Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Scottish swords in battle and play
12 August 2019A Battle of Culloden period Clan MacTavish silver inlaid basket-hilted back sword sold for £4800, just below top estimate, at the Antony Cribb (22% buyer’s premium) auction on July 30.
Terracotta figure of legendary cricketer WG Grace hits £10,000 hammer in Canterbury auction
08 August 2019With the new cricket world champions facing an uphill struggle after being thrashed in the first Ashes test by the Aussies, England could do with summoning the spirit of WG Grace.
Extraordinary 'photo gun’ sets a house record by selling for £138,000 at Special Auction Services
24 July 2019A ‘photo gun’ inspired by an African explorer has been snapped up for a hammer price of £138,000 at Special Auction Services, setting a house record for the Newbury saleroom.
Notorious Ashes Dennis Lillee banned aluminium cricket bat scores £5200 at auction
23 July 2019The Cricket World Cup final proved to be one of the most dramatic matches ever – and controversial. Should the Stokes bat-hitting accident have earned six points or five?
Pick of the week: ‘Blonde bombshell’ poster makes big impact at auction
22 July 2019A controversial Second World War poster by renowned designer Abram Games (1914-96) has sold for what is believed to be an auction record.
Classic wartime posters impress in Dorset auction including a probable Abram Games record price
18 July 2019A poster which is one of the most famous worldwide is also one of the rarest: just six copies of the British First World War design showing a fierce Kitchener pointing at YOU are known to exist.
How a saleroom can get into the right groove to offer an amphibious vehicle and a 12m sofa
17 July 2019As an auction house, what sale format do you squeeze an amphibious vehicle or a 12m long sofa into? When it comes to the ‘weird and wonderful’, auctioneers often face a challenge.
Early Special Boat Service badges and insignia show the special forces collecting impact on auctions
15 July 2019The lot description ‘special forces’ always causes a stir among militaria collectors and a particularly good example emerged at specialist auction house Bosleys of Marlow.
Orange Pulcini glass bird hits a high
15 July 2019The classic ‘orange’ Pulcini glass bird is deemed the most common of the five designed by Pianon.
Boer War group puts the boot in
15 July 2019An “extremely rare” grouping of military items including a British 1899 issue leather hobnail boot with a shrapnel hole sold for £6500 at a Buckinghamshire auction on July 3.
Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell's boots worn in 1967 European Cup final won by Celtic on offer in Glasgow auction
10 July 2019Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell’s boots from the 1967 European Cup final are going under the hammer at a Glasgow auction house on July 19.
Plaque professing thanks to God for deliverance from plague up for auction
09 July 2019The plague that devastated London in 1665 is well known but an intriguing wooden panel coming up at auction on July 17 shows the disease proved fatal to many thousands in other areas during that era.
Five militaria auction highlights including snuff mull given by 1745 Jacobite rising leader to the guard at his execution
01 July 2019A snuff mull owned by an executed 1745 Jacobite rising leader and a First World War British tank splatter mask are among five hammer highlights in June auctions.
Complete set of classic Art Deco-style vintage travel posters by Tom Purvis for sale at auction for the first time
27 June 2019A rare opportunity to buy a whole set of one of the most popular Art Deco-style travel posters ever produced is coming up at auction on July 12.