Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Slender blade with raised midrib and a short tang. 217 grams, 39.7 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

Ovoid body with circular socket. 435 grams, 86 mm



From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1990s.

Facetted lentoid-section sling shot (glans) with inscription in Latin letters 'CN' (Cneius) 'MAG' (Magnus) on one side, and 'IMP' for 'IMPERATOR' (victorious general) to the other side, i.e., Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Imperator (Pompey the Great the victorious general). 71.2 grams, 51 mm



Previously from a private Spanish collection. Ex London, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by a copy of a Spanish export licence.

The shot (Völling type 1C) is marked with the abbreviated name of Gnaeus Pompey; it was used in quantity at the Battle of Monda (or Munda) against Julius Caesar, 17th March 45 BC. The projectiles could be of different material: in lead (glandes) or in pottery or stone (lapides missiles). Sometimes they were signed with the name of the general, as is our specimen.

With a narrow, slightly angled blade and a tubular socket. 374 grams, 13.1 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1990s.

Lenticular type with casting seam to the rim, raised monogram (caduceus?) on one side. 30.6 grams, 33 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Curving blade and a rectnagular-section socket with thickened rim. 332 grams, 10.7 cm



Ex M. Spiegelberg collection, since 1989-1992; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of a previous yellow cataloguing slip.

Comprising three gun flints, one tongue-shaped and the other two rectangular. 33.1 grams total, 29-36 mm



From the private collection of the late Mr M., a collector from Waterlooville, Hampshire, UK; late 1980s-early 1990s.

Ovate handaxe with thick butt. 233 grams, 11.1 cm



From Central Sahara, Africa. Ex old German collection formed in the 1970s by Dr J Fehkhaber. Acquired on the European art market.

Roughly triangular in section with broad point; much cortex remaining. 713 grams, 21 cm



Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum. The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham; who was part of the Borelli family from Italy who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Flint mining was also carried out by the Neolithic folk. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of the Neolithic flint work.

Comprising mostly bifacial and uniface leaf-shaped and piriform flint and chert arrowheads; probably from the Sahara region of North Africa. 105 grams total, 22-44 mm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

Similar specimens of arrowheads have been found in the Eastern Sahara Region of Abu Tartur Plateau. Most of the arrowheads came from the El Jarar Neolithic, c. 7700-7300 B.P. (c.6500-6100 B.C.). Other parallels occur in the region of Kharga Oasis.

Piriform body with pointed tip, an old handwritten label on one side. 262 grams, 12.3 cm



Found Test Road, Huzbourough Copse, Hampshire, UK, June 1965. From the collection of Martin Doyle, Leverstock, UK, 1980s-2000s.

Cordiform in plan and lentoid in section with acute point; inked legend 'Caply' to one face. 190 grams, 93 mm



From Caply, Northern France. From the UK art market.