Victor Mee Auctions to host an exquisite Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale
One of Ireland’s leading auction houses, family owned and run Victor Mee Auctions, has announced its first Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale of the year, which will include a rare collection of items from several different categories of memorabilia and collectibles. The one-day sale is due to take place at 2pm on Wednesday 12th August.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still disrupting everyday life, the team at Victor Mee Auctions is proud to have the resources to move their sales online, having recently completed their second successful online-only sale since the pandemic struck and fully embraced the important role of online and phone bidding in recent years. This sale will again be hosted online to ensure the health and safety of both the Victor Mee Auctions team and customers.
Well known throughout Ireland and within antique circles across the globe for the team’s extensive knowledge on local pub memorabilia and collectibles, Victor Mee Auctions has become the ‘go to’ auction house for those searching for Irish rarities. Bidders can expect the upcoming Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale to feature lots including early 20th century whiskey bottles, rare advertising figures, signs and mirrors, motoring memorabilia and Irish football memorabilia.
Commenting on the impending Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale, auctioneer Victor Mee said, “After a tough few months for our industry we are extremely happy to be hosting our first pub memorabilia sale of the year. The rare lots set to appear in the auction have been handpicked by our specialist team and have been waiting in the wings ready to hit the auction block on 12th August. The sale will showcase items that will appeal to a host of different collectors, therefore we expect high interest from collectors around the world with diverse backgrounds.”
Exceptionally rare whiskey
The team at Victor Mee Auctions has become renowned for their vast knowledge of Irish whiskey. This is reflected through the many bottles that have been trusted to the auction house to sell over the last few years. August’s Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale is no exception, as whiskey collectors are sure to be bowled over by several of the exquisite lots.
Estimated to sell between €6,000 and €12,000 is lot 248, a rare bottle of George Roe Irish Whiskey. The George Roe brand was over 170 years old when its Thomas Street Distillery closed in 1923. Allegedly it took a few years before everything was bottled and sold and this 16-year-old release of George Roe seems to have been produced for export to the USA in the 1930s. Most remarkably of all, the label proclaims this to be "pot still malt whiskey", making this an incredibly rare Irish single malt distilled before 1923 at a distillery that has been closed for nearly a century.
In addition to the George Roe, Victor Mee Auctions will also welcome a 1950s bottle of John Jameson Extra Quality Dublin Whiskey to the auction block as well as a rare 19th century copper whiskey still, with both items estimated to sell up to €1,200.
Motoring Memorabilia
Amongst the array of advertising pieces due to go to auction on 12th August, are several lots of motoring memorabilia sure to invoke a wave of nostalgia for many who grew up in close proximity to the local petrol station or mechanic’s garage.
Although these lots are not destined to sell for considerable amounts of money, it is the familiarity of home that is sure to win the hearts of antiques bidders. Lots of motoring memorabilia included in the Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale include an original Duckhams 20 - 50 barometer advertisement, an original Shell Motor Spirit Advertising mirror and a rare 1940s milk glass Shell petrol pump globe, the latter estimated to sell for between €400 and €800.
Advertising signs, mirrors and figurines
Victor Mee Auctions is a treasure trove of interesting and intricate advertising memorabilia, which has been collected over a significant period of time from nooks and crannies throughout Ireland. The upcoming Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale is offering bidders a wide range of highly sought after advertising pieces in the forms of figurines, mirrors, enamel signs and decorative structures. Over the years Victor Mee has developed a wealth of knowledge around advertising mirrors and has become a trusted advisor for those selling. A stand-out lot in the upcoming sale is lot 348, Presse’s Nunns Island Galway Whiskey advertising mirror. This mirror is one of the rarest Victor has ever come across and is estimated to sell at auction for a significant sum of €6,000 to €12,000.
Within the advertising offering is lot 338, an extremely rare mahogany count Irish tobacco advertising cabinet with reverse painted glass pediment. The T.P. & R. Goodbody cigarette cabinet is one of few known still to be on the market in such pristine condition. This Irish advertising cabinet has been estimated to sell at auction between €3,000 and €4,000.
Another piece that the Victor Mee team is proud to bring to auction is an extremely rare J Vint & Son Ltd Old Irish Whiskey glass advertisement. Estimated to sell up to €3,000 this unbelievably rare item has yet to be seen on the market and is guaranteed to be a crowd favourite.
Iconically Irish is lot 55, a 1960s Guinness Ruberoid advertising Leprechaun seated on a wooden stool. This particular leprechaun was used as a mascot for Guinness delivery drivers both in Ireland and USA to advertise the famous stout to the overseas market and has come to the auction house with a steel vehicle roof mount attachment. It is likely that this advertising piece like others similar is well travelled and may have been as far as the shores of the USA and may get that far again, as this is sure to be a lot of interest with Guinness collectors worldwide.
A nod to Irish football heritage
A much loved Irish institution since the 1800s, GAA, particularly Gaelic football, has been responsible for happiness, sadness, frustrations and overwhelming pride in the lives of Irish men, women and children throughout the country for over 100 years with a growing base of fans and players globally.
Victor Mee Auctions’ Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale will offer Irish football and hurling lovers and collectors, of which there are many, the chance to bid on three exceptionally unique advertising figurines, set to sell between €200 to €450 each at auction. The figurines include rare ‘Please on All Grounds’ Kerry and Galway footballers and a Hurling Player.
Commenting on the Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale as a whole, auctioneer Victor Mee said, “Our one-day Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale is one of our most favourable advertising sales yet due to the wide range of unique lots available. We believe that this sale really does have something for everyone and because of this we expect a lot of interest and a lot of bids come sale day. Whether you’re in the market for a fine whiskey, something to add to a sporting collection or a one-off advertising mirror, you are sure to find what you’re looking for in our Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale.”
For more information on Victor Mee Auctions’ upcoming Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles Sale taking place on Wednesday 12th August, or to view the online catalogue visit www.victormeeauctions.ie.