Stamp-sized artwork to go on sale in Staffordshire for £150,000
Hundreds of stamp-sized paintings that were found in a wardrobe are going under the hammer in Staffordshire - and could fetch more than £100,000.
The rare archive of 27 original stamp and 40 bank note designs were found by the family of artist Leonard Fryer, years after gathering dust in the family's wardrobe.
Dubbed 'mini masterpieces' the watercolour artwork had to be done with a paintbrush in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other.
The collection consists of original watercolour sketches of stamp designs which were created for a number of countries including Malta, Peru, Antigua, Southern Rhodesia, St Lucia, Brazil, Cyprus Jamaica, Nigeria and Ceylon.
Leonard Fryer, who died aged 74 in 1964, worked as a designer for London's Waterlow and Son's, a worldwide engraver and printers of currency and postage stamps.
Now, his work, which took place between the 1920s and 1950s, is expected to fetch between £100,000 and £150,000 when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Staffordshire, on May 9.
Adrian Rathbone, associate director of Hansons who discovered the archive alongside some of his colleagues, said: “This is one of the most unusual art collections I’ve ever seen.
"It not only demonstrates Mr Fryer’s talent but shows the intricate lengths stamp designers went to, to create something many of us take for granted.
“Mr Fryer designed stamp designs mainly for Commonwealth countries but was also involved in the design process of some British commemorative stamps and everything was painted to scale.
"Such was the detail on what are, in essence, mini masterpieces, he needed an eyeglass to do his work.”
The archive is being sold by the artist’s granddaughters Dianne Fryer, aged 67, from Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, and her sister Jan Bullock, of Lewes, East Sussex.
Dianne said: “We’re so proud of grandad’s work.
"I’m a retired graphic designer and appreciate what a wonderful artist he was, particularly when it came to portraiture.
“The stamp and bank note designs were found after our aunty, Pauline Fryer, a fashion designer, died at the age of 84 in 2005.
"We had to clear her house in Redbridge, Ilford, Essex, and found them tucked away in a wardrobe in a spare bedroom.
"It was a complete surprise. We had no idea they were there. I’d imagine they’d been there for decades.
“We never planned to part with the artwork but felt it deserves to be seen and appreciated rather than hidden away.
"Because of its value it’s been in a bank vault.
"We’d love it if just one of grandad’s stamps ended up in a museum. I’ve scanned every single item so we have the collection as a memory.”
Due to the importance of the artwork, the auctioneers contacted The Royal Philatelic Society London
Jim Spencer, a paper expert at Hansons, said: “It’s wonderful to see how Mr Fryer painstakingly created his designs to scale – working within a tiny space which had to include a portrait of a monarch, a symbol of the nation and the price of the stamp.
“Competition was stiff and several designers were commissioned to create a stamp design, which then went before a postal administration panel.
“Everything was carefully assessed and amendments made before any stamp hit the printing presses. Sometimes, one element of Mr Fryer’s work would play a part in the final concept.
“His tiny paintings display dazzling colour, ingenuity, flair and artistic talent. They paved the way to stamp designs adopted far and wide.”
The collection is going on auction at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, on May 9.
More information can be found by emailing: jspencer@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.
