Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Stereoscopic viewer perfect for a sales drive
24 July 2023Looking more like a sale brochure when unopened, the embossed front cover shown below in fact conceals a rare 1906 stereoscopic viewer.
Viking artefacts found in a field are among five lots to watch
17 July 2023With estimates from £1000, here are five previews of upcoming items.
Preview: a work presented by Dickens to his Latin tutor
17 July 2023Shown here is a copy in Latin of the 'Quirtii Horatii Flacci' opera, 1823, presented by Charles Dickens to his Latin tutor Richard Shiers (mentioned in a book titled 'The Life of Charles Dickens', p45).
A Fabergé magnifying glass is among five lots to watch
10 July 2023With estimates from £300, here are five previews of upcoming items.
The world in your pocket: almanacs in focus
10 July 2023Almanacs became hugely popular as printing made them widely accessible
Hergé’s gift to Mr Ward
10 July 2023Tintin creator Hergé (1907-33) must have taken a shine to a Mr TL Ward, judging by a lot sold at an East Yorkshire auction.
An Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet artefact is among six lots to watch
03 July 2023With estimates from £2000, here are six previews of upcoming items.
All my world’s a stage – author Ned Boulting on his Tour de France book inspired by an auction buy
03 July 2023A chance purchase at auction during lockdown inspired a whole book on a single day of the Tour de France 100 years ago
Three figure Matchbox auction buy without a an actual car
26 June 2023Matchbox can sell well even when there isn’t an actual vehicle in sight.
Mozart frets about his future marriage in letter coming up at Christie's auction
26 June 2023A handwritten letter by the 26-year-old Mozart coming up for auction at Christie’s reveals a tricky love life.
Painting of London Bridge burning is among five lots to watch
26 June 2023With estimates from £100, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Why details matter in Star Wars market
26 June 2023Showing little sign of their huge popularity slowing down, Star War figures made a significant contribution to a two-day TV and film-related auction.
Fireball blasts off to four figures
26 June 2023Merchandise relating to an early show from the Thunderbirds creator makes a surprise sum at Kent auction
Power of the toy sales force
26 June 2023It is not just Star Wars figures or film posters bringing the big bucks.
Attraction of simple Hornby Dublo goods van is plain to see
26 June 2023Not everything offered in the model railway market has to involve a glamorous name such as Flying Scotsman to make a good result.
Batmobile based on earlier model roars away to Singapore
26 June 2023When the (Louis) Marx toy company produced a friction-drive model Batmobile in the 1960s the plastic car that resulted was really a model of the 1951 General Motors Le Sabre concept show car designed by Harley Earl.
Biscuit tins provide far more than crumbs of comfort
26 June 2023Novelty biscuit tin toys delivered a number of tasty sale successes for South Yorkshire auction house BBR (15% buyer’s premium).