13th Jun, 2019 11:00
The Fine Sale
373
A Barker's Patent brass and black enamel prismatic compass, dated 1910
within a fitted leather case
Other notes: By repute, this compass was gifted to one William Meadows by Violet Oates - sister of Captain Lawrence Oates of Gestingthorpe Hall - as a thank you for his assistance in moving her to Long Melford in 1947. Will Meadows was born at Stable Cottage on the Gestingthorpe estate and later worked as a handyman and driver for the Oates family. At the age of 92 and with no immediate family, Meadows gave the items to his friend and then neighbour, Peter Grant, in 1978. At the time, he informed Mr Grant that the ice axe had been to the Antarctic in 1910 with the British Antarctic Expedition. Our vendor purchased both this and the previous lot from Mr Grant in 2017. However, Captain Oates’ great-nephew, Bryan Oates, does not believe these items were recorded amongst Oates’ effects by his mother Caroline, who made extensive inventories of her son’s effects after his death.
Other notes: By repute, this compass was gifted to one William Meadows by Violet Oates - sister of Captain Lawrence Oates of Gestingthorpe Hall - as a thank you for his assistance in moving her to Long Melford in 1947. Will Meadows was born at Stable Cottage on the Gestingthorpe estate and later worked as a handyman and driver for the Oates family. At the age of 92 and with no immediate family, Meadows gave the items to his friend and then neighbour, Peter Grant, in 1978. At the time, he informed Mr Grant that the ice axe had been to the Antarctic in 1910 with the British Antarctic Expedition. Our vendor purchased both this and the previous lot from Mr Grant in 2017. However, Captain Oates’ great-nephew, Bryan Oates, does not believe these items were recorded amongst Oates’ effects by his mother Caroline, who made extensive inventories of her son’s effects after his death.
Sold for £1,500
Auction: The Fine Sale, 13th Jun, 2019
