Last week, I belatedly stumbled across an auction of Irish chess interest, of a collection of medals won by J. J. O’Hanlon between 1928 and 1943.
From the description by the auctioneers, Whyte’s:
A Tailteann Games gold award medal, for the Governor General (James McNeill) Chess Championship, 1928, to JJ O’Hanlon, maker’ mark, I J Cy, 50mm, 57g, 9ct gold;
a Tailteann Games silver gilt award medal, for First Prize Chess, 1932, maker’ mark, I J Cy, 50mm, 56g, silver;
two All Ireland Chess Championship gold award medals to JJ O’Hanlon, one engraved 1930, and 1940, maker’s mark, F O’K, the second 1932 aqnd 1935, by John Miller;
and a Dublin Chess Club silver gilt award medal with enamelled chess board, to JJ O’Hanlon, by Smyth and Sons. (5)
In the picture, the two Tailteann medals are at either end, and the two Irish championship medals are second and fourth from the left. In each case, I can’t tell which is which.
It’s interesting that Irish championship medals were sometimes pressed into double duty by re-engraving an old medal rather than awarding a new one.
The estimate provided was €500 – €700, and in the event the lot realised €850.
The auction took place in September 2018. Had I known, I would have been tempted to bid. On reflection, it’s good to know that the medals have survived, and have a careful owner.
