Collectables

A selection of upcoming highlights at UK, US and European auctions

One of the wonderful things about the Firsts London fair is the range of material on offer to browse and buy from rooms full of dealers who are happy to chat and impart their knowledge about the items they are offering for sale.

On how many different journeys can an old map take you? We spotted this 1930 novelty map of London which sold for £1250 at Sportingold in Barnsley in February this year and were so intrigued by its content that we could not resist researching it further

From an elephant gun team to a double-decker and general on a hobby horse, good prices are still paid for collectable toys.

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

Kosuge (Kosuge Toy Industrial Co Ltd), with the trademark KSG in a diamond, was Matsuzo Kosuge.

It is now 10 years since we started Forum Auctions.

Ahead of a very busy period for the trade, we kick off our guide to the events coming up with a London fair marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

Gustave Vichy was born in 1839 to a Parisian watch and clock maker Antoine Michel who, along with his wife, set up the Vichy company in 1862 with the aim of building and selling clocks, mechanical objects and toys.

The association of native American and Scottish Highlander advertising figures with tobacconists began in England and Holland in the 17th century and later spread to America.

Callum White, a young book collector from Birmingham, won last year’s ABA National Book Collecting Prize awarded in December for his collection Splitting the world: The atomic scientists and their second acts. He told ATG about his background, how he started the collection and his plans for it

An early 19th century wooden peg doll featuring the original costume of a straw bonnet and cream silk dress with a mother of pearl belt, and red leather shoes, has sold for £3000 to a UK collector.

Ian Fleming’s scions will be at Firsts London book fair this year, as they continue to play an important part in both promoting their relative’s books and book collecting as a whole.

Back in October 2024 Lewes saleroom Wallis & Wallis made what was thought to be a record price for Scalextric, taking £7750 for a C70 Type 59 Bugatti.

London dealer William Cook is marking the 250th anniversary of American independence by flying the flag at Petworth Park Antiques & Art Fair (running from May 8-10).

Cathedrals, palaces and abbeys were also among the sights featured as British tourism developed

Two choice British documents emerged across two different sales at Amherst, New Hampshire firm RR Auction (25% buyer’s premium).

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

While many people have a decided aversion to pigeons, this did not apply to the bidders at Kiefer (25% buyer’s premium) in Pforzheim, Germany.