Features

“The Russians opened fire on our right, on our left, and then in front...

The Spink (20% buyer’s premium) sale on April 23 that included the Rorke’s Drift medal awarded to ‘Ammunition Smith’ (see News, ATG No 2742) also featured several other notable lots.

Personal stories grab the attention of militaria collectors, transforming dry histories of dates and names, facts and figures into real-life flesh and blood tales.

During the First World War aviators of the Royal Flying Corps suffered from the cold over the Western Front. A solution was the ’fug boot’.

Richard Winterton (22% buyer’s premium) offered what was described simply as a “post Second World War” leather flying helmet with goggles and gas mask on May 21 in Tamworth.

Auction lots for a while now have demonstrated a factor which may be termed a ‘Malta premium’.

Henry Piddington (1797-1858) was an English sea captain who sailed mostly in East India and China.

A true connoisseur’s collection of early silver greeted those who viewed the Woolley & Wallis (27/26% buyer’s premium) Fine Silver & Objects of Vertu sale in Salisbury on April 28-29.

As pre-sale Instagram posts go, the promo for the auction at Martel Maides (20% buyer’s premium) in St Peter Port, Guernsey, on May 1 was inspired.

Collection of goalkeeper who survived 1958 Munich disaster generates a strong demand at auction, plus Liverpool FC favourites in focus at auction

A trade card featuring football player Steve Bloomer (1874-1938) went well beyond its guide of £6000-8000 as it hammered for £24,000.

On the day the 15ct gold and enamel medal Celtic FC’s latest Scottish title success clinched in the very last game of the season against Hearts came 133 years after their first.

A horrible season for West Ham, Spurs and Wolves has come to an end... but glory days for the clubs were recalled by several lots sold recently.

In May 1950 Manchester United embarked on a 12-match tour of North America.

The Sportingold (20% buyer’s premium) World Cup, International & North American Soccer Sale on May 27 was timed handily just before the 23rd World Cup begins in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The two images of 1907-08 shown here are from a group of nine postcards relating to Crystal Palace FC that were given a modest estimate of £50-80 in the Paper Collectables sale at Toovey’s (25% buyer’s premium) on May 20.

Focus on a dedicated auction in Sussex that dispersed the single-owner collection of an Anglo-Norwegian who became fascinated by combat in the Far East

A cased Powell and Son/ Tranter 4th model 54 bore percussion revolver was offered in a 14½ x 8in (37 x 20cm) oak case with the name plaque to the lid engraved Alfred Hancocks Lieutenant, 1st Worcestershire Volunteers Rifle Corps.

As a market probably regarded as more ‘traditional’ than many others, you might expect arms and armour collectors to be wary of online-only auctions. However, the latest timed online sales at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) of west London show that bidders have embraced the concept.

Estimated at £500-1000, a “scarce” 10 bore military flintlock musket instead hammered at £9200 in the February 25 auction at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium).