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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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.

Hilary Mantel's desk

Dealer offers Hilary Mantel’s desk used to write Wolf Hall trilogy

28 April 2025

Among the attractions at this year’s ‘Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair’ on May 15-18 is the desk upon which Hilary Mantel wrote her celebrated ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy.

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Arms and armour specialist David Williams joins Olympia Auctions

28 April 2025

Veteran antique arms and armour specialist David Williams is joining the Olympia Auctions team as senior consultant.

Shakespeare’s Four Folios

Sotheby’s to offer copies of all four Shakespeare Folios as a single lot

28 April 2025

Sotheby's is staging a single-lot auction next month, offering copies of all four Shakespeare Folios.

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Dandelion depiction attributed to Beatrix Potter shoots to £2600

28 April 2025

A watercolour of a dandelion attributed to Beatrix Potter estimated at £200-300 ended up selling at a hammer price of £2600.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, April 30 to May 22, 2025

28 April 2025

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

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News in brief including the earliest English book on cheese being made publicly available

28 April 2025

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including the University of Leeds making available the earliest-known English book about cheese

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Miniature globes put the world in your pocket

28 April 2025

Several middle-market pocket globes have appeared at regional salerooms recently – here is a selection

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First of 2025’s Britannia Medal Fairs coming up

28 April 2025

As this year commemorates VE and VJ days, there are likely to be even more collectors and dealers than usual converging on the first of 2025’s biannual Britannia Medal Fairs on Sunday, May 11.

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Game on: the new modern collecting categories coming into play

28 April 2025

From Pokémon trading cards to retro gaming consoles, the growing market in modern collectables is bringing new buyers and consignors to the market – and providing new business opportunities

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Get hooked on angling with the help of this specialist vintage tackle event

28 April 2025

More people than ever are getting hooked on angling, says the Angling Trust which reported that in 2023-24 as a result of participation events more than 43,000 people tried fishing for the first time.

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How the internet boosted Propstore's TV and film memorabilia empire

28 April 2025

The rise in modern collectables at auction has enabled one relative newcomer to prosper.

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