Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit clinches £5000
09 January 2026While not instantly familiar to many non-American readers, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (1881-1944) has never been out of print and its many reprints have sold over a million copies in the US alone.
No medal but a mini trophy instead for Premier League winner Paul Parker
09 January 2026Paul Parker will be fondly remembered by many England fans of a certain vintage for his role in the 1990 World Cup campaign (ignore the deflection over Peter Shilton for West Germany’s semi-final opener).
More than 1000 lots from Cumbrian castle offered at Tennants
05 January 2026An extensive collection of art, antiques and silver from Corby Castle, one of Cumbria’s most historically important mansion houses, will go under the hammer in a three-day sale at Tennants from January 22-24.
Andy Pandy and friends fascinate older fans
05 January 2026An original Andy Pandy string puppet from the BBC children’s TV show of the same name first aired in 1950 caught the attention at a Kent auction 75 years later.
Punk band Discharge were championed by Peel
05 January 2026John Lennon, Yoko Ono and U2 were among the big names making big prices at the John Peel Collection Part One auction held by Omega (25% buyer's premium) back in September (see ATG No 2708).
Not a ticket to ride for Paul McCartney but a licence to drive yourself
05 January 2026Paul McCartney famously sang ‘Baby, You Can Drive My Car’ with the Beatles but he could clearly drive himself.
Handwritten lyrics lead to reflections on Hendrix
05 January 2026These two pages of working lyrics for the Jimi Hendrix song Room Full of Mirrors (which later appeared on his 1971 album Rainbow Bridge) are handwritten on Londonderry Hotel, Park Lane, stationery.
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham dressed to impress
05 January 2026When a pinstripe suit came up for auction at West Midlands firm Fieldings (26% buyer’s premium inc VAT) it had an interesting consequence.
Bounty hunter Boba Fett tracked his prey with a First World War flare gun
05 January 2026Boba Fett – one of the most feared bounty hunters in the known galaxy – was one of six hired by Darth Vader to capture the crew of the Millennium Falcon, and eventually caught up with them in Cloud City (ATG is not sure a spoiler alert is needed for early Star Wars films...).
Perfect for serving a bottle of lovely jubbly bubbly perhaps
05 January 2026Described by Fieldings (26% buyer’s premium inc VAT) of Stourbridge as “by repute used on the set of Only Fools and Horses”, this Mid-century cocktail bar came for sale guided at £500-600.
Behind the scenes on Planet Hoth
05 January 2026Collection of film crew member who worked on gruelling Star Wars shoot in Norway comes for sale
Welsh icon Richard Burton's coat features in Welsh Sale
05 January 2026The Autumn Welsh Sale (Part II) held by Rogers Jones (24% buyer’s premium) on December 2 included an item of clothing once owned by a Welsh icon: Richard Burton (1925-84).
Auctions show healthy demand for advertising memorabilia
19 December 2025Sales ranging from enamel signs to petroliana and breweriana generate a booming market
‘He’ Bible was bought by a dealer
19 December 2025A first edition, first issue of the Great ‘He’ Bible sold in York for £23,000 hammer was bought by Norfolk book dealer Simon Finch, it has emerged.
Profiting from the demon drink
19 December 2025Bizarrely, Ralph Fremlin – a devout Christian who founded Fremlin’s Brewery in Maidstone, Kent, in 1861 – was anti-drinking.
Now paperback Harry Potter casts its spell
19 December 2025With the first hardback Philosopher’s Stone at stratospheric sums, the soft cover value is rising steadily
Gladys sits comfortably in a new home
19 December 2025A Victorian full-sized lay figure owned by the sculptor James Butler (1931-2022) sold for £4000 at the Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) saleroom in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Fred Taylor samples the nightlife of London with a poster sold in New York
19 December 2025The Rare & Important Travel Posters sale at Swann Galleries (32/27/17% buyer’s premium) of New York on November 25 included a classic view of Piccadilly Circus, located across the Atlantic in London.
Watches consulted by three heroes of Trafalgar during the battle sell as a wave of Nelson interest sweeps in
15 December 2025Pocket watches owned by Horatio Nelson, Thomas Hardy and Cuthbert Collingwood and consulted throughout the Battle of Trafalgar were sold together as a single lot in London on December 9.