Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Broadened horizons in medal collecting
28 October 2019While some medal collectors stick rigidly to a narrow period or theme, others take a wider view. A broad taste is evident from a large group on offer in Salisbury.
Using your head to avoid incoming fire
28 October 2019Red jackets and white helmets looked lovely on the parade ground but in the modern world of warfare developing at the end of the 19th century they also made fine targets for accurate long-range rifles.
First days of the Spurs
21 October 2019The earliest days of Tottenham Hotspur FC are revealed in a remarkable hand-written ledger coming up at auction in a November 4-5 London sale.
Unknown portrait of British naval hero Nelson is discovered by auctioneer Charles Miller
21 October 2019A hitherto unknown portrait of Nelson has been discovered and will be offered at auction on November 5.
Chilton plays a part in D-Day
23 September 2019Many talented footballers had their careers interrupted or even curtailed by the world wars. Although Allenby Chilton is not exactly a household name, not many players featured in both a Manchester United title-winning side and the D-Day Normandy landings.
Happy Hibs trust buys medals
23 September 2019Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the football league in Scotland has not always been dominated by Celtic and Rangers. The last time a team outside the Old Firm won the title was Aberdeen in 1985.
The uniform of The Babe
23 September 2019Stand-out lot in the Julien’s auction on November 14 in Beverly Hills is a Brooklyn Dodgers coaching uniform worn by Babe Ruth, America’s baseball hero. It comes from a 350-piece private collection amassed over 30 years.
Cricket collection scores highly in Canterbury test
23 September 2019Amassed by one of the longest-serving members of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), a group of cricketing lots notched up a number of auction highlights last month.
‘Banned’ bats welcomed at auction
23 September 2019The John Goodwin (15% buyer’s premium) saleroom in Malvern offered what it dubbed “probably the most notorious bat in cricket history” in its June 20 auction: the infamous aluminium bat used by Dennis Lillee in the 1979-80 Ashes.
Medal marks a very early international
23 September 2019This late 9ct gold Football League medal was awarded to Billy Bassett (1869-1937), one of the best-known footballers of the late Victorian era.
Why graphic impact is the name of the game
23 September 2019American Lance Wyman (b.1937) is regarded by many as one of the greatest graphic designers of the modern era and the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico – the first to be held in Latin America – gave him the ideal canvas to showcase his considerable talents.
Rackets rock at auction
23 September 2019The London firm founded by Frederick Henry Ayres in the mid 19th century is best known for its for high-quality rocking horses but Ayres also produced a wide range of equipment for indoor and outdoor games and sport.
Yellow Tour de France jersey of mighty Merckx
23 September 2019A yellow Tour de France jersey once worn in the gruelling race by the legendary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx (b.1945) sold for a mid-estimate hammer price of £7000 at Rogers Jones (18% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on June 14.
Durham’s full team appears at Canterbury sale
23 September 2019A group of five rare bronzes by Joseph Durham (1814- 77) from the Gould collection will be offered at The Canterbury Auction Galleries on November 26-27.
Cricket scenes pitch in
23 September 2019A selection of Victorian cricket scenes (one shown below) by Lucien Davis (1860-1941) was offered at Roseberys London (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).
Celtic boots meet high Hoops
23 September 2019Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell’s boots from the 1967 European Cup final went under the hammer at Glasgow auction house McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) on July 19. They doubled the lower estimate, selling at £14,000.
Tennis press coverage as Slazenger racket storage unit from the 1920s draws bidders
23 September 2019This rare oak Slazenger tennis racket press featured in the Vintage & Antique toy sale at Mitchells (20% buyer’s premimum) of Cockermouth on July 20.
Pugilist pioneers bid to punchy price at Dorset saleroom
23 September 2019Daniel Mendoza is considered one of the first ‘modern’ boxers – one who helped elevate boxing to a sport rather than just two blokes beating each other up.
Schotten's inspired offering in Burford
23 September 2019Dealer Manfred Schotten “grew up skiing in Bavaria, started to play golf, was taken fly-fishing by friends and started noticing sporting antiques and memorabilia. This is when it really started.”
Council bids for Morton medal
23 September 2019The first Olympic gold medal won by a British woman in an individual swimming event has been bought by her home town for public display.