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A Collector's Legacy


October 2025

We are proud to present A Collector’s Legacy - an extraordinary auction celebrating a lifetime of curiosity, study and discovery. The sale brings together items from one man’s remarkable private collection, spanning militaria, natural history, model miniatures, objects of curiosities and much more.

Formed over more than five decades, this collection tells the story of a boy whose fascination with his grandfather’s wartime stories grew into a lifelong passion for history and collecting. From rare helmets and war medals to exotic butterflies and early European dioramas, each piece reflects both scholarship and wonder - the hallmarks of a true collector.

Militaria: A Lifelong Fascination with History & Heroism

For this collector, militaria was more than a hobby — it was heritage. Inspired by the medals passed down from his grandfather, a First World War veteran, and his father, a radio operator on Halifax bombers, his early curiosity evolved into an expert’s eye for rare and historically important items.

Among the highlights is a Chinese bronze helmet from the Zhou Dynasty (circa 800–500 BC), a remarkable survival from the dawn of organised warfare, with its distinctive domed shape and riveted rib design. Equally intriguing is a Soviet SMERSH identification book, issued to a female operative — a rare glimpse into Stalin’s WWII counterintelligence agency, whose very name translates to “Death to Spies.”

Also featured is a WWI French Verdun medal group, beautifully presented alongside ten original award citations, a poignant reminder of the personal bravery that shaped the early twentieth century. These pieces speak to more than military history — they reflect a lifetime’s fascination with courage, conflict, and the human stories behind them.

Natural History: From Curiosity to Conservation

If militaria sparked his imagination, natural history grounded it in observation. The collector’s love for the natural world began with childhood walks and evolved into serious entomological study, supported by close friendships with curators at the British Natural History Museum.

This deep appreciation for nature is reflected in items such as the beautiful display of Birdwing butterflies (Ornithoptera), including rare male and female specimens from Obi Island, Cape York and the Golden Birdwing species. Their vivid iridescent wings make them some of the most striking and sought-after butterflies in the world, admired as much for their beauty as for their scientific importance. The same meticulous presentation continues in the display of beetles, showcasing the unique beauty of species collected from across the globe.

Completing the section is an impressive taxidermy mount of a Common Warthog, captured in lifelike detail, representing the long tradition of natural history collecting that sought to preserve and understand the animal world. Together, these pieces tell a story of curiosity, respect, and the quiet art of observation - values at the heart of natural science and collecting alike.

Models & Miniatures: The Joy of Miniature Worlds

For all his academic precision, the collector never lost his sense of play. From childhood weekends spent hunting for toy soldiers with his father, his passion for miniatures became a bridge between history and imagination.

Among the standout pieces is an Ernst Plank pontoon diorama from circa 1912, complete with wagons, soldiers, and boats - a masterful example of early European modelmaking, even featured in Ernst Plank Miniatures: Vehicles, Transport Toys & Accessories by Jeff Carpenter. Similarly rare are the Henrichsen Zinnfiguren flats, exquisitely painted pewter figures depicting WWI troops in German and French uniforms - still in remarkable condition for their age.

From a different corner of collecting comes a Games Workshop Citadel Miniatures Giant Chaos Battering Ram (circa 1985), still unmade in its original box, reflecting how modern fantasy gaming has become the natural successor to the old world of tin soldiers and tabletop imagination. These miniature worlds, both historical and fantastical, reveal the enduring appeal of storytelling through craftsmanship.
To explore this collection is to trace a life defined by curiosity, dedication, and delight in discovery. Each object tells part of a story that spans generations and continents, as the collector himself reflected, “These objects will outlive all of us, I just hope they continue to be loved and looked after.” This sale offers the opportunity to do exactly that: to continue the journey, and to preserve the passion that shaped a lifetime The catalogue is now live, and bidding is open. 

Explore the full range of fascinating objects and place your bids before the sale ends Tuesday 22 October from 2pm.
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