1st Gurkhas badge - new record ?

[gurkharifles]

This was in the Bosley's auction with a guide price of £150 - it's an interesting badge - and not even the museum are certain of it's use or even if it was ever worn. - However the only one I've ever seen before was offered by Bosley's in 2008 and it went for £330. So I thought I was in with a shout offering double the guide price - but it went for an astonishing £950 ( £1200 with fees ) !!
For a badge that "might not be military" ( Gurkha museum ) - at least I can look the wife in the eye and tell her that my collection is an investment!
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...f-a812011b406f

[Gurkha]

Hi Tim,
Yes I was amused by hammer price. I wasnt going to even think of bidding without evidence that it was actualy worn. Couple of nice badges but nothing I bid on.
I was amused to see that lot 59 7th GR cross belt badge sold for £400 but lot 408 the complete 7th GR crossbelt went for £180 same period. The cap bosses going for £700 surpised me.
You didnt bid on lot 83 2nd Bat 1st GR crossbelt badge £1300 !!!

Regards

Steve.

[peter monahan]

As I undestand it, the provenance/evidence is 'Gaunt pattern book'. Ouch! That's a look of money for a 'speculative' rarity.

[gurkharifles]

Having been in correspondence with Ashok Nath - the 1GR with motto Dei Gratia is not actually 1st Gurkhas or even Gurkha but a badge of the Teri Garhwal state ( Dei Gratia is the motto of the state) and the national weapon of Garhwal is also the Kukri. Still a rare badge, but I've now gone from being disappointed at not acquiring it to relieved I didn't make an expensive mistake!

Apparently it was the Gurkha Museum who acquired it - I wonder if they realised it wasn't Gurkha? Tim

[Roy]

Hi Chaps,

Someone should drop them a line. I would be interested to hear their response..

Cheerio,

Roy

[leigh kitchen]

It'd probably be audible miles away?

[Piffer]

Originally Posted by Gurkha

Hi Tim,
Yes I was amused by hammer price. I wasnt going to even think of bidding without evidence that it was actualy worn. Couple of nice badges but nothing I bid on.
I was amused to see that lot 59 7th GR cross belt badge sold for £400 but lot 408 the complete 7th GR crossbelt went for £180 same period. The cap bosses going for £700 surpised me.
You didnt bid on lot 83 2nd Bat 1st GR crossbelt badge £1300 !!!

Regards

Steve.

Anyone on the forum bid and get the Royal Garhwal Rifles shoulder belt plate which also fetched an astounding price of circa GBP 900 at the recent Bosley auction? Regards Tom

[peter monahan]

I think if I had that kind of money I'd use it to buy a ticket to India and visit the Garwhal Rifles old barracks instead. Ouch!

Bosley's is a great place to sell but not to buy. I'm taking a car load there next week

[peter monahan]

Sound thinking, that man!