John Nicholson

Pictured below are three fine silver and enamel cigarette cases dating from the turn of the 20th century sold at auction in recent weeks.

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.

The greatest actor of Victorian times and the creator of Dracula were among the notable figures featured in an autograph album sold at Surrey auction house John Nicholson’s (25% buyer’s premium).

Two examples of substantial model presentation cannon came up at different salerooms recently.

Pictured here is a detail from an 18th century parchment roll map documenting the primary roads on a journey from London to Durham through the counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Durham.

Artist’s record broken by trademark highly detailed study of natural objects painted in tempera

Demonstrating the continued interest in pocket watches by most renowned English makers, two Georgian watches, one signed for Thomas Earnshaw and the other for Thomas Mudge, achieved strong results for regional salerooms on the same day in March.

A professional diver snapped up a up a vintage US Navy diving helmet that surfaced in the middle of the English countryside.

John Nicholson’s (25% buyer’s premium) Fine Paintings sale in Fernhurst on February 20 included a good example of The Pictorial Missionary Map of the World - a rarity that appears at auction perhaps once in every decade.

Gifts given by the late Poet Laureate to his friend show how interesting items can be bought for three figures

Works by the Turkish artist Mubin Orhon (1924-81) can be a valuable proposition.

An intriguing inscription on a sword presented to a British army officer by the Sultan of Morocco helped to achieve a hammer price nearly 10 times the top estimate.

An elaborate Victorian meerschaum pipe stood out at a recent Surrey sale.

This medical spoon bears the crest and inscription The Princess Sophia (the 12th child of George III and Queen Charlotte).

Objects from Norwich, York, Ireland and Newcastle in recent sales give a snapshot of the market

The Assay Office in Norwich closed in 1702, so secular objects in particular that bear the city’s mark are rare. Rarer still are pieces bearing the mark of the only female silversmith registered in Norwich towards the end of that period.

There is some discolouring and it appears to have spent some considerable time folded up, but this early 19th century vellum document signed “Bonaparte” as Premier Consul was sold for £3000.

A set of the four volumes that make up William G Johnstone & Alexander Croall’s 'Nature-Printed British Sea-Weeds' of 1859-60 was offered in a December 21 sale at John Nicholson’s (20% buyer’s premium) in Fernhurst, Surrey.