The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 17, April 24, 2005, Article 2

SPINK'S OWNER ACQUIRES ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLER

Dick Johnson writes: "Spink, the London dealer in coins,
medals and stamps since 1666, has a new owner. There is a
book connection to this story as well. The new owner acquired
Spink in March 2002, he purchased Quaritch, England#39;s largest
dealer in antiquarian books, in September last year.

A story in the London Financial Times, Friday, April 22, 2005,
reveals a bit about the new owner. A wealthy Asian, John Koh
outbid ten rivals to acquire Spink from Christie#39;s after forming
Abaca Capital and raising the purchase price of five million
pounds among family and friends.

Koh is popular among London#39;s many art dealers these days.
They are offering their companies for him to purchase as well.
Apparently difficult times are effecting the most established
British dealers; American art buyers have fallen off as prices
are rising and tastes are changing. Koh welcomes these business
offers but is no "pushover." He was trained in investment
banking at Goldman Sachs (and is a managing director at
Goldman Sachs, Singapore).

Here#39;s one paragraph from FT writer Tony Thorncroft#39;s
article: ‘Coins, medals and stamps, usually dismissed as
"collectables," had been seen as declining passions but Koh
believes that a new generation of, admittedly, mature men is
keen to re-discover the collecting hobbies of their youth.
These enthusiasts even include a showbiz element: Bill Wyman,
the former Rolling Stone, has ditched his bass for metal [medal!]
collecting and has been seen in the coin department. The fact
that "collectables" have proved a good investment in recent
years helps.#39;

Koh has increased the staff at Spink from 35 to 48 employees.
He has also added a photography department, not necessarily
to auction photographs, but to build an over-the-counter market
through private trading rooms. "I am interested in anything that
is based around paper -- and history," says Koh. He expects
Spink to increase sales by 30% this year.

From other sources we learn Koh is 50, was born in Malaysia
and attended schools in Hong Kong and Singapore, before
attending Trinity College Cambridge and Harvard Law School.
Prior to joining the investment banking division of Goldman
Sachs Koh practiced as a lawyer in Singapore and New York.

He likes to read antique travel books on long flights from
London back to Singapore. Book shelvers at Quartrich --
please note the boss#39;s likes for his next trip!

Read the entire story: Full Story

[So I guess we can now add Bill Wyman to our list of
celebrity collectors. Can anyone tell us just what it is he
collects? -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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