Mintoff’s memorabilia auction draws record high bid of €10,500

Late Labour premier’s private collection draws hundreds of buyers lining up; inscribed gold ring sold for €5,200

Dom Mintoff's inscribed gold ring auctioned at €5,200
Dom Mintoff's inscribed gold ring auctioned at €5,200

Over 700 items and memorabilia from the private collection of the late Prime Minister Dom Mintoff were sold by auction over the course of four days, with a chest of drawers used by Mintoff himself drawing the highest bid of €10,500.

The four-day auction, which took place between Wednesday 5 March and Saturday 8 March, saw hundreds of collectors and aficionados lining up to get their hands on the late premier's memorabilia.

Mintoff's collection included Maltese 19th century furniture, a collection of walking sticks, silver, African, Eastern and Asian art, historical interest lots, metalware, militaria, paintings and books, and personal items such as wristwatches and cufflinks.

Auctioneer Joseph Sammut of the Belgravia Auctions said the most sought after items were Mintoff's walking sticks and militiaria items, while his art and china were also keenly bid upon.

One of the most impressive pieces sold were a Saint Petersburg tureen and two 19 th century Maltese serpentine chests. Admirers of the late premier also got their hands on Mintoff's books, amongst which included Antonio Gramsci's prison notebooks and biographies of socialists Karl Marx and Willy Brandt.

A horseshoe buckle was sold for €8,000 while an 18 carat gold signet ring with an inset diamond inscribed with monogram DM was sold for €5,200.

Political gifts from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi, and various other gifts from North Korea were also sold.

A caricature depicting Mintoff's political negotiations by Evening Standard cartoonist Raymond Jackson was sold for €2,400 while gold chains, necklaces, cigatte cases, cufflinks and pocket watches were also sold.

An 18 carat pair of gold cufflinks and matching tie pin valued at €1,600 was sold while a gold horse-shoe pendant value at approximately €1,300 was also sold.

The auction also saw a gold plated Dunhill cigarette lighter being sold while an ashtray and various art pieces of the former prime minister's collection whose value ranges from a few hundred to a couple of thousands were also sold.

The heirs of the Mintoff family have said they intend on donating the contributions from the proceeds of an auction of the possessions of the late prime minister Dom Mintoff, to worthy causes.

Daughters Myra and Yana Mintoff said the auction sought to "facilitate public access to some memorabilia so that they can be more widely appreciated."

They also said that arrangements were being made to archive documents belonging to Dom Mintoff that have historic value.