purdey brochure

7/27/2019 Purdey Brochure

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James Purdey & Sons have been making the finest quality guns, rifles and accessories

in London since the year 1814, supplying many of the worlds most distinguished and

discerning people with their shooting needs, not least the British Royal Family.

Queen Victoria ordered her first Purdeys in 1838: a pair of pistols, as a royal gift to

the Imam of Muscat. Her eldest son the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII,

granted his Royal Warrant to the founders son, James Purdey the Younger, in 1868,

an honour subsequently accorded to the firm by each succeeding British Monarch,

including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and by HRH The Duke of Edinburghand HRH The Prince of Wales.

The design of sporting guns advanced rapidly in the sixty years between 1820 and

1880. Purdey was at the forefront of these technical innovations, just as it is today,

through its development of advanced CNC machining techniques for gunmaking.

What has remained unchanged throughout Purdeys history is the passion for

perfection and precision, and the never ending search for improvement.

It is these qualities which lie at the heart of the exceptional elegance, performance,

and longevity built into all Purdey guns, and on which the firms world famous

reputation is built and maintained.


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Purdey has a continuing investment programme in

re-equipping its West London factory with the latest

generation of CNC machines.

This investment has enabled more changes to be made

in Purdey gunmaking than were possible in the previous

hundred years. All Purdey gun parts are now manufactured

in house. With tolerances measured in microns these

precision made components significantly reduce the time

formerly spent by skilled craftsmen on preparation of rough

forgings, instead allowing them more time to focus their

unrivalled hand and eye skills on perfecting shape, fit and

finish, endowing each and every gun with its individuality

and soul. The new technology ensures absolute accuracy

and consistency of each and every part, improved jointing,

and simpler maintenance during the life of a gun - even onebuilt to last centuries.

Ordering a new gun or rifle, built to your requirements and

measurements, is a very special experience, and a much

prized part of Purdeys discreet and personal service. Clients

tell us their individual requirements and our experienced

gun room staff will advise on the best co mbination of

features and the best type, and bore or calibre, of gunor rif le for your particular type of shooting.

Purdey always recommend, if possible, a visit to the

shooting grounds to shoot with the try gun or rifle.

There your measurements are taken whilst shooting and

wearing appropriate clothing. There is little difference

between a gun-fitting, and a fitting for a suit. Just as the

skilled tailor ensures a perfect fit and flatters the wearers

shape, so Purdey craftsmen ensure that a gun built to

individual measurements fits perfectly, and optimises the

shooters skill.

PURDEY GUNMAKING

IN THE 21ST CENTURY

PURDEY BESPOKE GUNS & RIFLES

JAMES WOODWARD & COMPANY

Woodward was, and is, a marque greatly respected by

Purdey, both the Woodward over and under and the side by

side, with its trademark arcaded fences, continue to be

faithfully reproduced for Woodward devotees. These are

numbered with sequential Woodward serial numbers and

with Woodward style fine scroll engraving.


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PURDEY SIDE BY SIDE GAME GUN

Purdey perfected its double barrelled shotgun in the 1880s

with the advent of its sidelock hammerless ejector gun,

where the hammers were incorporated into the then revo-

lutionary self cocking lock mechanism. The Purdey side-

lock also had the additional benefit of power assisted

opening, designed by a Purdey gunmaker, Frederick Beesley.

This system employs part of the residual power in the

compressed mainsprings to operate lifters which help open

the gun faster and reduce the ti me take n reloadi ng. This

may shave only a f raction of a second off reloading but on

a busy drive this can make a significant difference to your

rate of fire, especially when shooting do uble gun s atgrouse or partridge. The Purdey hammerless sidelock

ejector gun with its unique assisted opening action remains

to this day the classic light game gun, perfected over 130

years of continuous production, and still the most

popular gun in the entire Purdey range.


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OUR SIDE BY SIDE GUNS ARE BUILT ON THE FAMOUS SELF-OPENING SYSTEM PATENTED BY FREDERICK BEESLEY IN 1880.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR HAMMER GUNS THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN USE EVER SINCE.

