Yorkshire and the Humber

Two personal letters written by William Wilberforce, the Hull-born anti-slavery campaigner and influential politician, were on offer at East Yorkshire saleroom Hawleys (22% buyer’s premium) on June 13.

A mirror for an East End brewery set a new record at £33,000 as the breweriana collecting market matures

A trade card featuring football player Steve Bloomer (1874-1938) went well beyond its guide of £6000-8000 as it hammered for £24,000.

A silver and horn casket made for Queen Victoria but given to King Edward VII is offered by Mark Goodger Antiques at the Pavilions of Harrogate Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair from June 12-14.

In May 1950 Manchester United embarked on a 12-match tour of North America.

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.

A rare 18th century medal issued to commemorate the death of explorer James Cook is to become part of an exhibition marking the 300th anniversary of the explorer’s birth after being sold at auction.

With so much gold and silver jewellery heading for the melting pot in recent months, Spicers (20% buyer’s premium) in Old Goole, East Yorkshire, was pleasantly surprised by the performance of this tiny 0.7g 9ct gold and enamel charm.

James Hallgate’s Lucius Books has now relocated and opened its new shop in the centre of York after a three-and-a-half year renovation project.

Royal costumes and fashion have long been a source of fascination.

A strong result for a 19th century genre picture was achieved for the Italian artist Vittorio Reggianini (1858-1939) at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) of Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

Kali shaped from local hardwoods, typically ironwood, were traditionally made by canoe-builders in the South Sea islands.

Lake District cabinetmaker and woodcarver Ernest John Oldcorn trained at Gillows of Lancaster but he found his niche after joining the Arthur W Simpson workshop.

This Georgian treen tobacco stopper or pipe tamper sold for £2900 at Hartleys in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

A longcase clock from the English Golden Age sold for £90,000 at Hutchinson Scott (25% buyer’s premium) in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

A diminutive but rare mid-17th century needlework picture sold for £11,000 in Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest Fashion, Costume and Textiles Sale.

Despite the brief cataloguing of lot 129 in the Ellis Willis & Beckett (21.5% buyer’s premium) sale, the £4200 hammer price on February 17 indicated that bidders had fought it out for something special.