A. J. ALAN "Percy The Prawn" 78rpm - RARE Signed Private Pressing (Freemasons)
  £   90
  $   119

 


£ 90 Sold For
May 13, 2026 Sold Date
May 12, 2026 Start Date
1 Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
eBay Sold at
 
save auction  

Description

​A unique opportunity to acquire an incredibly rare private pressing by the legendary BBC radio raconteur, A. J. Alan. This two-part recording of "Percy The Prawn" was produced with the explicit purpose of raising funds for The Freemasons Hospital and Nursing Home.
​Historical Context & Dating:
This record dates from the late 1920s, likely between 1926 and 1930. This period aligns with the peak of the hospital's fundraising efforts and precedes the institution's renaming to the "Royal Masonic Hospital" in 1933. Unlike his later commercial releases, this disc was never intended for general retail. As noted on the label (see file 1000026713.jpg), it was "Obtainable only from the Producer: W. G. Wallace, Woodcut, Maidstone Road, Chatham."
​The Artist's Secret Life:
While the public knew A. J. Alan as a whimsical storyteller, he lived a remarkable double life as Leslie Harrison Lambert, a high-ranking British Intelligence officer.
​Intelligence Pedigree: A veteran of the Admiralty's famous Room 40 in WWI.
​Bletchley Park: He was a member of the elite team that selected Bletchley Park as a war station in 1938.
​Enigma & Hut 8: During WWII, he served in Hut 8 at Bletchley Park, working as a senior official alongside Alan Turing on the decryption of German Naval Enigma signals.
​Autograph Information:
The label for Part 1 features a clear, authentic signature from A. J. Alan, penned in his characteristic purple ink (visible in photos). Given his reclusive nature and sensitive military career, signed artifacts from Alan are exceptionally scarce.
​Technical Note:
The disc was manufactured by the Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Co. Ltd., as shown in photos.
​Shipping & Packaging
​The disc is sandwiched between corrugated cardboard and wrapped in bubble wrap. This is then placed inside a double-skin box filled with packing void to prevent movement and provide maximum protection.
​Carefully packed and promptly dispatched.


price rating