Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Beating the U-boats - a Victoria Cross record
11 December 2017We know how it usually goes with most stand-out Victoria Crosses offered at auction: Lord Ashcroft buys them and they go on display at his gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London. But the record for a VC sold at auction, which has recently been set at London saleroom Morton & Eden, actually went to another bidder with very deep pockets – but thankfully for medals enthusiasts, someone else who is looking to put it on public view.
Civil war posters recall memory of a Republican fighter
11 December 2017Evocative propaganda posters are being offered by specialist auction house Onslows on December 15 from a conflict that raged between the world wars.
Eastern weapons and cased pistols point to high prices
11 December 2017Among the weapons in demand from collectors are Eastern arms and cased pistols, judging by recent auctions. Here we take a look at a few examples – and a specific arms and armour feature will appear in an upcoming issue.
Birmingham auction house sells bell from Falklands War Royal Navy ship
11 December 2017Amid current stories in the media of drastic Royal Navy cutbacks, it is difficult to imagine a sizeable task force of British ships sailing thousands of miles to fight a war. But in 1982 HMS Brilliant (F90) was part of that fleet heading to the South Atlantic to take on, and beat, the Argentinians who had invaded the Falkland Islands.
China Dogs in a St Ives Window painting by Christopher Wood bought by Pallant House Gallery
07 December 2017Pallant House Gallery in Chichester has now permanently acquired the painting 'China Dogs in a St Ives Window' by Christopher Wood (1901-30) after a successful fundraising drive.
The Animal VC awarded to plucky messenger pigeon Princess comes up at auction in Banbury
06 December 2017The Victoria Cross is the highest British military honour, but in the animal kingdom the equivalent is the Dickin Medal. The award earned by a pigeon called Princess is coming up at auction at Holloway’s of Banbury on December 12.
Churchill spectacles make appearance at Catherine Southon auction
05 December 2017Next month in the UK you can watch Darkest Hour, the new film depicting the Churchills in the early days of the Second World War as he became prime minister. But if you are truly fascinated by the man regularly voted as the Greatest Briton, you can get a fix tomorrow by bidding for his spectacles.
Pistols coming up at Thomas Del Mar auction show significance of an impressive provenance
02 December 2017Fine quality and condition are big factors in value for antique weapons, but an impressive provenance also fires the imagination, as two lots coming up in the Thomas Del Mar auction on December 6 demonstrate.
Victoria Cross sells for auction record at Morton & Eden and further VC sales are coming up at fellow London salerooms Dix Noonan Webb and Spink
30 November 2017Victoria Crosses are not exactly that rare at auction, despite being the highest British award for gallantry. However, the unique tales of bravery ensure demand is always high, as evident from the auction record just set at London saleroom Morton & Eden.
Rare design for 1931 Dracula film sets movie poster record – watch Heritage Auctions specialist giving an expert’s view
21 November 2017One of just two surviving movie posters for the 1931 horror classic ‘Dracula’ set a record for a movie poster at auction when it sold for a premium-inclusive $525,800 (£398,300). In this video released before the sale, director of vintage posters at Heritage, Grey Smith, discusses the film and the rarity of the poster.
Rare Richard III gold coin found by metal detectorist near Bosworth Field comes to auction
21 November 2017If you want a gold coin to have rarity value, then an example from a monarch whose reign lasted only a couple of years is a good start.
Pick of the Week: Jesse was best of the West Brom
20 November 2017One of the most comprehensive and best-preserved football memorabilia collections auctioneer Graham Budd (17.5% buyer’s premium) has ever handled netted a hammer total of £107,000 for a remarkable 47 lots including medals and caps on November 14-15.
Manchester United match programme from game watched by 8456 on a freezing February midweek afternoon
17 November 2017Love or hate Manchester United, it’s fair to say they do enjoy a bit of success. Although the past few seasons have been a relatively lean time, they can still boast 20 league titles, 17 FA and League Cups, three European Cups/Champions Leagues plus a Cup-Winners Cup and Europa League thrown in.
Mirror, mirror (and 14 more mirrors) on the wall - which is the best-seller of them all?
15 November 2017If you are into interior design and are looking for a theatrical flourish then a sale coming up at a Glasgow auction house this Friday (November 17) could be worth a moment of reflection.
Pick of the Week: Vancouver sextant discovery
13 November 2017The name on the frame was the name of the game at Charles Miller’s November 7 auction in west London where a “rather tired and dirty” sextant sold for £28,000.
Horse whispers and festive song at Hansons
13 November 2017Not many new faces at salerooms can include among their experience “a trained horse whisperer”.
Auction of Victoria Cross at Spink marks Passchendaele centenary
13 November 2017“I died in hell – they called it Passchendaele,” Siegfried Sassoon famously wrote of the First World War carnage which ended in November 1917.
Time to join the singles club
13 November 2017As auction houses expand their specialist sales programmes, separate departments can also develop if the volume of business is worth it. Not many have a dedicated single-owner department, however.
They think it's all over: football 1966 World Cup commentator's RAF medals up at auction
11 November 2017“They think it’s all over… it is now!” were the perfectly timed words uttered by TV commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme as England won the 1966 World Cup. Much less well known is that Wolstenholme (1920-2002) had a highly distinguished RAF service record in the Second World War.
Early international caps at auction won by footballer Fatty Wedlock
09 November 2017Footballer Neil Ruddock’s nickname was Razor Ruddock. Brian Kilcline became Killer Kilcline. Going back a bit further, Ron Harris roved on the pitch as Chopper Harris. Going back a lot further, Billy Wedlock’s nickname was Fatty. Or the India Rubber Man.