Collectables

Of only 26 flying Victoria Crosses issued to date, four were awarded for the Malayan campaign in December 1941-February 1942.

This 4ft 7in (1.4m) Victorian painted mahogany shop display sign promotes the merits of guns by Holland & Holland.

The corpus of Anglo-Saxon coins lists only 20 coins for the Kentish king Eadberht.

Produced six years after the much more common 1847 dated Gothic Crown of which 8000 were made, the 1853 Gothic Crown was struck only in a very limited number.

The unexpected but very welcome increase in demand that the market experienced amid Covid lockdowns continued in 2022 as restrictions eased – and auction houses are optimistic about another strong performance this year

A sale of Banknotes at Noonans included this One Rupee note issued by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino in Goa in 1917. The rare first issue note took £13,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium).

Potter & Potter in Chicago will sell more items from the collection of magician Ricky Jay on February 25.

A 15th century first edition of a pioneering work by Johannes Gallensis surfaced at auction late last month.

The completion of the US transcontinental railroad in 1869 was the marvel of its age.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Included in Potter & Potter’s latest sale of Books and Manuscripts is a rare first edition limited issue of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest.

Lot sold for multiple-estimate sum in Cumbrian sale relates to a notorious election in Northumberland

Wife describes how collector husband Chris Hancock’s latest artworks had to fight for space in a family home

Among the best performing lots at the Country House sale at Tennants (22% buyer’s premium) in Leyburn was a fruitwood calendar stick or primstav.

Extraordinary collection generates £64,000 bid for collaborative works by the playwright and poet

A copy of the very first 'Superman' comic of 1939 that came to auction in the US was not in the finest of conditions, indeed rated only VG/FN 5.O.

“Our ephemera fairs are very popular and the next one on February 26 is fully booked with 43 dealers,” said Etc Fairs’ organiser Kim Jeffery, who added: “This fair only takes place six times a year but interest in the dates is very strong.”

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions