04/06/2026
⚓ A lifetime at sea. A lifetime collecting.
One of the centrepieces of our upcoming John Ritchie Collection of Maritime Antiques & Collectables Auction is this magnificent shipbuilder's model of the passenger cargo vessel MS Arbitrator, built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd of Sunderland in 1951.
Presented in its original glazed mahogany case and displaying remarkable detail throughout, from the fully rigged superstructure and cargo cranes to the flying bridge, binnacle, deck winches and emergency helm, this museum-quality model represents the very best of British shipbuilding craftsmanship.
The model comes from the collection of the late John Ritchie (1944–2025), a respected and much-loved figure in the maritime antiques world for more than forty years.
Born on the banks of the Thames and later serving in the Merchant Navy, John travelled the globe, visiting Canada, India, Australia and the United States, developing a lifelong passion for maritime history and collecting. Following his years at sea, he became proprietor of the legendary Books Afloat in Weymouth, a destination known to generations of collectors, historians and enthusiasts. Packed floor-to-ceiling with carefully chosen treasures, the shop became as famous as John himself, whose generosity, knowledge and enthusiasm earned him enormous respect throughout the maritime antiques community.
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood are honoured to have been entrusted by John's family to offer this extraordinary lifetime collection, preserving and sharing his passion for maritime heritage with future generations.
📅John Ritchie Collection of Maritime Antiques & Collectables | 23 June
📍Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, Exeter, home to the South West's only dedicated Maritime Department
