Latest News Articles by Tom Derbyshire
Australian Holey Dollar coin from 1813 sells in London auction
03 July 2017The Holey Grail of the Australian coins world… hang on, we used that pun in a 2013 ATG story. Nevertheless, it is Holey appropriate: the Holey Dollar remains a must-have for collectors of Australian coins.
Scarf crocheted by Queen Victoria for a humble British Army sergeant comes to auction
03 July 2017The popular image of Queen Victoria in the latter days is of a sombre, dressed in mourning black, unsmiling monarch who was definitely not amused. However, an intriguing item coming up at auction shows her compassionate, caring side.
D-Day relics fly high in US sales
03 July 2017Original D-Day invasion flags may be fragile and rare but a spate of them has appeared on the market recently in the US.
Early Suffragette banner – a £13,600 charity shop find
03 July 2017For more than 10 years after its donation, this Suffragette banner sat stowed away in a cupboard at a little charity shop in Leeds. On June 20 it sold at local saleroom Gary Don for £13,600 (plus 21% buyer’ premium).
Suffragette banner stowed away for 10 years in charity shop makes £13,600 at auction
30 June 2017For more than 10 years a banner sat stowed away in a cupboard at a little charity shop in Leeds after it was donated. Little did the staff know that one day that same once-forgotten item would sell at auction for a hammer price of £13,600.
Dambusters bouncing bomb release button on offer at auction for the first time
28 June 2017The bomb release button from the Lancaster bomber of 617 Squadron that released the ‘bouncing bomb’ which destroyed the Möhne Dam on May 17, 1943 is being offered at auction for the first time.
Focus on the war artist friend of Eric Ravilious who also went missing in action
27 June 2017It may seem a blindingly obvious thing to say, but being a war artist can be a dangerous business. Eric Ravilious, now one of the most sought-after Modern British artists, was never seen again after joining a Second World War rescue flight which itself ended up as missing in action.
Death Railway survivor's sword comes to Cornish auction
22 June 2017The ‘value’ of an auction lot cannot always be summed up by price alone. While not at a high estimate level, a sword coming up in a Cornish saleroom has a fascinating background. And whatever the final result is, the historical value can be viewed as priceless.
Early views of Australia emerge at auction
21 June 2017A lifelong interesting in collecting can be sparked off by so many different things. For Australian Denis Joachim it was a purchase in a second-hand bookshop when he was just 18 years old.
Ornate 16th century gun emerges from talk to local Cheshire group
12 June 2017Autograph albums, pocket watches and vases are the more usual fare for a valuer who gives a talk to a local group and asks people to bring along interesting items. A superb late 16th century gun is a very different matter.
Mysterious 1776 US pewter dollar coin at auction in New York
08 June 2017One of the earliest coins in American history is coming to auction at Spink in New York.
Medal at auction recalls when England won the first World Cups
07 June 2017When you hear that a team with ‘Auckland’ in the title won the first football World Cup, two obvious questions immediately come to mind: the first World Cup was surely won by Uruguay in 1930, wasn’t it? And... when have the Kiwis ever been any good at footy?
Tony Curtis cut-out from Sgt Pepper's album cover up at auction
05 June 2017You may have, possibly, maybe, perhaps, gleaned by now that 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest albums of all time.
Opulent Art Deco luxury liner SS Normandie relics sail into auction
31 May 2017Once a flagship of the glamorous age of luxury liners, redolent of the Art Deco style and dripping with opulence, the SS Normandie ended her days broken up for scrap after being ravaged by fire.
'Britain’s Fabulous Disc Stars' - early Beatles poster ignites bidding battle
30 May 2017A gig poster advertising as the headline act ‘Britain’s Fabulous Disc Stars!’ sold for £28,000 at the Roger Jones (20% buyer’s premium inc VAT) May 23 auction.
Ooh er as whopper collection of saucy seaside postcards comes up at auction
26 May 2017British summer and bank holiday trips to the coast used to be synonymous with bucket and spade, ice cream stolen by seagulls, greasy fish and chips and… rain. But don’t forget another popular aspect of the golden age of seaside breaks: the saucy postcard.
Gramophones and early records could be sound investments
25 May 2017A long time ago, way before music downloads came onto the scene, the latest technology involved phonographs, graphophones and gramophones. Not to mention the phonautograph, of course.
Auction offers original John Player tobacco adverts artwork
24 May 2017Times change. While tobacco has now assumed a Social Evil status up there with North Korea, not so long ago children would be proudly displayed in an advert clutching a bunch of fags with the words ‘Mummy’s favourite’ underneath.
Unusual Royal Flying Corps relics take off at auction
24 May 2017If Royal Flying Corps medals are out of your price range, or you want to collect something a bit different, two recent lots show that honours are not the only option for auction purchases.
Hokusai The Great Wave at auction and on show at the British Museum
23 May 2017It’s already one of the most famous images in the world, and thanks to a British Museum exhibition opening this week ‘The Great Wave’ is set to thrill an even wider audience.