Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Painted cavalry Guidon rarity appears at Dix Noonan & Webb
04 September 2017A cavalry guidon (pennant) from the late 18th century is always likely to be rare – and rarer still if it is painted rather than embroidered.
Medal groups with family values at Charterhouse
04 September 2017Medal groups awarded to two members of the same family on offer at auction are not unknown but three together is definitely unusual.
Modern British wood engraver Guy Malet in sharp focus at Ditchling
31 August 2017British printmaking between the wars has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years with a auctioneers, dealers and museums and galleries all adding to a growing interest.
Dinky delights from extensive collections roar into two auctions
31 August 2017Collectors of Dinky toys will be delighted by two auctions coming up this month offering the ever-popular toy vehicles.
Paolozzi Tube station mosaic study bought at auction by brewers of Paolozzi Lager
29 August 2017A study for Eduardo Paolozzi’s classic Tottenham Court Road Underground stations has ‘come home’ after being bought at auction. Not to London where the original mosaics by the pop art pioneer are located, but to the artist’s home city.
Colourists hint at a bright future in London
28 August 2017Security shouldn’t be too much of a problem when opening a gallery space if one of your new neighbours is a former prime minister protected by armed guards. But aside from Tony Blair’s London residence down the road, Lyon & Turnbull had plenty of its own reasons for choosing Connaught Street, just north of Hyde Park, as the location for its new showroom.
Auction house opens a new sales chapter
28 August 2017Dawson’s Auctioneers is a relatively fresh-faced newcomer to the auction house scene but is keen to open new chapters of business as soon as possible.
Matthews contracts score at auction
28 August 2017Sir Stanley Matthews’ first football contract showing the legend was paid a princely £5 a week has sold at Derbyshire saleroom Hansons.
First World war photograph: not so top brass
28 August 2017Militaria has the advantage of a wide price range for items. A photograph sold in Cirencester on July 7 was a good example of ‘more affordable’ levels.
Trench art knife is reminder of First World War Eagle Hut haven away from home
22 August 2017A simple inscription on an antique can lead to a fascinating trail of research revealing so much more than just the story of the item itself. Take a 10in (25.5cm) long knife coming up in the Chilcotts sale in Honiton on September 9, estimated at £80-120.
Colourful 1940s film posters found used as carpet underlay come up at auction in Cardiff
21 August 2017Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It, Day Time Wife, and perhaps even He Stayed for Breakfast may sound like certain late-night films common when Channel 5 first launched, but they are innocent titles from the 1940s cinema era.
Keeping the poster supply lines going
21 August 2017More and more Keep Calm and Carry On posters – once considered among the great paper rarities from the Second World War – keep coming up at auction.
The button that bust the dam
21 August 2017The button from the Lancaster bomber of 617 Squadron that released the ‘bouncing bomb’ which destroyed the Möhne Dam has sold after being offered at auction for the first time.
Memories of an RAF pilot buried on foreign soil
21 August 2017An RAF logbook added value to a Second World War casualty group sold at Ipswich saleroom Lockdales (19.5% buyer’s premium) on July 15-16.
Bidding to go behind enemy lines
21 August 2017Operations behind enemy lines was the theme linking two special forces medals groups sold by London auction house Spink (20% buyer’s premium) on July 26.
Nimrod and the price of 17 minutes of fame for the SAS
21 August 2017Medals for service in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and long service/good conduct denote a busy 1980s career. In value terms, for a non-special forces unit, it means a price probably within £1000 at auction. But it is a single action lasting about 17 minutes from start to finish which explains why such a group on offer at Woolley & Wallis on November 22 is estimated at £20,000-30,000.
Thomas Del Mar launches new west London militaria fair
21 August 2017Thomas Del Mar, former Sotheby’s specialist and founder of the 25 Blythe Road group of auctioneers, turns fair organiser next month. The first Olympia Arms Fair takes place on September 30.
Taking a pause for Passchendaele
21 August 2017The London Antique Arms Fair is usually a biannual event, but this year the organiser is rather busy – in November they are putting together the Passchendaele Salute 2017 at Fort Seclin near Lille, France.
Canadian war hero’s Victoria Cross up at auction in London… in dollars
21 August 2017A unique Victoria Cross and other awards won by one of the greatest heroes in Canadian history is to be auctioned by Dix Noonan Webb on September 27.
Dealer makes eastern campaign in search of new markets
21 August 2017Warwick arms and armour dealer Runjeet Singh will have a representative at the new Olympia fair (see separate story) but he has a ‘fixture clash’ to cope with. The west London show coincides with his first exhibition in Asia.