Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Six pieces of music memorabilia sold at auction including David Bowie's police mugshot
29 July 2022A selection of standout lots sold recently – also featuring Del Boy's discovery of Peckham Spring Water
Portrait of pioneering black actor Aldridge emerges at Hindman
25 July 2022Chicago auction house Hindman is offering a portrait of Ira Aldridge (1807-67), the first black Shakespearean actor to gain international recognition.
Previews: issue 2553
25 July 2022A selection of 14 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Previews: issue 2552
18 July 2022A selection of 12 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Table at Curated Auctions displays Rothschild and Mentmore connection
18 July 2022Mentmore (Towers) in Buckinghamshire was built in 1852-4 by Sir Joseph Paxton – creator of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition – and Paxton’s son-in-law GH Stokes for Baron Mayer Amschel de Rothschild.
Previews: issue 2551
11 July 2022A selection of eight upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
The elusive Button Gwinnett completes a Declaration full set
11 July 2022Unknown as he is to the vast majority of people, even Americans, Button Gwinnett is certainly renowned among collectors of early US history.
Two Tompions coming up in London auction
04 July 2022Alan Elliot’s professional life – he ran a world-class provider of time management and communication systems for many years – overlapped with his private interest in collecting clocks.
Pick of the week: High demand for rare Hull silver
04 July 2022Abraham Barachin became the last silversmith to use the Hull town mark of three ducal coronets.
Previews: issue 2550
04 July 2022A selection of 14 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Museums make 300 new purchases thanks to Art Fund
27 June 2022Close to 300 objects and works of art found permanent homes in UK museums and galleries thanks to contributions from the Art Fund charity, a new report reveals.
Previews: issue 2549
27 June 2022A selection of 10 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
The depleted Britains set still full of appeal
20 June 2022The Britains Boer War Army Service Corps Supply Column set is described by toy soldier expert James Opie as “one of the must-have sets for keen collectors”.
Previews: issue 2548
20 June 2022A selection of eight upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK and Ireland.
Mr Derbyshire, a sword and an Armenian mystery
13 June 2022Whatever Mr Derbyshire, The Worthy Representative of Freedom Loving Great Britain was doing in the Caucasus in 1920, the Armenians of Karabach were obviously pretty pleased about it.
Rare Rorke’s Drift casualty honour comes up at auction
13 June 2022In May 2019 Spink (20% buyer’s premium) medal specialist Marcus Budgen was entrusted to catalogue the medals of Gunner A Howard, ‘N’ Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery, one of just four members of the RA present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift in the Zulu War.
Brothers brought South American magic via Barnsley
13 June 2022Long before Mirandinha, Faustino Asprilla and Nolberto Solano graced the hallowed turf of Newcastle United’s St James’ Park, two brothers paved the way for South American footballers to play professionally in England.
‘Magnificent’ medal collection generates many four-figure results at Suffolk sale
13 June 2022A private medal collection rated by Ipswich saleroom Lockdales (18% buyer’s premium) as “magnificent” was offered on May 20-22.
Polish para auction pick
13 June 2022A selection of Second World War ephemera with a distinctly Polish flavour estimated at £60-100 sold instead for £7600 at a Devon auction.
Brave as a lion, proud to be a guinea pig
13 June 2022Flight Lieutenant Maurice ‘Mark’ Mounsdon was one of only four remaining members of Sir Winston Churchill’s ‘The Few’ when he died in 2019 aged 101.