Calibres

.410, 28, 20, 16, 12-bore on dedicated action sizes

Chambers

2 & 3 (70 & 76mm)

Barrels

Chopper-lump construction 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm)

Chokes

Fixed or Teague choke tubes

Rib

Concave, flat top or Churchill type

Action

Traditional square bar

Ultra round bar

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

12-bore

6 lb 6 oz (2.94 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.06 kg)

16-bore

6 lb 2 oz (2.77 kg) - 6 lb 10 oz (3.00 kg)

20-bore

5 lb 15 oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 4 oz (2.83 kg)

28-bore

5 lb 2 oz (2.32 kg) - 5 lb 8 oz (2.49 kg)

.410

4 lb 10 oz (2.09 kg) - 4 lb 12 oz (2.15 kg)

Safety Triggers & Guards

Automatic or non-automaticDouble or non selective single trigger

Flat or beaded edge

Stock

Straight or pistol gripChequered butt or leather covered recoil padHeel & toe pieces

Gold or silver oval

Inlaid gold letters

Engraving & Finish

Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardenedor bright finish. Additional engraving options

on request

Purdey offers dedicated action sizes on all its guns in square,

round or ultra-round action shapes. This gives each gun

perfect proportions and is extremely important to the

overall look, balance and feel.


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PURDEY OVER AND UNDER GUN - HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT


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Purdey were relative latecomers in introducing an over and

under gun. This configuration had become increasingly

popular and fashionable in the early years of the 20 th

Century with the rise of competition live pigeon shooting,

and subsequently clay targets.

Athol Purdey, who ran the fir m from 1900 until 1929, wasconcerned that an over and under mechanism might prove

insufficiently robust and thus damage the companys

reputation.

Eventually, in 1923, the next generation, James and Tom

Purdey, understanding the growing demand for this

configuration, prevailed upon their father to allow an

experimental over and under to be built. Not altogether

surprisingly, given Athols concerns, the firs t examples were

over engineered and too heavy, not only in weight but

in looks.

Undeterred, James and Tom persisted, and gradually the

weight came down, the looks improved and a few were sold

each year. In 1948, with the firm under new

ownership, and Tom Purdey continuing as ManagingDirector, Purdey acquired the London gunmaker James

Woodward, famous not only for their excellent side by side

guns, but also their superb over and under, patented in

1913. Thus Purdey found itself with an over and under

unquestionably superior to its own, and the pragmatic

decision was taken to adopt the Woodward design which,

with one or two minor modifications, became the Purdey.

THE OVER AND UNDER GUN IS AVAILABLE IN DEDICATED ACTION SIZES IN ALL CALIBRES.IN SQUARE, ROUND OR ULTRA-ROUND ACTION SHAPES.

Calibres

.410, 28, 20, 16, 12-bore on dedicated action sizes

Chambers

2 & 3 (70 & 76mm)

Barrels

Demi-bloc barrels 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm)

Chokes


Rib

Solid game rib

Action

Ultra round barTraditional square bar also available

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

12-bore

7 lb 4 oz (3.29 kg) - 7 lb 14 oz (3.57 kg)

16-bore

6 lb 8 oz (2.95 kg) - 7 lb (3.18 kg)

20-bore

6 lb 6 oz (2.89 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.00 kg)

28-bore

5 lb 10 oz(2.55 kg) - 6 lb (2.72 kg)

.410

5 lb 4oz (2.38 kg) - 5 lb 12 oz (2.60 kg)

Triggers

Non-selective single trigger

Double triggers with optional spring bladed front

Guard

Flat or beaded edge

Safety

Automatic or non-automatic

Stock

Straight or pistol grip

Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad

Heel & toe pieces

Gold or silver oval

Inlaid gold letters

Engraving & Finish

Traditional fine rose and scroll with

colour-hardened or bright finish.

Additional engraving options on request

20-bore barrels on a 16-bore action

28-bore barrels on a 20-bore action

.410 barrels on a 28-bore action

Purdey can supply an extra barrel in a

different calibre in the following combinations:


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PURDEY DAMASCUS GUN

James Purdey & Sons recent innovation in bespoke gun-

making is a world first: the all Damascus gun. These new

guns are made in Purdeys Hammersmith factory from steel

produced for them by the steel maker Damasteel AB ofSoderfors, Sweden. Damasteel, famous for producing their

high performance Damascus steel using their own patented

high-tech Powder Metallurgy Method, offer a steel of

exceptional purity and higher tensile strength than standard

steels. Damasteel forgings, therefore, lend themselves

to the exacting standards required of Purdey guns in

withstanding the rigours of proof and general service.


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Purdey, in-co-operation with their specialised forging

partner in Sheffield, England, re-forge the steel to suit the

complexity of shapes required for the barrels, ribs, action

bodies, lock plates, fore-part irons, triggers and guards. The

most challenging process is the twisting of the barrel billets

to mirror the familiar twist patterns seen in traditional

Damascus barrels of the 19th century.

