From the bid-sheet of Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, Wednesday session 19 November 1879. Foolscap, ruled in red, the firm's printed letterhead at the top. Filled in the auctioneer Mr. J. T. Hodge's hand from the rostrum. The relevant portion of the sheet, lots 45–50, is reproduced below; auctioneer's annotations in pencil at the side.
LOT · RESERVE · STARTING · BIDDERS · FINAL · BUYER · NOTE
- 45 · £30 · £30 · 3 · £52 · Mr. Whatley, of Christie's, on commission — late lot, brisk
- 46 · £20 · £20 · 2 · £28 · withdrawn at close at the consignor's instruction
- 47 · £80 · £85 · 5 · £142 · Mrs. P. Penrose, of Bath, on her own card — contested below
- 48 · £45 · £45 · 3 · £80 · Capt. Devereux, Vienna
- 49 · £25 · £30 · 2 · £41 · Mr. Halliday, the Strand
- 50 · £60 · £65 · 4 · £105 · the British Museum, Mr. Newton present
Auctioneer's pencil annotation against Lot 47, at the side of the sheet, larger script:
Bidding on this lot was unusually animated and unusually populated; five distinct bidders were present in the room, one (the gentleman who took the seat against the south wall at the half-hour) bidding through silent gesture without raising the card he had been given at the door, by an arrangement the firm permits to a known type of collector who does not wish his name on the printed sheet. The gentleman bid against Mrs. Penrose to £138 and then withdrew. Mrs. Penrose's £142 was the last advance; the hammer fell at one minute past three. The unidentified south-wall bidder did not approach the rostrum at the close of the session and did not, by the doorman's report, leave the building by the public entrance. I make this note for the firm's discretion. — J. T. H.
Below the entry for Lot 47, in a different pencil and the clerk Mr. Linnett's hand, dated the following morning:
Delivery to Mrs. P. Penrose, the Royal Crescent, Bath, arranged for the 21st via the firm's carrier per usual practice. Item to be wrapped in the clean linen and sealed under Mr. Linnett's hand on the morning of the 21st before consignment to the carrier.
Below that, dated 21 November:
Delivery effected.
Below that, dated 6 December, in the same hand but with the firm's red stamp "NOTED FOR INQUIRY" beside it:
Letter received this morning from Mrs. Penrose. See file. Reply to be drafted by Mr. Hodge personally.