Other lots on offer include a document possibly signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, a double gold Sovereign and a landscape painting by John Warkup Swift.
Captain Scarlet
This 1967 Captain Scarlet doll by Pedigree is offered in excellent condition with its gun, cap and original box at Lockdales’ auction of February 20. Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons launched on British television in 1967 and featured a cast of marionette puppets alongside scale model sets. Set in 2068 it presents the hostilities between Earth and a race of Martians. It has an estimate of £300-500.
Napoleon’s signature (maybe)
This framed French soldier’s CV is believed to bear the signatures of Napoleon Bonaparte and his minister for war. It has an estimate of £2000-3000 at Stacey’s two-day sale of February 25-26. Though there is some similarity to other images of Napoleon’s signature to be found online, the auctioneer notes in catalogue description: “Potential buyers must satisfy themselves as to the authenticity of the signatures as we are not experts in this field and will not be held responsible should they prove to be to the contrary.”
At the same auction a vintage autograph book is offered at £120-150 containing the signatures of figures such as Gary Lineker and Sean Connery.
George and the Dragon sovereign
The St George and the Dragon gold Sovereign was created in 1817 by Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. His approach was a change to the heraldry that had traditionally featured on coins, giving the figure a sense of movement and confidence.
As in this example, which goes under the hammer at Lacy Scott & Knight on February 26, he is depicted as a naked Greek horseman, controlling his horse while fighting the dragon. The much-lauded design is offered here in a 9ct gold mount. Struck in 1887 it features the Victoria jubilee head to the obverse. It has an estimate of £400-600.
Landscape painting
John Warkup Swift (1815-69) was born in Hull and spent many years at sea before taking up work as a scenery painter. He settled in Newcastle where he continued work as an artist completing marine and landscape paintings. Since his death his works have been included in exhibitions in both Hull and Newcastle. This oil on canvas shows a meandering stream flowing through a woodland with figures and bears his signature. It has an estimate of £200-300 at Horners in Norfolk on February 23.
Actress cards
This set of actresses playing cards from 1897 is from WD & HO Wills, the British tobacco importer formed in Bristol. It was the first UK company to mass produce cigarettes and pioneered the use of cigarette cards within their packaging, introducing them in 1887. It was not until 1895 that they produced their first general interest set of cards, ‘Ships and Sailors’. This complete set of actress cards is in very good or excellent condition, and is one of a number offered at James & Sons Auctioneers on February 20. Other sets include ‘Wild Animals and their Furs,’ ‘Allied Army Leaders’ and ‘Orders of Chivalry & Valour’, but this is among the highest estimated at £400-600.
