Denhams Auction Catalogue

for our Sir Barnes Wallis 'Dam Busters' Collection auction to be held on Wednesday 25th of March 2026

Lot No Description Est Image
225 WOODWARD, David, The Tirpitz. London: William Kimber. 8vo, 223pp. Original blue cloth with gilt lettered spine. Fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. Second edition 1953. Together with an envelope addressed to Dr Barnes with pencil notes to the reverse, a loose slip of paper with typed notes and a cut out section of the books dust cover, signed B.N. Wallis to half title page 150-200
226 Barnes Wallis' personal copy of "The Dam Busters" 1955 film, cased in three and a half reels of 35mm film, mounted on Tuscan Reels in original Pathe plastic film cases 500-700
227 Barnes Wallis' personal copy of "The Dam Busters" 1955 film lobby poster in British half sheet format (22 inches x 27 inches), on blue card depicting Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC DSO DFC with red Dam Buster title 200-300
228 Barnes Wallis' personal copy of "The Dam Busters" film's cinema promotional brochure in folio format. In full colour with cover of Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC DSO DFC. 100-200
229 Four H.M.V. Shellac records of "The Dam Busters" March, B10877 matrix OEA-18296-3A, all with different sleeves, one with pencil "I'll be at the Bus stop at four", another with pen "E Wallis Dam Busters" 70-90
230 A table cannon with 19cm gilt barrel, raised on hardwood carriage 6.5cm h x 13cm w x 7cm d. 100-150
231 A Union Jack desk flag on gold flagpole with wooden base 27.5cm h 70-90
232 2 vols. SCOTT J. D., Vickers A History, London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson 1963, 8vo, 416pp., with dust cover and "homemade" paper dust cover pencil written Vickers, signed B.N. Wallis to endpaper, together with GARDNER Charles, Fifty Years of Brooklands 1956, with dust cover, London: Heinemann 1956, 8vo, 160pp., signed B.N. Wallis to endpaper 50-75
233 LEASOR. James, The Millionth Chance, The Story of The R.101, London: Hamilton 1957, 8vo. 176pp. Original blue cloth cover, gilt lettering, fading to spine and cover, minor rubbing to corners and edges of spine. With dedication to endpaper "To Dr B.N. Wallis with my sincere thanks for your help and advice James Leasor 31.7.57". On the reverse of a Motorists Magazine envelope Sir Wallis has scribbled his amendments and notes for the book 50-100
234 Three Company Directories to include Vickers 1940, 77pp., Vickers Group Directory 1957 and British Aircraft Corporation Directory circa 1960. 80-120
235 ETKIN. Bernard, Dynamics of Flights Stability and Control. London: Chapman and Hall 1959, 8vo, 519pp, bound in blue cloth, black lettering. Endpaper initialled B.N.W. 1960 80-120
236 A 1959 painted plywood Christmas card, the front with painted panel, decorated a church and The Swallow, the interior marked "Seasonal Greetings to Dr B.N. Wallis from the Workshop Staff Dec: 1959, R. & D. Workshop" and hand signed by them, 30cm x 22cm 100-150
237 A 1960 painted plywood and applied wood 3 dimensional Christmas card decorated The Brooklands Club House, interior marked "Best wishes to Dr Barnes Wallis for a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year 1960, from Workshop Personnel" and hand signed by them 20.5cm x 25cm 100-150
238 A 1960's slide rule by Graphoplex Brevete S.G.D.G, the reverse stamped SVENSKA DIAMANTBERGBORRNINGS AB, 15cm x 3cm, contained in a red leather case, a pair of steel drafting compasses 11cm and a The Aristo Studio slide rule instruction manual (missing front page, folded and with light staining) 60-80
239 A 1961 painted plywood and applied wood 3 dimensional Christmas card, showing the interior of Barnes Wallis office - draughtsman's table, library table, various books and paintings 23cm x 28cm and marked "1961, A Merry Christmas, A Happy New Year, In This Our Wish We Are Sincere, to Dr Barnes Wallis, Long life And Happiness, From The Workshop Staff" and hand signed by them 23cm x 28cm 100-150
240 A 1962 painted plywood and applied wood 3 dimensional Christmas card, The Chapel of Christ's Hospital Horsham, interior marked "A Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to Dr Barnes Wallis 1962, R & D Staff" and hand signed by them 28cm x 23cm 100-150
241 A 1963 painted plywood and applied wood 3 dimensional Christmas card decorated White Hill House Effingham, the interior marked "1963 Wishing you a Bright and Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year, from Personnel of R & D 1963" and hand signed by them 19cm x 23cm 100-150
242 An undated Christmas card, the front with coloured print after Ian Gilchrist of The Yacht Medici print "Spinnakers Full", the reverse marked "With all good wishes to you and Mrs Wallis for a Very Happy Xmas and New Year, from all at R & D" and hand signed by them 22cm x 17cm 70-90
243 A 1960's blue leather bound folio with gilt Christ's Hospital armorial to cover, containing unused blotting paper, 35cm h x 25cm w. Sir Wallis was a pupil at Christ's Hospital from 1900-1904 and later a Governor and Treasurer. 80-120
244 A collection of 1960's Bristol Siddeley internal and restricted documents related to reviews of the Hawker Siddeley, documents on the supersonic Orpheus jet propulsion engine, the turbo ramjet project investigation etc, some initialled B.N.W. 100-150
245 Three volumes of Sir Barnes Wallis' patents from 1917-1963, text and fold out schematics, 4to, bound in three-quarter red morocco and cloth, the spines with gilt lettering "PATENT SPECIFICATIONS VOL 1, 2 and 3". Pencil dedication to endpaper in volume 1 "B.N.W A memento of an American adventure Oct. 1948. Harry Mushlain". Wallis' bookmarks throughout vol. 1 and 3. 400-600
246 A collection of late 1960's/early 70's data sheets on aerodynamics, aeronautics and transonics in several binders (11) 40-60
247 5 vols. Ship Buildings and Ships 1947 8vo, 497pp. Signed B.N. Wallis to endpapers. VIVIAN E. Charles, a History of Aeronautics 1921, 8vo, 521pp., signed B.N. Wallis to endpapers (likely purchased after war). PAWSEY and BRACEWELL Radio Astronomy 1955, 8vo, 361pp., initialled B.N.W to endpaper. EAGLESFIELD Charles, Laser Light 1967 (from The BAC Library), 12mo, 192pp. ALLEN, Howard, G., Analysis and Design of Structural Sandwich Panels 1969, 12mo, 280pp., signed B.N. Wallis to title page and front cover 100-150
248 A large quantity of post-war pamphlets and booklets, mainly civilian subjects and interests of Sir Barnes Wallis, pertaining to a variety of subjects from The Royal Society including engineering and economic process, reports on secondary education, annual reports, engineering and youth etc. Several initialled B.N.W or signed B.N. Wallis, one The Engineer in Society with written bookmark "See especially "Containerization" on p.7 & top of p.8 B.N.W" 80-120
249 BLUNDELL, H.M., They Flew From Waddington! 463-467 Lancaster Squadrons Royal Australian Air Force, Sydney: W Homer 1975. Ltd Ed no. 445, 8v0, 67pp, a hardback volume commemorating 30 years of VE Day, pastedown and endpaper with signatures and notes of thanks to Sir Wallis from five members of 463-467 Squadron to include John Cole, Art Whitmarsh, John Stokes DFC, Nobby Blundell, John Niedwick and containing a letter from an address in Geneva within 150-200