Collectables

This 19th century gilt metal and enamel singing bird automaton that took £17,000 was among the highlights of the Charlie and Shirley Watts collection sold by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.

Collection of goalkeeper who survived 1958 Munich disaster generates a strong demand at auction, plus Liverpool FC favourites in focus at auction

A trade card featuring football player Steve Bloomer (1874-1938) went well beyond its guide of £6000-8000 as it hammered for £24,000.

Part of the legend of escapologist Harry Houdini (1874-1926) rests on the hundreds of ‘challenges’ he accepted from manufacturers of packing cases, boxes, handcuffs and the like.

UK Pen Shows runs pen fairs across the country and is launching a Cheltenham Pen Show at the town’s racecourse on Saturday June 27.

On the day the 15ct gold and enamel medal Celtic FC’s latest Scottish title success clinched in the very last game of the season against Hearts came 133 years after their first.

A horrible season for West Ham, Spurs and Wolves has come to an end... but glory days for the clubs were recalled by several lots sold recently.

In May 1950 Manchester United embarked on a 12-match tour of North America.

The Van Blarenberghes were a dynasty of artists from Lille in northern France.

A handkerchief made in early 19th century Scotland celebrating the 1776 Declaration of Independence and featuring portraits of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson hammered for $55,000 (£40,425) at Eldred’s (26% buyer’s premium).

The Sportingold (20% buyer’s premium) World Cup, International & North American Soccer Sale on May 27 was timed handily just before the 23rd World Cup begins in the US, Mexico and Canada.

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

The two images of 1907-08 shown here are from a group of nine postcards relating to Crystal Palace FC that were given a modest estimate of £50-80 in the Paper Collectables sale at Toovey’s (25% buyer’s premium) on May 20.

Pictures from the ‘Dam Busters’ collection which sold at West Sussex auction house Denhams earlier this year are on display at Darnley Fine Art before travelling abroad to their new private collections.

An original piece of Astérix cover art painted by Albert Uderzo (1927-2020) sold for an $360,000 (£267,000) at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Dallas, Texas.

The ABA’s flagship fair boasted a strong turnout, international interest and a younger audience

Two-in-one edition of the first and last Jane Austen novels had sat undisturbed in a hallway for over 50 years