Collectables

An exceptional copy of a celebrated pictorial record of a great 18th century 'Cabinet of Natural History' sold for a record €420,000 (£376,740) in a recent Christie's Paris sale.

The Victoria Cross is the highest British military honour, but in the animal kingdom the equivalent is the Dickin Medal. The award earned by a pigeon called Princess is coming up at auction at Holloway’s of Banbury on December 12.

New York, London and Paris will be put on the map at the stand of Daniel Crouch Rare Books in the new year at the Winter Antiques Show in Park Avenue Armory in New York.

Next month in the UK you can watch Darkest Hour, the new film depicting the Churchills in the early days of the Second World War as he became prime minister. But if you are truly fascinated by the man regularly voted as the Greatest Briton, you can get a fix tomorrow by bidding for his spectacles.

The festive season is upon us and many will be sampling their favourite tipples. Auction houses typically take advantage of this time of year to offer special sales of wines and spirits; and Duke’s in Dorchester is doing just that later this week.

Rare sets of geographical, astronomical and scientific themed playing cards featured in two recent sales. Those seen in a recent sale at Chorleys in Gloucestershire came from the estate of the late Alan and Joan Tucker, booksellers of Stroud, as did some 20,000 postcards and most of the books offered in the auction.

Fine quality and condition are big factors in value for antique weapons, but an impressive provenance also fires the imagination, as two lots coming up in the Thomas Del Mar auction on December 6 demonstrate.

Victoria Crosses are not exactly that rare at auction, despite being the highest British award for gallantry. However, the unique tales of bravery ensure demand is always high, as evident from the auction record just set at London saleroom Morton & Eden.

The release this year of movies such as Justice League, Wonder Woman and, most recently, Thor: Ragnarok has brought added interest in the original comics, according to specialist at Heritage Auctions, Barry Sandoval.

Timed to coincide with the start of the 70th Ashes series, a silver presentation tray marking the very first ‘Ashes’ test series in 1882-83 will be offered at auction by Leonard Joel in Melbourne on December 7.