Collectables

The term ‘collectables’ (or collectibles) encompasses a vast range of items in fields as diverse as arms, armour and militaria, bank notes, cameras, coins, entertainment and sporting memorabilia, stamps, taxidermy, wines and writing equipment.

Some collectables are antiques, others are classed as retro, vintage or curios but all are of value to the collector. In any of these fields, buyers seek out rarities and items with specific associations.

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Intaglios in abundance at Edinburgh auction

02 October 2023

Grand Tour souvenirs often attract attention at auction and the buyer of this lot certainly got a sizeable helping for their money

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Lighters ignite interest in classic Dunhill design

02 October 2023

In the wake of an auction record for an ‘aquarium’ lighter at Chiswick Auctions (25/12% buyer’s premium), six more of the classic Dunhill accessories lit up the saleroom.

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Chrysanthemums in full bloom at Bonhams Skinner

02 October 2023

The late 19th century Japanese artist Keika Hasegawa remains something of an enigma.

ATG letter: This is a fantastic time to be in the books and booksellers industry

02 October 2023

We were disappointed to read the article The Young Guard, published in ATG No 2609. After an hour-long interview discussing our experiences as young women in the beginning of our careers, we were taken aback by the published article’s seemingly disparaging portrayal of our narrow commentary around some of those experiences.

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Take a tour to the Lakes and Devon

02 October 2023

Travel journals that appeared at auction date from a time when British leisure travel was in its infancy

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A 17th century rarity: unrecorded book emerges at Sussex auction

02 October 2023

An unrecorded 17th century printed book took £8800 hammer at a West Sussex sale.

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Harry Potter work wins joint prize price

02 October 2023

Boy wizard Harry Potter was up against prize fighter Daniel Mendoza for the top spot at Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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Annie Oakley’s shotgun blasts its way to over $200,000

02 October 2023

A shotgun built for sharpshooter Annie Oakley in 1888 and used during a significant period of her career has sold for $210,000 (£170,100) in Denver, Pennsylvania.

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Shakespeare play was staged as a joint production

02 October 2023

Peter Harrington Rare Books is offering a first edition of 'The Two Noble Kinsmen' (1634) at Frieze Masters in London this month – the only extant Shakespeare play not included in any of the four folio editions.

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Brunette not blonde Barbie in the pink at auction

02 October 2023

With the blockbuster Margot Robbie-Ryan Gosling movie packing cinemas worldwide, this has been the summer of Barbie, and that also includes the toy-collecting world.

Maud Joachim medal

Glasgow museum makes fundraising plea to buy Suffragette hunger strike medal

28 September 2023

Glasgow Women’s Library is fundraising to bid at auction for a medal marking the first Suffragette hunger strike in Scotland.

Meerschaum pipe

Pipe dream reality: meerschaum magnificence

25 September 2023

An elaborate Victorian meerschaum pipe stood out at a recent Surrey sale.

Harmonicon

Pick of the week: Music made with a touch of glass

25 September 2023

The phenomenon of rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a wine goblet to produce a note is as old as glassmaking.

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Weapon belonged to Light Brigade prisoner

25 September 2023

A sword that saw action in the famed Charge of the Light Brigade sold for £1900 at Elstob Auctioneers’ (25% buyer’s premium) Antiques & Fine Art Sale.

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Fist editions: boxing books at auction

25 September 2023

Large group of pugilist-related works was collected over more than 50 years by London couple

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Houdini ready to wow the crowds in Bolton

25 September 2023

The sale of Vintage & Modern Magic at Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) in Chicago on August 26 included this original theatre contract signed by Erik Weisz, the man better known as Harry Houdini (1874-1926).

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Geoffrey Munn: how a cabinet satisfies my curiosity

25 September 2023

Jewellery specialist Geoffrey Munn worked at London antiques dealer Wartski between 1972 and 2018, serving as managing director from 1990.

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Rare enamel advertising design on the move in Wiltshire

25 September 2023

The sale of Enamel Signs, Automobilia and Advertising at Chippenham Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium) on July 29 included a rare pictorial enamel design depicting the Mauretania at full steam advertising Holzapfels Composition.

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Archive tells story of the little-known Japanese Antarctic Expedition

25 September 2023

A trove of material related to the Japanese Antarctic Expedition (JAE) of 1910-12 comes to market at Potter & Potter in Chicago on October 12.

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Gauguin's spoon ‘served as erotic symbol’

25 September 2023

This wooden spoon worked with a recumbent fox is thought to have been carved by Paul Gauguin in Tahiti.

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