May 19, 2008 at 2:56 pm
A couple of years ago I posted some of my fathers pictures from his post war Spitfire 22 service with 615 squadron which we had ‘liberated’ from his loft. He had previously seen action on Hurricanes and Spit 9’s with 127 squadron from 1942-1944 (when he was shot down and hospitalised due to his injuries). The photo below shows him in the cockpit of one of the 615 Spits that I have just obtained in the last few weeks. Unfortunately he passed away just before Christmas and now my mother is selling the 5 bedroom house where she is living on her own to move into a small flat. We are unable to keep all of his possessions so I am hoping someone here can advise us how to sell some items.
I have 2 limited edition prints by Robert Taylor. One is “First of many” depicting Douglas Bader in a Hurricane climbing up to attack a Dornier over Cromer in 1940. I gather that there are a few versions of this print signed by Bob Stanford-Tuck, Jamie Jameson, Duncan Smith and Peter Townsend however this is one of the more rare ones that is just signed by Bader himself (actual signature). The other is “Duel of eagles” depicting Bader in a Spitfire being chased by Adolf Galland in a Me109. This print is signed (again actual signatures) by Galland and Bader.
I also need to sell a complete collection of 4 ornamental plates from Royal Doulton titled ‘Defence of the Realm’. They are all in immaculate condition and have their original box and certificates of authenticity. They comprise ‘Hurricanes over the Houses of Parliament’, ‘Lancasters over Beachy Head’, Spitfires over the Needles’ and Mosquitos over the Forth Rail Bridge’. On the rear of each plate it states that the limited edition has a maximum of 10,000 plates and these are set no 3159 ‘Presented to W/O A.C.White 127 Sqn’.
If anyone knows what the best thing to do with these items is could you please let me know. Many thanks and apologies for making a post that is not perhaps the normal style for the forum.
Regards
Ian
By: Paul C - 25th September 2008 at 15:48
wysiwyg
Check out these guys they will have some idea of worth etc.
PaulC
By: Arclite03 - 25th September 2008 at 11:09
So was your Dad Charles White ???
By: wysiwyg - 20th May 2008 at 07:22
Thank you gents. I shall look into auction houses.
By: lotus72 - 20th May 2008 at 03:54
yes, I think an auction house is the best idea. Please don’t bother with Ebay for these sorts of items.
By: RPSmith - 19th May 2008 at 18:39
All I can suggest is to contact an auction house that have sales that include aviation collectors items – their names crop up now and again in FlyPast and Aeroplane. There are dealers who buy and sell paintings/prints as well.
Good luck.
Roger Smith.
By: mike currill - 19th May 2008 at 17:28
That’s a very moving account. Despite it being so brief it says everything. May he rest in peace along with his old colleagues and all the others who’ve left us now.
By: wysiwyg - 19th May 2008 at 17:21
Thanks Mike. We actually scattered his ashes just last week at the memorial at Kenley (his favourite basing). I kept his ashes until the weather was better so that we could remember the day as being bright and sunny rather than dank and wet. A couple of years ago (before his Alzheimers became too developed) Mum took him for a walk up at Kenley which made his day. She promised that one day she would take him back there but it wasn’t until after scattering his ashes that she remembered this and realised she had accidentally fulfilled her promise!
By: mike currill - 19th May 2008 at 17:00
We all know that what something is worth is whatever a collector is willing to pay but I hope you manage to sell the lot and make a nice sum if only so that your Dad can have a nice headstone out of the proceeds.