The absence of eng raving reveals the extraordinary

patterns offered by the Damascus steel once the surfaces

have been differentially acid etched. Purdey need only to

name and number the guns with either gold inlay or

conventional lettering and numbering to give a truly

individual and beautiful pattern and look to all the metal

parts of the gun.

The Purdey Damascus gun is currently available in 12, 20

and 28-bore, either side by side or over and under.

AVAILABLE IN SIDE BY SIDE AND OVER AND UNDER CONFIGURATIONS

Calibres

12, 20, 28 on dedicated action sizes

Chambers

2 & 3 (70 & 76mm)

Barrels

Demi-bloc barrels 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm)

Chokes


Rib

Solid game rib

Action

Ultra round bar

Traditional square bar also available

Triggers

Non-selective single trigger


Guard

Flat or beaded edge

Safety


Stock

Straight or pistol gripChequered butt or leather covered recoil pad

Heel & toe pieces

Gold or silver oval

Inlaid gold letters

Engraving & FinishJ Purdey & Sons in gold on barrels, option of

J Purdey & Sons on lock plates

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

OVER AND UNDER

12-bore

7 lb 4oz (2.69 kg) - 7 lb 14 oz (3.58 kg)

20-bore

6 lb 6oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 10 oz (3.00 kg)

28-bore5 lb 10 oz (2.55 kg) - 6 lb (2.72 kg)

SIDE BY SIDE12-bore

6 lb 6oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.58 kg)

20-bore

5 lb 15oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 4 oz (3.00 kg)

28-bore

5 lb 2 oz (2.32 kg) - 5 lb 8 oz (2.49 kg)


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PURDEY SPORTER

The Purdey Sporter, an over and under gun, is available

in 12 and 20-bore, the latter offering the option of

interchangeable 28-bore barrels.

Whether shooting sporting clays or driven game the

Sporters performance and handling meets the expectations

of a traditional Purdey gun.


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The Purdey Sporter shares its ancestry with early twentieth

century designs of over and under guns by English makers

such as Boss, Woodward, and Edwinson Green. These were

to influence several other makers, notably the Italian firm

of Perazzi.

In 1968 the boutique Brescia gunmaker Perugini & Visini

produced their own improved version of the Perazzi design,

and then, in 2005, joined with Purdey to make further

design changes and developments. This resulted in the

Purdey Sporter.

Whilst the Sporter stems from a long established and

successful design, it has been extensively re-engineered to

take advantage of Purdeys advanc ed CNC machinin g

technology. The essential components are all made in the

Purdey factory. These are then shipped to Brescia for

Perugini & Visini to insert the barrels in the monoblocs and

fit high grade walnut stocks supplied by Purdey. The Italian

SPORTER OPTIONS

Calibres

20 & 12-bore on dedicated action sizes

28-bore barrels available for 20-bore action

Chambers

2 & 3 (70 & 76mm)

Barrels

28, 29, 30, 32 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm, 81cm)

Chokes

Teague choke tubes

Fixed chokes also available

Rib

Ventilated or solid

Action

Sporter trigger-plate action

Triggers

Detachable non-selective single trigger

Detachable double triggers also available

Safety


company has the specialised experience, skills and machines

to undertake this work more cost effectively than

in London.

The hand engraving of the Sporters specially

commissioned large scroll and ribbon design is also done in

Italy, after which the guns are assembled and returned to

London for proofing, regulating and final hand finishing by

Purdey craftsmen. To reach production of the Sporter took

three years of pains taking research, development and

rigorous testing during the course of which Purdey made

no less than 84 separate design modifications and

improvements. Thanks to modern gunmaking technology

the Sporter is built to extremely fine tolerances, which

ensure long term mechanical integrity and strength, and

robust and reliable service for generations to come

a gun which shoots as well as it looks a true Purdey.

12-bore

7 lb 10 oz (3.46 kg) - 8 lb (3.62 kg)

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

Engraving & Finish

Sporter pattern large scroll

with bright finish. Additional

engraving options on request

Stock

Purdey pistol grip

Rubber recoil padSilver oval

20-bore

6 lb 12 oz (3.06 kg) - 6 lb 14 oz (3.12 kg)


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PURDEY HAMMER EJECTOR GUN


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THE PURDEY HAMMER GUNS

12-BORE & 20-BORE

In 2004 the first of a series of brand new 12-bore

hammer guns was delivered to its American owner.

Notwithstanding Purdeys proud history and tradition,

remaking a gun of this type might sound like a retrogradestep, but that is to forget the many enthusiasts who relish

the discipline required to shoot this type of gun smoothly

and with precision.

