Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Excitement builds as Norman Wilkinson railway poster comes to auction
26 May 2025Terence Cuneo’s 'Giants Refreshed' poster for the LNER showing Pacific steam locomotives 'In the Doncaster Locomotive Works' is a well-known work.
Pick of the Week: Vulliamy’s public clocks
19 May 2025Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) was clockmaker to George III and also to The Prince Regent, later George IV.
US library purchases include letters on 17th century British Atlantic slave trade originally sold at UK auction
19 May 2025An American library has announced the purchase of six “exceptional collections” including letters shedding light on the early British Atlantic slave trade that were originally sold at a UK auction.
Witness to Napoleon’s death: fascinating letters emerge from a family archive
19 May 2025Letters found in family archive include first-hand accounts from St Helena in 1821
007 gold-plated 2CV model motors its way up to £2600
19 May 2025A Citroën 2CV toy car is not quite as glamorous as a Lotus Esprit, even when the full-size version helps to save James Bond in an epic chase.
Minerva with Medusa shield stands tall after £20,000 bid
19 May 2025Matthew Boulton’s inventory of stock in 1782 lists “1 small figure of Minerva”, according to Nicholas Goodison’s Ormolu: the Work of Matthew Boulton, 1974.
Right on cue: billiards and snooker books in demand
19 May 2025By the time H Turner’s book on billiards came out in 1849 (Northampton, printed for the author by JT Burgess) the game was hundreds of years old – with roots back to the 15th century.
‘Gargantuan’ ironclad rules the waves as super toy collection comes to auction in the US and UK
19 May 2025Ship models ruled the waves but railway toys were certainly on track too as two sales held either side of the Pond offered the collection of the late Tony Cuff.
David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Mick Rock and even Nasty Nick from EastEnders make for a highly entertaining Surrey auction
15 May 2025When three teenagers helped Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd’s roadies to lug their gear into Central Hall, Chatham, on December 1, 1967, they found themselves locked in with the stars.
Brave RAF Lancaster bomber pilot flew nine times in the 'Battle of Berlin'
05 May 2025Noonans’ Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale on April 9 included a rare group of medals awarded to Lancaster Bomber pilot, Warrant Officer, later Flight Lieutenant, Edward Sydney Ellis of 625 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Cricketer Ranji rare gold Great War medal hits five figures
05 May 2025The British War Medal 1914-20 is not exactly uncommon. Issued in the First World War, about 6.5 million were struck in silver and 110,000 in bronze.
Trafalgar combination counts as family medals group takes £19,000
05 May 2025Four medals awarded to members of the Robertson family included one to a Battle of Trafalgar veteran.
Duke of Wellington’s plumage causes a flutter in the saleroom
05 May 2025A case containing plumes from the Duke of Wellington’s hat was central to a lot offered by Hannams (25% buyer’s premium) in Hampshire on March 11.
RAF relics on display in Cornish theme park reflect courage of one of ‘The Few’
05 May 2025An RAF uniform, log book and medals that belonged to one of ‘The Few’ was a highlight when Cornish saleroom Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) dispersed the contents of Flambards theme park.
Superb naval medals on crest of a wave
05 May 2025Both parts of the excellent Jason Pilalas collection delivered suitably impressive results for London auction house Noonans
Uniforms found in a trunk find plenty of fans at auction
05 May 2025An intriguing collection that came from a house of a well-connected Devon family caused a stir when it emerged at Exeter saleroom Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (26/25% buyer’s premium).