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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Peter Cushing: fangs for the memories

09 October 2023

Peter Cushing’s (1913-94) six-decade acting career featured more than 100 films furnished many fond memories – and of course provided plenty of memorabilia.

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Samuel Johnson letter located and bought by UK institution at auction

09 October 2023

While its existence was known, the whereabouts was a mystery until a routine house valuation

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Top stories this week including news of the auction of Charlie Watts’ book collection

08 October 2023

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of Christie’s sale of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts’ extraordinary library of modern first editions.

Hunger strike medal

Museum buys Suffragette hunger strike medal after successful fundraising campaign

04 October 2023

Glasgow Women’s Library has bought a hunger strike medal at auction at Bonhams after more than 500 people donated to help secure the piece of suffragette history.

Shakespeare

One of just five copies of a Shakespeare jointly written play in private hands comes up for sale through book dealer

03 October 2023

Peter Harrington Rare Books is offering a first edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen (1634) at Frieze Masters in London this month – the only extant Shakespeare play not included in any of the four folio editions.

Charlie Watts’ copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles

Charlie Watts books sale: it’s all over now

02 October 2023

Christie’s sale Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone combined stardust with an extraordinary library of modern first editions.

Declaration and seal

Ivory seal deemed to be of ‘outstanding’ value comes to Cirencester auction

02 October 2023

The sale at Moore Allen & Innocent on October 11-12 includes a series of personal items relating to William Duke of Clarence, later William IV (1765-1837).

Lyme Regis station target sign

Pick of the week: Railway station sign steams well above the target

02 October 2023

When it comes to the value of classic railway station signs, key factors include: is the site now disused? Was it from a holiday resort? Is it an early design?

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Take a tour to the Lakes and Devon

02 October 2023

Travel journals that appeared at auction date from a time when British leisure travel was in its infancy

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A 17th century rarity: unrecorded book emerges at Sussex auction

02 October 2023

An unrecorded 17th century printed book took £8800 hammer at a West Sussex sale.

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Get into the ceramics groove: second slice of the Seymour Stein collection

02 October 2023

Collector who helped Madonna on road to stardom becomes the centre of attention in West Sussex saleroom

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Shakespeare play was staged as a joint production

02 October 2023

Peter Harrington Rare Books is offering a first edition of 'The Two Noble Kinsmen' (1634) at Frieze Masters in London this month – the only extant Shakespeare play not included in any of the four folio editions.

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Intaglios in abundance at Edinburgh auction

02 October 2023

Grand Tour souvenirs often attract attention at auction and the buyer of this lot certainly got a sizeable helping for their money

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Lighters ignite interest in classic Dunhill design

02 October 2023

In the wake of an auction record for an ‘aquarium’ lighter at Chiswick Auctions (25/12% buyer’s premium), six more of the classic Dunhill accessories lit up the saleroom.

ATG letter: This is a fantastic time to be in the books and booksellers industry

02 October 2023

We were disappointed to read the article The Young Guard, published in ATG No 2609. After an hour-long interview discussing our experiences as young women in the beginning of our careers, we were taken aback by the published article’s seemingly disparaging portrayal of our narrow commentary around some of those experiences.

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Harry Potter work wins joint prize price

02 October 2023

Boy wizard Harry Potter was up against prize fighter Daniel Mendoza for the top spot at Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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Chrysanthemums in full bloom at Bonhams Skinner

02 October 2023

The late 19th century Japanese artist Keika Hasegawa remains something of an enigma.

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Annie Oakley’s shotgun blasts its way to over $200,000

02 October 2023

A shotgun built for sharpshooter Annie Oakley in 1888 and used during a significant period of her career has sold for $210,000 (£170,100) in Denver, Pennsylvania.

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Brunette not blonde Barbie in the pink at auction

02 October 2023

With the blockbuster Margot Robbie-Ryan Gosling movie packing cinemas worldwide, this has been the summer of Barbie, and that also includes the toy-collecting world.

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It’s a small world: Cary pocket globes emerge in two sales

02 October 2023

Three-inch globes were mostly sold as pocket globes, typically as a terrestrial globe contained within a ray-skin case with the celestial gores for the heavens pasted inside.

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