A new themed auction Around the World showcasing fascinating items from all corners of the globe and the spirit of travel takes place at Christie’s, South Kensington on April 28. With everything from a 34 star Civil War flag from North America to a world map from 1838 showing central Africa as unchartered territory the sale is brimful of interest. The map depicts central Africa as unchartered territory, just at the dawn of European exploration. Antarctica also remained somewhat undiscovered and it shows the extent of the discoveries in the South Seas by Cook, Palmer, Bransfield and Enderby, just prior to Sir James Ross’s expedition in 1839 to charter the Antarctic coastline. This led to the discovery of the Ross Sea. Estimates range from £500 to £30,000. Here is a small selection.
AN ENGRAVED AND COLOURED MAP OF THE WORLD
ENGRAVED BY JOHN DOWER, PUBLISHED BY HENRY TEESDALE & CO., LONDON, 1838 (£7,000-10,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.
RARE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FLAG WITH THIRTY-FOUR STARS
PROBABLY MADE BY THE ANNIN COMPANY, CIRCA 1861-1863 (£10,000-15,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.
AN INDO-PORTUGUESE BRASS-MOUNTED, EBONY AND IVORY-INLAID CEDAR, ROSEWOOD, CALAMANDER AND MARQUETRY CHEST
GOA, LATE 17TH / EARLY 18TH CENTURY (£20,000-30,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.
A REVOLVING BOOKCASE MADE OF TIMBERS RECOVERED FROM ADMIRAL LORD NELSON’S FLAGSHIP, THE FOUDROYANT
BY GOODALL, LAMB AND HEIGHWAY OF MANCHESTER, CIRCA 1900 (£1,000-1,500). Courtesy, Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.