Welcome to Smalls Auctions Sale 323. This sale continues our offering of extraordinary Modern Coin issues from around the world, with highlights including a commemorative coin celebrating Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, and an array of visually striking Chinese Panda coins, some coated in Ruthenium or detailed with ultraviolet features—pushing the boundaries of modern minting innovation. For those drawn to ancient history, we are pleased to present Predynastic Egyptian and Roman artefacts that offer a rare, tangible glimpse into daily life in these ancient civilisations. Of significant historical interest is a limited bound edition of *Photographs (of) New South Wales*, circa 1900, one of only a few presented to dignitaries of the time. A rare Norman Lindsay bookplate identifies this copy’s original owner as Hugh D. McIntosh, the impresario behind the 1908 Burns-Johnson World Heavyweight Boxing Match in Sydney. The book includes fold-out panoramas of King’s Cross and Darling Harbour. Also featured is a finely preserved 'Ramsden of London' telescope, made by England’s foremost scientific instrument maker of the late 18th century—whose devices accompanied Cook and La Perouse on their South Pacific voyages. Housed in its original shagreen case, it is a museum-worthy piece. Happy bidding!

Welcome to Smalls Auctions Sale 324. In this sale, we are offering two standout items that should appeal to the sophisticated male and female collector alike. For the ‘XY’ bidder, there’s a yellow gold card case from the heart of darkest Africa—an item that would have sat comfortably in the pocket of Joseph Conrad. Weighing 129 grams of solid 14-carat gold, it has an actual gold value in excess of AUD $12,000. The case is impressed on the front with “Bahr el Jebel” (White Nile) and dated 1927. It features a raised coloured motif of a water buffalo and crossed elephant tusks, echoing the coinage of British East Africa, from whence the White Nile springs. It exudes machismo and is a dandified relic of the colonial era. For the ‘XX’ bidder, we present an elegant 18ct white gold riviera necklace set with over ten carats of graduated white diamonds—the necklace equivalent of a tennis bracelet and sure to be the envy of your friends at Wimbledon. Also on offer are some of the finest known George V silver threepences, sixpences, shillings, and florins, with a curated selection of three coins per denomination in exceptional grade, ideal for building the ultimate type set. Rounding out the sale is a wide array of modern world coin issues, mostly struck in pure silver—allowing you to invest in bullion with a collector’s twist. Happy bidding, Smalls Auctions.