AA Auctions Ltd

Pot Lid:   'EDITH BELLENDEN'

Description:  An impressive 'Circassian Cream' pot lid featuring a superbly detailed picture of Edith Bellenden (see below). Excellent quality print (with just 2 small smudges). Fancy border. Very few recorded examples

'Edith Bennenden' was the heroin and Royalist gentlewoman in one of Walter Scott's famous Waverley novels entitled 'Old Mortality'

** One of several superb lids from various significant pot lid collections, all to be spread over succesive auctions **

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:  c1860-70's

Diameter:    93mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Good   Just has 2 hairline bruises on the back edge/sides (only one creeps up by 6mm onto the face edge (at 2 o'clock) and is very subtle anyway) and an equally subtle glaze-line on the underside in the same sort of area. A small (3mm x 6mm) chip on the outside of the back edge (along with the occasional flea-bite also on the back edge and two very small (2mm x 3mm) totally insignificant old shallow flakes on the inside of the back rim) are pretty minor and all but hidden on display. Just the odd tiny superficial mark and a small amount of glaze-wear on about one-fifth of the very outside rim does little to detract as can be seen in the photos and the lid is otherwise very good indeed.     

Grade:  7.0       Estimate:  £600-800       Reserve: N/R

Pot Lid:   'ANGELL'S, HAMMERSMITH, LONDON W.'

Description:   This striking lid features a fabulous pictorial of three pheasants intertwined in the centre and 'Angell's Dandriff Eradicator' boldly in white around the edge (with a black background). Fancy border. Superbly printed (even better than the photos would suggest) and exquisitely designed. This example is actually pictured in the new pot lid book.

** From easily one of the top pot lid collections in the world (painstakingly sourced over 30 years or so) ... and there's plenty more where this came from ... all spread over several auctions. Plenty to look forward to!  **  

Era:  c1880-1900's

Diameter:  75mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Good/Very good   Just has a very insignificant and small (2mm x 3mm) flake on the underside of the outer rim (99% hidden from top view) and a tiny hairline bruise on the very back rim (barely visible and hardly worth mentioning) and what looks likea  small flake also on the back rim is more likely one of the three in-manufacture stilt marks from the kiln.

Grade:  7.9      Estimate:   £120-150+    Reserve:   N/R

Pot Lid:      'M.F. THOMPSON, GLASGOW'

Description:   A simply superb rectangular lid from this chemist in Scotland and arguably one of Britain's best. It features a stunning picture of Glasgow university (designed by renowned Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott). Exquisite highly detailed print. Fancy border. One of only a handful recorded. Don't miss it!

Mark F. Thompson. 17 Gordon Street, Glasgow (1879+)

Era:   c1879-1880's

Dimensions:    94mm long and 61mm wide 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Very good   Just a medium (7mm x 15mm) chip on inside of the back rim corner (which is 95% hidden from side view and not at all visible on display) and apart from a very minor (2mm) corner rub (also on the bottom so not visible at all on display) and a very insignificant tiny (1-2mm) superficial glaze rub on the side edge (barely visible and hardly worth mentioning) is otherwise excellent

Grade:   8.0    Estimate:   £1200-1500    Reserve:   N/R

Pot Lid:   'NICELY SCENTED, RUSSIAN BEARS GREASE'

Description:  A striking early bears grease lid featuring a dark standing bear carrying a sash. Lovely smaller 3" size. Attractive fancy border. Detailed print. Always very popular due to the sheer size of the bear. 

