Collectables

The Sportingold (20% buyer’s premium) World Cup, International & North American Soccer Sale on May 27 was timed handily just before the 23rd World Cup begins in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

The two images of 1907-08 shown here are from a group of nine postcards relating to Crystal Palace FC that were given a modest estimate of £50-80 in the Paper Collectables sale at Toovey’s (25% buyer’s premium) on May 20.

Pictures from the ‘Dam Busters’ collection which sold at West Sussex auction house Denhams earlier this year are on display at Darnley Fine Art before travelling abroad to their new private collections.

An original piece of Astérix cover art painted by Albert Uderzo (1927-2020) sold for an $360,000 (£267,000) at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Dallas, Texas.

The ABA’s flagship fair boasted a strong turnout, international interest and a younger audience

Two-in-one edition of the first and last Jane Austen novels had sat undisturbed in a hallway for over 50 years

A British ‘Dandy Horse’ bicycle made c.1819 was the earliest among a group of four rare 19th century examples on offer at Lewes saleroom Gorringe’s.

Focus on a dedicated auction in Sussex that dispersed the single-owner collection of an Anglo-Norwegian who became fascinated by combat in the Far East

Pioneering book covering daily life in Oman and life of the sultan was actually written by an Italian doctor

A cased Powell and Son/ Tranter 4th model 54 bore percussion revolver was offered in a 14½ x 8in (37 x 20cm) oak case with the name plaque to the lid engraved Alfred Hancocks Lieutenant, 1st Worcestershire Volunteers Rifle Corps.

As a market probably regarded as more ‘traditional’ than many others, you might expect arms and armour collectors to be wary of online-only auctions. However, the latest timed online sales at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) of west London show that bidders have embraced the concept.

Estimated at £500-1000, a “scarce” 10 bore military flintlock musket instead hammered at £9200 in the February 25 auction at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium).

A “fine”.470 calibre percussion long range target rifle by John Dickson & Co of Edinburgh offered at the April 7-8 Antony Cribb (25% buyer’s premium inc VAT) sale was boosted by an inscription from the City of Edinburgh & Midlothian Rifle Association.

How one venerable firm is accelerating its push into modern collectables

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

An Indian tulwar offered at JS Fine Art (26.4% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on March 27-30 came with the simple description: “A rare Indian Tulwar from Tipu Sultan’s armoury with a characteristic lion’s head pommel and guard (formerly in the private collection of Robin Wigington).”