Dear MMDs,  Last Thursday's auction at Christie's in London produced
some strong and surprising results.  The top lot was 419, an Edison
electric pen, at =L=13,000.

In the mechanical music sections, there was a strong demand for early
or rare musical boxes and pieces in original condition, once again
demonstrating the selectivity of the market.  A six-bell box with bird
strikers sold for =L=2200; a French hidden drum and bells in boulle
case attributed to Soualle made =L=2000; a lever-wind Nicole playing
four airs on an 8-inch cylinder reached a surprising =L=1600, and a
four-air Freres Nicole continued the trend at =L=2400.

Amongst the disc boxes, a 15-5/8-inch and a 19-5/8-inch upright
Polyphon sold for =L=3400 and =L=3500 respectively; a 25-1/4-inch
upright Symphonion (minus coin drawer, pediment, damper rail and a
working spring) sold for =L=3500.

A musical hall chair made =L=650, while the rarer musical table sold
for =L=1600.  However, a Gasparini fairground organ and an unusual
chalet-style Boite de Gare failed to sell, while a large wax working
model of a gorilla will be back by popular demand for the next sale.

Once again some of the highest prices were achieved by automata, with
strong bidding in the room and over the phone, including an early
magician at =L=9500, a rabbit in cabbage at =L=1500, and a Roullet et
Decamps Rose Bebe (similar idea to the rabbit) at =L=4000.

The full price list can be viewed at:
http://www.christies.com/auction/results/results_lotlist.asp?saleno=CSK9392

The next sale takes place on 30 October.

Best wishes,

Nick Hawkins
http://www.christies.com/

 [ Thanks for your fine report, Nick.  -- Robbie