Provenance:   Sticker on back reads: 'B'AT N-SHOW '95, 17.4.95 AD- C/N'

Era:  c1850-70's

Diameter:  73mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Restored   Has a medium (9mm x 19mm) chip at 2 o'clock on the face that has been filled and re-painted (a section of the border and the 'SE' of Grease) and otherwise just several small chips/flakes etc on the back rim 

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

Pot Lid:   'AB CHERRY TOOTH PASTE'

Description:  A very appealing large lid featuring a seated Britannia with lion behind. Initials 'AB' on shield and 'Regd No 241325' dating the design to 1894. Attractive overall design. Superb quality print. Very rare in this larger size

Arthur Berliner (AB) Surgical Dressing Manufcaturer - 15-17 Worship Street, London

** From easily one of the top pot lid collections in the world (painstakingly sourced over 30 years or so) ... and there's plenty more where this came from ... all spread over several auctions. Plenty to look forward to!  ** 

Era:  c1894+

Dimensions:    78mm diameter

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Very good   Just a very insignificant small (4mm x 6mm) flake on the very back rim (that is 95% hidden from side view and not seen on display at all) and a couple of miniscule glaze rubs also on the back edge (barely visible and hardly worth mentioning) and the odd tiny patch of fine grey crazing (once again, hardly worth mentioning)

Grade:   9.0    Estimate:   £100-120+    Reserve:    N/R

Pot Lid:   'PARKE'S, LONDON'

Description:  A subtle and more scarce variation to the more familiar Lorimer's cherry pictorial pot lid. This one featuring a very detailed bunch of cherries and carrying Parke's trade mark within a circular belt below. Particularly good print for one of these. 

Era:  c1890-1900's

Diameter:    66mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Good   Just has a smallish (4mm x 4mm) chip on the back rim edge, another of the same size on the inside back rim and various hairlines/ hairline bruises also on the back rim, most of which are hidden from side view 

Grade :  7.2        Estimate:   £30-50     Reserve:     N/R

Pot Lid:   'P. HALL, NEWCASTLE'

Description:  A very rare and impressive lid from this NE pharmacy featuring the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in Newcastle in the centre. Attractive overall design. Rarely seen for sale

P. Hall (pharmacist) - 118 Grey Street, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Era:  c1890-1900's

Dimensions:    86mm diameter

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Good   Has a medium/large (5mm x 22mm) chip on the inside of the back rim (which is around 98% hidden from side view anyway and not visible on display) and a slightly matt appearance to the glaze in some areas as well as having some of the print quite worn (mainly near the centre) and some fine clear crazing in places, otherwise very good 

Grade:   7.0    Estimate:   £100-200+    Reserve:    N/R

Pot Lid:   'PRICE & CO, LONDON'

Description:  A rare lid from this well documented perfumer in London featuring a great portrait pictorial of Prince Albert in the centre. Attractive overall design. Fancy border. Great quality print.

Era:  c1870-1880's

Dimensions:    86mm diameter

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Restored   Has a medium/large (7mm x 24mm) chip on the face that has been filled and touched up (but now discoloured) as has been the case with a very small (3mm x 8mm) chip on the face edge (at 6 o'clock) and a tiny (2mm) one above the word 'St'. A large chunk off the back has also been restored (and possibly the odd chip) and a small patch of rust crazing on the face. Could easily be improved upon if so desired   

Grade:  Ungraded    Estimate:  £60-80+   Reserve:  N/R

Pot Lid:   'ST PAUL'S'

Description:  Another pleasing pictorial lid, this time of this iconic London landmark. Great quality print. Attractive layout

St Paul's Cathedral on Ludgate Hill was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London (1666) fuelled a major rebuilding program in London a few decades later.  

Era:  c1880-1890's

Diameter:    77mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Fair/ Good  Has a smallish (4mm x 9mm) chip on the underside of the side rim (just visible at 10 o'clock on the face) and 3 very small (3mm) flakes on the very back of the rim, an area of glaze-pitting near the edge on the face and the odd light patch of stain.

