Description
Australia, Victoria, ‘Centennial International Exhibition Melbourne’, Award Medal in Gold (46.32g, 38mm), 1888, engraved by Stokes & Martin, Royal mint Melbourne branch, awarded to ‘Joseph Evans & Sons’, Pump Manufacturers of Southampton Street, Staffordshire, England. Obverse: Crowned and veiled bust of Queen Victoria facing to the left, wearing pearl earring and necklace and dress adorned with several orders, legend surrounds, “CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MELBOURNE”. Reverse: Constellation of the Southern Cross surrounded by the motto “ARTIBUS DIGRIS HONOR INSIGNIS”, within wreath of wattle branch left and British oak right, tied together by ribbon below, initials “CV” below ribbon, mint name “MELBOURNE MINT” and engraver’s name “STOKES & MARTIN SC” either side of year in Roman numerals “MDCCCLXXXVIII” surrounds below. Edge: Inscribed with awarding party, “J. EVANS & SONS”. Carlisle-1888/8. A few marks to left obverse field, otherwise brilliant and rare as such, a most bold piece with a beautifully engraved rendition of Queen Victoria, details Mint State. Sold with original slip issued with the medal describing the design (see photo).
Joseph Evans & Sons was a business founded in 1810 by Joseph Evans in the Culwell area of Wolverhampton and produced a wide range of pumps of all kinds and sizes, becoming very successful in the Victorian era and selling their product throughout much of the world. With the constant innovations and the increased capacity for industry as a result of the industrial revolution, pumping was one of the most important activities of the time, most notably applied to the mining, agricultural and oil industries, as well as domestically in every day homes. Joseph Evans and Sons exhibited their pump products for the first time at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at Wolverhampton in 1871, displaying horse-drawn pumps and steam pumps. With this momentum, the firm would continue to attend live shows in England, including the 1876 Royal Agricultural Show at Birmingham in 1876 and the 1881 Royal Agricultural Society’s Show in Derby – exhibitions became a valuable marketing tool to promote their product locally. Evans’ ambitions were not limited to England, however, and were keenly advertising to the international market – their products were displayed at several exhibitions abroad, including ones in the USA, France, Australia, and Austria; gold medals were awarded for Evans’ pumps at an exhibition in Paris in 1867, and 1878, New York in 1872, Philadelphia in 1876, Vienna in 1873, and Melbourne in 1888 – the gold medal offered here.
A comparable example was sold by Noonans – their example was in similar grade although with a major obverse edge knock, and hammered for £3,200 (approx. AU$7,700.00 with their 24% buyers premium).
