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.

British and Irish book auctions (all online only): April 14-28, 2020

13 April 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from April 14-28, 2020. All sales are now held online due to the coronavirus alert.

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Old world, new technology at Forum's auction of works from the library of the Birmingham Assay Office

13 April 2020

London auctioneer spends nine hours conducting bidding on the rostrum for online sale

Jackson Type I typewriter

Jackson Type I typewriter, Waterloo officer’s pistols and Lord Mayor’s letter – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes

10 April 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a rare early typewriter that sold above estimate in Germany.

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ILAB to hold Covid 19 Crisis webinar

09 April 2020

The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) is to hold a webinar today (Thursday April 9) to discuss trading difficulties during the coronavirus shutdown.

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Shorthorn Society collection in the spotlight at Carlisle auction

06 April 2020

Books, catalogues, ephemera, pictures and other material from the collections of the Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom & Ireland formed a significant part of a recent Carlisle sale.

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Sex Pistols ‘holy grail’ is punk pick

06 April 2020

Among a 200-lot list of vinyl records by a galaxy of rock and pop stars, punk provided the outstanding performance at Cottees’ (18% buyer’s premium) specialist sale at Poole.

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Witch pickings in salerooms

06 April 2020

Puritan Cotton Mather’s defence of executions is latest work on the subject to surface.

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Edwardian footballer's career and tragic ending remembered in memorabilia sale

06 April 2020

The first 20 lots of the recent football memorabilia sale at Stacey’s in Rayleigh, Essex came from the family of the Edwardian player Benjamin Warren (1879-1917).

British and Irish book auctions (all online only): April 7-25, 2020

06 April 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from April 7-25, 2020.

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Machine exerts a strong influence

06 April 2020

The Wimshurst influence machine, an electrostatic generator capable of creating high voltages, was developed between 1880-83 by British inventor James Wimshurst (1832-1903).

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Fab Four in ‘ballroom of the stars’

06 April 2020

One of the highlights of actor Peter Wyngarde’s estate sale held live, online-only at East Bristol Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) was a Beatles concert poster from 1963.

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Horror titles cut after decapitation shocker

06 April 2020

Offered without a reserve, a job lot of “low grade” comics dating from the 1940s-50s ended up selling for £1200 in a Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) timed sale on thesaleroom.com.

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More adventures of Tintin in Brussels auction

06 April 2020

Tintin was a major player in a sale of Comic Strip art staged in Belgium.

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Victorian travel wardrobe draws interest as it reappears at auction

06 April 2020

This deluxe Victorian travel accessory is a ‘campaign wardrobe’ made by Robinson & Sons of Ilkley, Yorkshire.

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Buddy Holly poster pre-dating tragic plane crash goes under the hammer in Dallas

03 April 2020

A rare poster promoting a concert a week before the plane crash that killed three of its performers is coming to auction for the first time this weekend.

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Albert Einstein letters come to auction in Dallas

01 April 2020

Several letters written by Albert Einstein discussing his most significant scientific accomplishments will be among the major attractions in Heritage Auctions’ April 23 sale of historical manuscripts in Dallas.

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Sense of occasion suits the Peter Wyngarde estate sale perfectly

31 March 2020

Peter Wyngarde would surely have appreciated the drama that accompanied the auction of his estate – held with the country in the grip of coronavirus.

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Bids to put Malta on the map at German auction

30 March 2020

Objects relating to the rich history of Malta are perennial favourites at auction. This large early 18th century oil on canvas depicting a map of islands in the Maltese archipelago proved particularly popular in a sale of 15th to 19th century pictures held by Lempertz in Cologne.

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Pick of the week: Mah-jong set that counts for a lot

30 March 2020

The popular Chinese game of mah-jong is a relative newcomer.

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Rail rarity sets out on a new route

30 March 2020

A very early railway guide, still in the original decorative boards, was a rare and unusual lot in a recent held by Mullock’s (20% buyer’s premium).

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