Whyte’s Sale

This Iron Age carved stone head found near Claudy in Co. Derry in the 1930’s was the top lot at the Whyte’s History Literature and Collectibles Auction which took place on April 23 . It made 26,000.  The 523 lot sale featured historical artefacts, manuscripts, printed documents, posters, pamphlets, ephemera, medals, militaria, coins, banknotes, stamps and sports programmes.

An archive relating to the Cork Distilleries including nine bottles of samples of Irish whiskey made from the 1930’s to the 1950’s sold for 1,450. A posthumous 1916 Rising medal issued to Volunteer John Owens made 15,000 and a rare edition of the 1937 Constitution signed by all the members of Eamon de Valera’s cabinet made 6,200.

A collection of programmes for Irish Rugby 1922-82 made 4,000 and a pair of 1966 Padraig Pearse and 1916 Rising commemorative gold medals designed by Paul Vincze for Worboys, Dublin made 5,000.

DE VERE’S RESULTS

THE top lot at the de Veres sales in Dublin on April 13 was Paul Henry’s Achill Head from Keel. It made 60,000 in a sale where about 70 per cent of the 181 lots found buyers.

Tommy Orr the Blacksmith, an oil on canvas by Basil Blackshaw, made 40,000 and Ballywillan Church by Colin Middleton made 32,000.

A five piece oil on canvas by John Shinnors, entitled English Alottment, Winter made 29,000 and Paul Henry’s Western Landscape made 26,000.

The sale brought in over 500,000. In a comment afterwards auctioneer John de Vere White said that there are buyers out there, but they want value. Vendors must be realistic about this.