LARGE**UNUSUAL 3 PANEL FORM**Victorian Queen’s Crown Hand Painted Decoration Wood Tip Staff / Police Truncheon ‘Officer Of Police 60’. Sn 21108 Antiques & Militaria

**LARGE**UNUSUAL 3 PANEL FORM**Victorian Queen’s Crown Hand Painted Decoration Wood Tip Staff / Police Truncheon ‘Officer Of Police 60’. Sn 21108 - 21108

The earliest record of the Tipstaff (Warrant Stick) was in the 14th century. The name derives from the early origins of Policing when Warranted Officers would apprehend a criminal with the help if necessary of a tipped staff. The staff would be made of wood or metal and were not only a means of self-defence but the tips of the staffs would bear symbols of their authority. Modern Police Truncheons originated from these Tipstaffs. This is an attractive, large, unusual form, Victorian era West Riding Police truncheon. The wood truncheon measures 2 feet length and unusually has rounded ends at the top and bottom of the shaft. One end panel has colourful Queen’s crown with Laurel wreath above ‘VR’ (Victoria Regina) on a field of green edged with gold and black bands. The centre panel is a field of beige with no decoration and the other end panel has partially visible Queen’s crown with Laurel wreath above ‘Officer Of Police 60’ in gold. This panel also has most likely later small painted letters and numbers ’94-166a’ possibly a later stores or collection number. The panel is edged in gold and black. All of the staff’s decoration is vivid with areas of rubbing consistent with age and service use. We have not encountered this type of tip staff previously & can only imagine that this form of staff was meant to be held in the centre section so that when presented, the upper and lower sections bearing symbols of authority could be clearly read. The price for this tip staff worthy of further research includes UK delivery. Sn 21108

£375.00