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.

Toy cricket set

Howzat for a Segal toy rarity

03 November 2025

Phillip Segal Toys are very much rarities. He began production in Hampshire in 1938 but was halted when wartime restrictions banned the use of lead.

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Signed Le Petit Prince is particularly special copy

03 November 2025

A sale conducted by US firm Connecticut River Book Auction (15% buyer’s premium) on September 5 included a very rare copy of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s Le Petit Prince.

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Wars of the Roses bidding battle breaks out for famous Paston Letters lot

03 November 2025

Original manuscript copies of the famous medieval Paston Letters come to the rostrum in Norfolk

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Massive music machine stands out in East Anglia

03 November 2025

Jenny and Ray Norman, best known as East Anglian longcase clock dealers since 1974, have contacted ATG to highlight an item they say is just in time for the festive season (but it might not fit that well in a Christmas stocking).

Victorian taxidermy case

Spotted kiwi and kakapo preserved for posterity at Norfolk auction

03 November 2025

The Collector sale at Bishop & Miller in Glandford, near Holt, on October 29 included this late Victorian taxidermy case of two of New Zealand’s rarest birds.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, November 5-21, 2025

03 November 2025

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

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‘Dying Earth’ novel The Night Land lives on in collecting world

03 November 2025

This copy of 'The Night Land' (1912) is a presentation first inscribed on the front endpaper 'Mrs N. Harrison from William Hope Hodgson, Nov 28th /12'.

Volvo

Rare Volvo estate – the archetypal antiques dealer’s car – comes to auction

31 October 2025

An exceptional example of the Volvo estate – the archetypal antiques dealer’s car – comes for sale at Sworders this month.

Dunhill ‘fancy shape’ lighter

Dunhill lighter fuels £19,000 ‘record’ price

27 October 2025

Chiswick Auctions set what is thought to be a record for a Dunhill lighter when a silver and enamel ‘fancy shape’ pocket lighter and watch hammered at £19,000.

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Timely transatlantic battle fought for British and Spanish works

27 October 2025

UK bidder competes with US counterpart for horological pamphlets published in London and Madrid

Books and works on paper auction calendar, October 29-November 17, 2025

27 October 2025

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

Autographed sketch

Album, posters and much more at ephemera fair

27 October 2025

Pictured here is the autographed sketch and signature, of Alfred Maltby (1842-1901), an English actor and costume designer, which features in a 19th century album containing signatures of the acting, literary and musical greats of the day.

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Spanish sign amazes at €180,000 hammer

27 October 2025

In recent years, Germany has often shown itself to be a vibrant market for enamel signs, attracting international bidders who on several occasions have been willing to invest six-figure prices when rare pieces come under the hammer.

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Cabinet card tells tale of a US legal first

27 October 2025

A c.1891 cabinet card that captures a significant episode of both Native American and US history realised six times its low estimate at Grant Zahajko Auctions (27% buyer’s premium).

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Traders who answered a call to arms

27 October 2025

How do you end up selling antique weapons and can you do it full-time to make a living? From swords and sabres to pistols and machine guns, we spoke to six arms dealers who attended the International Birmingham Antique Arms & Militaria Fair in September to find out how they got into the trade and how their business is faring

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Sundials stayed in the spotlight for surprisingly long time

27 October 2025

By the 15th century the mechanical clock age had dawned but time had not entirely been called yet on the sundial.

Coat of arms

Rediscovered Cardinal Wolsey coat of arms on display in London ahead of sale 

24 October 2025

An oak and polychrome carving of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey's coat of arms has been rediscovered following research by St James’ art dealer Simon Dickinson.

An archive of menus and food related ephemera

Antony Worrall Thompson collection sells at Bonhams

24 October 2025

The celebrity chef served up something tasty at Bonhams Knightsbridge: a few morsels from of his own collection.

Waterloo bandsman

Identity of mystery Battle of Waterloo black bandsman revealed

21 October 2025

The identity of the mystery sitter in a portrait sold at a Sussex auction, who was depicted in the uniform of a cavalry regiment and wearing a Waterloo Medal, has now been revealed by the National Army Museum.

French map

Pick of the week: Mapping out the Jacobite dream

20 October 2025

The latest Library Sale at Cheffins in Cambridge included a rare French map documenting the campaign of ‘Charles Edward Prince de Galles’ in 1745-46.

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