Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Signs to show how Brits fought back at the flying bombs
01 April 2024The Germans began firing V1 flying bombs at Britain in June 1944 and V2 rockets followed that September.
Medals & militaria: String of six-figure successes in Mayfair
01 April 2024Mayfair auction house builds on an excellent performance last year with stand-out results at the start of 2024
Victoria Cross awarded eventually ‘by vote of his brother officers’
01 April 2024Among six-figure successes in the medals market, last year Spink sold the ‘Operation Chastise’ Distinguished Flying Cross group of five given to Dambuster Flt Lt Edward ‘Johnnie’ Johnson for £105,000.
Personal touch on board: the ditty box
01 April 2024With space and privacy at a premium on board ships, sailors used ditty boxes to store their most treasured possessions plus personal necessities and everyday items such as sewing kit.
Pair of Portland stone sculptures by Charles Sargeant Jagger are among six lots to watch
25 March 2024With estimates from £120, here are six previews of lots coming up at auction this week.
An antiques expert with Georgian on his mind
25 March 2024If specialist Karl Martin was the type to take work home with him he’d be in danger of never finding it again.
Charles Darwin presentation copy of On the Origin of Species is among five lots to watch
18 March 2024With estimates from £800, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Lincolnshire auction house tunes in to local celebrity Claribel
18 March 2024Memorabilia relating to the Victorian songwriter ‘Claribel’ returned home from Malta to be auctioned in Lincolnshire and were bought by the local museum.
Watch counted as thanks to magazine editor Dickens
18 March 2024A trio of lots relating to Charles Dickens offered at Chichester saleroom Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) included a presentation pocket watch.
A race suit worn by Sir Stirling Moss is among five lots to watch
11 March 2024With estimates from £1500, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Pick of the week: All Blacks debut in a white top
11 March 2024A shirt from the first time the famed All Blacks played in white instead has sold at auction.
Album helped Rolling Stones to go on tour, not fade away
11 March 2024In 1969 the Rolling Stones were ready to go touring again after a gap of more than two years. Featuring a new guitarist, the 17-date tour in the US began on November 7.
Dickens work makes far more than expectations
11 March 2024One of the stand-out results at a three-day auction of a huge American book collection came for a very British lot.
Bidder dives in at the deep end to buy desirable US Navy equipment
11 March 2024A professional diver snapped up a up a vintage US Navy diving helmet that surfaced in the middle of the English countryside.
Conan Doyle appears in detail as second part of dedicated collection comes to auction
11 March 2024Chicago sale offers more than 300 works related to the British author amassed by US collectors
FA Cup hero’s 1884 honour sells in Cheshire
11 March 2024A football medal sold at a Cheshire auction house was so early in date that it was only the 13th time the FA Cup final had been contested, the game was played at Kennington Oval and the opposition was a Scottish team.
Good Korea move: Joseon helmet soars to £20,500
11 March 2024It may have been catalogued as requiring restoration but a “scarce” 19th century Korean helmet still managed to sell for 82 times its low estimate at Hansons (26% buyer’s premium).