Catalogue
1st Regiment NSW Volunteer Infantry shako, c1870, black material with leather brim, top and trim, gold bullion strips at back and sides, with unit badge at front, small, metal image of Medusa near top trim on back, with cream and red woollen ball at top front, leather sweatband and loose cloth above. A few holes at front in badge area and at top edge, otherwise good fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $4,000
NSW Volunteer Infantry shako, c1880s, black wool with leather brim and trim and with 3rd Regiment NSW Volunteer Infantry bugle horn badge with Queen Victoria crown as worn by soldiers (see Grebert p5), with grey woolen ball above, leather chinstrap, leather sweatband and lined with magneta silk. Silk lining damaged, small dent at back, a few white spots and moth holes, otherwise good fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $3,800
NSW Naval Artillery Volunteers officer's bicorn hat, black 'beaver' with black pleated cockade with gold bullion coil at centre and button for N.S.W.N.A.V. and gold bullion coils at each end, the inside is lined with pleated purple silk and with gold blocked maker's monogrammed initials, 'A&NCS', on the leather liner is printed in ink, '400' and crossed out and the name, 'Williams', together with a metal bicorn hat container. The container with rusting, the hat with some loss of fur at edges and bullion coils unravelling and in need of repair, otherwise very good and rare to NSWNAV.
Estimate $250
SOLD $350
NSW Permanent Artillery pith helmet, c1880s, Wolseley pattern, brass unit badge at front (57mm, Grebert p121), ball at top, brass and leather backed chinstrap secured on inside hooks,, with 7-pleated puggaree, leather sweatband and padded cloth interior lining, sweatband with gold blocked maker's name, 'Moubray, Rowan & Hicks/Melbourne'. Helmet and top ball with dents, helmet with some white painted areas, brass helmet fittings with verdigris spotting and need cleaning, padded internal lining deteriorating, otherwise very good.
Estimate $250
SOLD $2,000
Victorian Volunteer Rifles pith helmet, c1870s, Wolseley pattern with maker's label on inside, 'Made In England/For/A.Bowley & Co/Melbourne', white metal unit helmet plate (QVC) (Grebert p183), green material behind but should be red felt, spike at top of helmet, brass and leather backed chinstrap secured on inside hooks, with 8-pleated puggaree, leather sweatband with narrow silk liner above, this loose from band in one small area. Age toning, a small stained area, some light moth affected sections, foxing on puggaree, otherwise very fine, helmet plate toned nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $3,000
Victorian Militia Artillery officer's forage cap, c1880s, dark blue felt top and body, top with woven pattern and with centre woven thread button, unit pill box cap badge at front (QVC), black wine vine patterned band, leather brim with bullion decoration, leather sweatband and red patterned cloth lining gold blocked with maker's name, 'J.B.Mackie/Manufacturer/5, Collins St W./Melbourne'. Small white stain on brim bullion decoration, sweatband loose in parts, otherwise good very fine.
Estimate $750
SOLD $1,200
Victorian Artillery pith helmet, pre federation, Wolseley pattern with maker's label on inside, 'A&N.C.S.L. London', brass artillery badge (42mm) at front, ball at top of helmet, brass and leather backed chinstrap secured on inside hooks, with 10-pleated puggaree, leather sweatband with narrow silk liner above, this loose. Loss of material from helmet in various places, considerable foxing, otherwise fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $380
Victorian Royal Artillery Volunteer pill box cap, pre 1901, dark blue cloth with broad band of lace around bottom, top with bullion pattern with centre bullion thread button, with thin leather chinstrap, leather sweatband and crimson silk lining, maker's name barely visible, 'Wm Anderson/??/Edinburgh'. A few threadbare spots on lining, a few moth eaten spots on top, some wear around top edge, otherwise good fine.
Estimate $200
SOLD $800
Victorian Military Forces helmet, c1880-93, dark blue cloth covered helmet with metal helmet spike, with unit brass helmet plate (94mm, Grebert p187) on red backing, brass and velvet chinstrap attached at sides to gilt rosettes, leather sweatband with band of magneta silk above, sweatband marked in pen, 'U/334', inside top of helmet with maker's label, 'T.White & Co Ltd/Military Tailors/Union St/Aldershot.' Velvet on chinstrap loose at ends, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $1,000
Victorian Military Forces pith helmet, pre federation, Wolseley pattern, brass unit badge (40mm) at front, ventilation dome at top, brass and leather backed chinstrap secured on inside hooks, with 11-pleated puggaree, leather sweatband with narrow cloth liner above and padded cloth interior lining, this loose. Some loss of material on lining, outer surface with some painting evident in places, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $750
Army pith helmet, c1870s, 4-pleated white puggaree, this loosely fitted, with one spike and one ball metal top pieces for helmet, these not fitted, brass and leather backed chinstrap fitted to inside hooks, leather sweatband with narrow magneta silk above and with fitted maker's label, 'Made In England/For/A.Bowley & Co/588 Collins Street/Melbourne', together with japanned storage tin on the lid of which is attached a brass plate engraved, 'Major F.T.Sargood.' The container with rusting, helmet has been repainted, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $1,800
South Australia officer cap, c1880, with white metal Queen Victoria crown at front, white band, leather brim, front and back, no lining some metal studs missing from side ventilation holes. Moth holes, inner band in poor shape, otherwise very good and rare.
