Lot 429
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB:
A William IV trophy cup & cover with twin foliate handles, embossed stiff leaves around the lower body & applied fruiting vines, the cover with a finial cast as a naiad figure of blowing a horn & holding a paddle as he emerges from the waves, gilt interior inscribed on one side "The Widgeon was launched 12th April 1837 - won the first Cup in the Royal 'Thames Yacht Club 29th May 1837" (on wooden plinth with a plaque, inscribed "TOM"), the foot with retailer's ?mark "GRIFFIN & HYAMS", by Richard William Atkins & William Nathaniel Somersall, London 1836; the cup & cover 14.6" (37 cms) high.
Sold with a Victorian Christening mug, engraved with a yacht & a sailor boy, the handle cast as a sailer tipping his hat, inscribed "C.S to Thos.Edw.d Topham 1859'" by S. Hayne & D. Cater, London 1858; 4.5" (11.5 cms) high.
Sold also with Literature & correspondence relating to the Yacht Club, the race & the Topham family; 64.3 oz weighable silver (lot)
*Though the Yacht Club is the oldest in Britain dating back certainly to 1775, it only became known as the "Royal" Thames Yacht Club when King William IV became patron and gave his permission in 1830. Although the inscription on the cup reads "The first cup in the Royal Thames Yacht Club", it probably was 1st prize for this particular race, making this trophy a very early award for the Royal Thames Yacht Club. The race was from Greenwich to the Nore Light & back (approx. 80 land miles). The winning Yacht Widgeon was owned by T.E. Snook and one of the crew members was a Mr Tom Topham who was father to Thomas Edward Topham, recipient of the above Christening mug & whose Godfather was also a C. Snook. Both the cup and the Christening mug have passed down through the Topham family to the vendor whose generation will be the last in the Topham line
