Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Tom Roberts on track in Twickenham
03 March 2025Born in London, artist Tom Roberts (1856-1931) became famous on the other side of the world painting the people and landscape of Australia.
Letter outlines Bonnie Prince Charlie plea for support at crucial time in the 1745 Jacobite rising
25 February 2025An autograph letter from Bonnie Prince Charlie was among a group of Jacobite relics discovered among a wide array of antiques during a Georgian townhouse clearance.
Huge collection of early photos acquired by Historic England
24 February 2025When photography aficionado Janette Rosing (1942-2021) died, Pierre Spake wrote of her in an obituary in ATG (No 2485): “Like all true collectors she pushed the limits of her budget, often exceeding it."
Blown off course to occupied territory, Tommy the pigeon became an accidental hero to the Allies
24 February 2025Tommy nearly made the supreme sacrifice to support the Allied cause in the Second World War.
Postponed Hammers v Hatters match programme turns out to be a ‘grail’ purchase for collectors
24 February 2025When bad weather made the Upton Park pitch unfit for play on Saturday, January 17, 1959, it must have seemed fairly unremarkable.
Captured by the Shadow Catcher: Edward Curtis photographs at auction
24 February 2025Edward Curtis is famed for his photographs documenting the disappearing world of Native Americans
GC and VC make this a sale to see
24 February 2025Two excellent examples of the highest British awards for courage are coming up in the same London auction on March 11.
Camouflage airborne smock concealed remarkable secret
24 February 2025A British airborne forces smock offered in the C&T (22% buyer’s premium) February 12-13 auction told its own tale thanks to a remarkable discovery concealed within.
Against the odds – honours for the doomed Wilson's Patrol
24 February 2025Although much less well known than many ‘last stands’, medals for the Wilson’s Patrol in 1893 are prized by collectors
Robert-Houdin mystery clock greeted by real bidder interest
24 February 2025Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-71) began to develop the very first mystery clocks in c.1830.
Smart idea to portray golf courses not just the players
24 February 2025John Smart (1838-99) was one of the first artists to focus on golf courses themselves rather than the actual players.
'Particularly tough to find': Rare first copy of the notorious Oz magazine is up for sale
18 February 2025'Oz' magazine became the leading underground publication of its day after it came out in 1967.
German toys collection comes full of character
17 February 2025A gentleman (Dukatenscheißer) with his trousers pulled down excreting a gilt metal coin from his bottom or a composition nodder of a grotesque women beating a child might not be for everyone.
Vendor probably over the moon with Vichy price
17 February 2025The top lot in Potter & Potter’s (25% buyer’s premium) latest Wunderkammer Sale was Gustave Vichy’s (1839-1904) 'Aubade a la lune' (Serenade to the Moon) mechanical automaton. It is considered a signature model of the firm.
Tech college gigs tempted big names such as Pink Floyd as poster shows
10 February 2025Farnborough Technical College hosted many memorable bands for gigs it seems, judging from a six-lot selection of posters that appeared at Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium).
Auctioneer rates previously unseen Winnie the Pooh collection as a career highlight
10 February 2025“I’ve been an auctioneer for 30 years now and it took me two hours to sell 34 lots – so you get the idea of the interest and levels of bidders.”