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.

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Pick of the week: Buyer does give a hoot for splendid Athenian coin

14 January 2019

The Athenian silver dekadrachm c.469/465-460BC is among the ancient world’s most celebrated coins – and a splendid example appeared for sale in New York last week.

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Bob Monkhouse archive artwork backs a vote for Sloper

14 January 2019

Earlier material in the last Comic Book Auctions (16% buyer’s premium) sale of the old year, which ended on November 25, included an original ink on card artwork of 1900 featuring Ally Sloper, whose pioneering comic debut had been made as early as 1867 in Judy, a comic rival to Punch.

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The worth of Wealth of Nations

14 January 2019

Adam Smith’s own copy bearing his simple bookplate makes £750,000 in London auction.

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Holy Roman Emperor honoured as a star attraction

14 January 2019

A 1627, Ulm first of Johannes Kepler’s 'Tabulae Rudolphinae…', an important astronomical work named in honour of the then Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, sold for SKr350,000 (£30,535) on December 7.

British and Irish book auctions: January 15-31, 2019

14 January 2019

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from January 15-31, 2019.

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Salerooms steam in with toy treats

14 January 2019

Christmas has little, if any, effect on collectors of vintage and antique toys, but that doesn’t stop auctioneers mounting festive season specials.

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Ashendene Press book bound for WH Smith sells at Bonhams

14 January 2019

'A Book of Songs and Poems from the Old Testament and the Apocrypha', the Ashendene Press book of 1904 shown below, has in the past made as much as £2000 at auction.

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Greeting card see-saw puppies on a high

14 January 2019

Produced by Raphael Tuck & Sons c.1900, ‘Puppies Playtime’ is one of a pair of greeting card see-saws that sold for £140 in the book and ephemera section of a December 15 sale held by Lacy Scott & Knight (20% buyer’s premium).

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Arthur Rackham ups and downs at online auction

14 January 2019

Illustrations offered as part of an online Sotheby’s (25/20/12.9% buyer’s premium) sale held in early December included a couple of Arthur Rackhams.

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Miss Lonelyhearts is cherished

14 January 2019

Inscribed to a fellow dramatist, a presentation copy of the 1933 first of Nathaniel West’s classic black comedy, Miss Lonelyhearts, did exceptionally well at Christie’s New York (25/20/12.5%).

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Africa, Kent and ‘Tennassee’: Get lost in some of the excellent maps going under the hammer this month

12 January 2019

A wide selection of historic cartographic masterpieces goes under the hammer this month.

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James Bond memorabilia auctions include shocking letter from the saintly Roger Moore

11 January 2019

Suave and sophisticated are the terms that come to mind when referring to the late, great and saintly James Bond actor Roger Moore. A raised eyebrow perhaps. But certainly not the word ‘bollocks’.

Books

Bookseller boost as number of independent shops grow in the UK

08 January 2019

The decline in independent bookshops in the UK appears to have been halted with growth recorded for the second year in a row.

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Book that forms a work of art

07 January 2019

At the very end of the 15th century, in Venice in December 1499, there emerged from the presses of that city’s most famous printer, Aldus Manutius, what is traditionally described as the most beautiful illustrated printed book of the Italian Renaissance.

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Blaeu townbook with wind in its sails

07 January 2019

Bound as two volumes in contemporary red morocco gilt, its plates and plans finely coloured and gilt heightened throughout, an exceptional example of Joan Blaeu’s celebrated 17th century townbook of the Netherlands was offered in a recent American sale.

British and Irish book auctions: January 8-31, 2019

07 January 2019

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from January 8-31, 2019.

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Eloise rescued from the garbage

07 January 2019

Painted as a birthday gift, a portrait of one of the more popular characters in the annals of American children’s literature, Eloise, sold for $80,000 (£62,675) at Bonhams New York (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on December 5.

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Library laws laid down at auction

07 January 2019

Dated April 5, 1768, the simple printed broadside shown below lays down the ‘Rules…’ that apply to those wishing to use the Circulating Library in Ashbo[u]rne in Derbyshire.

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11th century Portolan chart of Europe and beyond to be offered in Milan

07 January 2019

A rare 11th century Portolan chart on vellum will be offered by the Il Ponte auction house in a sale of books and manuscripts in Milan on January 22.

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No language barrier to sales of Nuremburg Chronicle at auction

07 January 2019

German and Latin versions of ‘Nuremburg Chronicle’ impress in separate sales.

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