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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Brave RAF Lancaster bomber pilot flew nine times in the 'Battle of Berlin'

05 May 2025

Noonans’ Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale on April 9 included a rare group of medals awarded to Lancaster Bomber pilot, Warrant Officer, later Flight Lieutenant, Edward Sydney Ellis of 625 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

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Cricketer Ranji rare gold Great War medal hits five figures

05 May 2025

The British War Medal 1914-20 is not exactly uncommon. Issued in the First World War, about 6.5 million were struck in silver and 110,000 in bronze.

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Trafalgar combination counts as family medals group takes £19,000

05 May 2025

Four medals awarded to members of the Robertson family included one to a Battle of Trafalgar veteran.

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Five questions with book dealer Tom W Ayling

05 May 2025

Tom W Ayling is an antiquarian bookseller dealing in rare books and manuscripts.

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Need ointment for your ‘emrods’? Why early remedy books help in the modern day

05 May 2025

With crossover interest to several collecting disciplines, early manuscript recipe and remedy books continue to thrive at auction.

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Firm interest in film cameras

05 May 2025

Specialist dealer attending photographic fair tells ATG about the latest trends in this market

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Duke of Wellington’s plumage causes a flutter in the saleroom

05 May 2025

A case containing plumes from the Duke of Wellington’s hat was central to a lot offered by Hannams (25% buyer’s premium) in Hampshire on March 11.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, May 7-25, 2025

05 May 2025

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

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15th century carving from dealers' collection bid to eight times estimate

05 May 2025

The Age of Oak sale at Woolley & Wallis (26% buyer’s premium) on April 9 was built around the collection formed by antiques dealers Bruce and Margaret Howard.

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RAF relics on display in Cornish theme park reflect courage of one of ‘The Few’

05 May 2025

An RAF uniform, log book and medals that belonged to one of ‘The Few’ was a highlight when Cornish saleroom Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) dispersed the contents of Flambards theme park.

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Superb naval medals on crest of a wave

05 May 2025

Both parts of the excellent Jason Pilalas collection delivered suitably impressive results for London auction house Noonans

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Printed catalogues retain their charm for book buyers

05 May 2025

It’s probably no surprise that, even in the days of digital first, printed catalogues are still loved by rare book collectors.

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Charles II glove ‘worn at coronation’

05 May 2025

An embroidered glove understood to have been worn by Charles II at his Scottish Coronation in Scone in 1651 sold for £7000 at Ewbank’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Woking.

Feather golf ball

‘Featherie’ golf balls: ideal to score a birdie?

05 May 2025

An early leather-bound feather golf ball consigned for sale from a house move in Old Woking in Surrey comes for sale at John Nicholson’s in Haslemere on May 14.

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'Unique' sulphide portrait of George Washington emerges

05 May 2025

Possibly a pair with Franklin, but saleroom unable to trace another example depicting Washington

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Uniforms found in a trunk find plenty of fans at auction

05 May 2025

An intriguing collection that came from a house of a well-connected Devon family caused a stir when it emerged at Exeter saleroom Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (26/25% buyer’s premium).

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Operation Chariot medal group charges in to auction

05 May 2025

Operation Chariot on March 28, 1942, was one of the most daring British commando raids of the Second World War, aimed at destroying the heavily fortified dry dock at St Nazaire used by the German battleship Tirpitz.

Alan Taylor's FA Cup final shirt

Two-goal hero’s FA Cup shirt doubles estimate at Essex auction

02 May 2025

Alan Taylor’s West Ham United shirt from the 1975 FA Cup final draws interest at Stacey’s in Chelmsford

Harry Potter printer's sheets

Only known set of unbound sheets for first Harry Potter book heads to auction

29 April 2025

The only known set of unbound sheets for JK Rowling’s debut 1997 novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' will be offered by Heritage Auctions in Dallas on May 8-9.

Rao Jie calligraphy

Sotheby's conducts its ‘longest ever bidding battle' as 20ft Chinese scroll flies over estimate

29 April 2025

Hong Kong auctioneer CC Wang conducted Sotheby’s ‘longest ever bidding battle’ when a calligraphy handscroll by a Yuan dynasty master took over 200 bids and 97 minutes to sell.

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