STANLEY'S HANSOM CAB

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Details

STANLEY'S HANSOM CAB

Cab by T. Roake of Paddington circa 1885, the hub caps being marked No. 633, Iron Gate Wharf Road, Edgeware Row. The angled bow fronted cab body is on 56in. (142cm.) 16-spoke warner wheels with rubber tyres and heavy duty triple springs. The paint work finish is in black, with fine gold coach lines, the doors being mounted with green and black scroll initials HMS. The interior is fitted with a front occasional seat and is in buttoned black leather and melton cloth, with original horse hair filled cushions and padding, the door interiors being ivory mounted and fitted with leather covered handles. The door windows drop down, the side windows are each mounted with two interior bars, the front window is fixed and the two rear racing square windows have padded squab covers. The rear driver's seat, with horse hair filled melton cushion, is above a small hinged cupboard. The body is finely carved and reeded, shaped over the wheel arches and the leaf springs have been rounded and finished, with substantial spring hangers; the spring centers are stamped T Roake, Builder, Paddington. The rectangular exterior door handles are in brass and the fixed lamp brackets are fitted with a pair of brass trim lamps with flared fronts, pagoda tops, bevelled glass plates and front and rear opening. Height (without rein rail), 84in. (213.5cm.); Length 186in. (472.5cm.); Width 82in. (208.3cm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Further details

The above information was kindly provided by Thimbleby & Shorland of Reading, Berkshire, specialists, auctioneers and valuers of horse-drawn carriages.

Lot Essay

A rare and highly collectable carriage of sophisticated design commissioned by Sir Henry Morton Stanley from the builder. It is in superb original "conservation" condition, the body being more spacious than a working Hansom Cab and resembling the design of a single Brougham. The cab has been on loan to the Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum in Maidstone, Kent since 1949, when it was delivered to the museum by train, in a special British Rail carriage, after an advert placed in the Times by Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake requesting carriages for his new museum .

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