Human skulls, pickled snakes and glass eyes are among the belongings of a deceased eccentric that will go under the hammer at an antiques auction in the Cotswolds next week.
The collection was amassed over a lifetime by Group Captain Samuel Rexford-Welch, who died in February this year aged 97.
Many of the artefacts were collected by Rex – as he was known – on his travels with the military.
The Cambridge graduate's career began as a medical officer in the far East with the RAF.
He then served as a specialist in radiological protection, during which time he witnessed nuclear tests at Christmas Island, and in the USA, where he worked on the space programme and met presidents and astronauts.
Among his eclectic collection is a pair of skulls, one of which is clutching Japanese banknotes between its teeth.
Auctioneer Philip Allwood of Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester, said: "According to Rex, the skull belonged to a Japanese sniper who shot him in the leg and killed his driver in Malaysia during World War Two."
"He dispatched a squad of Gurkhas to take out the sniper, and they returned with this skull as a trophy." Proving the maxim that two heads are better than one, the skull will be sold at Moore Allen's Antique and General Sale in Cirencester on Friday March 28, along with its cranial chum, which sports a Fez, estimated £100 to £150.
Meanwhile, bidders will be urged to take a look at a case of eight prosthetic eyes by Dr Coulomb of Paris.
The glass eyes, which will be sold alongside an oak cased opticians kit, containing lenses and measurement spectacles, by F Davidson & Co of London, estimated of £50 to £80.
Bidders are also encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for an iron mantrap estimated £100 to £150.
For a full catalogue of lots at the March 28 auction, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk
The collection was amassed over a lifetime by Group Captain Samuel Rexford-Welch, who died in February this year aged 97.
Many of the artefacts were collected by Rex – as he was known – on his travels with the military.
The Cambridge graduate's career began as a medical officer in the far East with the RAF.
He then served as a specialist in radiological protection, during which time he witnessed nuclear tests at Christmas Island, and in the USA, where he worked on the space programme and met presidents and astronauts.
Among his eclectic collection is a pair of skulls, one of which is clutching Japanese banknotes between its teeth.
Auctioneer Philip Allwood of Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester, said: "According to Rex, the skull belonged to a Japanese sniper who shot him in the leg and killed his driver in Malaysia during World War Two."
"He dispatched a squad of Gurkhas to take out the sniper, and they returned with this skull as a trophy." Proving the maxim that two heads are better than one, the skull will be sold at Moore Allen's Antique and General Sale in Cirencester on Friday March 28, along with its cranial chum, which sports a Fez, estimated £100 to £150.
Meanwhile, bidders will be urged to take a look at a case of eight prosthetic eyes by Dr Coulomb of Paris.
The glass eyes, which will be sold alongside an oak cased opticians kit, containing lenses and measurement spectacles, by F Davidson & Co of London, estimated of £50 to £80.
Bidders are also encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for an iron mantrap estimated £100 to £150.
For a full catalogue of lots at the March 28 auction, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk
