Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

Dublin, Society of Artists, a silver Exhibition Ticket, unsigned, two Cupids masquerading as artists, one carving a bust, other with palette, plinths behind, rev. named (No. 15, Blay Townley Balfour Junr., Esqr), 35mm (MG 1026; cf. D & W 123/177; cf. Baldwin FPL 1994, 76 and 2000, 129). Minor rim nicks, otherwise very fine and dark-toned, very rare (£100-150)

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

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Blaney Townley Balfour (1769-1856), succeeded to the estate of his grandfather, the renowned art collector Blayney Townley Balfour (1704-88). He built Townley Hall, the family seat near Drogheda, in the 1790s, was appointed high sheriff of co Louth in 1793 and subsequently served as the mayor of Drogheda in 1818 and as the town’s MP. His son, Blayney Thomas Balfour (1799-1882) was Lieutenant-Governor of the Bahamas, 1833-5