LONDON.- A collection of swords that belonged to Television Historian, the late Richard Holmes will be among the 700 items to be offered in Thomas Del Mar Ltd’s auction of Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria at 25 Blythe Road, London W14 on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. The sale will begin at 11am and viewing will take place on the preceding Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with online bidding being available via the-saleroom.com.

Richard Holmes (1946-2011) was known to thousands as a military historian with a flair for presenting his subject both in print and on television. To his academic peers, he was a professor – having earned a chair at Cranfield University’s Security Studies Institute in 1995; in the military world he had become a brigadier in the British Army’s reserve forces and been colonel of his regiment; to curators, he was a respected and active Trustee of the Royal Armouries; in his county of residence, Hampshire, he was a horseman, a good shot and a magistrate to be reckoned-with on the North Hampshire Bench. However, few people knew that he was also a collector and connoisseur of military swords – both British and French. The 46 lots include a fine and rare British heavy Cavalry officer’s sword, circa 1750-70, which is expected to fetch £2,000-2,500.

An important collection of 34 pieces of stained glass that formed a travelling exhibition that toured the East Coast of the United States, finishing at the Higgins Armory, Worcester Massachusetts where it was displayed after 1932. The Zettler Glass Manufactory was founded by Francis Xavier (1841-1916) in 1870. Prior to this he had toured Europe extensively for his research into masterpieces of medieval stained glass including extended trips to England, France and Italy. Following his award of first prize at the Vienna World Exhibition of 1873, and his new title ‘Purveyor to the King’ by King Louis II of Bavaria, he was commissioned by King Carl of Romania to execute the glass at his residence in Pelesh Castle. With his reputation now firmly established, Zettler opened a branch office in the United States in 1884. His traditional designs, often copied from known examples such as those offered here, proved extremely popular with the conservative taste in both the United States and Canada. Zettler’s two sons, Francis Jr. and Oscar were trained by him and took over the business following his death in 1916. Ten years later, in 1926, they won the Gold Medal of Honor at the Sequi-Centennial Exhibition of Philadelphia. In 1929, Francis Jr was forced to retire on grounds of ill health, after which time Oscar took over and established a new workshop in Newark, New Jersey. During the years 1870-1930 the firm made approximately twenty six thousand windows, of which eleven thousand went to countries outside Germany. Their work can still be seen in many churches in Germany and in the United States, including the Sacred Heart Basilica, Newark; National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia, Philadelphia; Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Denver; St. Helena’s Cathedral, Montana; St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center, New Orleans; Holy Rosary Church in Cedar, Michigan. A stained glass depicting the death and burial of the Virgin, after the window of circa 1260 on the south side of the nave aisle in Chartres Cathedral is estimated at £4,000-6,000, while Christ Feeding the Five Thousand after the 15th Century window at Ulm Minster is expected to fetch £2,000-3,000.

The sale will also include several lots that are being sold to benefit the acquisition fund of the Denver Art Museum. These include an early 17th century NorthEuropean silver-encrusted rapier, probably from Germany which has an estimate of £3,000-4,000.

Elsewhere in the auction is a piece that was discovered by Cheshire-based independent fine art consultant Mark Littler at a routine charity valuation day. A fine 60-bore German (Thuringian) wheel-lock carbine dating from the late 16th century that is estimated at £8,000-10,000.

Thomas Del Mar has a reputation for selling objects with a Royal link, and this sale is no different. A Fine French D.B. single trigger percussion sporting gun by Henri Lepage, dated 1842 and made For Louis Philippe, King Of France (1773-1850, Reigned 1830-48) is expected to fetch £3,000-5,000; while another fine French firearm will also be offered – a 24 Bore D.B. French flintlock sporting gun by NicolasNoël Boutet, Directeur artiste manufacture a Versailles, who inherited the position of gunmaker to Louis XIV from his father-in-law. Dating from circa 1800-05, it carries an estimate of £7,000-9,000.

An interesting British piece is the sword cane of Field Marshal The Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, KG KP GCB GCH (1768-1854), Commander of the Allied Cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo, 18th June 1815 which is estimated at £3,00-5,000. Sir Henry Paget, known to his contemporaries as a dandy, a duelist and one of the most stylish cavalry officers of his generation, was also a daring and successful cavalry commander. As the Earl of Uxbridge, he enjoyed Wellington’s confidence sufficiently to be appointed the Duke’s cavalry commander for the Waterloo campaign and, in recognition of his services, was created Marquess of Anglesey immediately after the battle.