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.

DD 2671 Mao Quotations (3)

'Unlikely to ever be equalled': Justin Schiller's remarkable collection of Mao's Little Red Books offered for £1m at Firsts Hong Kong

27 November 2024

From the world’s largest collection of the Little Red Book to the first atlas of China made in Europe, London's book dealers are bringing rare pieces of history to Hong Kong

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Words and pictures bring the Great War experience alive

25 November 2024

An eight-page account of the famous football match played on Christmas Day in the First World War during an unofficial truce was a highlight of a remarkable album compiled by Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse Maude Alice Lineham (1883-1967).

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Poem 'survives as unique text' in a late 15th century Italian manuscript

25 November 2024

A recent sale at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (26% buyer’s premium) in Exeter included a late 15th century Italian manuscript that is thought to be a codex unicus.

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Napoleon’s asylum hope went up in smoke

25 November 2024

A pair of pistols that were presented by Napoleon just six weeks after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo are on offer in Thomas Del Mar’s sale of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria on December 4.

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Five questions with Oliver Wood of Shapero Rare Books

25 November 2024

Oliver Wood is the photography books expert at Shapero Rare Books.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, November 27-December 15, 2024

25 November 2024

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

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Fab Four phonograph is a hit

25 November 2024

The Beatles Memorabilia Auction at Tracks (25% buyer’s premium) in Chorley, Lancashire included one of the most desirable of all commercial Fab Four items: the 1964 Beatles record player by NEMS Enterprises.

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Fill the starring role by winning an astronomy board game

25 November 2024

John Wallis was one of the leading publishers of board games in the early 19th century. One of them, Science in Sport, or the Pleasures of Astronomy, was first issued in 1804 and revised in 1815.

Kafka First Sorrow

Manuscript of Kafka’s 'First Sorrow' to appear at German auction

20 November 2024

The manuscript of Franz Kafka’s short story 'Erstes Leid', or First Sorrow, accompanied by a three-page letter to his publisher will appear at auction in Hamburg on November 23.

Marauder's Map

Harry Potter Marauder’s Map makes nine-times estimate

20 November 2024

Making its first appearance in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', the map was used to track the whereabouts of teachers and students in Hogwarts

Buccaneers Of America

Early book on piracy in the Caribbean emerges at Bonhams

19 November 2024

'Buccaneers of America' by Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin offered a rare glimpse into the eye-opening exploits of pirates in the Caribbean

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The £200 eBay cigar case that sparked a £16,000 bid

18 November 2024

When an Irish antiques sleuth paid under £200 on eBay for what appeared to be a cigar case, information about its origin was sketchy at best.

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Dickin Medal earned by ‘Dog of War’ is up for sale

18 November 2024

A Dickin Medal – the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross – is expected to reach £30,000-40,000 at coin and medal auction specialist Morton & Eden in London on December 4.

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Tunbridge ware table cabinet is among five lots to watch

18 November 2024

With estimates from £500, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Purdy miner’s lamps improved the safety margin

18 November 2024

A collection of miner’s lamps at Bamfords (24.75% buyer’s premium) in Derby included a pair of patent lamps by William Purdy.

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First die-cast Leica camera comes up

18 November 2024

The first-ever Leica die-cast camera, dating to 1933-34 and created by the Oskar Barnack, the father of modern 35mm photography, appeared as a landmark lot in the sixth sale from Wetzlar Camera Auctions (21.01% buyer’s premium) - held in the hometown of the manufacturer.

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Agatha Christie collection detects high demand

18 November 2024

Highlights from the The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper offered at Forum

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Electric train sparks bidding battle

18 November 2024

Star of the show at Auktionhaus Heilbronn’s (21.7% buyer’s premium) latest sale of tinplate toys was a rare three-carriage Märklin train from the Rheinuferbahn, the line from Cologne and Bonn along the banks of the Rhine.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, November 18-December 8

18 November 2024

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

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Mr Toad stars in a Shepard original sold at Forum Auctions

18 November 2024

Wind in the Willows illustration leads varied selection of lots offered by west London saleroom

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