Collectables

‘By the power of Grayskull!’ was the cry in the Masters of the Universe TV cartoon series in the 1980s. Four decades on, that power has taken toy prices to an astonishing new high.

A lot offering five WH Smith enamel advertising signs, c.1930, took the top price as memorabilia from one of the UK’s most enduring and recognisable retail brands came to auction.

A “very fine” bronze helmet of Corinthian type, c.350BC, hammered from a single sheet, with a domed crown, almond-shaped eye cutouts and a prominent nose guard, sold for £32,000 at Apollo Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in London on July 27.

Jacobite highlights from the Scottish Collected sale held by Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh

Peter Green’s lyrics for 'Man Of The World' sell at regional auction house

Jonathan Green-Plumb collects antique tools and has created a museum in his home in north Norfolk.

Your Letters pages have recently featured the elaboration of two items purchased from the “contents of a Sussex manor house” auctioned by Burstow & Hewett of Battle, East Sussex, on May 28-29: a Tudor oak stool and a coquilla nut snuffbox depicting Benjamin Franklin (see Auction Reports, ATG No 2702 and Letters, No 2704 & 2706).

Second World War airborne memorabilia is another in-demand section of the militaria market.

Halls’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest Militaria, Naval and Aviation Auction in Shrewsbury offered a tempting selection of lots such as First World War uniforms in decent condition.

Among the many ‘cheap and cheerful’ souvenirs made for fans of the Beatles in the 1960s were lunch boxes and flasks.

“We’ve had a good year,” said Clive Baker, organiser of the biannual two-day South of England Postcard Fair run on behalf of the Postcard Traders Associatiom (PTA).

When selling football memorabilia such as programmes and match-worn shirts, items linked to renowned and well-supported clubs such as Manchester United will often be the most valuable.

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

Sold at £250, this brooch probably commemorates the opening of Hill House Military Hospital, also known as School Hill House Hospital, in Lewes.

As an entire work, this huge oil on canvas by British artist Paul Cannell (1963-2005) might not seem that familiar.

The first auction staged as a partnership between two renowned specialists produced a wide range of encouraging results

A pair of Minnie and Mickey Mouse car mascots now displayed on a wooden stand once had a much grander location, as a photo included with a lot in The Summer Transport Sale at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) reveals.

Easy to display and made in multiple variants, glass petrol pump globes are a popular choice at auction.

Following the recent trend of 18th and 19th century helmets making strong prices at auction, this striking example hammered at £5200.

This fine pair of early 18th century flintlock pistols by John Harman of London are part of a collection of firearms and militaria that goes under the hammer at Catherine Southon on September 17 in Chislehurst, south-east London.