For Immediate Release: 24th November 2011 Contact: Iona Sale, IONA PR, 01451 832 268, 07721

030 825 or iona@ionapr.com

A COLLECTION OF BASSETT-LOWKE WATERLINE PASSENGER LINERS CRUISE INTO CHORLEYS ON THURSDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2012

Lot 385, Empress of Japan est 150 200, Lot 386 SS Maloja est 200 300, Lot 387 SS Ormuz est 80 120, Lot 388 Empress of Britain est 200 - 300

Lot 398, Bremen est 250 350, Lot 407 Queen Mary est 200 300

To many, the name Bassett-Lowke conjures childhood memories of steam and clockwork trains and rolling-stock packed as Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. These models, now highly sought after by adults too, command exceptional prices in salerooms. Less well-known are the beautifully crafted models of ships also produced by BassettLowke and Chorleys are offering a collection of 1/1200 scale ship models in their forthcoming sale on Thursday 15th December 2011.

This collection of the Waterline passenger liners were made up by Charles Rodney Segrave and his wife Joan Beryl on the many cruises they made around the world between the First and Second World Wars. Unlike his half brother, Sir Henry de Hane Segrave (1896-1930), Charles Segrave obviously enjoyed the more sedate cruise than breaking land and water speed records. These delightful and very detailed though tiny models, hand crafted from wood, were supplied to the Steamship Companies by Bassett-Lowke. The lots offered for sale at Chorleys include models from the Canadian Pacific Railway and Steamship Company, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, The Norddeutsche Lloyd and Hamburg SudAmerika Line, The Union Castle Line and The Pacific and Orient Line. These romantically named companies were provided with models such as the Empress of Britain, estimated to achieve 200, the Empress of Japan, a similar price, the Bremen is expected to achieve upwards of 300, the Empress of Russia 200 and the Queen Mary may well steam away at a price of 250. Some of the smaller, equally well modelled ships were purchased on ferries between England and France and on the many cruises the Segraves took around Beryls homeland, Australia. These lots are estimated to fetch between 60-80 a piece. The boats are presented for sale in their original Bassett-Lowke boxes and the condition of all the lots is exceptional with many of the models and boxes still bearing their original hand written labels. Charles Segrave had other toys in his collection which are included in this sale: groups of early Dinky Toys, again in good condition, will be offered together with Lot 414, a fascinating Wiking sectional model harbour complete with trains, barges, battleships, cranes and numerous other accessories; although of very small scale it is expected to cause a wave of interest from both the Continent and at home and this toy for a boy could be purchased in time for Christmas for around 400-600. VIEWING DAYS are Tuesday, 13th December, 9am-7pm, Wednesday, 14th December, 9am5pm, Thursday, 15th December, 8.30am-10.30am. For further information please contact Catrin Hampton on 01452 344499 or ech@simonchorley.com For press information or jpeg images please contact Iona Sale, IONA PR, on 01451 832 268, 17721 030 825 or iona@ionapr.com PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF AUCTION DATE: Chorleys next sale is Thursday, 2nd February 2012.