Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Fascinating archive up at Canterbury reveals the glory days of the space race
23 July 2018The lifelong interest which inspired an extensive archive of space exploration photos now coming up at auction was first sparked off by a HG Wells novel received as a gift.
Medal awarded to the militant Irish Suffragette who tried to blow up a cathedral comes to auction
21 July 2018It’s déjà vu all over again… yes, we bring you another excellent and evocative Suffragette item of memorabilia up at auction in this, the centenary year of the signing of the Qualification of Women Act. In other words, votes for women in the UK – aged over 30, that is.
Movers and shakers: the latest arts and antiques appointments
20 July 2018Our latest look at new roles in the art and antiques trade.
Nelson memorabilia sails into auction for collecting options at various price points
20 July 2018Whether your budget runs to four figures or a hefty six figures, two lots sold recently show how various price options can be available in a certain collecting market – in this case, Nelson memorabilia.
Medal fair free to exhibit under new owner
16 July 2018London saleroom Dix Noonan Webb has bought the 'Britannia Medal Fair' “to ensure that it can remain at the Victory Services Club”, the central London venue where it has attracted dealers and collectors for more than 30 years.
Soviet spy camera disguised as fag packet sells for £29,000 house record at Dudley auction
12 July 2018The cost of smoking is going crazy – someone has just paid £29,000 for a packet of cigarettes in the West Midlands.
Menu signed by all four Beatles from a flight when getting high was the refreshment
12 July 2018Reporter: “Well John, how was the trip over, did you all get bored on the flight, or did you have things to keep you entertained, that y’all were doing?” John Lennon: ‘Well, err, we all got stoned.”
Poignant wartime sketches by Artists Rifles member who was killed at Passchendaele
09 July 2018It has been described as perhaps the most curious regiment in the British Army, but the well-known names associated with the Artists Rifles were certainly not obscure.
Pick of the Week: The £135,000 order of the day
09 July 2018A Lesser George sash badge of The Most Noble Order of the Garter was the stand-out lot in a dedicated auction of honours that once belonged to the last Duke of Cambridge to have held that title before Prince William in the present day.
Archive of three Suffragette sisters sells at auction
09 July 2018An archive relating to three Suffragette sisters has been bought at a Hansons auction by a well-known dealer in memorabilia.
Fascinating Suffragette archives sold in Derbyshire and coming up for sale in Surrey
03 July 2018An archive relating to three Suffragette sisters has been bought at Hansons’ July 2 auction by a world-renowned expert in the subject and dealer in memorabilia.
Han Solo Return of the Jedi blaster fires bidding to $550,000 in Los Angeles auction
02 July 2018Han Solo’s blaster used in the Return of The Jedi has made a much bigger and successful impact than the struggling Star Wars spin-off film relating to the wise-cracking charmer first played by Harrison Ford.
Soviet hidden spy cameras set to click at West Midlands auction
26 June 2018Ah, nostalgia. Hear the words ‘Russian’ and ‘spying’ these days and ‘Novichok’ and ‘Polonium’ will come to mind. Try looking back instead to the 1970s-80s with the help of a large collection of Soviet cameras coming up at auction.
Suffragette archive at auction reveals role of three sisters in the fight for women's right to vote
25 June 2018The 100th anniversary year of women winning the right to vote in Britain (for those over 30, owning property, or university educated, anyway) has encouraged a bumper crop of related items at auction.
'Wish you were here' postcard sent from the doomed Titanic comes up at Warwick auction
23 June 2018The postcard message reads: “I wish you were here, it is a lovely boat & it would do you good. Am just going on deck.” Actually, this wouldn’t have done much good at all: the boat in question was the Titanic.
Howard Carter hits out at Curse of Tutankhamen in letters sold at Shropshire auction
20 June 2018The supposed Curse of Tutankhamen has somewhat overshadowed the astonishing discoveries of Howard Carter, the British archaeologist and Egyptologist.
Very rare 17th century English doll turns heads to sell for £9500 at North Yorkshire auction
08 June 2018Despite having lost a hand and suffering minor wear and chips to her chin, not to mention being just 5.5in (14cm) high, a doll caused a considerable stir at auction with six phone lines and internet bidders all desperate to succeed.
Movers and shakers: the latest arts and antiques appointments including TEFAF Maastricht's new chair of paintings
07 June 2018From TEFAF Maastricht and a new CEO at a US auction house to a Mod Brit specialist and a porter who used to take tea with John Major - another ATG round-up of the latest appointments.
Sir Alf Ramsey Collection at auction on same day England kick off World Cup 2018 campaign
06 June 2018It may amaze our many younger readers to learn that England once had a team capable of winning the World Cup. And did so.