They enjoy shooting hammer guns for the same

reason as a vintage car enthusiast, without the help of

a modern synchromesh gearbox, enjoys making slick and

noiseless changes. It is a challenge, and a real skill. Once

mastered, the rhythm of opening, loading, cocking, firing,

opening and reloading a hammer gun becomes second

nature like swift and silent gear changes. The timelesselegance of the hammer gun has been brilliantly

recaptured by Purdey craftsmen, and they are wonderful

to handle and to shoot. The Purdey Hammer Gun now

also available in 20-bore is every bit as delightful to use

and beautiful to behold as its 19th Century prototype.

HAMMER GUN OPTIONS

Calibres

20 & 12-bore on dedicated action sizes

Chambers

2

Barrels

Chopper lump construction 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm)

Chokes


Rib

wide hammer gun rib

Concave game rib also available

Action

Traditional square bar

Triggers


Guard

Flat or beaded edge

Safety


Stock

Straight or pistol grip

Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad

Heel & toe pieces

Gold or silver oval

Inlaid gold letters

Engraving & Finish

Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardened or

bright finish. Additional engraving options on request

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

12-bore

from 6 lb 8 oz (2.94 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.06 kg)

20-bore

from 5 lb 15 oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 4 oz (2.83 kg)


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PURDEY DOUBLE BARREL & BOLT ACTION RIFLES

Purdey have been building best quality single and doublebarrelled sporting rifles since the firm was first established.

Like the shotgun, their design and technology improved and

developed through the 19th Century.

From the 1850s demand for sporting double rifles increased

significantly, and Purdey built rifles for use throughout the

British Empire, as well as in Europe, Russia, and North and

South America.


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It was James Purdey the Younger (1828 1909), son of the

founder, who in the 1870s coined the term Express Double

Rifle, because, like an express train, the fastest means

of transport at that time known to man, a bullet from a

Purdey double rifle was heavy, travelled at great velocity and

with a f lat trajectory.

Like the Purdey hammerless shotgun, the design of the

Purdey side by side double rifle has changed very little since

the 1880s when the first hammerless examples made their

first appearance and black powder started to give way to

more powerful and faster nitro express loads.

James Purdey & Sons continue to produce a limited number

of bespoke double rifles each year, offering the following

calibres on a dedicated action size: .375 H&H, .470 Nitro,

and .600 Nitro. Other calibres, according to individual

requirements, can be quoted for.

Bespoke bolt action rifles are made to customer

requirements. They are built on modern Mauser type

actions and are available in most modern calibres.

Telescopic sights and quick detachable mounts are available

on request.

DOUBLE RIFLE OPTIONS

Calibres

.375, 470, 500, 600 on dedicated action sizes

Other calibres available on request

Barrels

Chopper-lump barrels from 23

Sights

Express sights on quarter rib

Large or small bead foresight with flip-up moonsightTelescopic sights available as required

Action

Traditional square bar bolstered action

Third grip and clip sidesExtended top strap

Triggers

Double triggers with spring bladed front

Guard

Flat or beaded edge

Safety

Non-automatic bolted safety catch

Stock

Pistol grip and cap box

Cheek piece

Sling swivels

Leather covered recoil pad

Gold or silver oval

Inlaid gold letters

Forend

Splinter or beaver-tail forends

Engraving & Finish


colour-hardened or bright finish

Additional engraving options

on request

Calibres

Most modern calibres available

Barrel

As required

Sights

Standard and one folding leaf

Small or large bead foresight with sliding protectorTelescopic sights available on request

Action

Modern Mauser type

Trigger

As required

Safety

Three position safety

Stock

Pistol grip and cap box

Cheek pieceChequered butt or leather covered recoil pad

Gold or silver oval

Inlaid gold letters

Engraving

Traditional fine rose & scroll with colour-hardened,blued or bright finish

Engraving & Finish


colour-hardened or bright finishAdditional engraving options

on request

BOLT RIFLE OPTIONS


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ENGRAVING


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Decorative engraving on guns dates back to the earliest

days of gunmaking but only in the last 50 years has gun

engraving developed into an internationally recognised

art form, with individual engravers achieving fame and

examples of their work becoming highly prized and sought

after by collectors.

Gunmakers originally used relatively simple scroll

patterns to decorate their guns and to differentiate

quality and price. Engraving requires great skill and

artistry, which takes time and costs money, so it follows that

the more elaborate the engraving the more expensive

the gun.

