Collectables

A stellar collection of rare Japanese robots and space toys featured in the Milestone (20% buyer’s premium) sale in Willoughby, Ohio.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

The Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA) has launched a new two-day premier book fair to take place in Preston this summer.

While the achievement of Manchester City players in winning three titles in consecutive seasons – with a treble – is certainly admirable, spare a thought for Tom Wilson, a footballer of a much earlier era.

Despite its many shortcomings in terms of accuracy and reliability, the flintlock Long Land Pattern smoothbore musket – or Brown Bess to give it its more familiar nickname – remained in use from 1722 until the introduction of the percussion cap in 1838.

Illustrious names feature under portraits in a book about flying heroes from the Second World War

These two archival prints of David Bowie dressed in a striped bodysuit he wore during the 1973 Aladdin Sane tour were part of Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) sale of 19th and 20th Century Photographs on May 31.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

A 1954 edition of 'The Mousetrap' play script offered on June 6 at the Cotswold Auction Company (24% buyer’s premium) was inscribed by the author “For James Grout on our 6th birthday, Agatha Christie”.

Queen singer Freddie Mercury’s art and antiques collection is coming up for sale in September.

A print commemorating an 18th century example of British and American military cooperation was given as a present 200 years later to mark another joint success.

A musical ‘captain’s desk’ davenport sold for £9500 at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) Scientific and Musical Instruments sale in Leyburn on May 17.

A buyer got their teeth into an antique doll at auction despite the foot being chewed off by the family' pet dog.

Hermann Historica’s (25% buyer’s premium inc VAT) huge series of sales in Munich included what it billed as ‘a key document from German history’.

Dealer explains why he is holding a show instead of standing at a fair as he has done for about 40 years

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

Trio of collections is offered in Perth auction with estimates pitched to entice bidders

De Baecque & Associés will be selling this monumental astronomical clock standing 9ft 11in (3m) high on June 30.

Annotation of 1803-04 work included in a single collection features remark about his mistress