The Constanze Dennis Auction Report
“I have no doubt you have never been part of a sale remotely like it and the sale total was a credit to you all!”
A huge thank you to all who contributed to the charity auction held on April 26th to honour the memory of Constanze Dennis. The sale was a great success, raising almost £15,000 for Blood Cancer UK and Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK.
All lots were sold with 100% of the sale proceeds going to these highly deserving charities.
Lot 157
Lot 87
This was the most diverse auction that Grosvenor has ever offered with a total of 176 lots ranging from Penny Blacks to a coffee mug featuring Vladimir Putin. The saleroom was full and lively with many attending their first ever auction. Accompanying activities featured a darts competition and a ‘guess the number of stamps’ in a (rather scary) cat’s mouth. Liberal refreshments were provided, including some exceptionally tasty sausage rolls produced by the fair hands of Tom Margalski.
The auction was split into two parts, the first philatelic with donated stamps and covers covering many areas of interest and well received with much enthusiastic bidding. A fine collection of Ireland 1922-23 overprints [lot 87] soared to £580 whilst a mint strip of the three of the Ceylon Telegraphs 1892-1903 20c. [lot 65] beat its catalogue value by reaching £350. A full sheet of the Kedah 1937 $5 [lot 97] made £260 and the top price on the day was the £750 paid or the Bechuanaland 1889 (Mar.) 4d. on ½d. surcharge inverted [lot 50].
Lot 50
Lot 132
Lot 166
The second part of the auction took a dramatic turn and the excitement built as Tom himself took to the rostrum. Encouraged vocally by the happy throng, what followed was made up, largely, of Constanze’s personal items and favourite things and the response from her many friends and admirers was in many cases truly extraordinary. Lunch with PTS Chairman Simon Carson [lot 124] set the tone early, £130 being paid for this unique privilege. Constanze’s favourite reproductions of postboxes all found new homes and the auctioneer was more than surprised to find himself selling a mosaic plaque of the1841 2d. [lot 132] for £150 and a pink unicorn hot water bottle [lot 165] for £50. He was amazed (and of course delighted) to bring the hammer down on the so-called ‘worst lot in the auction’, a ‘damaged and horrible’ Ancient Egyptian bust [lot 166] at £30.
This was a day for the celebration of life, enjoyed to the full by buyers, sellers and even unsuccessful bidders. We are so grateful to all for their participation and striking generosity. No more fitting tribute could have been paid to the colourful and unique character that was Constanze.