Going, going, gone! Historic poster auction in south Warwickshire
The auctioneer’s gavel will come down once again for a re-enactment of a traditional auction in south Warwickshire.
The auction will take place on Tuesday March 31 in The George Townhouse Shipston on Stour, the scene of numerous such sales in the past.
Under the hammer will be 25 posters dating from 1918 about local homes and farms in villages like Chipping Campden, Ilmington, Brailes, Blockley and Shipston.
These posters were saved from memorabilia now donated to form The Bosley & Harper Collection. This unique auction recreates the past by keeping faithfully to the original procedures. The sale day itself – a Tuesday – being the day in past times for markets alternating between Shipston and Moreton. As was usual with many such sales, they commenced at 6 o’clock precisely!
Bygone poster catalogue
The traditional auction catalogue also replicates the original conditions of sale picturing all the posters with commentary on each. The old-style catalogue itself will be a historic collectable item – on sale for £2 at The George and various local venues to give the opportunity to own part of local history.
Posters include the sale of the contents of the mansion at Compton Verney 1924, Shipston’s Monumental Mason’s Workshop and Osier Bed to a house sale including a harmonium, magic lantern, and capital cob dog cart with rubber tyres, even a cocker spaniel bitch.
Local charitable causes to benefit
After the final bid, the funds raised are for local charities including Shipston Home Nursing, Shipston Proms, Shipston Educational Trust, Save Our Shipston and Shipston Museum. Much of The Bosley & Harper Collection has already been donated to the museum where it will be recorded with duplicates available for donations.
Original posters on display
Prior to the auction at 6pm, there’s a viewing on the day of sale from 11am – a chance see these well preserved original posters which will be on display at the George.
Even the gavel which will be used by the auctioneer at this unique event is historic having been presented in 1842 to William Bull, auctioneer and then proprietor of The George – how many sales it must have struck the fall of the hammer over the past 185 years!
More information from Susan Walker [email protected]