Coins, Paper Money, Tokens and Historical Medals

SURREY, Esher, Sandown, 1883, a bronze badge, unsigned, back stamped 2155, 32 x 24mm, 8.40g (W 1554); Sandown, 1884, a gilt and enamel badge by H.O. Lewis, back stamped 1874, 47 x 26mm, 17.74g (W 1555); Eclipse, 1886, a pair of openwork gilt and enamel badges by H.O. Lewis, both stamped 2681, each 30 x 28mm, 6.71 and 6.55g [4]. First very fine, others better, all rare; the Eclipse badges in ‘Sandown 1886’ case of issue by H. Lewis, Jeweller & Silversmith, 172 New Bond St, London £90-120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Racing Tickets and Passes, the Property of a North Country Collector.

View
Collection

Sandown Park, one of the first courses to make a general admission charge, in this case of at least half a crown, opened in April 1875. In the words of a contemporary diarist it was ‘a place where a man could take his ladies without any fear of their hearing coarse language or witnessing uncouth behaviour.' The business plan behind Sandown Park quickly made the venue a favourite among racegoers and other courses were forced to adapt or lose custom. The Eclipse Stakes, named after Eclipse (1764-89), the celebrated and undefeated racehorse, was first run on 23 July 1886. The inaugural race, won by Bendigo, was Britain’s richest horse race that year, with a prize fund of £10,000 donated by Leopold de Rothschild