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.

Book and map fairs find same June slot

27 August 2018

In a major cooperative move, next summer’s series of London book and map fairs has been aligned to run in the same four-day stretch.

img_6-1.jpg

A Gold Rush for Heritage Auctions in Philadelphia

27 August 2018

Heritage Auctions reported a string of high-value sales as part of its numismatic auctions held alongside Philadelphia’s 'World’s Fair of Money'.

img_10-2.jpg

Pick of the Week: Early uniforms spearhead sale at Stroud Auctions

27 August 2018

Early British army uniforms were the highlight of an extensive single-owner militaria collection amassed by a long-standing Nottinghamshire family which was offered at Stroud Auctions.

1538 First Dollar of the Americas

Rare example of the ‘first dollar of the New World’ sells at Heritage’s coin auction

27 August 2018

The silver eight-Reales coins struck in Mexico City in the 1530s are sometimes referred to as the ‘first dollar of the New World’.

img_45-3.jpg

Bard doubts and beastly beliefs

27 August 2018

Briefly noted in ATG No 2353 was a copy of Through the Looking Glass sold for £30,000 at Sotheby’s (25/20/12.9%) on July 10, where it was part of the eighth and latest sale of books from ‘The Library of an English Bibliophile’.

img_4-3.jpg

Antique guns are not a legal loophole, say trade associations

27 August 2018

Trade associations have defended the current firearms laws in the UK amid accusations on a BBC Panorama programme of a ‘loophole’ in gun control.

img_37-5.jpg

Bidding battle for a ‘wrestler’

27 August 2018

Pitched at £20-40, a small bisque doll with jointed limbs, below, topped Mitchells’ (20% buyer’s premium) toys sale at Cockermouth on July 21.

British and Irish book auctions August 28-September 9, 2018

27 August 2018

Our round-up of British and Irish book sales coming up from August 28-September 9, 2018.

img_44-1.jpg

Eight bindings showing bountiful and bold designs

27 August 2018

Fine or unusual bindings, ranging in date from the 15th century to very recent times indeed, are illustrated and briefly described here – all of them drawn from mid-summer UK auctions.

img_45-1.jpg

More thoughts on Alice in Wonderland lots

27 August 2018

Briefly noted in ATG No 2353 was a copy of Through the Looking Glass sold for £30,000 at Sotheby’s (25/20/12.9%) on July 10, where it was part of the eighth and latest sale of books from ‘The Library of an English Bibliophile’.

img_37-4.jpg

Getting Carter costs £2800 at auction

27 August 2018

Outselling the usual favourite Bond movie posters, a British Quad for Get Carter starring Michael Caine topped the 69-lot specialist sale of movie posters at Ewbank’s (22.5% buyer’s premium).

img_37-7.jpg

Communism in Canterbury

27 August 2018

For a Communist tyrant, Joseph Stalin remains remarkably popular in the capitalist world of UK auctions – the latest evidence provided by a rare cast bronze death mask offered at Canterbury Auction Galleries (24% buyer’s premium).

img_66-1.jpg

New chapters boost business of book fair

27 August 2018

Kim Jeffery, who with husband George runs Etc Fairs, described by one exhibitor as “the Stock Exchange of bookselling”, is upbeat about her upcoming book fair in Bloomsbury.

Beano Book

Rare Beano annual – without Dennis the Menace – offered at auction in Norfolk

24 August 2018

A Beano annual, made before the famous character Dennis the Menace was introduced, is to be auctioned in Norfolk next week.

Cinématographe Lumière poster by Henri Brispot

“The ultimate collector's poster” – 5 lots from Sotheby’s dedicated sale including the design for the first ever public film screening

24 August 2018

Sotheby’s latest online sale of film posters includes plenty of designs for 20th century cinema classics – but also a remarkable 19th century example.

ABA Rare Book Fair

ABA and PBFA fairs change to June dates to align with other summer book events

23 August 2018

The ABA and PBFA rare book fairs as well as ‘The London Map Fair’ and Etc Fairs’ ‘Bloomsbury Book Fair’ will all open during the second week of June next year, realigning dates after around 10 years.

Antique guns

Panorama investigation to focus on antique guns ‘loophole’ ahead of government changes to law

20 August 2018

A BBC Panorama investigation, due to broadcast tonight, details how legal antique guns can be used by criminals who illegally obtain ammunition to commit crime.

723_229.2.jpg

Vintage camera with rare Ross Xpres lens goes 26-times over estimate in “spectacular” result at Linconshire auction

20 August 2018

A 1940s cine camera estimated at £200-300 was knocked down for £7800 at Batemans Auctions in Lincolnshire earlier this month.

img_23-2.jpg

Frenchman opens up US in map form

20 August 2018

A cartographic highlight of the summer came with the appearance in an 11-day, online US sale of a remarkably detailed early 18th century manuscript map of the American south-west.

img_22-1.jpg

Early printed works impress at auction

20 August 2018

The most important Greek printing project of the 15th century, and the greatest achievement of the great Venetian printer Aldus Manutius’ Greek publishing programme, was one of the landmark works seen at auction this summer.

Categories

News