Recently sold at auction was the Frank Strike Collection of Cornish shipwreck photographs. Described as an important collection of 'Magic Lantern' slides, annotated, catalogued, well preserved and boxed, together with a magic lantern projector made by JH Steward (Optician) of 406, Strand and 457 West Strand London.
Grouped into categories; Shipwrecks: 221 slides, Life saving inventions: 24 slides, Porthleven: 68 slides, Breage: 9 slides, freedom of Helston: 12 slides. Multiple historical images, the majority taken by by the Gibson family of photographers and Alfred Hawke of Helston.
Shipwreck subjects include: Alexander Yeats 1896, Andola 1895, Bay of Panama 1891, early shipwreck diving on the Anson, Cromdale 1913, Cviet 1884, Glenbervie 1902, Jeune Hortense 1888, Lady of the Isles, Lamorna 1904, Marie Celine 1901, Minnehaha 1873, Mohegan 1898, Queen Margaret 1913, Seuvic 1907, Tripolitania, 1912, Barque William 1865 and multiple others.
This exceptional collection was put together by the noteable local historian Frank Strike, and used by him for many years to give illustrated lectures.
Frank Strike was born in 1895 and started out as a shipwright, later becoming a builder and undertaker. In 1929 he joined the coastguard, to which he dedicated forty years of his life. He held the Coastguard long service medal for 35 years as Number One in the Life-saving Team, during which time he was responsible for aiming and firing the rocket that carried the rope to the shipwreck. He started his slide collection in 1947 and went on to combine it with his passion for local history, particularly the history of Porthleven, by giving regular lectures with the slides. He gave lectures as often as once or twice a week.
Frank died in 1967 and his collection has been carefully preserved by his family.
Sold for £15,000 at Lays Auctioneers on 16 November 2023
See the lot description here
Comments
Does anyone know who bought it?
One doubs that auctioneers will divulge, in inquiring, who buyer was. BBC Radio Cornwall or Cornwall Council may know.
Clips from BBC Radio Cornwall: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gt2bf2?fbclid=IwAR2F01TeS194CMZO...
and
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=680472270729692