Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

Scotland, Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1867, award medals by H. Ponscarme (2), in silver and copper, bust of Napoleon III left, revs. [silver] legend, named (Thomas Glover); [copper], winged figure of Fame holding plan of the Expo, both 50mm (Divo 541, 544) [2]. Extremely fine (£60-80)

Thomas Blake Glover (1838-1911), a Fraserburgh merchant, was a key figure in the industrialisation of Bakumatsu and Meiji Japan, where he received the Order of the Rising Sun. Glover was one of the founders of the shipbuilding company that was to become the Mitsubishi Corporation and also helped found the Japan Brewery Co, later the Kirin Brewery Co Ltd