Before I announce this forthcoming sale, I'd just like to say how
sorry I felt for the Piano-Movers people who were in the press recently.
It was very unfortunate to have happened and judging by their past
record, I am convinced that it is a first.  After all, they are the
folk who walked very carefully into Mr. Stonehill's house and moved
the entire job, brought it here (15-20 miles), unloaded it and then
set about re-building the pianos, bookcases -- which were all very
professionally wrapped -- and did not stop, even for a tea, until it
was finished.  I was so very glad I choose them and I would use them
again any day.

Back to the forthcoming sale:  The first sale of Century MMVII at
Christies sees just a 125-lot sale.  But don't fret, because each
and every one of these lots are real gems.  For some time, I have
been trying to make sure that there is enough in the sale for all
tastes and all pockets.  The latter being important for many reasons
and the first is plain common sense; this sale really concentrates on
the higher-end, whilst making provisions for the uncommon items that
the current market seems to be screaming for right now.

From a hooked-tooth single-section comb key-wind cylinder musical
box to a T. Mortier Dance Band Organ (which is too big to fit into
our premises -- it measures 34 feet across and 29 feet high); three
exceptional J. Bruguier fusee-movement tortoiseshell singing bird boxes
to a 5.3/4-inch Symphonion disc musical box with automaton pediment,
we have ahead of us a sale which has evolved into what people, our
clients and our friends want in today's market place.

Section-wise, the lot number breakdown is as follows:

Technical and Domestic Apparatus - 19
Wireless and Television - 14
Phonographs - 12
Gramophones - 13
Pneumatic and Wind-Stringed Instruments - 10
Fine Oiseaux Chantants - 15
Musical Automata and Virtue - 10
Key-wind Musical boxes - 8
Other Cylinder Musical boxes - 15
Disc Musical boxes - 9

and all of these carry an average estimate of over £3,800 each,
demonstrating both their rarity and their condition.

The catalogue will be available to subscribers and those who consigned
in the last sale only, from around the 12th May.  Those of you wishing
to see the sale online, free, can view this on our web site from around
the 15th May.  The sale number to help you is 5221.

The viewing will commence from Tuesday 29th, and to Wednesday 30th and
the morning of the sale on the 31st.  Please note that because of the
bank holiday Monday, we shall be closed for the weekend prior to the
viewing - I do not wish any of you to make a long journey only to be
disappointed! (although there is a very nice pub across the road doing
a good line in real ale).  Condition reports are there to assist you
and I will be delighted to supply these on request.

Please contact me on my office number which is 0207 752 3278 or my
business-hours mobile which is 07786 675 033 should you have any
questions about this sale.

From Edison's first light bulbs (oh yes, they are in the auction), to
the world's first computer-generated woven silk picture by Joseph-Marie
Jacquard, the 31 May sale will be something to remember for quite a
while.

My kindest regards as always to you all and I hope to hear from you
shortly,

Laurence Fisher
Specialist Head of Department, Mechanical Music at Christie's
Tel: 0207 752 3278 / fax: 0207 752 3183
e-mail: lfisher@christies.com