Collectables

MADAM – During these challenging Covid-19 times, it is encouraging to note that stamps, at least, have held up well, perhaps because philately is the perfect hobby for the home buyer.

The FA Cup proved a happy hunting ground for Norman Whiteside in his playing days and at auction many years later the competition was still proving to be a big winner for him.

As with so many other sales schedules for the summer, Graham Budd’s June two-day auction had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown. However, he has just announced that he will be holding his next on November 9-10 as a live ‘broadcast’ auction (all forms of bidding except for in the room, viewing by timed appointment at the firm’s Enfield premises).

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from August 4-20, 2020.

Among the European toys included in the August 13 Basics sale to be held by Bertoia auctions of Vineland, New Jersey will be this boxed saloon car made by the British firm Chad Valley.

The artist John Hurford was a key figure in the British psychedelia movement of the late 1960s.

Only around five examples of this rare ‘Big Beat’ concert poster are thought to exist. It advertises a 1958 tour by Rock and Roll promoter Alan Freed, whose photo appears at the top above the 16 different 1950s top musical acts (all also pictured).

This 12¾in (32cm) tall European carved bone powder flask dated to the 17th century will feature in the first day of Morphy Auctions’ August 18-19 sale of edged weapons, armour and militaria in Denver, Pennsylvania.

Christie’s New York (25/20/13.5% buyer’s premium) recently staged two important book sales online that between them raised almost $3.38m, including premiums.

As foreign travel is greatly restricted for now, we can feast our eyes instead on this extravagant poster of the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.

The response among Sixties regulars at a north London pub to the fly poster, below, advertising a gig by the High Numbers may well have been: The who?

John Vernon ‘Jack’ Webb (1923-2019) was destined to be a collector of medals and militaria. On June 5, 1944, he was on a troop ship preparing to take part in the D-Day landings.

This Britains’ boxed pre-war general active service limbered waggon, set number 1331, in very good condition with a good box, is one of the lots to feature in a US auction.

An exceptionally varied and very successful recent Scottish sale contained a great many letters and plenty of fascinating manuscript material.

A public campaign to keep rare maps of the Spanish Armada in the country will be needed to raise the required £600,000.