TOPIC:

The Fair was held a week ago in a beachfront casino. This may seem an unusual venue, but it is a well managed and tightly controlled place, which makes both people and cars relatively safe. Also, there are both the sea and liquor outlets than can be used to drown one's sorrows, should the need arise.

The Fair is mainly devoted to coins, and is well attended by people getting free valuations on their numismatic treasures, or what they hope are treasures. Medallers use the Fair as a place to have an annual reunion, and to complain about the rising price of medals, the weak ZA Rand, and, in a few instances, their own poverty.

As usual, both Natalie Jaffe from City Coins in Cape Town and Mike Kaplan from Johannesburg had tables, and the latter offered a few medals for sale. There were only two displays devoted to medals. One was an annually repeated display of police medals, of which a few were of ABW vintage. The other was a display by a local collector that was devoted J E F Gage DCM MSM, a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the ABW, and, later, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Natal Mounted Rifles. The photograph below of his medals is from David Biggins' 'Talana' book. Apart from the medals, the display contained paperwork and some of Gage's shooting medallions.

When Gage's family sold up his relics, the medals and most of the paperwork went to the collector who displayed them at the Fair, the shooting medallions went to another local collector who later emigrated to Australia, while Gage's diary was bought by a local dealer, who then sold it on to a collector in Australia. The shooting medallions have since returned from Australia and rejoined the other relics. Hopefully, one day the diary will also be reunited with the rest of the items.

Brett

Hello Brett,

The group to Gage was really well worth seeing. Perhaps you and I should have a stand next year with a few Cape and Natal Police groups on show ??

Cheers
Adrian

Good idea, Adrian. It would be as well to have more variety in the police medals displayed at the Fair. Also, other themes for Brian and others..
Regards
Brett

Gentlemen,
Did you buy anything?

Frank

I did not. There was some interest in Kaplan's offerings, particularly a WWI group with a Territorial Force Medal. It was on offer for about 220 gbp, which was reduced to a 'best price' of 190 gbp. I do not know if it sold later in the day.

It would have been very different if there were offerings such as the British fair ones shown by Paul and David.

Regards
Brett

Morning Brett,
Yes, certainly no shortage of medals here, it is often really quite bewildering to me, at least, as to exactly why, they are so expensive, but, it is certainly still possible to find a bargain or two that is completely un researched, depending on what you collect, of course.
I take it you had a good day whilst you were there then?
How many people were actually selling medals there on the day, more than just two stalls surely?
Kind regards Frank