Special Collections

Sold on 3 April 1998

1 part

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A Collection of Historical and Art Medals, the Property of a European Collector

Lot

№ 708

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3 April 1998

Hammer Price:
£110

Alfred, Lord Northcliffe, 1914, a cast iron medal by K. Goetz, half-length figure right holding a quill, reverse flames rising from the top of a globe, newspapers at right, DER BEARBEITER DER ENGLISCH VOLKS SEELE [The Moulder of English Public Opinion], 58mm (K. 150). Extremely fine (£40-60)

Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, Lord Northcliffe (1865-1922), virtually revolutionised the newspaper and magazine publishing business between 1888 and his death. He and his brother Harold bought the London Evening News in 1894, and in 1896 Alfred established the first popular English daily paper, The Daily Mail. In 1903 he launched the world’s first tabloid paper, The Daily Mirror, which by 1914 had a circulation of over 1 million copies – hence the ‘English public opinion’ message on Goetz’ satirical medal