Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/274219
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 MARCH 2014 3 Mintoff's €40 horseshoe buckle goes for €8,000! DANIEL MIZZI OVER 700 items and memorabilia from the private collection of the late Prime Minister Dom Mintoff were sold by auction over the course of four days, with a 19th century chest of drawers used by Mintoff himself drawing the highest bid at €10,500. The four-day auction, which took place between Wednesday 5 March and Saturday 8 March, saw hundreds of collectors and aficionados lining up to get their hands on the late pre- mier's memorabilia – possibly rak- ing up anything between €70,000 to €120,000 in bids for Mintoff's heirs. Mintoff's collection included Mal- tese 19th century furniture, a collec- tion of walking sticks, silver, African, Eastern and Asian art, historical interest lots, metalware, militaria, paintings and books, and personal items such as wristwatches and cuf- flinks. Auctioneer Joseph Sammut of Bel- gravia Auctions said the most sought after items were Mintoff's walking sticks and militiaria items, while his art and China collection were also keenly bid upon. One of the most impressive pieces sold was the Saint Petersburg tureen and two 19th century Maltese ser- pentine chests. A horseshoe buckle – originally estimated at just €40 – was sold for €8,000; while an 18-carat gold signet ring with an inset diamond inscribed with monogram DM – originally estimated at €1,600 – was sold for €5,200. Political gifts from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi, and various other gifts from North Korea were also sold. A caricature depicting Mintoff's po- litical negotiations by Evening Stand- ard cartoonist Raymond Jackson was sold for €2,400, while gold chains, necklaces, cigarette cases, cufflinks and pocket watches were snatched up immediately. The heirs of the Mintoff family have said they intend on donating the contributions from the proceeds of an auction of the possessions of the late prime minister Dom Mintoff, to worthy causes. Daughters Myra and Yana Mintoff said the auction sought to "facilitate public access to some memorabilia so that they can be more widely ap- preciated." They also said that arrangements were being made to archive docu- ments belonging to Dom Mintoff that have historic value. News Time: 4:00pm – 7:00pm Msida: Thursday 13/03/2014 San Ġwann: Friday 21/03/2014 Ta' Xbiex: Friday 28/03/2014 Għargħur: Thursday 10/04/2014 MINISTER EMM. MALLIA DISTRICT10 DISTRICT9 VIĊIN TIEGĦEK DEJJEM Time: 4:00pm – 7:00pm Gżira: Friday 14/03/2014 Sliema: Thursday 20/03/2014 San Ġiljan: Thursday 27/03/2014 t: +356 25689114 e: martin.j.sultana@gov.mt Two days before, people from the Ministry's Customer Care will be present at the respective Locality Labour Party Club between 5:00pm – 7:00pm to meet the public prior to the meetings announced above. Labour prime minister's memorabilia fetches thousands upon thousands of euros as bidders snatch up a piece of Dom Mintoff The €40 horseshoe buckle that somebody now proudly owns... for the princely sum of €8,000: Mintoff's outrageous belts were symbols of his machismo (below) and a confrontational totem against middle-class sensibilities. BELOW: his signet ring, monogrammed 'DM', sold for €5,200 PHOTOGRAPHY BY BY RAY ATTARD