Latest News Articles by Matt Ball
Bloomin’ heck: it’s £24,000 for a Derby County football card
29 May 2026A trade card featuring football player Steve Bloomer (1874-1938) went well beyond its guide of £6000-8000 as it hammered for £24,000.
The day the mighty Man Utd beat Joe Simpkins 5-0
29 May 2026In May 1950 Manchester United embarked on a 12-match tour of North America.
Tiny winger, towering result: Billy Bassett Baines card hammers at 36 times top estimate
27 May 2026West Bromwich Albion legend brings in the bidders
Bloomer card scores at £24,000
19 May 2026Collectable featuring Derby County and England football legend shoots way above estimate.
State of the market: Exclusive ATG survey of auction houses reveals determination alongside trepidation
15 May 2026What do auction houses feel about doing business in challenging times? Read our exclusive survey to find out
Upcycled cufflinks: second-hand style, first-rate reaction
15 May 2026ATG's publishing director recounts the joy of wearing an upcycled accessory
Novelty maps: From Alehouse to Away End
08 May 2026On how many different journeys can an old map take you? We spotted this 1930 novelty map of London which sold for £1250 at Sportingold in Barnsley in February this year and were so intrigued by its content that we could not resist researching it further
Miró works discovered in Nice studio head to auction
08 April 2026Three previously unseen works on paper by Joan Miró (1893–1983) have been discovered in a studio in Nice and are set to make their auction debut in April.
The Arbiter’s Archive: Sotheby’s to auction extraordinary chess collection
25 March 2026In the world of chess, few names command as much quiet authority as Lothar Schmid.
Reuters investigation names the man behind the Banksy myth
13 March 2026For more than 25 years, some people in the art world have been pondering one question: who is Banksy?
Corkscrew? Saw? Screwdriver? Yes, but it’s not a Swiss army knife
13 March 2026A rare silver multi-functional gentleman’s tool by the celebrated firm Holtzapffel & Co proved to be the stand-out lot at Flints' latest sale.
Bidding battle for battered teaching book shows rising demand for social artefacts
27 February 2026Pristine first editions from sought-after authors or documents written by the luminaries of times past are usually the ones that command the greatest attention at book auctions.
Focus on a formidable character
20 February 2026A look at recent book releases, including a work bringing to life Pilkington’s company driving force William Burton
White gloves for Oscar Wilde auction at Bonhams
18 February 2026All 156 lots of the Jeremy Mason collection are sold as bidders vie for choice items related to iconic figure.
White gloves as all lots sell at auction of John Russell Taylor collection
11 February 2026"Oh goodness me, look at that..." said auctioneer Adrian Biddell as his colleagues presented him with the traditional handwear.
Rare programme from 1909 FA Cup final sells for £8500
05 February 2026Victory marked the first time Manchester United lifted the FA Cup but what happened to their unfortunate mascot?
IACF founder Geoff Whitaker dies aged 82
15 January 2026Geoffrey Whitaker, entrepreneur, dealer and founder of the International Antiques & Collectors Fairs (IACF), died over the Christmas holiday aged 82, after a period of illness.
Looking ahead to 2026
09 January 2026Will the year ahead turn out to be less turbulent than last year? The art and antiques trade – buffeted by economic uncertainty, US tariffs and EU regulations – will certainly hope so
On with the shows: 32 of the best events taking place in 2026
09 January 2026A feast of exhibitions awaits art and antiques lovers when they venture out to the country’s museums both big and small this year
Bobby Charlton with hair nets £17,200 card result
09 January 2026Little is known about Soiree Cigarettes or the firm behind them and it is only thanks to the collectable cards it issued in Mauritius that its name appears in web search results today.