A group of twenty large, pale green calcite specimens. 1.2 kg total, 36-67mm

Fine condition.

From the historic ‘Victorian Museum’ or later collection of Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's); formerly Gregory, Bottley & Co. (1932-1981) and previously J. R. Gregory & Co. (1898-1932); originally James Reynolds Gregory (1858-1898). From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

The firm Gregory, Bottley and Lloyd (Gregory's), was acquired by TimeLine Auctions in 2016. London-born James Reynolds Gregory (1832-1899) founded the company, which is the second longest-running gem and fossil dealership in the world. James was educated at Archbishop Tenison's School, and afterward found employment in a jewellery company on Regent Street. In 1858 he established his own business in King William Street. A few years later he moved to ‘very extensive premises’ in Golden Square, Covent Garden. He was one of the best known dealers in London, exhibiting at major commercial shows throughout the world and winning awards for excellence in Paris in 1867, Sydney in 1879 and London in 1862, 1883 and 1884. James primarily bought his stock at auction, from collectors and other dealers, and supplied many major collectors and scientists of his day. He built superb personal collections, a selection going to the British Museum. He wrote many papers and was a member of several learned societies including the Society of Arts. The business became known as J.R. Gregory & Company in 1896, still under James' management with the assistance of his son Albert Gregory (b.1864). When James died three years later, the business passed to Albert. At the end of the 19th century most London dealers had folded or retired, many selling out to J.R. Gregory & Co. Albert continued by acquiring Russell and Shaw (Est. 1848) in 1925 and Francis H. Butler (Est. 1884) in 1927. Percy Bottley (1904-1980) took over the company in 1931, renaming it Gregory, Bottley & Company with respect to his predecessors. Percy’s company survived the 2nd World War by buying out all of its competitors, including the supplier to Pitt-Rivers, Samuel Henson (Est. 1840) and G.H. Richards (Est. 1897) in 1936. Percy also added many important collections to his stock including those of Rev. F. Holmes in 1940, and the Graves collection in 1943. Following Percy's death in 1981, the business was sold to Brian Lloyd, whereupon it became Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd. Brian had been Sotheby’s main Natural History expert in the 1960s and 1970s, and subsequently traded from Pall Mall. The business continued to thrive, and Brian purchased the Joseph Neeld (1789-1856) collection in 1974 and the historic gold collection of H.S. Gordon, first exhibited at the Empire Exhibition, South Africa in 1936. Brian moved the business to 12-13 Rickett Street in 1982, and to 13 Seagrave Road in 1993. He carried on the company's specialization in historic collections, most recently acquiring that of Robert Ferguson (1767-1840) in 2000. The business moved to Walmer in Kent in 2008, and was acquired by TimeLine in April 2016. Trading History Est. 1858 (59 Frith Street, Soho) 1859 - 1861 (3 King William Street, Strand) 1862 - 1866 (25 Golden Square, Covent Garden) 1866 - 1874 (15 Russell Street, Covent Garden) 1874 - 1895 (88 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square) 1896 - 1906 (1 Kelso Place, Kensington) 1907 - 1926 (139 Fulham Road, Chelsea) 1926 - 1981 (30 (Old) Church Street, Chelsea) 1982 - 1993 (12-13 Rickett Street, Fulham) 1993 - 2007 (13 Seagrave Road, Fulham) 2008 - 2016 (59 Liverpool Road, Walmer, Kent) 2016 - (363 Main Road, Harwich, Essex)

A Mosasaur prognathodon tooth with some root set in a composite sandstone matrix. 524 grams, 13.4 cm



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Comprising three polished examples showing some inner structure. 223 grams total, 63-65 mm



Found Morocco, North Africa. Property of an Essex gallery.

Comprising: goethite from Wheal Drea, Botallack, St Just, Cornwall; pyromorphite from Driggith Mine, Cadbeck, Cumbria; green fluorite from Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall; goethite from Wheal Castle, Kenidjack Valley, St Just, Cornwall; aragonite from Los Molinillos-La Vacariza, Minglanilla, Cuenca, Castilla La Mancha, Spain; prismatic quartz from Wheal Jane, Kea, Cornwall; galena and fluorite from Blackdene Mine, Weardale, Durham; fluorite and Baryte from Milldam Mine, Great Hucklow, Derbyshire; ferberite from Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall; ferberite from Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall; goethite from Barngate Level, Restormel Royal Iron Mine, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. 2.7 kg total, 4.2-11.5 cm



From the property of a Cornwall, UK, gentleman.

A Carcharocles megalodon shark tooth, with good polished tooth enamel. 144 grams, 10 cm



From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

Perisphinctids indogermanus fossil ammonite showing clear ribbing. 130 grams, 85 mm



From Madagascar. From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

A rounded pebble containing a Dactylioceras commune specimen. 92 grams total, 45-50 mm



From Whitby, UK. From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

Cut to a heart shape and polished to reveal the internal structure. 151 grams, 73 mm



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Comprising two large, domed specimens with polished upper faces. 277 grams total, 65-75 mm



From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

Comprising three matrices, each with a Carpopenaeus sp. specimen. 295 grams total, 59-82 mm



From Lebanon. From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

Vivid blue druzy azurite on a matrix. 182 grams, 73 mm



From Durango, Mexico. From the private collection of a Cornish, UK, gentleman.

Cut to a heart shape and polished to reveal the internal structure. 166 grams, 72 mm



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.