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.

The Prince

First English edition of The Prince doubles estimate in Essex

26 September 2024

A rare copy of the first English edition of Niccolo Machiavelli’s seminal 1532 book 'The Prince' was snapped up at an auction in Colchester.

John Osborne photographs

‘A treasury of theatrical and cultural life’: John Osborne collection comes to Olympia Auctions

26 September 2024

The collection of playwright John Osborne (1929-1994) is coming to auction next month.

Webb’s Seeds of Stourbridge enamel sign

Seeds of success as rare advertising sign sells at three times estimate

25 September 2024

A highly desirable British enamel advertising sign surfaced for sale in Scotland where it sold for £11,000.

Irish fruitwood penal cross

18th century Irish penal cross brings demand in North Yorkshire auction

24 September 2024

Penal crosses take their name from the series of laws the restricted the rights of Roman Catholics and other nonconformists.

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Rare David Hockney print among five lots to watch

23 September 2024

With estimates from £800, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Golf narrated as a Greek epic

23 September 2024

First printed book dedicated to the game took the intriguing form of a heroic clash on Leith Links

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Roll up, roll up for a great sale

23 September 2024

Exhibited in New Bond Street over the summer, Bonhams’ auction titled The Greatest Show: The Fairground World of Ross Hutchinson was held over two days earlier this month: 150 lots at a live auction on September 10, with a further 150 through a timed online sale concluding the following day.

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Boxing prints power their way beyond estimates

23 September 2024

On a wintry February day in 1789 in a field on the outskirts of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, a fight between Irishman Michael Ryan and English champion Thomas Johnson was heating up.

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Awesome four sums: Rylands impresses again

23 September 2024

Such is the size of the ‘museum of collectables’ formed by the British toy designer Patrick Rylands, Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) in Derbyshire is selling the array in five separate auctions.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, September 24-October 10, 2024

23 September 2024

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

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Pick of the Week: Constable's letter from key patron

23 September 2024

A letter written to John Constable by a key patron formed part of the sale of Old Masters and 19th Century Art at Chiswick Auctions on September 18.

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Cricket covered in the form of a mock-heroic poem

23 September 2024

An auction of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks and Cricket Books at Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Norwich on September 14-15 was led by a first edition of the first separately published poem on cricket.

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Single-owner collections: one careful owner

23 September 2024

Whether it is a collection accumulated by a family often over generations or amassed through the efforts of an individual, such sales can deliver big results - especially now for regional auction houses winning consignments

Sergeant Derrick John Allen

Medal awarded to sergeant who freed fellow gunner when bailing among lots at Baldwin’s

21 September 2024

Air gunner Sergeant Derrick John Allen was returning from an operation to Dusseldorf when his Lancaster was attacked several times – forcing the crew to bail.

Trevor Francis Winners Medal

Trevor Francis collection heads to auction

19 September 2024

Britain’s first million-pound player won two European Cups under Brian Clough as part of a sparkling footballing career – now his personal collection heads to auction

Chiswick Autograph Book Cover

Autograph book from disinherited daughter of a three-times Prime Minister signs off at £16,000

19 September 2024

A descendent of Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, who was Prime Minister three times in the 1850s and 1860s, consigned an extraordinary autograph album for sale at Chiswick Auctions.

1496 Danish gold noble

Bruun collection sets record for any Scandinavian coin

18 September 2024

The first part of the auction of the extraordinary coin collection of Lars Emil Bruun (1852-1923) raised a total of €14.8m (£12.5m) including premium last week.

WEB Heritage Fantastic Four

First Fantastic Four in super condition becomes the second most valuable Silver Age comic

18 September 2024

One of only two copies of 1961’s Fantastic Four No 1 comic to be awarded a Near Mint+ 9.6 grade by Certified Guaranty Company set a record for this historic first chapter in the Marvel Universe.

174351 5 Glaisher

Rare set of Victorian snowflake prints among highlights at the Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair

18 September 2024

The Toronto Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair is a literary magnet for collectors, librarians, archivists, scholars, academics and dealers.

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US institution buys extraordinary harp-guitar

16 September 2024

The final day of Gardiner Houlgate’s latest guitar auction included a remarkable Victorian-era instrument: a rosewood and mother of pearl inlaid harp-guitar or ‘guitarpa’.

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