Mellors & Kirk: Caveat Emptor

Mellors & Kirk 

Offering a “professional service” and “fully researched and expertly catalogued” medals.

 

Sale January 22, 2020 Lot 714

AFRICAN CAMPAIGNS PAIR, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, ONE CLASP BECHUANALAND AND QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, FOUR CLASPS CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL AND SOUTH AFRICA 1901 SGT L O TILLARD VYRBURG VOL [ON CAPE, 313 TPR L O TILLARD PROTECT REGT FF ON SECOND (QSA SUSPENDER REATTACHED)]

When received it was discovered that on the obverse of each medal there was a large blob of solder on Queen Victoria's face. Additional solder was on the post of the QSA suspender, the rods used to attach the clasps to each other had been removed. Solder had been roughly applied to the rivets to prevent the clasps falling apart. There are obvious drops of solder on the top of the clasp ears on the Cape of Good Hope medal.

The auction house was advised by e-mail on February 1st asking how the "very important defects on each medal" were missed. The response was that the medals could not be accepted back and I could have requested further photographs.          
                            

Further email communication failed to draw Mellors & Kirk on the question whether the cataloguing of this lot represented the standard of cataloguing or this was a simple mistake.

A Signed For letter was sent to Mellors & Kirk restating the case and questions regarding Mellors and Kirk's standard of cataloguing.

This letter drew an offer of a refund of hammer price plus premium, which has been accepted and promptly processed.

It took 24 days, numerous emails and a Signed For letter to bring this case to a suitable conclusion.

Throughout Mellors & Kirk refuse to explain how these clear and obvious defects were not stated in the catalogue description.

"In conclusion, I think it for the best that Mellors & Kirk Ltd does not accept bids from you in the future."

Caveat Emptor