REMARKABLE COLLECTION.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12505, 5 April 1909, Page 4

REMARKABLE COLLECTION.

Although Charles Hopper, a Suriderland street porter, who died at Croft Spa, near Darlington, at the; age of 73 .earned only 24s a week, he has left a remarkable collection of pictures and curios.

He worked all* day drawing travellers' samples -about jri Sunderland but hi lived at Croft Spa, 43 miles away. There, he had_ two houses to hold his collection, which contains hundreds of pictures. One, a view in_the Bay of Naples, was paiiited specially for him by Callow; .

Hopper sold only two of his pictures in his- life; and he went the next day to offer the buyer five pounds profit to return them. Among lys curios are a pgir of boots presented to Captain Parry, by Lady Franklin, an antique mug used by the Duke of York in opening the first. Orange lodge in Newcastle, a couple of Bewick's woodcut blocks, a crucifix which belonged the Countess of Derwentwater, and a large collection of Crown. Derby. Wedgewood, Royal Vienna, and Worcester ware, and beautiful Chinese and Indian specimens. ' . :;' There are cases of old coins, shells, and rare eggs, stuffed birds, and animals, and about 5000 books, many of them being rare specimens.