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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Eadberht rarity sold at Timeline Auctions

13 February 2023

The corpus of Anglo-Saxon coins lists only 20 coins for the Kentish king Eadberht.

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Edward Medal recognised colliery rescue courage

13 February 2023

The sale of gallantry awards held by Baldwin’s (20% buyer’s premium) on September 15 included this Edward Medal Exchange George Cross awarded for bravery at the Hedley Pit in 1930.

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How to receive phone calls from the afterlife

13 February 2023

It is thought that Thomas Edison invented the first PsychoPhone in an effort to record messages from the subconscious or the afterlife.

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Design of the Zodiac

13 February 2023

Harmers’ (20% buyer’s premium) third numismatic auction held on September 26 was topped by this Indian rarity, a Gold Mohur issued under the Mughal emperor Nur al-Din Muhammad Jahangir (1605-27).

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Wish you were here… in the New World

13 February 2023

Sixteenth century work edited by Hakluyt aimed to encourage English expansion and influence

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Emergency Portuguese banknote sold at Noonans

13 February 2023

A sale of Banknotes at Noonans included this One Rupee note issued by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino in Goa in 1917. The rare first issue note took £13,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium).

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Star Wars rarities… but in bulk

13 February 2023

Large collection of action figures offers multiple examples of hitherto scarce models to test the market

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Eagle flies in to London saleroom

13 February 2023

An unusual visitor to UK shores last year was this gold ‘Liberty head’ quarter eagle (two and a half dollars) from 1830.

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Chicken’s bravery award

13 February 2023

The Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross offered by Morton & Eden (20% buyer’s premium) on July 20 was awarded to Master George Bell Chicken, a civilian volunteer attached to the Indian Naval Brigade.

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Record for an RAF Victoria Cross

13 February 2023

Of only 26 flying Victoria Crosses issued to date, four were awarded for the Malayan campaign in December 1941-February 1942.

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More available at auction from magician Ricky Jay collection

13 February 2023

Potter & Potter in Chicago will sell more items from the collection of magician Ricky Jay on February 25.

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Holland & Holland elephant guns ‘reputed the best’

13 February 2023

This 4ft 7in (1.4m) Victorian painted mahogany shop display sign promotes the merits of guns by Holland & Holland.

WEB Budd Programme Benfica

Manchester United match programme for European Cup final replay never even played makes £7500

09 February 2023

High sums can be paid for football programmes that were produced but never issued as with an unneeded example for the Red Devils' 1968 triumph.

Bed pans

Bonhams holds Chequers attic sale – the country house retreat of British Prime Ministers

08 February 2023

An auction from the ‘attic’ of Chequers is coming to Bonhams in March.

15th century book

Fifteenth century friar's manual inspired by the game of chess

06 February 2023

A 15th century first edition of a pioneering work by Johannes Gallensis surfaced at auction late last month.

Arizona Spike

Pick of the week: Railroad spike hits a cool $1.8m response at auction

06 February 2023

The completion of the US transcontinental railroad in 1869 was the marvel of its age.

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Buyer gets teeth into Thomas Nashe feast

06 February 2023

Extraordinary collection generates £64,000 bid for collaborative works by the playwright and poet

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Archive reveals UK election shenanigans, 1826 style

06 February 2023

Lot sold for multiple-estimate sum in Cumbrian sale relates to a notorious election in Northumberland

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First edition of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest emerges in Chicago

06 February 2023

Included in Potter & Potter’s latest sale of Books and Manuscripts is a rare first edition limited issue of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest.

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‘Akin to living in a private museum’

06 February 2023

Wife describes how collector husband Chris Hancock’s latest artworks had to fight for space in a family home

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