Collectables

The term ‘collectables’ (or collectibles) encompasses a vast range of items in fields as diverse as arms, armour and militaria, bank notes, cameras, coins, entertainment and sporting memorabilia, stamps, taxidermy, wines and writing equipment.

Some collectables are antiques, others are classed as retro, vintage or curios but all are of value to the collector. In any of these fields, buyers seek out rarities and items with specific associations.

WEB Johnson Hansons 2

Museum buys fragment thought to be from trail blazing pilot Amy Johnson's crashed plane

28 February 2024

Kent Battle of Britain Museum has bought a fragment of wreckage believed to be from the last plane flown by pioneering British aviator Amy Johnson in 1941.

Livery buttons

Huge button collection heads to Gloucestershire auction

27 February 2024

Sufferers of koumpounophobia, look away now. Thousands of buttons will be offered at Dominic Winter Auctioneers next month.

Collection

Jack the Ripper items from police investigator come to auction for the first time

26 February 2024

A previously unknown collection of items related to the Jack the Ripper murders will be offered at auction by Whitton & Laing in Exeter on March 22.

Antarctic expedition letters

Letters from 1901 Antarctic explorers show warm feelings for their earlier hosts in New Zealand

26 February 2024

A long-forgotten group of letters written by senior members of Scott and Shackleton’s first trailblazing 1901 expedition to the Antarctic has been discovered.

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Obituary: Book dealer Gerald William Mosdell (1935-2024)

26 February 2024

Friends, family, customers and booksellers from across the UK gathered in Colwyn Bay on February 12 to say their last goodbyes to Gerry Mosdell.

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Maltese marvel – silver coffee pot stars as auction best seller

26 February 2024

Eighteenth century coffee pot made on the Mediterranean island stands out as best-seller in an extensive and varied auction array.

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Dazzling results for de Beaumont library at Bonhams

26 February 2024

Impressive library of renowned collector and expert includes sought-after designs by women binders

ATG Letter

ATG letter: New name is a worthless choice

26 February 2024

I recently received an online numismatic journal that informed me that The Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum has undergone a reorganisation.

British and Irish book auctions, February 27-March 23, 2024

26 February 2024

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

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On a wing and a prayer at a Swiss saleroom

26 February 2024

One of the earliest pieces in the auction of works of art at Koller in Zürich on March 21 is a copper and enamel figure of a dove.

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Books and photos boom but ephemera fairs down in number

26 February 2024

Themed fairs are an added reason to head for Etc Fairs’ events held in London at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury WC1.

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A tale of two cities: spotlight on Paris and London workshops

26 February 2024

A French three-colour gold snuff box was a highlight of the silver and vertu section of Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s recent winter sale.

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Desperate dash for a proof coin to seal royal approval before king's death

26 February 2024

Soon after the Italian coin engraver Benedetto Pistrucci moved to England in 1815, he received a prestigious task from William Wellesley-Pole, the Master of the Mint. He was commissioned with the creation of a series of new gold coins for George III.

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Oops: the scripts that get left behind

26 February 2024

Film and TV stars must be a forgetful bunch, if lots sold at two recent UK auctions are anything to go by.

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Tunbridge Ware specialist calls it a day after 39 years

26 February 2024

Amherst Antiques, the Kent-based specialist in Tunbridge Ware, is offering reductions on some of its stock as the owners prepare to retire.

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Top stories this week including an Anglo-Saxon coin hoard discovered by metal detectorists coming to auction

25 February 2024

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of an impressive group of Anglo-Saxon pennies found in Essex being offered at Noonans.

Elton John

Auction of Elton John’s personal collection tops $8m on opening night

23 February 2024

The auction of Elton John’s collection from his home in Georgia took a premium-inclusive $8m at Christie’s.

WEB Star Wars Script Excalibur 2

Oops: the Star Wars and Friends scripts left behind when the stars moved on

21 February 2024

Film and TV stars must be a forgetful bunch, if lots sold at two recent UK auctions are anything to go by.

Framed historiated initials triptych

Pick of the week: Collection from book dealer John Percival Love woos buyers

19 February 2024

Rediscovered books and manuscripts that once belonged to former antiquarian book dealer John Percival Love and had been stored away in a bank vault for nearly 50 years captivated collectors and the trade alike at auction.

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Mail recovered from Titanic casualty

19 February 2024

The British and US postal clerks aboard transatlantic liners had the duty of sorting the mail during the passage.

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