AA Auctions Ltd

Pot Lid:   'WILLIAM BURGESS, LIVERPOOL'

Description:  A very impressive 'TOMATO' tooth paste pot lid from this large city in NW England. Particularly good print. Quite possibly the only lid that features or even mentions tomatoes (rather like the term 'cherry tooth paste' this were used to denote the pink colour of the paste not the taste). Rarely seen for sale with such detailed print and in such great condition. 

** Invaluable help and support has been provided to these pot lid listings by the authors of the fabulous book: 'Historical Guide to Advertising Pot Lids' by Houghton, Layden & Taylor - Thoroughly recommended at just £70 (softback).  **

Era:  c1890-1900's

Diameter:    70mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Very good   Just has a very insignificant tiny (1-2mm) fleabite bruise on the very edge of the top rim, three pinprick glaze-rubs also on the rim edge (almost invisible so hardly worth mentioning) and some very subtle crazing/glaze lines (definitely not hairlines) on the side wall in one area but nothing at all to detract and is otherwise excellent. 

Grade: 8.6       Estimate: £150-200      Reserve: N/R

Pot Lid:   'LORIMER & CO, LONDON & NEW YORK'

Description:  A superb 'Sanoline' tooth paste pot lid from this popular perfumer in London with a fabulous pictorial of three Geisha girls. Particularly good print for one of these. Scarcely seen for sale with such great print and without major issues. 

Era:  c1880-1890's

Diameter:   81mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Very good   Just has two pretty insignificant consecutive subtle U-shaped hairlines bruise on the very back rim (that are close together) with a very faint small 9mm either hairline or glazeline coming from it towards the rim (but definitely not going over it) and all mostly hidden when on base or display (please see close-up photos), a small (5mm) very insignificant shallow flake on the inside back rim (so not visible at all on display) and apart from a tiny (1-2mm) fleabite/scuff also on the back rim edge (hardly worth mentioning as so very small) is otherwise excellent. 

Grade: 8.5       Estimate: £700-800     Reserve: £700

Pot Lid:   'R.B.EDE & CO, LONDON'

Description:  Another fabulous pictorial lid from London. This time with a superb depiction of a man shaving in period attire with a cut throat razor in right hand and an old oak washstand in the background. Double line border. Great use of detailed strong print and contrasts of shades to really make this stand out. 

Not to be confused with the almost identical American 'Wright's' lid, this is both rarer, smaller and a much more desirable English variant.

Era:  c1880-1890's

Diameter:   81mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Very good   Just has a small (4-5mm) shallow chip on the side wall (possibly where a minute impurity has pinged out of the clay and which isn't visible on display anyway), a pretty insignificant and subtle smaller (3-4mm) flake on the back rim edge, a small (3mm x 6mm) flake on the very inside back edge (not visible at all on display) and the odd few insignificant 'pinhead' fleabites on the back rim edge (six at the most and a couple being under the glaze anyway) and is otherwise excellent with just some fine subtle scratches on the face (only visible at an angle). 

Grade: 8.2      Estimate: £400-600     Reserve:  N/R

Pot Lid:   'W. CLARKSON, LONDON'

Description:  One of several great pictorial lids from London. This time a very rare offering of a 'Lillie Cream' example featuring the world renowned Lillie Langtry. Great quality print. Double line border. Interestingly mentions Mr Clarkson being a 'theatrical wig maker'. Rarely seen for sale. Don't miss this one!

Lillie Langtry, was born on the island of Jersey and upon marrying she moved to London in 1876. Her looks and personality attracted international interest and she was celebrated as a young woman of great beauty and charm and famed for her rapid rise to stardom and immensely successful theatrical career. Plus also that of being King Edward VII's former mistress and a close friend of Oscar Wilde.

Era:  c1890-1900's

Diameter:   74mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Mint  Superb 100% mint condition (with just a very subtle tiny spot of rust on the outside edge, otherwise would be 10/10)  

Grade: 9.9      Estimate: £1 - 1.2k     Reserve:  £1k

Pot Lid:    'GENUINE RUSSIAN BEARS GREASE'

Description:  An attractive bears grease pot lid featuring a snarling bear (with head turned around) in its natural habitat with trees and mountains etc in the background. Beaded border.

Era:  c1870-1880's

Diameter:    80mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Very Good  Just has a very small (9mm) and incredibly subtle hairline on the very outside edge (barely visible and hardly worth mentioning) and another further along that you can only just feel but is nigh on impossible to see and apart from a very subtle patch of light rust crazing on the face is otherwise mint

Grade :  8.7    Estimate:   £100-120    Reserve:    N/R

Pot Lid:   'HUMPHRY, DARTMOUTH'

Description:  A very attractive Tooth Paste pot lid from this South Devon town featuring Dartmouth Castle and the 'Mouth of the English Rhine'. This being the single town variant (without mention of Brixham). Good quality print. Scarce 

Era:  c1890-1900's

Diameter:  68mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):    Very good   Just has three separate light glaze-lines on the side wall (that don't go all the way through to the inside and only emerge on to the very edge of the face by 5mm max) and is otherwise excellent. (The odd tiny subtle mark on the outside rim edge is very minor indeed)

Grade :  8.6    Estimate:  £100-120    Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:   (MAY, ROBERTS & CO, LONDON)

Description:  A very appealing pictorial lid from May Roberts & Co (MR&Co entwined initials below in circle) featuring a young girl leaning over a wall with cherries below. Excellent quality print. Another real classic. 

