UK

Stephanie Castell runs The Secondhand Warehouse in Leominster, Herefordshire, and Two Cs Antiques Fairs with Ben Cooper.

The unexpected but very welcome increase in demand that the market experienced amid Covid lockdowns continued in 2022 as restrictions eased – and auction houses are optimistic about another strong performance this year

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Henry III (1216-72) issued his ‘gold penny’ for probably less than a year from August 16, 1357.

Instituted by Maria Dickin, the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), in 1943, the Dickin Medal has been awarded on 71 occasions – 32 of them going to pigeons, 34 to dogs, four to horses and one to a cat.

The corpus of Anglo-Saxon coins lists only 20 coins for the Kentish king Eadberht.

The sale of gallantry awards held by Baldwin’s (20% buyer’s premium) on September 15 included this Edward Medal Exchange George Cross awarded for bravery at the Hedley Pit in 1930.

Mikaela and Roger Boon are all set again for their upcoming Wilton Vintage Fair on Saturday, February 25, at the Michael Herbert Hall in the Wiltshire town of Wilton.

Harmers’ (20% buyer’s premium) third numismatic auction held on September 26 was topped by this Indian rarity, a Gold Mohur issued under the Mughal emperor Nur al-Din Muhammad Jahangir (1605-27).

Sixteenth century work edited by Hakluyt aimed to encourage English expansion and influence

A sale of Banknotes at Noonans included this One Rupee note issued by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino in Goa in 1917. The rare first issue note took £13,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium).

Five-figure stars from north India and South America took top honours at a notably international sale at Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium) on January 18-19.

A selection of 14 upcoming lots available at UK auctions.

A new antiques centre is opening in the small town of Castle Cary in south Somerset. It is just five miles from Bruton, now a hub of contemporary design, antiques businesses and the global art dealership Hauser and Wirth Gallery that draws visitors from around the world.

A summary of news and events from around the trade

An unusual visitor to UK shores last year was this gold ‘Liberty head’ quarter eagle (two and a half dollars) from 1830.

The Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross offered by Morton & Eden (20% buyer’s premium) on July 20 was awarded to Master George Bell Chicken, a civilian volunteer attached to the Indian Naval Brigade.

Of only 26 flying Victoria Crosses issued to date, four were awarded for the Malayan campaign in December 1941-February 1942.

Contemporary artist created a distinctive range of compositions showing men cradling model boats

Handel & Hendrix in London cares for and presents to the public the homes of two of the greatest musicians ever to have lived in London.