Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Wheellock from French king’s famed collection comes to US saleroom
01 July 2024A wheellock sporting arm from the renowned Cabinet d’Armes of King Louis XIII (1601-43) is for sale at Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) from August 23-25.
Personal signed Churchill letter to his old teacher adds up to £14,000
01 July 2024“You were the only person who ever succeeded in teaching me mathematics or indeed - let me add - in making me work at anything that did not excite my interest. I regard my work at mathematics under your care as the most salutary mental discipline I ever received.”
Bidders fired up for exceptional flintlock
01 July 2024A flintlock duck gun hailed as exceptional by Olympia Auctions fully lived up to its billing when it shot past an estimate of £60,000-80,000 to hammer down at £380,000 on June 26.
Photo and badges reveal little known but vital work of the Second World War Lumberjills female forestry workers
28 June 2024While the work of British women on the home front in both world wars is now widely recognised in a wider sense, many of the specific units set up remain obscure and largely forgotten.
A present for Sir Bufton Tufton? Complete run of Private Eye mags on offer at auction
26 June 2024A complete set of Private Eye is coming to auction on July 17, presenting almost certainly a unique opportunity to acquire every copy up to now.
Franklin searchers found themselves in need of help
24 June 2024The McClure Arctic Expedition of 1850 was one of the Franklin rescue missions but ended up with the ironic fate of getting trapped themselves.
Shackleton’s last voyage seen in photos
24 June 2024The list of Polar exploration ships once lost but now rediscovered grew in number recently when it was announced the Quest had been located.
Saxon gold sword pommel and Nobby the Celtic fertility figure metal detecting finds impress at auction
21 June 2024Metal detecting finds often prove valuable both in terms of heritage and a healthy sum at auction.
'William Kent' table is among five lots to watch this week
17 June 2024With estimates from £800, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
Aquitania luxury liner lots steam into sale to satisfy a US buyer
17 June 2024At the same time as a naval arms race was taking place in the years just before the First World War another maritime competition developed in the shape of liners.
Archibald Knox silver vases are among five lots to watch this week
10 June 2024With estimates from £425, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
Darwin as depicted by the ‘father of art photography’
10 June 2024An autographed photograph of Charles Darwin (1809-82) described as “very scarce” by Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) sold for £8500.
Get the siege mentality with unusual banknotes on offer
10 June 2024“Siege notes are a niche but popular subsidiary of military banknote collecting,” says Andrew Pattison, head of the Banknotes Department at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).
Portrait of doomed naval commander makes second highest auction price for Oswald Birley
06 June 2024Just three crew members survived out of 1418 after HMS Hood was sunk on May 24, 1941, after a ferocious and brief exchange of gunfire with German battleship Bismarck.
Italian micromosaic table is among five lots to watch this week
03 June 2024With estimates from £250, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