Grade:   6.0       Estimate:   £20-40       Reserve:   N/R

Pot Lid:   'PARKE'S DRUG STORES, LONDON'

Description:  A subtle and scarce variation to the more familiar Lorimer's mosque pictorial pot lid. This one featuring a very detailed pictorial and carrying Parke's trade mark within a circular belt below to the right. Particularly good print for one of these. Comes with a base

Era:  c1890-1900's

Diameter:    66mm 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  LID: Excellent/Mint   Superb undamaged condition with just some the odd very subtle pink spots/stain on the back/side which in no way detract (the small raised area on the back rim is just an in-manufacture touch-mark) / BASE: Excellent Just some subtle crazing in places and a insignificant tiny hairline bruise on the upper edge that in no way detracts

Grade:  9.7 (lid)    Estimate:  £80-100     Reserve:   N/R

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

Description:  An impressive larger (3.25") lid featuring a bunch of large cherries from this well known London company. More unusual 'thistle, rose & clover' trade mark below right of 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 a small (20mm) subtle hairline on the back/side (that is barely visible on the face edge at 3 o'clock and by about 8mm only) and is otherwise excellent with just the usual odd superficial mark in the glaze 

Grade:  8.9       Estimate:   £60-80         Reserve:   N/R

Pot Lid:   'PRICE & CO'

Description:  A fabulously detailed early Bears Grease pot lid from this London retailer. Large bear pictorial. Great quality print. Fancy border

Provenance:   Sticker to underside reads: 'x M. DICKIE, 8/10/97, RS, M99 DS, D LYON'

Era:  c1860-1870's

Diameter:    68mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Restored  Has had restoration to the back rim (that is of such high quality it's very difficult to determine the full extent of previous damage) and a smallish (7mm) chip on the outside edge of the face (at about 10 o'clock) has also been repaired to a high standard (in fact so much so you can hardly spot it) - (nb removing one of the stickers on the rear has pulled off some overspray paint)

Grade:  Ungraded   Estimate:   £60-80+   Reserve:  N/R

8pm Fri March 5th - Has now been transformed after being soaked in rust remover overnight. Please see new photos

Pot Lid:      'C. YORATH'

Description:   Another superb pictorial rectangular lid this time from this dispensing chemist in South Wales and featuring a great upper set of false teeth. Great quality print. Triple line border. One of only a handful recorded. Another one not to miss!

Era:   c1880-90's

Dimensions:    92mm long and 60mm wide 

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Excellent/ Mint   Superb undamaged condition with just a totally insignificant pinhead glaze rub on the back rim corner (miniscule (<1mm) so hardly worth mentioning) and now all the rust has been cleaned off is as near to mint as can be!

Grade:   9.7      Estimate:   £400-600      Reserve:   N/R

Pot Lid:   'MAY, ROBERTS & CO''

Description:  A very appealing girl and cherries pictorial tooth paste pot lid from this popular London chemist. Superb quality print. Double line border. Not so often seen with such great print quality and no damage, you'll struggle to find a better example

Provenance:   Sticker to underside reads: 'x CLEVE S, 12/95, RSS-'

Era:  c1880-1890's

Diameter:    68mm

Condition (please see detailed photo's):  Mint  Superb undamaged mint condition

Grade:  9.9        Estimate:   £100-120      Reserve:  N/R

9pm Fri March 5th - Condition report update after one more clean

Pot Lid:   'A. GARRATT CHAMBERLAIN, RUGBY'

Description:  Another very rare and desirable buildings pictorial, this time from a Warwickshire pharmacateutical chemist featuring the nationally acclaimed Rugby School in the centre (see below). Attractive overall design. Fancy border. Most of the gold band (albeit worn in places) still in evidence. Rarely seen for sale

Founded in 1567 and primarily for local boys, Rugby School is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. Up to 1667 the school remained in comparative obscurity. Its re-establishment from 1828 to 1841 was seen as the forerunner of the Victorian public school. Its other well known claim to fame is that is was the birthplace of rugby football.

Era:  c1880-1890's

Dimensions:    84mm diameter

Condition (please see detailed photo's):   Good   Has a light fatty type stain (and some yellowing) on a part of the side and some of the face (to the right) that is still proving to be stubborn after two cleans now and although very gradually disappearing and looking whiter than before (overall) there are no guarantees that the stain on the side will completely disappear) and apart from a tiny (1mm x 2mm) fleabite flake on the back edge and a very small (2mm x 3mm) glaze flake on the face (above the 'I' of Coraline) is otherwise very good indeed.

Grade:   7.2    Estimate:   £300-400+    Reserve:    N/R