Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Unique piece of the action
10 May 2021How letters related to wars bring a connection that history books cannot match
Admiral came to grief four years later
10 May 2021After a long and illustrious naval career, it is a pity that Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell is best known for the circumstances of his death.
Two of The Few: Battle of Britain medal groups
10 May 2021Medal groups awarded to two of The Few – the heroic RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots of the Battle of Britain – are on offer at auction this month.
Captain who saved the bacon in Danish attack
10 May 2021Convoys to protect merchant vessels have a long history in naval conflict. A letter sold at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium) in a timed Military Books, Ephemera & Photographs Auction reveals Royal Navy ships in action back in 1808.
Napoleon St Helena shirt and cane feature in auction to mark bicentenary of his death
05 May 2021Napoleon’s cane made for him when in exile on St Helena and a shirt he wore there are two of the lots featured in a London auction held to mark the bicentenary of his death.
Battle of Britain medals and logbooks awarded to two of The Few come up at auction
05 May 2021Medal groups awarded to two of The Few – the heroic RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots of the Battle of Britain – are on offer at auction this month.
Fire-breathing monster to own
03 May 2021This late Ming (17th century) jade water pot in the form of a chimera will be offered by Dreweatts on May 19.
Auction previews: issue 2491
03 May 2021A selection of 14 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
The 'barn find' coming in at 26ft long and made of timber - and now up at auction
01 May 2021Classic car enthusiasts talk reverentially about ‘barn finds’ laying undiscovered for many years and ready for restoration.
Courageous messenger honoured
01 May 2021A Victoria Cross group awarded to a British soldier who volunteered to carry a vital message to a stranded platoon at Mericourt in October 1918, in the knowledge that five of his comrades had already been in killed in turn making earlier attempts, sold for £200,000.
May the fourth be with you for this auction
26 April 2021The collection of a giant of cinema is coming up at East Bristol Auctions: Dave Prowse (1935-2020), who played Darth Vader in Star Wars.
Auction previews: issue 2490
26 April 2021A selection of 16 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Darth Vader and Green Cross Code Man - Dave Prowse collection comes to auction
21 April 2021The collection of a giant of cinema is coming up at East Bristol Auctions: Dave Prowse (1935-2020), who played Darth Vader in Star Wars.
Pick of the week: Milking the sale of ‘Breadboard Annie’ collection
19 April 2021The mouthwatering kitchenalia collection of Annie Marchant (1951-2020) certainly served up a treat when it came to auction on April 12-13.
Auction previews: issue 2489
19 April 2021A selection of 16 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Trophies from a Victorian family of England internationals
12 April 2021Rogers Jones of Cardiff is selling an archive relating to a remarkable Victorian sporting dynasty on April 17.
Auction previews: issue 2488
12 April 2021A selection of 15 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Cold courage comes into play for Victoria Cross from First World War
05 April 2021“I joined up as a youngster for a bit of fun, but it didn’t turn out like that. We were young men made old before our time.”
Aunt Mimi on behalf of John Lennon
05 April 2021A note penned in December 1963 by Mary Elizabeth Smith from The Mendips, Menlove Avenue, Liverpool, to a Miss V Stoker of 54 Pirton Road, Hitchin, sold for £1300 to a UK online bidder at Wolverhampton saleroom Cuttlestones (17.5% buyer’s premium) on March 19.
Hound kept in garage
05 April 2021Classic Hammer Horror film posters are always popular at auction. This example below was probably the first UK quad release of The Hound of The Baskervilles (1959) starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.