Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Privateer's licence to pillage makes six times estimate in Guernsey
25 September 2026An 18th century letter of marque pertaining to the privateer vessel Corbet, of Jersey, with wax seal attached, came up for sale at Channel Islands firm Martel Maides (20% buyer’s premium) on September 17.
Scandinavian sale offers Munch print and much more
25 September 2026Scandinavian art amassed by Norwegian collectors Iwona and Bjarne Rieber coming up at Bonhams New Bond Street on October 27 includes works by Edvard Munch alongside those by leading figures such as Harald Sohlberg, Michael Ancher and Nikolai Astrup.
Ghoulish novelty is early example of wearable technology
08 September 2026This rare skull stick or cravat pin was discovered at a valuation day in Oxfordshire.
Young Bradman ‘shows promise’ according to cigarette card sold at £9000
04 September 2026One of the most renowned names in cricket history scored a high auction result at Knights (20% buyer’s premium) on August 6-9.
Concrete flagpoles formed the crowning glory of old Wembley
04 September 2026The dedicated sale Constructing a Legacy: The Collection of Sir William & Lady McAlpine held by Dreweatts (27/26/20% buyer’ s premium) on August 12 included an intriguing bit of football history.
Four league cup medals won by a Hearts legend feature in one lot
04 September 2026John Cumming (1930-2008) is regarded as one of the greatest players in Heart of Midlothian FC’s history.
Hits and misses: a look at the football sales that ran this summer as the World Cup juggernaut rolled on
04 September 2026It was a long, long summer of football – both in terms of the World Cup and the auctions that ran alongside the exhausting, extended extravaganza with a deeply disappointing final game.
Buyers cock-a-hoop over French rugby shirt and early golf ball
04 September 2026It is not often that a rugby shirt survives for almost a century.
Heyhoe Flint and Bird: two top cricket names pitch in with dedicated sales of collections
04 September 2026Sport specialist auction house offers collections from trailblazing female player and renowned umpire
Robot ashtray ignites saleroom interest
28 August 2026Elektro was built in 1937 by industrial giant Westinghouse in Mansfield, Ohio, for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York: the first robot in the world that could walk, talk and even count on his fingers.
A very special Steiff bear
28 August 2026This rare large Steiff brown-tipped mohair Teddy Clown bear offered by Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium) in its summer Fine Dolls, Teddy Bears & Traditional Toys Auction was once owned by a Josefina González González of Cuba.
The furniture removal wagon that could be removed by a rail wagon
28 August 2026The Marklin ‘wagon within a wagon’ toy is a popular choice for collectors. Essentially this is a horsedrawn wagon that fits inside a railway wagon for transporting a long way.
The traditional toys in demand today among 'connoisseur collectors'
28 August 2026Huge collection concentrates on a world before mass producing
Lewis Carroll in a social whirl
28 August 2026Family archive features poem written by Alice author for the well-connected owner of a scrapbook
Medals on offer in New Zealand reveal astonishing tale of a determined escapee in the Second World War
28 August 2026A Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal group of 10 Second World War honours coming up in a New Zealand auction recognised not just one but two successful escapes from captivity.
Britains toy soldier demand? All down to Deetail
28 August 2026A remarkable result for an unboxed group of plastic figures could be due to a ‘holy grail’ withdrawn set