According to the Antiques Trade Gazette, Lot 249 was originally catalogued with an estimate of £700-900, but after the catalogue had gone to print, and the marks were identified as being by Alexander Dick (c.1791-1843) the estimate was revised to £20,000-30,000.
The tea set was commissioned by a group of grateful passengers on the Camden, a 432-ton barque built in London which was damaged by rocks on its voyage to Australia.
The inscription around the lid of the teapot reads: Presented by the cabin passengers on board the ship Camden to Captain Valentine Ryan in acknowledgement of his unswerving attention and kindness during the voyage from Portsmouth to New S. Wales 1836.
The ship was later wrecked on its way from Sydney to Surabaja.
The Antiques Trade Gazette reports that the teaset attracted five telephone lines and competition in the room from several agents and an Australian bidder in the room.
It was knocked down to the London trade at £42,000 (plus 17.5 per cent buyer's premium).
In November 2010 Sydney auctioneers Raffan Kelaher & Thomas sold the earliest known item believed to be by Alexander Dick, an early 19th century Australian silver trophy 'The Junius Cup' for $161,000 (IBP).
It is inscribed The Junius Cup, presented to Robt Fitzgerald, as the winner by his horse Creeper... while the reverse bears the wording NSW, Parramatta Racing Fund, October Meeting 1827.
The cup bears pseudo-British hallmarks, as was common at the time, and a maker’s mark for James Robertson, the former employer of Allexander Dick. But since Robertson was mainly a clockmaker and not known as a silversmith it is believed that Robertson was the retailer of the cup.