In the mid 1850s Purdey adopted as standard their now

traditional fine rose and scroll bouquet engraving and colour

hardening on all shotguns and rifles. With individual

manufacturers variations this became a style followed by

all makers of best quality guns and rifles and distinguishesthe English sporting gun at a glance. Although there are

examples of large scroll engraving, gold inlay work, and

game scenes on Purdey guns dating from before the Second

World War they are relatively rare.

After the Second World War, and the arrival on the

London gun scene of international collectors, especially

those from the United States, the whole world of gun

engraving, and gun making, was revolutionised. Here

was a new market of wealthy individuals who knew

exactly what they wanted and who competed with each

other to achieve new styles and innovation in elaborately

engraved guns. It was they, rather than the gunmakers,

who provided the initial incentive, encouragement, and

employment for talented engraving artists, and as

gunmakers responded to this new demand, engravers

flourished as never before.

There are now many specialist gun engravers at work round

the world, mainly in Britain and Europe, producing

outstanding examples of their craft on a significant

percent age of best quality guns, and turning each and

every one into a unique work of art. Some engravers are so

sought after that they have waiting lists of several years.


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ENGRAVING


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ORDERING A PURDEY GUN

When ordering, customers should specify their guns inaccordance with their particular shooting needs i.epheasant, grouse, quail, duck, upland game etc. Differentpursuits may require different specifications such as barrellength, chokes, stock length, cast etc.

Naturally Purdey will be pleased to advise customers on any

aspect of ordering their guns.

We advise that measurements are taken for the gun(s) stockdimensions at a shooting school using a try gun. We canreadily arrange this for you here in London. We also haveaccredited instructors abroad who we can recommend.

We can also take measurements using our Electric trygun in our Audley Street premises. We do, however, preferthat measurements are taken in the field.

On confirmation of order, we require a deposit of 50% ofthe total price of the gun in accordance with our currentprice list. Final payment to be made on completion.Delivery times will be quoted on ordering.

For further details or advice, please do not hesitateto contact us by post, by telephone or fax, or atwww.purdey.com

DIMENSION & SPECIFICATION CHART

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING A PURDEY G UN, THE FOLLOWING ARE POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION:

RIGHT HANDED LEFT HANDED

SIDE BY SIDE OVER & UNDER HAMMER SPORTER DAMASCUS

12 BORE 20 BORE 28 BORE OTHER ...........................

CHAMBER SIZE STANDARD (2) OTHER

BARREL LENGTH (INCHES / CMS)...........................

SINGLE TRIGGER DOUBLE TRIGGER SPRING-BLADED FRONT TRIGGER

RIGHT (OR BOTTOM) CHOKE........................... TEAGUE CHOKE TUBES FOR LEAD FOR STEEL

LEFT (OR TOP) CHOKE...........................

RIB FINISH...........................

PLAIN FINISH MATTED FINISH FILE CUT (O/U ONLY)

SQUARE BAR ACTION ROUND BAR ACTION ULTRA ROUND BAR ACTION

THIRD GRIP CLIP SIDES PINLESS LOCK PLATES

TRADITIONAL FINE SCROLL ENGRAVING EXTRA FINISH OTHER...........................

G OLD PUR DE Y N AM IN G I NL AI D O N LO CKS G OLD PU RD EY NAM IN G I NL AI D O N U ND ERS ID E

GOLD SAFE INLAID PLAIN SAFE (NO GOLD INLAY) GOLD 1 & 2 ON PAIR

AUTOMATIC SAFE NON-AUTOMATIC SAFE

COLOUR HARDENED FINISH SILVER FINISH ( CYANIDE HARDENED)

BEADED EDGE TO TRIGGER BOW

PISTOL GRIP TO STOCK..... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. METAL CAP OTHER ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

SILVERS RUBBER HEEL PAD: PLAIN LEATHER COVERED HEEL PAD TOE AND HEEL PIECES SKELETON HEEL PLATE

SPLINTER FOREND BEAVERTAIL FOREND

GO LD O VAL SILVER OVA L G OLD INL AID LETTERS SILVER INLAID LETTE RS INITIA LS......................

INLAID MONOGRAM OR CREST IN STOCK MONOGRAM OR CREST ENGRAVED ON OVAL

EXTRA BARRELS: LENGTH..................... CHOKE RIGHT (SXS) BOTTOM (O/U).................... CHOKE LEFT (SXS) TOP (O/U)...................

MEASUREMENTS AS PER ILLUSTRATION IF KNOWN: LENGTH D................. C................... E.................

CAST G.............. F................

BEND A.............. B.................


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AUDLEY HOUSE, 57-58 SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON W1K 2EDTel: +44 (0)20 7499 1801 Fax: +44 (0)20 7355 3297

[email protected]

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