23rd Aug, 2022 10:00
Books and Maps
311
SWAN MARK REGISTERS OF OWNERS (Two volumes)
SWAN MARK REGISTERS OF OWNERS (Two volumes): The first volume is for marks used by the proprietors of lands in the “Hundred of Wisbech'', Isle of Ely (Cambridgeshire), and dated 1566. It contains over 600 marks, followed by 19 pages of manuscript notes concerning the “Laws and Ordinances regarding swans”. The marks are made up of swans’ heads drawn in black, with most of the beaks painted in red, a swan's foot to the right of each and in many cases the name of the mark's owner above it. The names start with the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, on to the Bishop of Ely and the Dean of York and finishing with the wealthy landowners. The manuscript notes are dated 1577, signed: George Carlton and go on to say: "it is desired and ordered that all books and swannmarks be reformed, corrected, amended and made uniform into one book and that remains in the keeping of the swanner, or his deputy…” A Beautiful volume of an early record of swan ownership, bound in near contemporary full leather with blind stamps to covers and later spine. The second volume is dated 1834 and with the ownership name of Alan H Whitman? PP: (4) manuscript notes on swan marks, etc, followed by 84 pages of swan marks, 12 to the page, making a total of c900 marks, mostly with the owner's name, followed by an index of owners (A-E only). Plus: a loosely inserted vellum sheet with Lord Walpole's swan mark, drawn from an old document. The volume is bound in contemporary full calf, with one of two clasps. [The last time a similar item to the first volume above appeared for sale, was sold by Christies, London, June 2nd. 1999 reaching £32,200 (including commission)]. That one was dated c1500
“The swan has been deemed a royal bird from the Middle Ages, and although the privilege of owning a 'game' of swans was granted by the crown to individuals or institutions, all such birds had to be marked and pinioned. Only the monarch could claim unmarked mute swans. Swan marks are used to identify the birds’ rightful owners or licence holders and to assist in any dispute over ownership, or to use at swan upping, when the Swan-Master oversees the marking of the new cygnets” (2)
Provenance: The Peter and Pat Crofts Collection
Sold for £54,000
IN PERSON
To bid in person at auction for the first time please register for a bidding paddle in advance by filling out and submitting a registration form at our front desk. When registering in person we require photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
ABSENTEE BIDDING
If you cannot attend the auction in person we can bid on your behalf. You can leave an absentee bid on our website.
The amount you bid should be your maximum bid. We will bid up to that limit for you, and remember you may end up paying less than your limit, depending on other bidding on the day.
You can leave an absentee bid up to half an hour before the start of any sale. Please note when we receive two or more absentee bids for the same amount, the first bid received will be the one taken.
LEAVE COMMISSION BIDS ONLINE
If you would like to leave a commission bid on our website you can do so up until 30 minutes before the sale starts. Leaving a commission bid through sworder.co.uk is free for all registered clients. Thereafter you may register bank card details under your account in order to bid live. Click here to register an account.
BID LIVE ON sworder.co.uk
You can bid live at our auctions from the comfort of your home or office using bidding platform Sworders Live. It is easy to register and you can watch the auction live as it happens. A 'Bid Live' button will appear on the auction on our website homepage when a sale is live; simply click the button to sign in or register with your card details. There is no additional charge for this service.
For further instructions on registering to bid live, please click here.
TELEPHONE BIDDING
If you would like to bid by telephone please contact our team prior to the auction with your details of the lots you are interested in and your full name, address, telephone number(s) and email address. Once our team have entered your bid request you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you during the sale and one of our team will bid live with you over the phone.
Please note that we normally offer this service for lots with an estimate of £500 or higher and all telephone bid requests must be received by close of business the day before the auction.
Auction: Books and Maps, 23rd Aug, 2022
Viewing
VIEWING
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex CM24 8GE, as follows:
Fri 19 Aug, 10am - 4pm
Sun 21 Aug, 10am - 1pm
Mon 22 Aug, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
Please select the shipping destination;
Buying a pre-loved, antique, or vintage item not only provides you with unique style and value for money but it also helps to reduce landfill, and the annual emissions of an antique or vintage piece can be as little as one sixteenth of those of its new equivalent!
Sworders is proud to be supporting the work of Antiques are Green - the movement that was founded in 2009 to promote “a greener future created from the past”. Read their fascinating carbon footprint study of a Georgian chest of drawers versus a modern equivalent here
Request A Valuation
Here at Sworders, we are happy to offer a free online valuation service. Please fill out the form and press the 'Submit' button below.
To help us with your valuation please attach clear photographs of the item where possible. You can submit up to 5.
Approximate dimensions are also useful. Expect to hear from the appropriate valuer as soon as possible.
