Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Here comes the Heavy Brigade
13 February 2026The disaster of the Charge of the Light Brigade inevitably dominates the tale of the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854, but far more successful actions also took place that day: the Charge of The Heavy Brigade and The Thin Red Line.
Door opens to Dorothy Garland at the Dominion Theatre
13 February 2026Incomparable! Delightful! The one and only! Miss Show Business Judy Garland’s All Star Variety Show – as billed at the time – opened at the Dominion Theatre in London’s Tottenham Court Road in October 17, 1957, for a four-and-a-half week run.
Trafalgar and Spartan add up to £9100 result
13 February 2026The clasps (metal bars across the ribbons) signifying participation in particular actions are a key factor driving value when it comes to the Naval General Service medal 1793-1840 awarded retrospectively for Royal navy service.
An unlikely but warm friendship revealed in a fascinating archive
13 February 2026Group lot shows how a shared interest in communication linked Louis Mountbatten and a telegraphist
Bidder demonstrates a burning desire to own a mining model pithead
13 February 2026‘Coal’ is a dirty word in today’s world of increasingly clean energy but in terms of a model offered at auction it can still generate a strong price.
17th century dictionary of slang emerges at Gloucestershire auction
06 February 2026Visitors to London at the end of the 17th century needed to take care: banditts, adamtilers and fencing-cullies were out looking to prey on unwitting buzzards, fat culls and fuddlecaps.
The Hobbit with a spaced-out Smaug brings £3000 sum for Oxfam
06 February 2026As befits one of the most read and best-selling works of English literature, JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit involves a bewildering array of editions over the many decades since the great fantasy novel made a debut on September 21, 1937.
Family of artist Anne Clark come back to life as more documents emerge at auction
06 February 2026Fresh batch of material related to artist Anne and husband Hezekiah brings extra family detail
The story behind The Hobbit with a spaced-out Smaug that brought a £3000 sum for Oxfam
03 February 2026As befits one of the most read and best-selling works of English literature, JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit involves a bewildering array of editions over the many decades since the great fantasy novel made a debut on September 21, 1937.
Rare Mercury Cougar model sets record price for a single Matchbox vehicle
23 January 2026As with any market, the Matchbox collecting scene has ups and downs but recent results suggest significant market strength right now.
Georgian candle wall lights survive to go electric on sale day
23 January 2026The highlight of the latest Country House sale held by Duggleby Stephenson (25% buyer’s premium) of York was the part contents of the Kirkham Hall estate in North Yorkshire.
Rare Aussie Matchbox bus bidding stops only at £9000
23 January 2026Pitched with an estimate of £2000-3000, a Matchbox bus offered by Oberon (20% buyer’s premium) clearly had something special for collectors to savour.
Full first edition, first impression set of Lord of the Rings makes new high at auction
16 January 2026A set of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings realised a premium-inclusive $250,000 (£187,500) at Heritage Auctions of Dallas.
The original drawing for the winning design of the FA Cup in 1911 is coming to auction with saleroom Budds
15 January 2026A drawing giving a first glimpse of the now instantly recognisable trophy from the oldest national football competition in the world will be offered at auction next month.
Fraudster metal detectorist sentenced after passing off modern reproductions bought online as Roman artefacts
13 January 2026A man who claimed to have found a significant Roman brooch while metal detecting in Lincolnshire has been sentenced after admitting he had actually bought the item on eBay.
Beatrix Potter mania among collectors brings in father Rupert
09 January 2026A scarce copy of Beatrix Potter’s 'The Fairy Caravan' sold for £3000 in Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) Books, Maps & Manuscripts Sale.