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.

Brian May and Denis Pellerin

Stereoscopy book by historian and rock star praises King’s College London professor

20 November 2021

The launch of Queen’s guitarist Brian May and historian Denis Pellerin’s new book ‘Stereoscopy: The Dawn of 3-D’ was held at King’s College London to honour a past-professor at the university.

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US Constitution copy takes $41m at New York auction 

19 November 2021

A hedge fund billionaire has outbid a group of crowdfunded cryptocurrency fans for a copy of the US Constitution and has agreed to loan it to a museum.

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Stolen snuff boxes recovered 42 years on

15 November 2021

A group of antique snuff boxes has been recovered after a theft more than 40 years ago.

Antique Ericsson telephone

Royal connection: King Oscar's telephone at auction

15 November 2021

Guaranteed to attract attention at science and technical antiques specialist Auction Team Breker on November 6 was this remarkable Ericsson telephone.

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Rare safety helmet surfaces in the Borders

15 November 2021

Prompted by a series of fatal mining disasters in the 19th century, a Royal Commission in 1907 recommended the establishment of a miners’ rescue service.

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Bird artist became pottery painter after bankruptcy

15 November 2021

Sold for £16,000 in a September 23 sale was an album of 41 watercolour studies of birds produced by William Weston Young (1776-1847).

British and Irish book auctions: November 16-27, 2021

15 November 2021

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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Trafalgar hero’s coastal views

15 November 2021

Distinguished naval officer admired by Nelson was also a talented watercolour painter

Photographs of Prince Charles as a boy

The Real Crown: Two collections giving an insight into royal life emerge at auction

11 November 2021

For royal watchers in the saleroom, the latter part of 2021 promises to be quite a boon.

Anglo Saxon coin hoard

‘Largest ever’ Anglo-Saxon coin hoard discovered in UK

08 November 2021

The largest ever Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard discovered in the UK has been declared treasure after a complex inquest into the case.

Chippendale invoice

Chippendale-Garrick invoice sold to society

08 November 2021

A previously unknown bill for furnishings supplied by Thomas Chippendale (1718-79) has been bought at auction on behalf of The Chippendale Society (TCS).

Vietnamese headdress

Vietnamese headdress makes 1000-times guide

08 November 2021

Multi-estimate sums are not confined to Chinese works of art.

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Spider-Man flies high at Heritage

08 November 2021

Spider-Man became the most expensive comic book superhero in a Heritage (20% buyer’s premium) sale this autumn.

Harriet Williams and Sylwia Newman

“It was a spur of the moment thing”: Specialist poster fair provides boost for sector

08 November 2021

Poster market thought to be the first such specialist UK event will return for a second instalment

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Handy if you have pressing concerns

08 November 2021

If you wanted to keep the strings of a tennis racket taut, you could do with a tennis racket press – a device consisting of a frame closed by a spring mechanism.

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‘Surprizing’ Crusoe result in Oxford

08 November 2021

Top lot in a sale held by Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) of Oxford was a 1719-20, first edition set of 'The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe…', 'The Farther Adventures…' and 'The Serious Reflections…' in later but very smart bindings of red morocco gilt by Francis Bedford of London.

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Football lots in Sheffield and Chippenham keep with the programme

08 November 2021

Before match programmes grew into the glossy mini-magazines of today they were relatively simple affairs – most just a single sheet printed on both sides.

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Stan Anderson’s unusual hat-trick

08 November 2021

Stan Anderson (1934-2018) was a north-eastern football stalwart playing as captain for a hat-trick of local clubs.

British and Irish book auctions: November 9-28, 2021

08 November 2021

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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Cycling gears up at auction

08 November 2021

A group of “rare and interesting” 20th century cycling ephemera relating primarily to the Olympic Games offered by Catherine Southon (20% buyer’s premium) came from the collection of cycling journalist David Taylor (1937-2020).

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