Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Medals mark a great occasion
27 October 2025Thomas Field Gibson (1803-89) was a man of many talents and interests.
Identity of mystery Battle of Waterloo black bandsman revealed
21 October 2025The identity of the mystery sitter in a portrait sold at a Sussex auction, who was depicted in the uniform of a cavalry regiment and wearing a Waterloo Medal, has now been revealed by the National Army Museum.
Aussie touring cricketers take new journey 141 years later
20 October 2025This early original carte de visite-sized photograph depicting 11 members of the Australian cricket touring party to England 1884 was a stand-out result from an auction offering 500 items from one of the trade’s stalwart books dealers.
Stirling Moss race suit motors away to hammer at the high estimate
20 October 2025A Stirling Moss (1929- 2020) race suit sold at a top-estimate £8000 came with an intriguing provenance.
Not a Thunderball but a golf feathery ball with 007 link
20 October 2025Readers may not know of Cyril (or Fred) Whiting, but if you are a James Bond aficionado the name Cyril Blacking could ring a bell.
Doctor on hand at the end of the London 1908 marathon famous for Dorando Pietri collapse
20 October 2025In his professional life Dr Edward Moir (1879-1951) was a prominent specialist in anaesthetics, practising in Manchester and Macclesfield.
Golf club puts in solid auction performance a fair way over the estimate
20 October 2025An Edwardian silver golf club driver by Elkington & Co, Birmingham 1906, doubled the top estimate at a West Yorkshire saleroom.
Henry Cooper Lonsdale belt packs a £62,000 punch in the saleroom
20 October 2025A heavyweight Lonsdale belt hit a new high for a Henry Cooper boxing belt when offered at Budds’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest auction.
Nearly West Brom glory: an 1895 FA Cup runners-up medal emerges
20 October 2025The Antiques & Interiors two-day sale at Fieldings (26% buyer’s premium inc VAT) of Stourbridge included this 9ct, 18g gold runner’s-up medal awarded to Jack Banks of West Bromwich Albion after the 1895 Football Association Challenge cup final against Aston Villa.
Three rare booksellers create New York ‘hub’
06 October 2025A New York City antiquarian books hub involving three well-known big names has been established, creating something of a Manhattan powerhouse of the trade.
Fern foundations of photography
06 October 2025The botanist, artist and photographer Anna Atkins (1799-1871) is thought to have been the first woman to have created a photograph and the first person to publish a book illustrated with photographic images.
Sale of stand-out limited edition works puts renowned illustrator Rackham in the picture
06 October 2025A private collection of children’s illustrated books formed over the past 50 years provided several stand-out lots in The Collector’s auction held by Catherine Southon (27.6% buyer’s premium inc VAT).
National Trust’s Cragside sells piano at auction to make way for 19th century ‘popstar’s’ Broadwood rosewood model
02 October 2025A grand piano once owned by the celebrated concert pianist Arabella Goddard is back on display where it once held pride of place at Cragside in Northumberland.
Fern foundations of photographs used in books were laid by pioneering botanist Anna Atkins
01 October 2025The botanist, artist and photographer Anna Atkins (1799-1871) is thought to have been the first woman to have created a photograph and the first person to publish a book illustrated with photographic images.
Nelson figurehead that turned heads
29 September 2025This wood and plaster maquette of a carved ship figurehead of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was keenly contested when it appeared at the Liverpool saleroom of Adam Partridge.
Medals of Falklands War battle hero up for sale at Noonans
29 September 2025The Battle of Goose Green was relatively small in size but a fierce and important action in the Falklands War, notable for the Victoria Cross awarded posthumously to Colonel ‘H’ Jones of the Parachute Regiment.
Bidders go ape to take Frazetta fantasy art to record high
29 September 2025Frank Frazetta’s cover painting for a 1967 Lancer/Ace Conan paperback, a landmark of modern fantasy art commonly known as Man Ape, sold for a world record $13.5m (£9.99m) including the buyer’s premium at Heritage Auctions.
