Collectables

The term ‘collectables’ (or collectibles) encompasses a vast range of items in fields as diverse as arms, armour and militaria, bank notes, cameras, coins, entertainment and sporting memorabilia, stamps, taxidermy, wines and writing equipment.

Some collectables are antiques, others are classed as retro, vintage or curios but all are of value to the collector. In any of these fields, buyers seek out rarities and items with specific associations.

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French sabre presented by Lafayette in Pennsylvania sale

19 February 2018

Morphy Auctions’ March 1-2 Premier Firearms Sale in Denver, Pennsylvania, includes various other militaria categories, such as edged weapons.

Introduction to the coinage of the Empire of Trebizond

Byzantine scholar’s entire collection stolen after break-in

16 February 2018

The entire coin collection of Byzantine scholar Simon Bendall was stolen from his home near Victoria in London during a break-in earlier this week.

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First World War imperial German militaria collection so huge it is being sold in three parts at C&T Auctioneers

15 February 2018

If it takes two auctions to offer a single-owner collection, you know it must be a big one. If it takes three, it must really be quite something.

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Charlie Chaplin letter to young fan who dressed up as the great star comes to auction

14 February 2018

Hero worship is not just a modern-day phenomenon. Back in 1915, Charlie Chapman was so impressed by a fan letter he received that he sent a personal reply.

Royal Mint in Llantrisant

Royal Mint continues commercial drive launching a coin valuation service… for a fee

14 February 2018

The Royal Mint is expanding its interest in the historical coin market by launching an authentication and valuation service which is available via its website.

James Alec Hanley

Letters from Beatrix Potter to esteemed professor of agriculture head to auction

13 February 2018

Famous for her children’s stories of Peter Rabbit and friends, Beatrix Potter Heelis (1866-1943) was a prolific letter writer.

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Date change as New York coin convention scraps antiquities

12 February 2018

The New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) has taken the decision to drop antiquities from its offering amid concerns over looted art.

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Forum now serving the drinks after Stanley Gibbons purchase

12 February 2018

Forum Auctions is expanding into the wine and spirits market with the purchase of the assets of Bid for Wine from Stanley Gibbons.

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Pick of the Week: First World War women's uniforms come to the fore at Kent auction

12 February 2018

With the centenary of the act that enfranchised female voters aged over 30 very much in the headlines, a collection of First World War uniforms and a photo album sold by C&T Auctioneers (20% buyer’s premium) underlines the role played by women in that conflict.

Key

Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed key heads to auction at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh

12 February 2018

The key to The Glasgow School of Art, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is to be offered at auction.

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Tolkien provides signature on a slip

12 February 2018

First-edition sets with well-preserved jackets and perhaps a signature or an inscription usually make the really big money where Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is concerned, but a recent Dublin sale produced something rather unusual.

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There’s gold in them thar hills…

12 February 2018

Published jointly by Kellogg & Comstock of New York and D Needham of Buffalo, c.1849-50, the rare and amusing hand coloured lithograph shown below is titled The Independent Gold Hunter on His Way to California: I Neither Borrow nor Lend.

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Heads and tails of London’s coin market

12 February 2018

Almost a quarter of a century since ATG’s first overview of the numismatic market, ATG reviews the comings and goings of 2017

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Buffalo Road musician sets Miller on way to specialist sale

12 February 2018

Three years since he launched his Suffolk auction house Bishop & Miller, managing director Oliver Miller is fine-tuning his sales line-up.

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London numismatic highlights of 2017 - from a 1839 Una and the Lion five pound coin to the Smart collection of banknotes

12 February 2018

A coin that a set a record for a British five pound piece features among the hammer highlights for coins and banknotes sold across the year at auction.

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Holts reloads its London auction base

12 February 2018

After more than a decade of holding auctions in west London, Holts Auctioneers is relocating to a new saleroom to the south-east of the capital this March.

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The enduring appeal of Rorke’s Drift valour

12 February 2018

The Zulu War medal awarded to Driver Charles Robson, batman to commanding officer Lieutenant John Chard during the epic defence of Rorke’s Drift, sold for £110,000 at Dix Noonan Webb on March 2.

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Van delivers on sale day

12 February 2018

More down to earth than the Bentley Speed Sixes and MG TDs of the classic car world, this 1961 GPO van nevertheless was a major draw at Biddle & Webb (20% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.

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Map of the very Big Apple sold at $250,000

12 February 2018

Daniel Crouch Rare Books sold this huge 25ft (7.6m) wide ‘Atlas of the City of New York – Borough of Manhattan’ map at the Winter Antiques Show last month.

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Get your claws into a canine collar

12 February 2018

'Steal me not but let me jog; for I am Mrs Gwynn’s Dog.' For lovers of antique dog collars, collecting examples engraved with an amusing inscription such as this one, or a quirky owner’s name, is all part of the fun.

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