A pocket watch gifted to Sir Winston Churchill by Herbert Henry Asquith in 1905 has fetched £76,000 at an auction.
The 18-carat gold watch, engraved with Sir Winston’s coat of arms, exceeded initial estimates of £20,000-£30,000.
Dawson’s auctioneer Edward Langmead said it was a “thrilling outcome”.
“It was an honour to be able to handle, research and auction this incredible pocket watch.” He added.
The watch, originally purchased from clock and watchmaker, Sir John Bennett, eventually went to a private collector in the UK after an extremely competitive bidding war at the auction house, in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
The auction house said there was ferocious online bidding for the item, especially from the United States.
The pocket watch is inscribed on the inner case: “To Winston with gratitude H. H. Asquith Xmas 1905.” Asquith was a prominent member of the Liberal party at the beginning of the 20th Century and went on to become Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, taking Britain into the First World War.
The auction house disclosed that the gift is believed to acknowledge Sir Winston’s “bold move” in 1904 when he famously switched to the Liberal party over a disagreement with the Conservative leadership on tariff reform.
Winston Churchill was Prime Minister twice – from 1940 to 1945 and then again between 1951 to 1955.
