PLEASE NOTE: The buyer’s premium for this auction is 20% of the hammer price plus GST on the buyer’s premium (total of 23% of the hammer price). This is to be paid on top of any successful bid. The buyer must pay the full amount due not later than 5 days after the auction date.

The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition (some items may be described with A/F, which means “all faults”). The estimates always reflect the condition of a lot. All property is sold “as is” without warranty of any kind by art+object. Bidders who are unable to inspect the items in person are welcome to request additional information at: info@artandobject.co.nz or 093544646.

Packing and courier options are available at buyer’s risk and expense. We’ll be in touch after the auction to arrange.

The link to our full Terms and Conditions can be found on the app menu or at the bottom of each page on the desktop website. We would recommend that first time and/or overseas bidders familiarise themselves with our Conditions, especially with our SUBJECT BIDS practice (point no. 11, which stands also for timed-online auctions).

This is a timed online auction. Bidding opens on Tuesday 27th of June and will conclude on July 4th, with lots closing from 5:00pm. Lots will close every 20 seconds, with automatic extension if bidding is ongoing. Please contact us if you require assistance.

*******

Art+Object is please to present you the first Rare Books catalogue of 2023.

The sale will begin with a collection of militaria which includes medals, badges, books & ephemera from the estate of military historian & collector Colin George Laing.

Colin Laing was a collector from his Parnell Primary School days in the late 1930s when he began what would become a lifelong interest in New Zealand Military history, books, medals, and badges. A sense of history, service, tradition, and respect for New Zealand’s military prowess followed.

In 1942, during WWII, the Auckland Domain was covered by regular lines of army huts, and this was the perfect playground for Colin and his friends. He became a ‘runner’ for the men in the camp, for all sorts of supplies, and their payment to him was badges, buttons, and other small uniform keepsakes, many of which are included in the auction.

Laing made many overseas trips to battlefields and sites of significance. He was a life member of the Military Historical Society of NZ until his death in 2017. His passion for all things military endured over 70 years and during this time he amassed a large and important collection of medals, badges & military ephemera.

Part two of the auction includes some 350 lots of rare books, maps, historic art and photographs. Items of note include a superb Fern Album with carved kauri bindings by Eric Craig, a collection of historic maps including Bayley’s Chart of New Zealand 1772, and a number of early New Zealand photographs including three rare Sherwin & Cotton ceramic portrait tiles of Chief Tuari Netana, Guide Sophia and Guide Bella.

Also included is historic New Zealand art, Maori printings and histories, early editions of ‘Cooks Voyages’; a 16th century Geneva Bible; a superb copy of Omar Khayamm bound by the renowned English book binder Cedric Chivers, a first edition of John LeCarre’s ‘A Spy who Came in from the Cold’; a number of Private Press, Literature and Art books; and association copies from the library of John Edgar.