Collectables

A recent Devin Moisan (25% buyer’s premium) sale was topped by a 1974 Chinese snuff bottle decorated by Wang-Hsi (Xisan).

Defeated Confederate general gave out uniform items as gifts until the government cracked down

Aaron Kasmin, a British artist, became fascinated by US feature matchbooks.

The name Steve Ditko (1927-2018) scarcely needs an introduction to comic collectors.

A postcard carried on the world’s first official airmail flight came up for auction in Staffordshire.

Firmly in the British jingoistic ‘boy’s own’ tradition, a collection of Commando comic books turned heads when offered at Stourbridge saleroom Fieldings last year (see ATG No 2556).

Stand-out original among the 76 pieces from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s workshops offered at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) 20th Century Design auction was a carved oak monk sold with its working drawing.

Businessman Nigel Ross runs a group of commercial property investment companies and divides his time between homes in England and Florida with business trips to New Zealand and elsewhere.

Art Deco had a profound influence on all categories – not just art, sculpture or luxury furnishings but also on the design of more utilitarian items.

The Harrison semi-automatic pedestal knitting machine was designed c.1900 for producing rib socks.

A bound volume presenting the first seven issues of Magic Comic issued by DC Thomson in 1939 proved a highlight in a Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) sale of June 4.

Trio of collections is offered in Perth auction with estimates pitched to entice bidders

A musical ‘captain’s desk’ davenport sold for £9500 at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) Scientific and Musical Instruments sale in Leyburn on May 17.

Treen boxes and silver caddy spoons were sold as part of the Fine Silver sale at Anderson & Garland

Around 750 lots of comics featured in a May 10-11 auction held by Anderson & Garland (25% Buyer’s Premium) of Newcastle.

The 33 pieces of ‘Mouseman’ furniture on offer at Carlisle auction house Thomson Roddick (20% buyer’s premium) all came from a Cumbrian Georgian country house where they had been since at least before 1950.

One of the more remarkable results of recent weeks came in a May 3 sale at Freeman’s (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) of Philadelphia.

Among the most popular cigarette cards to collect are those produced by the Taddy company.