Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 7 21 Jun 2017
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Foreign Coins and Medals, Jamaica, Clarendon, Halse Hall, Henry de la Beche, small silver Good Conduct Award, c.1823-24, by Tommaso Saulini, bust l., rev. HALSE HALL JAMAICA REWARD FOR GOOD CONDUCT, 24mm. (BDM.VI, 683; Roehrs 1554; Brandon 996), virtually mint state, extremely rare
*ex Watts collection
Sir Henry Thomas de la Beche, CB, FRS (1796-1855), geologist; his lifelong interest in geology was first kindled as a boy when he lived in Lyme Regis. He became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1817 and was elected its president in 1847. He wrote several works on geology and was the mastermind behind the compilation of the Ordnance Survey map of Britain, begun in 1832. This medal was intended as a reward for the slaves working on the Halse Hall estate that De la Beche inherited from his father, a slave-owner. It was at Halse Hall that De La Beche wrote his geological survey of Jamaica and also published Notes on the then condition of the negroes. Neither Roehrs nor Brandon had an example of this medal in silver. See also the following lot. Whether any of these medals was actually awarded appears not to be recorded, they are nearly always found in excellent condition.
Estimate: 250-350 GBP
*ex Watts collection
Sir Henry Thomas de la Beche, CB, FRS (1796-1855), geologist; his lifelong interest in geology was first kindled as a boy when he lived in Lyme Regis. He became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1817 and was elected its president in 1847. He wrote several works on geology and was the mastermind behind the compilation of the Ordnance Survey map of Britain, begun in 1832. This medal was intended as a reward for the slaves working on the Halse Hall estate that De la Beche inherited from his father, a slave-owner. It was at Halse Hall that De La Beche wrote his geological survey of Jamaica and also published Notes on the then condition of the negroes. Neither Roehrs nor Brandon had an example of this medal in silver. See also the following lot. Whether any of these medals was actually awarded appears not to be recorded, they are nearly always found in excellent condition.
Estimate: 250-350 GBP