Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
A present for Sir Bufton Tufton? Complete run of Private Eye mags on offer at auction
26 June 2024A complete set of Private Eye is coming to auction on July 17, presenting almost certainly a unique opportunity to acquire every copy up to now.
Franklin searchers found themselves in need of help
24 June 2024The McClure Arctic Expedition of 1850 was one of the Franklin rescue missions but ended up with the ironic fate of getting trapped themselves.
Shackleton’s last voyage seen in photos
24 June 2024The list of Polar exploration ships once lost but now rediscovered grew in number recently when it was announced the Quest had been located.
Saxon gold sword pommel and Nobby the Celtic fertility figure metal detecting finds impress at auction
21 June 2024Metal detecting finds often prove valuable both in terms of heritage and a healthy sum at auction.
'William Kent' table is among five lots to watch this week
17 June 2024With estimates from £800, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
Aquitania luxury liner lots steam into sale to satisfy a US buyer
17 June 2024At the same time as a naval arms race was taking place in the years just before the First World War another maritime competition developed in the shape of liners.
Archibald Knox silver vases are among five lots to watch this week
10 June 2024With estimates from £425, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
Darwin as depicted by the ‘father of art photography’
10 June 2024An autographed photograph of Charles Darwin (1809-82) described as “very scarce” by Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) sold for £8500.
Get the siege mentality with unusual banknotes on offer
10 June 2024“Siege notes are a niche but popular subsidiary of military banknote collecting,” says Andrew Pattison, head of the Banknotes Department at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).
Portrait of doomed naval commander makes second highest auction price for Oswald Birley
06 June 2024Just three crew members survived out of 1418 after HMS Hood was sunk on May 24, 1941, after a ferocious and brief exchange of gunfire with German battleship Bismarck.
Italian micromosaic table is among five lots to watch this week
03 June 2024With estimates from £250, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
Map was ground-breaking in its day
03 June 2024Recognised as the ‘Father of Geology’, in 1815 William Smith was the first to map the geology of England and Wales, with part of southern Scotland.
Wedgwood teapot is among five lots to watch
27 May 2024With estimates from £300, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
Arnhem hero was a lifesaver
27 May 2024Medal group sold for £43,000 at a Devon sale recognised the bravery of a medic who cared for others
Vendor chuffed as collection of British Railways photos pulls into Tennants
27 May 2024'Large and comprehensive' was the apt description used by Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) for a collection of British Railways photographs and slides offered on April 3.
Ready to fight factory fires
27 May 2024This Huntley & Palmers factory fire service helmet with white metal mounts and H&P monogram was the highlight of a collection offered at Kent saleroom Bentley’s (20% buyer’s premium) on May 15.