Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Medals from stricken soldier who helped Florence Nightingale on offer at Noonans
15 December 2025The Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to Private Samuel Vickery of the Coldstream Guards who kept Florence Nightingale safe during the Crimean War is to be offered at Noonans on January 14.
Plenty of collecting options in a shipshape memorabilia market
15 December 2025Luxurious interiors, plush fittings, ornate signs and stylish promotion provide a plethora of entry points
Pick of the week: Medals at Spink bring secret work at Bletchley Park into the light
08 December 2025While Alan Turing has for some time now quite rightly received credit for his work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, the contributions of the women who worked there can still be overlooked.
‘Soldier Bear’ provided comfort for Pte Loveland
01 December 2025Probably given to Private William George Loveland by his wife, this ‘Soldier Bear’ was taken to France and back during the First World War.
The Bard for a third and fourth time in foil form
01 December 2025While nowhere near the level of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s work, later versions are still big sellers
‘Extraordinary window into events that shaped the early 20th century’
01 December 2025Four lots once belonging to British army officer, author and artist – and fascist sympathiser – Lieutenant-Colonel Graham Seton Hutchison (1890-1946) went under the hammer at Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium) in Newbury.
German motorbike riding high out of the saleroom
24 November 2025Müller & Kadeder is not such a recognised name of the German toy market such as Märklin, Bing or Lehmann.
Rackham’s artistic vision of Wagner musical work
24 November 2025'The Three Norns Winding the Rope of Fate' portrays Erda’s daughters beneath Brünnhilde’s rock and was created as an illustration by Arthur Rackham for a 1911 edition of Richard Wagner’s 'Siegfried & the Twilight of the Gods'.
Big prices paid in transfer market: a Wimpy, Letraset and Star Wars poster promotion
24 November 2025Extensive themed sale brings a shock result for Star Wars posters promoting a tie-in with burger chain
French automaton tea drinker rises from a jar to take a sip
24 November 2025This 19th century French ‘tea drinker’ automaton emerged as part of a single-owner sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester.
Tractor with bidder pulling power
24 November 2025This 1949-51 Massey Ferguson demonstration model by Mills Models of Sheffield comprises Ferguson TE-20 tractor with clockwork mechanism, two different ploughs, rubber wheels and Ferguson badge to front of the grill.
Wheel progress in price terms
24 November 2025Nine years after taking a premium-inclusive £1375 as part of the The Robert White Collection sale at Bonhams, this Pastilles Valda shop display sales automaton came back to the same auction house in London.
Tethered model cars take a turn on racetrack and rostrum
24 November 2025Tether car racing, which began in 1930s California, sounds a strange concept to modern ears but is in fact a hobby still going strong worldwide*.
‘The one that got away’ from dolls' house expert Vivien Greene
24 November 2025Some of the earliest dolls’ houses are also referred to as baby houses, although they were more like detailed miniature houses and it is said that the aim was not play but to reflect riches.
Fascinating relics from captain killed at Trafalgar come to auction
17 November 2025A musket ball-riddled handkerchief of a Royal Navy captain cut down at the Battle of Trafalgar stood out at a London sale, but it was a letter to his eight-year-old daughter also retrieved from his pocket that added a particularly poignant touch.
Music, movie, magic – a selection of entertainment poster highlights
10 November 2025An extensive selection of Beatles memorabilia sold by Propstore (26% buyer’s premium) on October 23 included a 1963 poster promoting their first tour outside the UK.
Feel the force with a scarce Star wars poster version
10 November 2025Comic Book Auctions' current timed online sale ending on November 23 includes the first Star Wars poster from 1977.