CHURCHILL AUCTIONS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 36, 6 November 1942, Page 4

CHURCHILL AUCTIONS

£BOO For First Day In Wellington

ART SECTION TODAY

'More than £BOO for patriotic funds was raised by the first, day of the Churchill auctions in Wellington, yesterday. Included in that amount is £350 for the Churchill book, autographed by the British Prime Minister and Mr. Fraser. Ihc sale will continue today at Kirkcahlie and Stains. Throughout the day the average attendance was 100, though there was well over twice that number when bidding closed for the Churchill book. Bidding was particularly brisk for New Zealand books, of which a large number went-to the General Assembly and the Alexander Turnbull Libraries. Interest was less keen in other sections, but at no tune was it completely dead. Apart from the main bid of the day, the highest price realized was £4B for “The New Zealanders,” by G. F. Angas. This was £l2 more than a copy of this rare book reached in Auckland, Buller’s “Birds of New Zealand” realized £22. Collectors had a field day in the New Zealand section, where prices were fair, but rarely reached the level which might have been expected of a patriotic effort. Where books were still in print, Oven the authors’ signatures failed to rocket prices, so that signed copies generally brought no more than second-hand prices. On the other hand, lesser writers than many now living and writing, were inclined to fetch fancy prices, so that several copies of the verses of Thomas Bracken sold at over £1 each. Among the surprises was the low bid of £2/12/6 for four volumes of White’s “Ancient History of the Maori,” long out of print. Autograph collectors are evidently not numerous in Wellington, and the varied collection roused comparatively little enthusiasm. A memorandum signed by Queen Victoria, for example, realized only £l. A letter from W. S. Grace went for 2/6 to a well-known writer, particularly interested in cricket, and for the same sum a journalist secured a note from WW. Jacobs.- - Letters from G. B. Shaw and Kipling fetched 15/- and 10/-, respectively. Highest price of any of the manuscripts was £3O for a collection of documents referring to Samoa and sought by the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Laek of appreciation of the work ot New Zealand artists was so marked that the great majority of the paintings were withdrawn till today, the auctioneer refusing to accept the few and low bids forthcoming. No better opportunity to obtain the works of leading Zealand landscape painters has presented itself for years, but the low bids which are usually a matter for self-congratulation were by no means commendable when patriotic funds were at stake. Almost, all the paintings sold for less than the artist first received, and there were even pictures which sold for little more than the cost of the frame and glass. An oil by Archibald F. Nicoll was knocked down at nine guineas, others by Elizabeth Kelly and Cecil Kelly at five guineas each. These were top prices for the art section. Special arrangements have been made to auction the remainder of this section, which is the largest part of it, at 11.30 a.m. today. Of special interest in the lots to be offered this morning will be the four etchings of Akaroa scenes made by Charles Maryon a century ago. Though these came under the hammer yesterday they will be offered again today. Apart from books in the New Zealand section, bidding was briskest for curios and objects of art, many of -which remain for today. Several swords were sold for sums up to £l/10/- and fine china reached good prices. Coins, stamps and miscellaneous books will also be offered today. Philatelists are reminded that the sale of stamps in connexion with the Churchill auctions will take place today between 3.30 and 4.30 p.m. A fair collection of stamps has been donated from all parts of New Zealand, some rare enough to be offered with a reserve price on them. If that price is. not realized at the sale, such lots are to be returned to the donor, who will then forward his cheque for the reserve amount to the fund. The sale will be conducted by the expert in philately, Mr. Philpott Crowther, Wellington. £350 FOR CHURCHILL BOOK Gift To Public Library Bidding for the book, “Divi Britannic!,” written by an ancestor of Mr. Winston Churchill and presented by Mr. F.. Joseph, of London, for the benefit of patriotic funds in New Zealand, closed at £350 yesterday afternoon, the successful bidder being Mr. A. It. Christian, of Wellington. The next highest, bid wns of £2OO from a group of Auckland citizens backed by Sir Ernest Davis. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, wns present during the final bidding, which began at £l7O and advanced by rises of £lO.

In announcing the presentation of the volume to the Wellington Public Library, Mr. Christian said that ho was one of a group of citizens, mostly Rotarians, who were interested in securing the book for the city. The city librarian, Mr. J. Norrie, thanked Mr. Christian for the gift, and added that such examples of public spirit were too rare in Wellington.