Ancient, British and World Coins, Medallions and Books

Tickets and Passes, LONDON, Windmill Street, Argyle Rooms, uniface lead, 37mm (D & W 64/151a, recté Windmill St; MG 548); together with ivory tickets (2), one bearing a shield, the other bearing the same shield with a lion and flag crest, both 33mm [3]. First fine and very rare, others very fine £100-150

Provenance: C. Narbeth Collection.

The Argyle Rooms was an evening club where prostitutes congregated to be hired by the wealthy. It was frequented by those who saw themselves, and were seen by others, as respectable gentlemen. The establishment was closed for a brief period in the 1860s, but re-opened when the authorities recognised the prostitutes that plied their trade there simply moved to the streets. The club was finally closed in 1878 and re-opened as the Trocadero Music Hall in 1882. Sold with background information and detailed contemporary accounts of the goings-on at the Argyle Rooms