Leski Auctions

Like several other Australian auction houses, Melbourne-based Leski Auctions has moved several of its sales to timed online auctions to help overcome government initiated lockdown restrictions implemented because of the current coronavirus pandemic.

At present, two are in this category – one a Stamps & Postal History sale that opened at 10am on. Wednesday April 22 and is due to finish from 10am on Monday May 4 – and the other a toy auction that will finish from 12pm on the same day.

The collection of one of Australia’s leading master model railway builders, the late Frank Kelly – who died in June 2016, will be auctioned from 2pm Sunday March 22 by Leski Auctions at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

His handiwork was admired by all who knew him and the first 55 lots of the sale gives collectors the perfect opportunity to acquire one of his models.

Leski Auctions describes every lot as unique and testament to Frank’s ability to build from scratch by hand models of Victorian and South Australian locomotives and rolling stock.

A rare Faberge tie clip (lot 17) and a magnificent French Japanese style silver, niello and enamel comport (lot 20) are among major drawcards at Leski Auctions first auction for 2020 from 1pm Saturday February 22 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

The two-day sale, which continues at 10am the next day, features a huge selection of international decorative arts including ceramics, paintings, decorator pieces and glassware.

The United States might have been the first country to land a man on the Moon (Apollo 11 July 1969) but the Russians can lay claim to being the first to land an unmanned robotic probe on the surface and return a lunar soil sample to Earth (September 24, 1970).

From Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility), it was the third sample overall to come back following the efforts of NASA’s Apollo 11 and then Apollo 12 space flights in November 1969.

A pistol once owned by British explorer Captain James Cook (lot 20) and a cricket stump that played silent witness to the 1933 Bodyline bowling series against England (lot 21) are among the new category of “Australian icons” created by Leski Auctions as part of it latest Australian & Colonial sale from noon Sunday November 24 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Auction houses are always searching for new ways to attract clients to their sales – for there is nothing more boring than serving up the same sort of stuff every time they hold another auction.

Leski Auctions latest Decorative Arts & Collectables sale, from 10am Sunday October 20 at 727-729 High Street Armadale, is a case in point.

Legendary Australian businessman and underworld figure John Wren (1871-1953) – made famous thanks largely to a fictionalised account of his life in Frank Hardy’s 1950 novel Power Without Glory and remembered from the early 1900s for his Johnston Street, Collingwood horse racing gambling venture which eventually earned him $40,000 a year – will make an unforgettable impression on Leski Auctions forthcoming Fine and Rare Clocks sale.

Leski Auctions first Stamps, Coins & Postal History auction since December last year will be held from 12pm Wednesday August 28 and largely reflects substantial contributions from new team member Matt Hancock.

Hancock is an acknowledged expert in stamps and postal history and is keen to expand his knowledge of the types of collectables that pass through Leski Auctions doors.

The auction, at 727-729 High Street Armadale, features consignments from more than 60 vendors and includes a substantial group of Australian Commonwealth collections (lots 90-123).

Australia’s cricketing icon and batting legend Sir Donald Bradman still attracts an enormous amount of public attention – even though it is more than 70 years since he last competed at international level.

With a batting average of 99.94, he is regarded as the greatest batsmen to ever live and, although he died in February 2001, every time a cricketing item or piece of memorabilia he owned comes onto the market collector hearts appear to beat just a little faster.

World War I, or the Great War as it was known, was meant to be the “war to end all wars”.

Of course, as history records, peace after the “war to end all wars” only lasted for 20 years – as Germany once more tried its hand at world dominance by invading Poland, leading to the outbreak of World War II on September 3, 1939.

Supreme Allied Commander towards the end of World War I was French general and military genius Marshal Ferdinand Jean Marie Foch (1851-1929), who played a decisive role in halting a renewed German advance on Paris in the Second Battle of the Marne.