Lot 429

Description

New South Wales Prize Exhibitors medal, 1862 (London), in gold (76mm) struck in nearly pure gold (23.5ct) (12oz / 365gm) by W.Kullrich, awarded as a special prize by the New South Wales Government for the best spun yarn from NSW grown wool to Joseph Craven of Dole Mill, Thornton, Yorkshire, inscribed on edge 'Joseph Craven. Fabric', probably the largest Australian award medal in gold. In original case, nearly FDC and excessively rare.

Ex R.A. Climpson Collection and previously Spink Australia Sale 3 (lot 106) Sale 88 (lot 773) and 94 (lot 770). At the time of the award the French lodged a protest claiming that the Bradford entries of Craven could only have been made in France and had been smuggled across to England. To produce the medal to the specific requirements set down by the N.S.W. Government proved costly and difficult according to newspaper accounts. The cost came to over 200 pounds just to make the medal.