Rare New Zealand Cross from 1875 sells for $180,000
· SCOOPNews from Mowbray Collectables
The exceptionally rare New Zealand Cross awarded to Dr Isaac Featherston in 1875 sold today in Mowbray Collectables auction in Wellington for a record breaking $180,000 hammer price.
Featherston was awarded the rare New Zealand Cross leading Māori under fire. He was Superintendent of the Wellington Province from 1853 to 1871 and is recognised in the town of Featherston and streets with his name in Wellington and Palmerston North.
The New Zealand Cross is one of just 23 presented to volunteers in those turbulent years and is far scarcer than the Victoria Cross.
Managing Director of Mowbray Collectables, David Galt said “We are delighted with this result for our vendor. It is fitting recognition for Dr Featherston as an important Wellington and New Zealand leader from the 1840s to the 1870’s. It shows a healthy interest in our history and a strong market for New Zealand medals.”
Other notable sales included $5250 for each of two cheques from the Maori Maungatautari Bank of the 1880s, and a Conspicuous Gallantry Medal Group to Southland Flight Lieutenant Leslie Wallace for $22,000.
The Mowbray coin and medal auction has been a record New Zealand sale with total sales of $857,000. On Saturday, Mowbrays stamp auction will offer an estimated $1.1 million in stamps, including many of New Zealand earliest 1855 series stamps, known as Full Face Queens. Showing Queen Victoria.
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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