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.

img_22-1.jpg

Colourful jacket of distinctive type boosts du Maurier Rebecca

15 May 2023

Four-figure first edition du Maurier book comes in the trademark Gollancz design without pictures

img_9-2.jpg

Mitten worn on 1953 Everest expedition sold at Hansons

15 May 2023

A left-hand cotton mitten owned by John Hunt (1910-98), leader of the successful British Expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, sold for £3200 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Hansons in Bishton Hall, Staffordshire, on May 10.

img_38-4.jpg

Bid for the feeling of Bliss at auction

15 May 2023

Converse Auctions in Pennsylvania will be offering the clock collection of Willis R Michael (1894-1969) in its online auction on May 19.

img_34-1.jpg

Collector Interview: Donation to the Met on the cards as prescribed by doctor’s order

15 May 2023

Dr Cyril Mazansky, a retired radiologist in the US, is a historian and author with a focus on UK history.

img_22-3.jpg

English 17th century works play their part in New York

15 May 2023

Early English plays provided the principal attraction in a US saleroom

img_23-1.jpg

Pioneering Arrowsmith atlas admired for elegance

15 May 2023

The County Durham-born cartographer John Arrowsmith (1790-1873) was responsible for one of the first ‘modern’ atlases of the 19th century.

img_40-4.jpg

Dickens brings expectations of up to $12,000

15 May 2023

Potter & Potter’s second books auction of the year includes Charles Dickens’ (1812-70) Great Expectations estimated at $8000-12,000.

British and Irish book auctions: May 9-20, 2023

08 May 2023

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

img_36-2.jpg

Fair previews: Up to London from Down Under

08 May 2023

Australian dealer coming to the UK for Firsts describes the attractions of the Chelsea event

img_37-2.jpg

London Map Fair reaches outwards

08 May 2023

The London Map Fair, which bills itself as the world’s oldest and largest event of its kind, is widening its scope.

img_1-1.jpg

An astronomical price paid for Mamluk manuscript

08 May 2023

A 13th century Mamluk (Egyptian or Syrian) manuscript on astronomy sold for a surprise £140,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) in south London on April 28.

img_18-1.jpg

Waugh, witch and Wheatley

08 May 2023

West Sussex sale highlights – including a work detailing author’s obsession with bricklaying as a hobby

img_42-1.jpg

PBFA event: They’ll love it in London

08 May 2023

The PBFA’s London International Antiquarian Book Fair takes place on May 20-21. Book dealer and PBFA publicity manager Jeremy Carson explains to ATG what to expect this year

img_66-6.jpg

Bravo my boy from Abe Lincoln

08 May 2023

A handwritten note signed twice by Abraham Lincoln written just days before winning the 1864 presidential election was the toast of University Archives’ (25% buyer’s premium) April 19 online auction in Connecticut.

img_99-1.jpg

Chalmers charmed by tennis book dealer award

08 May 2023

Alan Chalmers of The Tennis Bookshop (established in 1988) has been awarded the United States Court Tennis Association’s 2023 George Plimpton Prize for his “fine work as a book dealer”.

img_58-1.jpg

The incredible story of Aristophil

08 May 2023

Involving a string of spectacular works, the saga of the collapsed French firm is worth a novel itself

img_64-2.jpg

Robespierre to Danton correspondence sold at Osenat

08 May 2023

A rare souvenir, an example of correspondence between two key figures in the French Revolution, was one of the highlights of a sale held by Osenat (25% buyer’s premium) in Versailles on March 12.

img_66-1.jpg

Big price for miniature work at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr

08 May 2023

The first 90 or so lots in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) sale of Islamic and Indian Art held in Paris on April 6 were the property of a Royal collection.

img_71-1.jpg

From Horatio Nelson to a Hebrew bible and Ulysses to the BFG: a selection of upcoming auction highlights

08 May 2023

Stand-out lots to watch out for in UK, Irish, European and US sales of books and works on paper

img_74-4.jpg

Two’s company in Cambridge

08 May 2023

Sarah Key and Phil Salin celebrated 30 years at the helm of the PBFA’s Cambridge Premier book fair in February. They chat to ATG about changes facing the fair, recent trends in the trade – and working together as a married couple

Categories

News