Whitstable Items found in Auctions.

Introduction

What has an online auction site got to do with researching your family history?

Collectors in any field are always searching for original and early examples of their subject. As Whitstable has many 'firsts' it is quite common to see on average some 30 items being auctioned on Ebay at any one time that are relevant to the town. These might be early postcards, books, maps, railway collectables, shipping memorabilia, or original early photographs.

If any of these items are particularly rare or unique then this may be the last time they are on public view before being integrated into a private collection. By saving the images of the item for your own personal use you can start building your own virtual collection that might be useful for reference during your research.

Once in a while you find a real gem that has someone's name connected to it. If this is one of your descendants then you can consider getting involved in the auction for it.

A mix of finds.

A solid rubber tyred bus at the Horsebridge. Year unknown.

Alberts Dunn's 3 medals. Unique to Whitstable and from 3 different Monarchs.

Dining placemats. Some showing Whitstable Divers.

1863 Binoculars NAUTICAL Royal Navy WHITSTABLE

A PAIR OF ORIGINAL MID 19th CENTURY IVORY AND BRASS BINOCULARS. ENGRAVED ON BOTH BRASS SECTIONS WITH A NAUTICAL PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION "PRESENTED TO COMDR. SIDEBOTTOM R.N. BY THE CREWS OF THE SMACKS ANN ELIZABETH AND NEW UNION OF WHITSTABLE AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE IN OBTAINING LIFE SALVAGE 1863"

The 'Star Mineral Water Co' was in Essex Street for many years. It is mentioned in the site's parish newsletter pages and survived longer than its competitor, Putwain's Carbonated Water. Here is an early bottle found in Canada.

A very non P.C. PC. - From 1921 this postcard would have been seen as what it was intended, a harmless seaside joke with no insult implied. It is shown here to emphasise the shift in political awareness. The Whitstable mariners were used to working alongside men of all nationalities and treated these men as fellow sailors facing the same dangers.

So, keep an eye on Ebay, you never know when you might come across a Postcard that your ancestor sent to his sweetheart in the town when he was away at another port.