Auctioneers

It has built-in machine guns, grenade storage, an ejector seat and it’s up for grabs. James Bond’s 1965 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger and Thunderball is going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s this month.

One consequence of the growing prevalence of charity shops on the high street is that auctioneers are receiving more and more items that these organisations want to check in case they are valuable.

Auction sales at the top of the sector have slowed in the first half of this year.

Dix Noonan Webb (DNW) has become the first UK numismatics auctioneer to set its buyer’s premium beyond 20%. The London-based coins, medal and jewellery specialist will charge a premium of 24% from September.

With estimates from £200-30,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.

The market for Wedgwood ceramics may not be as bullish as it was three decades ago but this range of wares, produced from the First World War through the interwar period, continues to enjoy some of the strongest demand for the factory’s products which stretch across two and a half centuries.

Sotheby’s has announced a major sale in Paris this autumn of works from the personal collection of the celebrated French designers François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne.

A travelling doll's house, made in 1810 to entertain children on long journeys, fetched €48,000 (£42,800) hammer at Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers in Kilkenny, Ireland earlier this week.

A ‘photo gun’ inspired by an African explorer has been snapped up for a hammer price of £138,000 at Special Auction Services, setting a house record for the Newbury saleroom.

A collection of rare colour photographs from a ‘lost’ Dr Who episode proved the enduring appeal of the TV show’s memorabilia last week as it was bid to more than four times its high estimate.

An update on recent appointments in the world of art and antiques.

NASA videotape recordings of the Apollo 11 mission topped Sotheby’s Space Exploration Sale held on the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne auction house Anderson & Garland will begin the sale of a vast number of vintage comics this week.