Era:  c1880-1890's

Diameter:   72mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Very good    Just has a pretty insignificant small (3mm x 8mm) shallow flake/chip on the very back rim (which is 95% hidden from side view anyway), another smaller (3mm x 4mm) flake also on the very back rim (and equally hidden from side view) and a single miniscule 'pinhead' fleabite on the back rim edge (hardly worth mentioning) and also nothing at all to detract and is otherwise mint.

Grade :  8.8     Estimate:  £100-120   Reserve:  N/R

Pot Lid:     'C.L. METCALFE, HULL'

Description:  A very attractive Cherry Tooth Paste pot lid from this city in North Yorkshire. Bunches of cherries pictured either side of a shield tm. Decorative border incorporating leaves. Fine quality print.

Era:    c1890-1900's

Diameter:     78mm  

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Excellent  Superb condition with just some very subtle crazing in places and a tiny pinprick fleabite on the very back edge which does nothing at all to detract when on display and is otherwise mint

Grade :  9.0      Estimate:   £50-70      Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:     'MACDONALD'S, MANCHESTER'

Description:  A superbly detailed 'Dentalate' tooth paste from this dentist in Picaddilly, Manchester. Small picture of royal bugleman in front of small castle building as trade mark in centre. Exquisite quality print with so much detail. Fabulous condition too. According to a local collector this is one of only 3 or 4 recorded examples.

Interesting claims for the contents to be able to destroy 'animalculae' (microscopic animals or protozoan) also stains from tobacco (amongst other things).

Era:    c1890-1900's

Diameter:     69mm  

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Excellent  Superb condition with just a very insignificant small (1mm x 5mm) flake on the very bottom (which could even be in-manufacture and hardly worth mentioning) and which is totally hidden on display and is otherwise mint with just some very subtle crazing (mainly on the sides) that in no way detracts.

Grade :  9.7     Estimate:   £150-200+     Reserve:  N/R

Pot Lid:      'GENUINE RUSSIAN BEARS GREASE'

Description:  An appealing 'two bruins' bears grease lid with a large fancy border and featuring a standing bear with another behind (with its tongue out) lying beside. Superb quality print. Delicately made.

Era:  c1870-80's

Diameter:   74mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Fair/Good  Just has a medium (4mm x 17mm) chip off the back rim and a very small (1mm x 9mm) long thin flake around the other side also on the back rim (hardly noticeable) neither of which show on display and is otherwise mint.

Grade :  7.0        Estimate:   £80-100     Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:   'JOHN WALSH'

Description:  A very appealing building pictorial lid from this South Yorkshire chemist featuring a sprawling factory scene (which presumably was Walsh's own premises). Great quality print (with just the odd speck under the glaze). Scarce

Era:  c1880-90

Diameter:    70mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Good   Just a small (3mm x 5mm) chip on the very back rim edge and a pretty insignificant small (2mm x 3mm) shallow flake on the very back of the rim (and is 99% hidden from side view anyway) and is otherwise excellent (The few specks on the face are all in-manufacture and mostly under the glaze) 

Grade :   7.5    Estimate:   £120-150+   Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:     'F. NEWBERY & SONS, LONDON'

Description:  An attractive pictorial lid from this London retailer featuring an ancient looking sailing craft with cliffs and a lighthouse in the background. Good strong print accentuating the design to great effect. Double line border. Not so often seen in such great condition together with decent print.  

Era:    c1880-1890's

Diameter:    72mm  

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Mint  Superb undamaged condition with just some subtle clear glaze crazing in places

Grade :  9.8       Estimate:   £60-80       Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:     'O.G. & Co'

Description:  An appealing bunch of cherries pictorial lid with initials (Osborne, Garrett & Co, Birmingham) near the bottom of the print. Good clear print. Fancy border. 

Era:    c1890-1900's

Diameter:    68mm  

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Very good  Just a pretty insignificant small (3mm x 4mm) shallow flake on the very back of the rim (99% hidden from side view anyway) and a tiny fleabite on the back rim edge, is otherwise excellent (the small marks on parts of the back rim are just light in-manufacture glaze-miss and do little if anything to detract)

Grade :  8.5       Estimate:   £30-50       Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:     'MASON & RADFORD, NOTTINGHAM'

Description:  A lovely pictorial pot lid featuring a native Indian's head (with head-dress). Exceptionally fine print. Fabulous selection of ailments this prepartion was meant to treat including 'scurvy' and 'chapped hands'. Not so often seen in such great undamaged condition.

Thomas Mason & John Radford, 10 Derby Road, Nottingham - traded up to 1904  

Era:    c1890-1904

Diameter:    68mm  

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Near mint   Superb condition with just the most subtle of pinhead fleabites on the very back rim (barely visible so hardly worth mentioning) and in no way detracts and is otherwise mint

Grade :  9.7       Estimate:   £60-80       Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:     'LORIMER & CO, LONDON & NEW YORK'

Description:  An impressive larger (3.25") lid featuring a mosque and palm trees from this well known London company. More unusual 'thistle, rose & clover' trade mark below main picture (as opposed to more familiar arm and globe). Appealing overall design. Scarce

Era:  c1880-90's

Diameter:   84mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):    Very good  Great condition with just three small (1mm-3mm) pretty insignificant flakes on the back rim on the very bottom (all totally hidden when on display anyway) and apart from a few light spots of subtle stain and a tiny in-manufacture crease (under the glaze) on the side wall in one area and some in-manufacture specks (mostly under the glaze) on the face (hardly worth mentioning) is otherwise excellent

Grade :  8.5       Estimate:   £60-80     Reserve:     N/R