Estimate $300
SOLD $800
South Australia Militia Infantry officer's home service helmet, 1870s, with unit helmet plate, spike and rosettes at top and rosette chinstrap holders, leather sweatband, lining repaired, brass and leather backed chinstrap. Some verdigris on a few metal sections, otherwise very fine and scarce.
Estimate $1,000
SOLD $3,400
Western Australia Volunteer Artillery officer's bicorn hat, c1880s, black 'beaver' with black pleated cockade with gold bullion stitched silk overlay and this affixed with button for the Volunteer unit, with bullion coils at each end, the inside is lined with pleated white silk and with black printed Royal coat-of-arms, with leather sweatband, together with a japanned metal bicorn hat container on each side of which is painted the initials, 'T.A.W.' Some loss of fur around lower edge, otherwise good very fine, tin with considerable rusting and loss of paint.
Estimate $350
SOLD $450
Tasmania Territorial Police helmet, 1865-1898, dark blue cloth covered helmet with metal ventilation dome at top, with unit brass helmet plate (QVC), leather chinstrap, leather sweatband, inside with cloth lining and maker's label, 'English Made/(Christie's London badge)/ Made in England expressly for/J.Bidencope & Son Pty Ltd/Hobart.', also remnants of another tag but made of paper and handwritten, relates to size, material and style. Moth eaten areas on material sections, otherwise very fine, helmet plate toned and with a few spots, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $1,500
Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery helmet, c1880s, dark blue cloth covered helmet with ball at top and roses at each corner of the top piece, rosettes at each side for nickel and velvet backed chinstrap, helmet plate for Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery (99mm, not listed in Grebert but similar to Grebert p301 without 'Southern' above canon wheel instead 'Pro Aris Et Focis' as on Grebert p299), leather sweatband with short band of silk above, quilted silk inner lining, initials printed on sweatband nearly indistinguishable, 'J.??', in a japanned storage tin with brass plate on lid, this blank. Tin with rust, good, velvet backing loose on chinstrap, otherwise helmet nearly extremely fine and badge nearly uncirculated and rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $2,600
Tasmanian Artillery pill box cap, pre 1901, dark blue felt top with bullion pattern and bullion thread button in centre, main body with green felt above broad band of lace around, with thin leather chinstrap, leather sweatband and patterned crimson silk lining, marked in pen on sweatband, 'Nesbitt (crossed out)/Cockbain'. Moth holes and tear to top felt, sweatband damaged, otherwise good.
Estimate $50
SOLD $260
Tasmanian Infantry, c1880s-90s, lion's head slouch hat hooks in gilt brass (2), also used by Victorian Mounted Rifles (Grebert p312); white metal rosette helmet hook for chin chain (hook damaged); pre federation gilt brass rosette for hanging chain and whistle; lion pouch badge in gilt lead (37mm) (similar to Grebert p34), tail damaged; suspension brackets with leaf design, one with suspension loop and one with belt bracket, both in gilt brass and appear to be unused. One of the first pair missing nut and small circular plate, otherwise good - extremely fine. (7)
Estimate $150
SOLD $160
Australian/British NES Warden's metal helmet with W at front, no lining; also National Emergency Services WARDEN sign with edge holes for affixing to front of house. Helmet with rusting, sign with tip of top right corner missing, otherwise very good. (2)
Estimate $50
SOLD $50
New Zealand Volunteers helmet, 1882, dark blue cloth covered helmet with metal helmet spike, with unit brass helmet plate (approx 130mm, Oldham 2/1), coiled brass loops chinstrap attached at sides to gilt rosettes, leather sweatband with band of magneta silk above, helmet also lined with padded magneta cloth. Most brass fittings and chinstrap, but not helmet plate, with remnants of Brasso cleaning compound, some moth holes in cloth covering, otherwise badge toned extremely fine, helmet good fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $400
New Zealand Volunteers 'Home Service' helmet, c1900, with maker's label on inside, 'Hobson & Sons, London W.', white metal unit helmet plate (QVC), spike at top of helmet and rosettes at sides for securing chinstrap, no chinstrap, leather sweatband marked in red pen, '39', and lining above intact. Some loss of colour on leather edge binding, otherwise good very fine and helmet plate extremely fine.
