Collectables

At the PBFA London Antiquarian Book Fair, from June 6-7 at Ibis London in Earls Court, Rainford & Parris brings a collection of seven children’s books by Penelope Lively.

A significant amendment means that the new law governing the sale of bladed items will not impact buyers of antique weapons as once feared.

An example of the first commercially produced typewriter – one of only five in private hands – has sold for €100,000 at auction in Germany.

Deborah Coltham specialises in rare books, manuscripts and ephemera relating to science and medicine. She is an exhibitor at 'Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair' (June 7-9).

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

The death of John Hayward on May 12 has robbed the world of medals and medal collecting of its most colourful personality.

Two rackets rackets (no, you aren’t seeing double) are on offer at the exhibition '#7 – It’s a Magic Number', organised by Cotswolds dealers Manfred Schotten and Christopher Clarke Antiques.

Society fair celebrates ephemeral items in which interest is sustained.

MADAM – Further to Mr Adam’s letter in ATG No 2393, and Mr Lewis’ letter in ATG No 2392, the facts that I supplied in my letter about the history of the Ordinary Bicycle and its incorrect renaming are entirely accurate.

MADAM – The recent offering in Wiltshire of a gold pocket watch presented to the then FA Cup-winning manager of Manchester City, Tom Maley, in 1904 is perhaps a reminder that corruption in the football world is not a new phenomenon.

After more than 50 years as a designer for international stamps and banknotes printer Waterlow & Sons, Leonard Douglas Fryer (1891-1965) retired to enjoyable obscurity at his home in Ilford.

Successfully bid to £80,000 among cartographic lots offered in London was a fine coloured copy of Ortelius’ Theatrum… of 1592.

Rusty, dusty and damaged, but bearing the magic of Marklin, a pre-First World War toy train emerged from the garage at a local house clearance. It starred in a collectors sale at the Cumbrian saleroom of 1818 Auctioneers (20% buyer’s premium inc VAT).

Playing cards from two recent provincial sales are featured here – five examples from a 250-lot, single-owner collection offered in Gloucestershire, and a single pack from a Worcestershire sale.