Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 10:08:18 -1000 From: Jon & Gill Bloom <100255.116@compuserve.com> Message-Id: <4cp97i$msr$1@mhadg.production.compuserve.com> Organization: The Kite Society of Great Britain Subject: Cody Auction Update We have seen further details of the Cody Auction taking place at Sotherby's, London on January 24th. Some of the items being auctioned are: Solid Silver presentation model of the Cody Flyer Plane (est #40,000 - #60,000) Original engines used to power Cody's aircrat (est #10,000 - #15,000) Hundreds of hand-drawn aircraft and kite designs. The folding boat in which Cody crossed the English Channel towed by kites. Cody's Royal Aero Club pilot's licence, the 9th to be issued in the world. His Stetson hat, original flying helmet. His diaries relating the experience of his first flights. Photo archives of his life and achievements. and so on. In total the archives, being sold by his grandchildren, is expected to raise some #400,000 - #600,000. We are getting hold of a catalogue and are thinking of going along. Probably won't buy (too expensive) but you never know!! Gill and Jon Bloom -- The Kite Society of Great Britain = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 23:50:34 -1000 From: steveh@pyramid.com (Steve Hammatt) Message-Id: <4cqpda$5ug@sword.eng.pyramid.com> Organization: Pyramid Technology Subject: Re: Cody auction update Gill & Jon wrote about the forthcoming (24th Jan) Cody auction ... > > We are getting hold of a catalogue and are thinking of going along. > Probably won't buy (too expensive) but you never know!! > > Gill and Jon Bloom > -- I have received a copy of the catalogue. It is worth getting hold of if you are a Cody fan (Sotheby's will send you a copy for 16 UK pounds if you are "overseas", or 14 pounds if you are in the UK). It has lots of pictures in it, some of them in colour. The catalogue also has a lot of interesting background information about Cody, in the form of an introduction and also in the descriptions of the lots. There are 271 lots in total, many of which contain lots of individual items. Below is a summary of the kite-related items which I picked out (I have probably missed some), together with the *estimated* selling price in UK pounds from Sotheby's (not the "reserve", i.e. minimum price). As you will see, a lot of the items are pretty pricey. The cheapest kiting items have an estimated price of around 100 pounds : Lot 102 - 23 photos, mostly of kites (#550-750) Lot 104 - a model of a Cofy kite, with some leaflets (#350-450) Lot 108W - a small Cody kite, 79 inches high (#200-300) Lot 130W - A Cody kite (#300-400) Lot 137 - Newspaper placard - "Cody "Kites" the Channel" (#250-350) Lot 143W - A Cody kite, 155 inches high, distressed (#450-550) Lot 159W - A Cody kite, 84 inches high (#500-700) Lot 160 - 50 photos, mostly of kites (#500-700) Lot 162 - A Cody kite, 86 inches high (#550-650) Lot 165 - Cody's kite-driven collapsible boat (#5,000-8,000) Lot 170 - A drawing by Cody of his man-lifting kite system (#400-500) Lot 171 - A pamphlet entitled "The Cody naval & military war kite" (#100-150) Lot 174 - Cody's handwritten account : "S.F. Cody's aeroplane or war kite ... My first ascent and my reason for making it" (#3,000-5,000) Lot 175 - A collection of kiting photographs (#150-200) Lot 178W - A Cody kite, 81 inches high (#400-500) Lot 179 - Diaries of Kite Experiments for the army (#750-950) Lot 190 - A collection of kiting photographs (#250-350) Lot 209W - A Cody "glider" kite (#400-500) Lot 215W - A Cody kite, 98 inches high, together with a larger, very distressed one (#600-800) Lot 216W - A Cody kite, 98 inches high, together with another 55 inches high (distressed) (#550-750) Lot 217W - A large Cody kite, 164 inches high (#1,500-2,500) Lot 218 - Cody's letters patent no 23566, relating to kiting (#80-120) Lot 225 - 49 photos, mostly kiting (#500-700) Lot 228 - A collection of copy blueprints, including kite ones (#120-180) Lot 246 - Various kiting items, including magazine articles and letters, and also "Practical Kites & Aeroplane" by F. Walker, 1903 (#120-180) Many other items are also being auctioned, including parts of Cody's aeroplanes, his firearms, flying hat, etc, etc. I have no financial interest in the auction, but if anyone would like any more details on any of the items, then since I have a catalogue I would be happy to try and help (send email rather than wasting news bandwidth). I'm sure Sotheby's would be very keen to hear from anyone who is interested in any of the lots. Sotheby's are on +44 171 493 8080. Steve. -- Steve Hammatt | steveh@pyramid.com | Camberley | - or - | Surrey, UK | steveh@pyra.co.uk | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =