Collectables

The term ‘collectables’ (or collectibles) encompasses a vast range of items in fields as diverse as arms, armour and militaria, bank notes, cameras, coins, entertainment and sporting memorabilia, stamps, taxidermy, wines and writing equipment.

Some collectables are antiques, others are classed as retro, vintage or curios but all are of value to the collector. In any of these fields, buyers seek out rarities and items with specific associations.

Fighting Stallions

Fighting Stallions set Mouseman auction record

13 October 2025

A new benchmark for a Mouseman carving has been set by Tennants’ 20th Century Design department.

Violin

Einstein’s ‘Lina’ sets £860,000 house record

13 October 2025

Gloucestershire auctioneers Dominic Winter posted a new house record last week when a violin used by Albert Einstein during his late teens and early adult life hammered for £860,000.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, October 15-30, 2025

13 October 2025

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

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High for a Mouseman recliner

13 October 2025

A classic early 1930s Mouseman recliner came for sale at a recent event held at Clevedon Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) near Bristol.

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Quarterly event is central to the arms and militaria calendar

13 October 2025

A roster of around 115 dealers and long waiting list demonstrates the importance of the Birmingham fair

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Inventory recalls wonders of Thomas Windus’ Gothic Hall

13 October 2025

Manuscript work offered in Nottingham covers contents of Georgian private museum in north London

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‘The most dangerous toy in history’: Atomic lab kit blows up bidding at US auction

13 October 2025

The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab is perhaps the most notorious of all mid-century toys.

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Meat and greet lots of hotly contested kitchenalia

13 October 2025

US bidders show great appetite for early 20th century display slabs hailing from the UK

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Chelsea Rare Book Fair ready for autumn edition

13 October 2025

This particularly rare American issue of the 1939 Michelin Guide was specially commissioned by the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department in Washington D.C. during the Second World War.

Henry VIII crown

Tudor coin hoard discovered in garden during lockdown comes to auction

09 October 2025

A Tudor hoard found by a Hampshire couple while gardening will be sold at auction in Switzerland next month.

Albert Einstein's violin

Einstein’s violin takes £860,000 at auction

08 October 2025

A violin used by Albert Einstein during his late teens and early adult life was hammered down at £860,000.

William Reese Company New York

Three rare booksellers create New York ‘hub’

06 October 2025

A New York City antiquarian books hub involving three well-known big names has been established, creating something of a Manhattan powerhouse of the trade.

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Sale of stand-out limited edition works puts renowned illustrator Rackham in the picture

06 October 2025

A private collection of children’s illustrated books formed over the past 50 years provided several stand-out lots in The Collector’s auction held by Catherine Southon (27.6% buyer’s premium inc VAT).

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ATG letter: ‘Scottish’ miser’s snuff box comes from the Baltic

06 October 2025

Just out of interest, the snuff box illustrated [19th century miser’s snuff box] in Letters, ATG No 2711, is not Scottish, but from a group of boxes made of Karelian Birch from the Finnish/Russian area in the Baltic region.

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Frieze Masters preview: Focus on first of famous six wives

06 October 2025

Wedding gift for Catherine of Aragon stands out as one of the highlights at the latest Frieze Masters

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Crumbs… biscuit tin takes £5200

06 October 2025

Among the most desirable of all novelty biscuit tins is the William Crawford & Sons sports coupe.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, October 7-28, 2025

06 October 2025

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

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Tempest blows in to Kensington's Reindeer Antiques

06 October 2025

Kensington Church Street dealership Reindeer Antiques is hosting an exhibition and book launch for cartoonist Annie Tempest (b.1959).

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Dust jacket helps Golding classic to fly at auction

06 October 2025

When William Golding (1911-93) wrote his debut novel Lord of the Flies in 1953 it was rejected by nine publishers and damned as ‘rubbish and dull’ before being picked up by Faber & Faber.

Annie Oakley’s gun

Gun owned by ‘rifle queen’ Annie Oakley set to be targeted by collectors

03 October 2025

A UK gun collector has consigned a target rife owned by legendary Victorian sharpshooter Annie Oakley to auction in East Sussex.

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