961 through 1972. It succeeded in putting the first men on the Moon with the Apollo 11 landing in 1969, a defining moment in human history.

An original block of 32 1969 10c "First Man on the Moon" stamps signed by all three members of the Apollo 11 crew (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins) in black ink on the left margin. It is the only known block of the stamps signed by any of the Apollo 11 astronauts. 

The Post Office released this commemorative issue on September 9, 1969. It proved hugely popular. The astronauts actually carried the master die with them on Apollo 11. 

Measures approx 9 x 10.5 inches. 

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A fantastic, full length, colour postcard photograph (approximately 4 x 6 inches) of the astronaut 'Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr' walking on the surface of the moon near a leg of the Lunar Module during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on July 20, 1969. 

The piece includes an 'Apollo 8' stamp and a black Houston, Texas stamp date 'July 20, 1969'. 

The piece is signed across the lower right portion of the image in bold blue felt pen ink by Neil Armstrong, signed and dedicated across the bottom white margin in bold black felt pen ink 'To Walter Hopferwieser, We came in peace for all mankind, Buzz Aldrin', and signed across the bottom white margin in bold black felt pen ink by Michael Collins. 

A superb image taken by the Commander 'Neil A. Armstrong' with a 70mm lunar surface camera. With a surface crease to the top left corner which does not affect the signatures. Mounted, framed and glazed.

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Attica Athens silver drachm (circa 454-404 BC).

Obv: Head of Athena facing right, wearing a crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and a palmette Rev: standing right, its head facing, an olive-sprig and a crescent behind; all within an incuse square GVF - Well-centred, toned, good very fine. 

Audrey Hepburn began her acting career as a chorus girl in the London’s West End during the late 1940s. Her breakout came in 1951, when she was cast as the lead in Gigi – a hugely successful play on Broadway.

A career in film followed, including Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). My Fair Lady, released in 1964, features one of her finest performances as cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle.

This rare 8 x 10 inch full length publicity photograph shows Audrey Hepburn in a wildly over the top dress and hat she wore for the Ascot scene in My Fair Lady (1964).

Hepburn has signed in the bottom right corner, a particularly fine example of her signature in black felt tip. A must for any fan of this legendary star.

We believe the photo is a print of a Cecil Beaton original. Photographer and costume designer Beaton designed many of Hepburn's dresses for the film, including the Ascot dress she wears here. 

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Augustus (27 BC - AD 14), Silver Denarius. Laureate head facing right, rev, Gaius
and Lucius Caesar, both togate, standing facing, each with a spear and a shield, a lituus and a simpulum above. 

About Extremely Fine. 

Australia 1915 5s grey and yellow, watermark 5, lightly cancelled by two part strikes of 'WHIM CR(EEK)' circular date stamps with excellent perforations and centring. Scarce so fine. Used. SG 30