Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
18th century Neapolitan world in miniature comes to US auction
25 January 2021It was not uncommon in the 18th century for a doll to be presented within its own miniature doll-scaled world.
Bing model fires the imagination at Tennants
25 January 2021As with so many other collecting areas recently, the conditions of lockdown – meaning spare money and time for the fortunate – have led to buoyant demand for toys, models and collectables.
Pelham professor makes his mark at British Toy Auctions
25 January 2021The British Toy Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) sale on January 8 in Runcorn included several Pelham Puppets rarities.
Märklin made for the American market draws major demand
25 January 2021The cow catcher and bell on this Gauge 1 clockwork loco gives the game away: although made by German firm Märklin, the set was for the American market.
Let there be light in Staines
25 January 2021Shown below is a page from another early railway-related work that did well at auction.
Pelham Puppets galore appear at Devon sale
25 January 2021An extensive selection of Pelham Puppets came up on the first day of the Piers Motley (18% buyer’s premium) auction in Devon on January 18-20.
Early railway toys puff into Newbury
25 January 2021This charming early English-style station below was produced for the export market by German toy manufacturer Märklin.
Put your foot on the pedal as Junior Austin sells at H&H Classics
25 January 2021Auction house H&H Classics (15% buyer’s premium) is best known for selling full-sized vehicles but a smaller model impressed in a recent automobilia sale.
Volvo diecast toy makes 12-times estimate
25 January 2021This Volvo PV 444 diecast toy is by the Swedish toy distributor Gösta Norén.
Toys and models: Homes under the hammer
25 January 2021Furnished dolls’ houses and accessories in general are proving the most dynamic area of the collecting market
Dinky Octopus pulls in eager bidders
25 January 2021A Dinky Supertoys 935 Leyland Octopus flat truck with chains in its original box sold for £8200 at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium) on January 14.
Sales push: miniature pram and doll among the Kent stand-out lots
25 January 2021The strong level of prices being paid by collectors for dolls’ house furniture was underlined at a recent C&T sale.
Dolls’ house furniture is sitting comfortably
25 January 2021The collecting market for dolls’ house furniture has been enjoying a boom period if recent prices have been anything to go by.
Man City owner was buyer of oldest FA Cup
18 January 2021The oldest surviving FA Cup was bought by Manchester City FC owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed when it sold at auction last year, it has now been revealed.
‘Attagirls’ items fly high at two auctions
18 January 2021Memorabilia relating to members of a pioneering elite group of female pilots who flew in the Second World War soared over estimates at two auction houses.
Medal awarded to Suffragette who threw a lump of iron at Churchill's car comes up at auction
09 January 2021How could throwing a missile at Winston Churchill’s car earn you a medal if you were British?
John Chard’s handwritten account of the battle of Rorke’s Drift sells for £140,000
04 January 2021A handwritten account of the battle of Rorke’s Drift by Lt John Chard of the Royal Engineers, who led the renowned stand against the Zulu attack, sold for a hammer price of £140,000.
Second World War female pioneering pilots memorabilia soars beyond estimates at auction
29 December 2020Memorabilia relating to members of a pioneering elite group of female pilots who flew in the Second World War soared over estimates at two auction houses.
Russell Flint returns in the same packing tube
21 December 2020The mixed-owner element of a recent Onslows’ sale included a William Russell Flint (1890-1969) LNER poster showing Bamburgh Castle.
Take the train to Saint-Flour
21 December 2020Four lots of French railway posters attracted a good deal of attention at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) on December 9-10.