HIWEPA, Basel, September 26

This auction was characterized by decorative papers and autographs. Let’s begin in the banking section. Bank of the Temple Society - a certificate of 20 shares issued in Jaffa 1955, with an interesting story, hammered at CHF800 ($775).  A Bank of the United States share, Philadelphia, 1834 signed by Nicholas Biddle, sold for CHF700. A very decorative piece is the 1918 share of the Eidgenössiche Bank, Zurich, a company in the UBS Group; unissued, the piece sold for CHF1,000 (€660). Also another very decorative piece, Leihkasse Wädenswil 1892, unissued, sold at CHF1,200, and Oesterreichische Nationalbank 100 Corona in gold, Vienna 1922, sold at CHF950. The top shot for a bank was a Crédit Suisse from 1926 unissued, but one of the most loveliest Swiss papers, and it sold at CHF2,025.

The highest price in the auction was Aktienbrauerei Thun, sold at CHF6,600 (€4,370/£4,000/$6,400) – compare CHF8,000 in March. The top railroad was a proof of a share of the Schweizerische Nordostbahn, one of the first railroad companies in Switzerland, a nice decorative piece with landscapes from Switzerland and south Germany. Dated around 1850, it sold at CHF5,000 (€3,300).

There was a small collection of Edison stocks – an Edison Portland Cement Co dated 1900,   issued to and signed by Thomas A Edison, was sold at CHF2,000 ($1,900) and an Edison Storage Battery Co 1926 issued to Thomas A Edison and signed by Charles Edison sold at CHF600. One of the most interesting pieces in the railroad section was a deed from 1881 of the Central Pacific Railroad signed by Leland Stanford, one of the “big four” of CPR, sold at CHF1,500. Many autographs were sold for low prices like a New Jersey Junction  Railroad bond signed by J P Morgan at CHF350 ($340).  And a couple of railroad companies like Chesapeake Ohio and Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St Louis & Chicago, both signed by Collis Peter Huntington, sold for CHF235 and CHF560.  Another two autographs highlights were a Standard Oil Co 1878, signed John D Rockefeller and H M Flagler, sold for CHF2,300 ($2,200), and another issued to A Bostwick and signed like the previous one, sold at CHF2,400. A group of American Express were sold cheaply - type IV dated 1860, signed Henry Wells and William G Fargo, hammered at CHF350 ($340) and another dated 1866 sold for CHF600.

An evergreen for all advanced collectors is the Real Cia de San Fernando share dated 1749 and one sold for CHF3,350 (€2,200). For all friends of zoos a wonderful share of the Westfälischer Zoologischer Garten zu Münster, 10 thaler dated 1874, sold for CHF3,000 (€2,000).

Total amount sold on the hammer was CHF98,000 (€65,000/£60,000/$95,000) plus CHF17,000 in the mailbid section two days later.  100% - every lot - was sold !