North Yorkshire

Poor old Newark. A bit like Belgium and Poland over the centuries, in the English Civil War the English Midlands town ended up in the wrong place in wartime – stuck in the middle - as armies trampled back and forth across it or lay siege. The town’s misfortune is a coin collector’s gain, however, as the lozenge-shaped coins minted in Newark during the conflict have become familiar and fairly common visitors to the salerooms.

Demand for Beatles memorabilia is always high, so for rarities in this collecting field the prices will naturally be hefty.

A collection of poetry to be sold at Tennants Auctioneers in Yorkshire includes some of the early works of Hobbit author JRR Tolkien.

The second highest ever price at auction for ‘pitman painter’ Norman Cornish (1919-2014) was set at the latest sale held at Tennants in Leyburn, Yorkshire.

It’s that time of year again, although Murray and Konta (at the time of writing) are spoiling the now traditional game of ‘how early are the Brits going to crash out of Wimbledon’ and a double win is actually a possibility.

The newly rebranded Northern Antiques Fair (previously the Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair) has issued a notification that its autumn dates have changed.

British summer and bank holiday trips to the coast used to be synonymous with bucket and spade, ice cream stolen by seagulls, greasy fish and chips and… rain. But don’t forget another popular aspect of the golden age of seaside breaks: the saucy postcard.

Ladybird books, or rather some of the artworks produced for the much-loved, original pocket-size books, are to be offered by Tennants of Leyburn in two auctions this year – the first on April 28 as part of a sale of books, maps, manuscripts and prints.

Dinky is one of the most popular names in the toys collecting field, but with a vast array of types made in the firm’s 45-year history, where do you decide to start?

At first glance, a hammer price of £23,000 is a heck of a lot to pay for a vehicle distinguished only by a heavily rusted shell with headlights, bumper and assorted bits and pieces lying around forlornly.