Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Burglar jailed for 30 months after Hansons break-in
31 March 2025A man who broke into Derbyshire auction house Hansons and stole over £20,000 worth of items has been jailed.
Rare 1875 Wisden hits £27,000 result despite missing original wrappers
31 March 2025A copy of what is regarded as probably the rarest edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack came up at Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) on March 21-23.
Led Zep IV with four signatures makes five figures
31 March 2025For many fans, the untitled fourth album known simply as Led Zeppelin IV released in 1971 is the band at their very peak.
Rarest edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack hits £27,000 hammer price at specialist sport auction house
27 March 2025A copy of what is regarded as probably the rarest edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack came up for sale at Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) on March 21-23.
Led Zeppelin IV album becomes a five figure hit thanks to signatures of all four band members
25 March 2025For many fans, the untitled fourth album known simply as 'Led Zeppelin IV' is the band at their very peak. Released in 1971, it includes classic tracks such as 'Stairway to Heaven', 'When the Levee Breaks' and 'Black Dog'.
Football programme recalls friendly match called off amid febrile atmosphere
24 March 2025Underlining once again the desirability of football match programmes for games that were actually postponed or cancelled, an Arsenal example offered on March 3 hammered at £7500 via thesaleroom.com.
Original carrying case contains early Barbie and her little sister
24 March 2025A c.1960 Barbie doll and related items by Mattel is estimated at £300-500 in the Specialist Collectable Toys Auction on April 10 at Sheffield Auction Gallery.
Do the Locomotion with C&T
24 March 2025This year marks the 200th anniversary of a major milestone in the railway age: the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR).
Traditional German toy soldiers on the march in Berkshire
24 March 2025Highlights from the extensive David Finn German toy collection sold at Special Auction Services
Liner lined up as part of Bassett-Lowke model boats collection coming up at auction
24 March 2025A single-owner private collection of pre-Second World War Bassett-Lowke maritime electric, motor, clockwork and live steam model boats is for sale on April 11-12.
Lehmann Lo & Li on a high at fives times the low estimate
24 March 2025One of the rarest and most colourful Lehmann toys put in a bright performance at Special Auction Services.
Mickey Mouse figure from the early days of Disney marketing
24 March 2025The Disney character was one of the first examples of using merchandise for promotion and early items are sought after by collectors
Very special Corgi James Bond submersible car surfaces
24 March 2025When it comes to collectables, the 007 films are on a level of their own. So much so in fact, that a Surrey auction house stages a dedicated sale.
Triang Minic LMS railway van delivers a strong result at auction
23 March 2025This tinplate, clockwork Triang Minic post-war LMS railway van 80M hammered at 10 times the low estimate in the Vectis auction on March 4.
Photography: Early achievers bring auction demand
17 March 2025Recent auction sales shone the spotlight on pioneering photographers active in the first days of the art
Haile Selassie signature on a photo seals auction interest
17 March 2025Described as “exceptionally large” when offered by Chiswick Auctions (26/12% buyer’s premium), this black and white presentation photograph depicts Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie (1892-1975).
Julia Margaret Cameron’s Tennyson connections
17 March 2025Julia Margaret Cameron was a neighbour and close friend of Alfred Tennyson on the Isle of Wight.