Estimate $200
SOLD $380
RAN bicorn hat, c1930s, black 'beaver' with black pleated cockade with gold bullion coil at centre and button for RAN pre 1953 and gold bullion coils at each end, the inside is lined with pleated white silk and with gold blocked maker's name, 'Hobson & Sons (London) Ltd/1,3 & 5 Lexington St/W.1', on the leather sweatband is printed in ink, 'R.P.Oram.', together with a metal bicorn hat container on which is printed on one side in white paint, 'Mr R.P.Oram/R.A.N.', above this is fitted a metal shield bearing the name, 'Hobson & Sons/Military Outfitters/1,3 & 5/Lexington Street/Golden Square/London'. The container with rusting, the hat with some loss of fur at edges, there was a blue plume but this has disintegrated, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $1,000
Passed in
Royal Navy Commander's bicorn, black beaver with pleated black silk cockade at one side with gold bullion coil at centre and Navy button and gold bullion coils at each end, with leather sweatband and the inside is lined with pleated white silk and on the underside of the crown is a gold blocked maker's name, 'Owen Harris & Co/15, Bessell Street/Portsmouth', also a pair of Commander's epaulettes with gold bullion edging and silver bullion fouled anchors and single gilt Navy button at end of each, reverse with brass securing brackets, one marked 'Right' the other 'Left', gold blocked on leather backing is maker's name, 'Gieves Limited', stored in a japanned bicorn tin, on one side is painted in white, 'H.T.Haylock/R.A.N', there is also a brass plaque below this which has had an inscribed name mostly removed so it is illegible. The sweatband is loose on one side and some wear near edge, otherwise good very fine, the epaulettes nearly as new, the tin with rusting, good.
Estimate $1,200
Passed in
British Naval officer's bicorn hat, c1900s, black 'beaver' with black pleated cockade with gold bullion coils at each end, the inside is lined with pleated white silk and with gold blocked maker's name, 'J.Friedeberg/81, Queen Street/Portsea', with leather sweatband on which is a ticket for the size, '7', together with a japanned metal bicorn hat container. Some loss of fur around lower edge and short fur separation at bottom front and back repaired, otherwise good very fine.
Estimate $150
SOLD $90
Royal Navy officer's bicorn hat, black 'beaver' with black pleated cockade, with white feather plume, this shredding, the bullion agraffe separating and appears to be a piece missing at top, gold bullion coil strips at each end, black and red silk lining and this appears to be re-sewn and needs further repair. Wear to edges, other defects as mentioned, otherwise very good.
Estimate $100
SOLD $80
Helmet and sword worn in Irish Rebellion, 1798, in County Wexford during the Battle of New Ross, brass helmet with white horse hair plume along top brass comb, with helmet plate secured at sides with rosettes and with motto, 'EVEHIT AD THERA VIRTUS' and George III cypher below, fitted with black puggaree and this secured by brass brackets with copper securing rivets at sides, inside helmet painted black and with re-lined leather, sword is a 1796 pattern British light cavalry trooper's sword marked with maker's name, 'DAWES BIRMm', blade stamped with a crown over 1 being military acceptance mark, with leather and metal covered handle and metal hand guard, in metal scabbard. Helmet with bumps and cracks and some repairs, sword with a few edge nicks along cutting edge, very good. (2)
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $4,400
Dragoon Guards helmet, c1890, in silvered brass, with top spike and plume, back strip of laurel leaves, helmet plate at front for The Princess Royal's Dragoon Guards (QVC), below the plaque is a laurel leaf spray above the visor and around to Lancaster Rose chinstrap supports at each side, chinstrap of brass with leather backing, inside is a cloth liner which covers the sweatband, together with a spare brass and velvet backed chinstrap and a large japanned metal (bearskin-style) tin, marked on side in white paint, 'J.H.Davidson-Houston/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers' and inscribed on brass plate on lid, 'J.H.Davidson-Houston/4th Royal Innis. Fus.'. Tin with much loss of paint and oxidation, several small dents to helmet body, otherwise good fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $900
12th (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers officer's czapka, c1900, black patent leather, black leather mortar board with brass corner trims and with horse hair plume in gilt boss fitted into blue and yellow pompom fitted with a 12th Lancer's button, with red fluted velvet from the mortar board to a blue and yellow band above the leather body, with 12th Lancers helmet plate (QVC), brass and cloth backed chinstrap hooked at sides to gilt lion's head ear bosses, hook and loop fitted at back, leather sweatband and loose fitting lining above, behind on the inside of the czapka is marked, '12L/2799', on the base of the mortar board is marked, 'W (upright arrow)D (War Department)/5 (?)/1900'. Sweatband and under visor worn, otherwise good fine.
Estimate $2,000
Passed in
12th Regiment of Foot shako, black cloth with leather brim and bottom edge trim, with brass 12th Regiment shako plate (QVC), small, metal image of Medusa near top back, with cream woollen pompom at top front, leather chinstrap, leather sweatband and lined with magneta silk, blocked maker's name, Besch & Co/10 & 11 Hanover St/Hanover St (repeated) London'. A few spots with loss of material, pompom dirty, lining damaged, otherwise shako fine, helmet plate, obviously a new addition, nearly uncirculated.
Estimate $500
SOLD $1,500
15th London Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own Civil Service Rifles) busby, post 1908, with red and gold braid flap and gold bullion ball, bullion embroidered unit badge on red oval piece and above is a plume holder with red feather and black horse hair plume, ornate chinstrap with velvet backing, one chinstrap hook has come loose and needs refitting, leather sweatband and silk magneta lining, on this is gold blocked the maker's name, 'H.Poole & Co/Savile Row/London W.' Fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $550