Lot 431

Description

Sydney International Exhibition N.S.W. gilt copper medal 1879, 76 mm., named to L. Moonen on reverse, edge inscription '1st Prize Special Class 313, 1st Prize Class 313, 1st Prize Class 614, 2nd Prize Class 217, 4th Prize Class 302'; together with 1797 copper 'cartwheel' twopence, (S.3776). Good very fine and fine. (2)

Ex Spink Australia Sale 33 (lot 2503). Leon Moonen was from Paris, France. Class 313 was Musical Instruments; class 614 was for Ornamental Woods used in decorating and it won the First Degree of Merit in this exhibition for his collection of 176 varieties of ornamental wood (see pp.781-784 - Official Record of the Sydney International Exhibition 1879). The judge's report stated 'This exhibit was an extremely interesting one, showing a great amount of care and observation in its preparation, and contains many rare and beautiful specimens.' Class 217 related to furniture and Class 302 to education and science.