| Our set of the month for October is
Godfrey Phillips 1936 series of 50 Famous Minors featuring coloured
portraits of celebrated men and women who achieved fame whilst ‘under
age’ – before they were twenty-one - and an interesting bunch they
are, including the likes of W.G. Grace, Napoleon, George Washington,
Isaac Newton, Dick Whittington and John Cornwell the boy V.C. “This
gallant-hearted minor”, we are told on the card back, “was serving as
a sight-setter on a warship in World Ward I when, despite being
mortally wounded he stayed at his post with the gun crew dead around
him because he thought he might be needed.” In the tradition of
Nelson’s famous signal “England expects…” young John Cornwell had done
his duty. Nelson is also included in the set and we learn that by the
age of 12 he was enduring the hardship of his first voyage. He was to
become “the greatest sea captain the world has ever known”, saving
England from invasion, triumphing in the Battle of Trafalgar a victory
bought at the price of death, his last words being “Thank God I have
done my duty.” This set of 50
Famous Minors 1936 by Godfrey Phillips in very good condition is
catalogued at £15.00.
|
