Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

London, Crystal Palace: Picture Gallery Prize, a silver award by G.G. Adams for Pinches, Fame with trumpet above standing figure of Britannia, attended by allegories of Plenty and Learning, partial elevation of the Palace in background, rev. wreath, named (Awarded by the Crystal Palace for a picture ‘On The Hillside’ by L.B. Hurt, 1897), 63mm (cf. Allen 1893/10; cf. BHM 2545; cf. E 1485; cf. MJP p.34; cf. BDW 10, 439). Minor surface and rim marks, otherwise good very fine and toned, very rare; in blue fitted case of issue (£80-100)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exhibition Medals in Gold and Silver from the Collection of James Spencer.

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Plate 2. Louis Bosworth Hurt (1856-1929), painter, whose specialty was cattle and Scottish scenery. Born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, Hurt studied with George Turner and later exhibited at the Royal Academy and at the Society of British Artists at Suffolk street from 1881 to 1901. Much of Hurt's scenery and ‘models’ came from property and cattle he owned. His work was highly popular with the Victorian picture-buying public, who enjoyed his views of misty peaks and Scottish cattle in the Highland glens. The actual picture ‘On The Hillside’ was being offered for sale by Historic District Antiques, in Hot Springs, Arizona, in March 2007, for US $20,000, and an image is sold with the lot. The obverse was originally conceived by Adams for his medal for the opening of Crystal Palace in 1854