An exceptional collection of pictures and printed materials showcasing the social, military, and commercial history of Farnham and its surrounding areas from the 19th and early 20th centuries have been sold by Parker Fine Art Auctions.

The collection, meticulously gathered over several decades, went under the hammer in multiple lots on Thursday, November 2. The assortment featured several hundred postcards, engravings, indentures, posters, maps, catalogs, and books, all shedding light on the rich heritage of Farnham and nearby villages.

One poster called on men aged 19 to 40 to join the Hampshire Regiment and fight in India, explicitly stating that “minor defects will no longer disqualify”. 

A postcard depicting a few of Farnham Castle in the days when horses and carts, not motor vehicles, still dominated Castle Street
A postcard depicting a few of Farnham Castle in the days when horses and carts, not motor vehicles, still dominated Castle Street (Parker Fine Art Auctions)

Another advertised a circus event in Odiham, boasting a “Colossal Amalgamation of Novelties and Startling Features”, including a troupe of “20 educated Irish terriers”.

Celebrations for King Edward VII’s coronation in Hartley Wintney were also highlighted, featuring a “Boys’ treacle and bun race” and prizes for the “Best-decorated house front” and “Best-decorated ladies’ bicycle”.

A poster advertising The Farnham Bonfire Club’s grand celebration of the 260th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, delayed by a day to November 6, threatened immediate action for anyone causing damage during the festivities.

A hand-written note from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from his home in Hindhead where he lived from 1897-1907 and where he wrote many of his most famous works
A hand-written note from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from his home in Hindhead where he lived from 1897-1907 and where he wrote many of his most famous works (Parker Fine Art Auctions)

The collection of postcards unveiled different views of Farnham from a century ago, featuring streets, buildings, and shops, including familiar names like Rangers, Elphicks, and Pullingers.  Some postcards delved into the humorous side of local life, depicting scenes like nurses at the military hospital at Waverley Abbey and students at Farnham boys’ grammar school.

The villages surrounding Farnham were also showcased in the wealth of postcards, accompanied by printed material related to estate sales, catalogs, handwritten receipts from local businesses, and even a personal note from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, penned during his residence in Hindhead from 1897-1907.

Bidders battled it out in the saleroom at Parker Fine Art Auctions for the local ephemera, and in all, the collection made over £8,500 (hammer price).

A poster advertising The Farnham Bonfire Club’s grand celebration of the 260th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, delayed by a day to November 6, threatened immediate action for anyone causing damage during the festivities
A poster advertising The Farnham Bonfire Club’s grand celebration of the 260th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, delayed by a day to November 6, threatened immediate action for anyone causing damage during the festivities (Parker Fine Art Auctions)