UK

Trade day at the decorative fair is particularly welcomed by dealers when times are more challenging

A letter of apology written by George Harrison after two autograph-hunting schoolgirls got a distinctly unfriendly reception when they turned up on the doorstep of his home took £6100 at auction.

In one way, Johnny Berry (1926-94) was luckier than many of Manchester United’s Busby Babes: he survived the Munich air disaster on February 6, 1958, that killed many of his teammates.

Footprint design telling a story of lost love stars among a selection of ‘out of the ordinary’ collectables lots sold at auction

La Lutine, launched by the French in 1779 and later requisitioned into the Royal Navy, is today best known for its sinking.

On June 9, 1934, Donald Duck made his debut in a supporting role in a Silly Symphony cartoon titled The Wise Little Hen.

A flurry of bids emerged at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford for a particularly fine 17th century portrait of a young woman.

Specialist print fair has constantly evolved but remains at heart a celebration of these works on paper

Middle-Earth history works edited by Christopher and two copies of The Hobbit with interesting links

This jersey dates from between 1886 and 1890, making it not just the oldest Middlesbrough FC shirt but possibly the oldest Football League shirt extant.

With Arsenal still setting the pace at the top of the Premier League as we went to press, several lots offered at Graham Budd’s (24% buyer’s premium) sale on March 7-8 acted as a reminder of the club’s formative days.

Middle market Old Masters, longstanding family ownership, market freshness... what’s not to like?

Sold at the high-estimate £3500 at a Kent auction was a German facsimile edition of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

In the 007 collecting scene Dr No (1962) is usually the film poster buyers are most keen to say yes to.

This polychrome advertising plaque features a portrait of Ninon de L’Enclos, a notorious courtesan who scandalised France by numerous affairs with prominent statesmen and church notables.

On November 26, 1976, the Sex Pistols released their first single, Anarchy in the UK.

Many animals stuffed by taxidermists stand out as fiercesome beasts that could easily have turned on the hunters themselves.

Shown here is the original 15ips (inches per second) tape of, by repute, Rod Stewart’s first recording on June 18, 1964, together with a second copy.

“A very rare and early item of cricketing history” is how Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) describes the large silk handkerchief shown here.

A roundup of news and events from across the trade.