Two private historical collections formed the Collectables sale at Leonard Joel on 22 July. The first part of the sale included 180 lots of American Civil War memorabilia compiled by Bob Simpson from 1960s to the 1980s. As well as a strong presence in the saleroom, there was considerable interest from American collectors, with more than fifty participating through absentee and online bidding via Artfact.com. Antique firearms achieved particularly good results, including lot 98, a Burnside Percussion Breech Loading Carbine that sold for $1,920 (IBP) against an estimate of $600-800. Another highlight was lot 144, and impressive Infantry Captain’s frock coat, cape and accoutrements that sold for $3,120 against an estimate of $3,000-5,000.
Part 2 of the sale was another one owner collection, of 100 lots of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and other early forms of photography. Lot 186, a rare quarter-plate daguerreotype of an Australian exterior scene titled ‘Barogarook’ attracted a great deal of local and international. There was fierce bidding from the room and several telephone bidders. The rare image was eventually knocked down to an Australian buyer for a remarkable $10,800, against an estimate of $400-600.