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The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,

This lot has been removed from the website, please contact customer services for more information

Lot 37
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,

Sold for £ 18,000 (US$ 21,656) inc. premium

Medals, Bonds, Banknotes and Coins

26 Aug 2020, 10:30 BST

London, Knightsbridge

The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
the archive comprises: Two Victoria Crosses in partly unfinished manufactured state, with a miniature issue. With two further unfinished medals being an Iron Cross 1914 Second Class and Polish Valour Medal (produced as trial pieces). Stalingrad Sword casket, 29cm x 41cm x 11cm, this made from walnut with elaborate worked lid with gilt metal plaque engraved (A.Forbes), this housing a presentation album with photographs and descriptions relating to Stalingrad before the war and it's part through the war and subsequent rebuilding, with photographs of the sword being presented to Joseph Stalin at the Teheran Conference, the box further housed in a decorative card box with named paper label. A bronze figure of a Scottish Infantryman 28.5cm high, a figure of a Sikh Infantry man 7.4cm high, a figure of a King's African Rifleman 9cm high. (Lot)

Footnotes

  • The lot also includes the following additional correspondence etc:

    A letter from Hancocks & Co dated 7th November 1929 addressed to him at 25 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, this letter confirms his help with making the Victoria Cross for them for so many years, the subject matter of the letter relates to a misleading photograph printed in a newspaper.

    A photograph of him bedding down the "master Victoria Cross" in the mould before casting.

    Two photographs of him inspecting a Stalingrad presentation album, at the Soviet Embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens.

    A letter from Goldsmith's Hall dated 1st October 1943 inviting him and his family and friends to attend an exhibition at Goldsmith's Hall where the sword was put on public display between the 6th and 8th October 1943.

    A letter from Arkadi A.Sobolev, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S.S.R. confirming the presentation of Albums on behalf of the City Council of Stalingrad to British Masters who took part in the construction and production of the Sword of Honour for Stalingrad this was to take place on Friday 2nd February 1944 at 13 Kensington Palace Gardens London W8.

    London County Council School of Arts and Crafts Prospectus and Timetable of the Session 1938-1939 where he is noted a member of staff with the School of Silversmith's Work and Allied Crafts.

    A copy of the Bronze Cross where on page 6 there are photographs of Forbes melting the bronze and in turn moulding his 751st VC with the finished product being shown.

    A copy of the script for the BBC Home Service & Programme for the Forces for the 15th June 1940, 7-7.30pm "In Town Tonight" where he is quoted as having made over 600 for the Great War. With two letters from the BBC confirming arrangements for another broadcast dated 18th December 1944, and another one dated 15th September 1945 relating to a broadcast of a youth programme to be transmitted to India.

    Two family photographs, a number of newspaper cuttings relating to his work with VCs and the Stalingrad sword.

    A total of 18 Stalingrad albums were produced and designed by craftsmen in Stalingrad and were sent by the City Council and given to the British craftsmen who made the Sword of Honour.


    Alec Forbes was the grandson of a Colour Sergeant of the Black Watch who had helped capture the cannon at the Crimea, from which the metal was used to manufacture the Victoria Crosses. An article produced for the 20th January 1945 stated that every VC made since the Boer War had passed through his hands. These were made by the foundry Messrs R.Owen Ltd in Clerkenwell for Hancocks. In addition he was engaged in the gold work for the Field Marshal's batons for General Montgomery and Alexander, and of the Stalingrad sword amongst other many fine objects.


    Please see the website for further images of this lot.
Contacts
  1. John Millensted
    Specialist - Coins, Military Medals and Banknotes
    Bonhams
    Work
    Montpelier Street
    London, United Kingdom SW7 1HH
    Work +44 20 7393 3914
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
The Archive of items to the late Mr H.A.Forbes, the maker of over 700 Victoria Crosses,
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Buyer's Premium Rates
27.5% on the first £20,000 of the hammer price;
26% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £20,000 up to and including £700,000;
20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £700,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.

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