Pretender’s case for real

AN “exquisite” medal case showing the vanity of the “Old Pretender” is set to fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Apr 2012, 13:00 BST

James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of the deposed James II of England, used the case to display his collection of medals featuring his own image.

The gilt-tooled leather medal case dates to around 1725.

It will be sold, along with medals, at Bonhams on May 2, when it is expected to fetch between £5000 and 7000.

Bonhams’ Grant MacDougall said: “The Old Pretender had a great fondness of seeing his image struck on medals.”