Mabon Medal Collection

Anderson and Garland Auctioneers and Valuers, recently held a specialist Medal Auction, which included some of the rarest medals and militaria that any collector could hope to acquire.

Comprising hundreds of medals, the collection realised a hammer total of £94,000.

Why were we chosen to sell the collection?

Making use of our free pre-sale valuation service, Thomas Mabon contacted our medal expert Fred Wyrley-Birch, initially showing him just two photographs. He was looking to sell a collection of medals and militaria, amassed by his late brother David.

Fred offered to come out to view the collection in Hetton-le Hole and provide a free pre-auction medal valuation. On arrival at the property he was pleasantly taken aback by the the scale of the collection, stored in the loft, which comprised of hundreds and hundreds of medals.

On consignment, he then spent several months carefully and extensively cataloguing the collection for auction. We also invited further medal valuations and consignments from around Newcastle, the North East and the Scottish Borders for this sale. It took time, but the results were outstanding.

The medal auction drew worldwide interest, with buyers from all over the world including the UK, the US, India, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Russia, Romania, Singapore, Taiwan, Ukraine and more.

Whilst we were delighted to welcome Thomas Mabon and his wife to the saleroom on saleday, they were, not quite, but nearly, the only people in the room. Thanks to our comprehensive cataloguing and condition reporting, online selling is the modern way of medal auctions. Through our online bidding platform, Collectors are happy to rely on our cataloguing skills and bid from the comfort of their homes, wherever that may be in the world, then have them shipped by courier.

Approximately 75% of the auction sold online. Around 15% of the sale went to telephone bidders and 5% to commission bids. Only about 5% of the medals sold in the room!

The Medals Auction was so successful that all but five lots sold.

Highlights from The Medal Auction & The David Mabon Collection

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath – sold for £3,600

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight Commander (Military) KCB, comprising: Victorian 18ct yellow gold and enamel neck badge, by R & S Garrard & Co, 1877, with enamel, on deep red ribbon with yellow metal clasp, and a white metal star, with yellow metal mounts and enamel, in original fitted case by R & S Garrard & Co, 25 Haymarket, London.

Distinguished Flying Cross Group – sold for £3,500

Second World War Distinguished Flying Cross group, awarded to 146647 Flying Officer J.S. Watson, 617 Squadron Royal Air Force, comprising Distinguished Flying Cross, engraved to back date '1944', War star, Air Crew Europe star, War medal and Defence medal, mounted and framed; together with original Royal Mint box; Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book, showing 750 hours of day and night flying in mostly Halifax and Lancaster bombers; photograph of Watson with Group Captain G.L. Cheshire V.C., D.S.O. & 2 bars, D.F.C. and Wing Commander J.B. Tait D.S.O. & 3 bars, D.F.C. & bar.

Notes: awarded D.F.C. June 28th 1944 (Auth 5G/s.1705/3/P.1).

DCM and MM First World War medal group – sold for £1,700

Awarded to W-3350 Sergeant Frank Dronfield, Royal Field Artillery, comprising: Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, War medal, 1914-15 star and Victory medal.

Distinguished Flying Medal – sold for £1,600

Second World War Distinguished Flying Medal, awarded to 1415475 Flight Sergeant George Alfred Leonard, 97Squadron Royal Air Force, with photocopies of operations record book and recommendation for honours and awards.

Distinguished Service Order and bar – sold for £1,500

George V Distinguished Service Order and bar, unattributed, enamel and silver, in Garrard & Co fitted case.

Military General Service medal – sold for £1,500

Queen Victoria Military General Service medal, awarded to Private William Hilton, 9th Regiment of Foot, four clasps comprise: Nive, Nivelle, St. Sebastian and Vittoria; with original card box.

Notes: Private William Hilton was from Bolton Lancashire, enlisted for limited service in May 1809. He was wounded at St. Sebastian and was discharged on 28th May 1816 aged 27.