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.

Edwardian Locksmiths Shop Diorama

Delightful diorama heads to auction

08 September 2024

A charming item brought to a saleroom last week will go under the hammer next week.

Charlie Chaplin one-sheet poster for City Lights

Charlie Chaplin posters head to auction

06 September 2024

A trove of eight original stone-lithographed Charlie Chaplin film posters is heading to the market at Propstore in Valencia, California on September 12-13.

2659 NE Rare Book Auctions4

Jim Spencer starts new chapter as he moves from Hansons auction house to launch his own saleroom

04 September 2024

Book specialist Jim Spencer has left Hansons and is launching his own saleroom offering monthly timed online auctions in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

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Whoopee - debut Beano complete with free gift sells for a UK record result

03 September 2024

A copy of the very first issue of The Beano – and the only one to retain its original ‘free gift’ - has sold at auction for £26,000.

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Bidders view Hastings trial fan as a cool purchase

02 September 2024

The trial of Warren Hastings (1732-1818) was a cause célèbre of the last decade of the 18th century.

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Whitman’s personal touch creates a surprise performance

02 September 2024

An author printed and signed copy of Walt Whitman’s 'Leaves of Grass' sold for $37,500 (£29,400) with buyer’s premium at University Archives.

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Charles Dickens first issue in book form delivers great result

02 September 2024

'Great Expectations' first appeared in England in 36 weekly parts in the pages of Charles Dickens’ popular magazine, All the Year Round, beginning on December 1, 1860.

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On an original visit to Busytown

02 September 2024

The children’s author Richard Scarry (1919-94) was at the peak of popularity when he published 'Nicky Goes to the Doctor' in 1972.

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Fifty years of the York book fair and PBFA foundation to celebrate

02 September 2024

From modest origins, the York event is now the largest antiquarian book fair in the UK

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Tudor propaganda: Queen Mary’s own copy of Vergil’s history of England comes up for sale boosted by maps

02 September 2024

Mary Tudor’s personal copy of Vergil’s history of England comes to auction in Gloucestershire this month.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, September 3-20, 2024

02 September 2024

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

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Look through the keyhole courtesy of a grand picture book

02 September 2024

The 504-lot book sale at Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) in Chicago on July 25 was topped by a four-volume set of one of the great records of the Gilded Age.

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Special lots from a locked room

02 September 2024

Library items shelved away in now closed college include some of the first North American histories

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A selection of books and works on paper previews

02 September 2024

Our pick of works appearing at eight upcoming auctions

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Famous Five first edition at four figures

02 September 2024

'Five Run Away Together' was the third of the Famous Five titles but today the most elusive.

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Group of Diana correspondence underlines high demand for Princess of Wales material

02 September 2024

More than a dozen letters and cards from Diana, Princess of Wales, to her family’s former housekeeper were sold at a recent auction at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium).

29.8.24 Webpv Marquard Card

Cigarette card lights up Reading auction

30 August 2024

A c.1912 cigarette card showing baseball pitcher Rube Marquard was given a ballpark estimate of £300-500 at Loddon Auctions.

2658 AR Thomson Roddick KOSB Pith Helmet 2

Boer War tropical pith helmet fights the good fight at Edinburgh Auction

29 August 2024

Thomson Roddick Callan (20% buyer’s premium) in Edinburgh held a mammoth two day sale on August 14-15, featuring nearly 1400 lots of antiques and militaria from the Michael Hall of Galashiels Collection.

Babe Ruth's jersey

Babe Ruth’s ‘called shot’ New York Yankees jersey sets record for any sporting collectable

28 August 2024

The 1932 World Series jersey sold at Heritage Auctions for $24.1m, setting a new high for any piece of sporting memorabilia

WEB Rock Island Wheellock Record

Gun from Louis XIII’s famous cabinet sets a record for a wheellock firearm at auction

28 August 2024

Result reflects quality and provenance of the remarkable weapon from a renowned collection

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