CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
23rd
June, 2009
IMAGES FROM A FORGOTTEN WAR
Australian soldiers who fought in the Boer War have been largely forgotten, their exploits overshadowed by
the Great War of 1914-18. Forgotten also is a remarkable annotated photograph album that was discovered
by chance in Bendigo, arguably unseen since the soldier who took the images sent them home to his family
over 100 years ago.
More than 600 Australian soldiers died in this war, the last time members of the far-flung colonies served
Queen and country without their own national flag.
The album includes 213 photographs featuring Australian, NZ, British and Boer troops. It also features
scenes of everyday life in many parts of South Africa and fascinating moments such as the visit of the Duke
and Duchess of York. It covers the period 1900-02.
Captions that accompany the photographs also help the viewer to understand what life was like for the
troops and the people of South Africa. It was the war of Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant, but also of six Australians
whose exploits earned them the Victoria Cross.
Lot 201 will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Monday, June 29th at 5.00pm. It has a
presale estimate of $5,000 – $10,000.
“This is one of the best albums of the Boer War that we have ever seen,” says Charles Leski. “It is a
painstaking compilation with explanatory captions that gives us a unique insight into life in a very distant part
of the British Empire.”
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
