Special Auction Services
Founded in Newbury, Berkshire in 1991, Special Auction Services host a wide range of specialist collectors’ sales throughout the year.
As well as regular antiques and collectables sales, they hold tailored auctions focusing on categories such as toys, music and entertainment, cameras, sporting memorabilia, cigarette cards, postcards, jewellery, coins and watches. Their annual Trains Galore sale takes place in December.
Since 2006, the firm had been run by auctioneers Thomas Plant and Neil Shuttleworth.

Early railway toys puff into Newbury
25 January 2021This charming early English-style station below was produced for the export market by German toy manufacturer Märklin.

ATG letter: Aston’s – I wish SAS well
02 November 2020MADAM – It was heartening to read that the premises of Aston’s Auctioneers and Valuers of Dudley (ATG No 2463) have been taken over by Special Auction Services (SAS) of Newbury, Berkshire.

Aston’s premises go to ‘friendly rival’ as Special Auction Services expands into the Midlands
12 October 2020Special Auction Services is expanding into the West Midlands and has taken over the premises of toy and collectables specialist Aston’s Auctioneers & Valuers in Dudley.

Hornby train sets still on the right track after 100 years
20 July 2020The Hornby train set is 100 years old this year. ATG reports on the sale of a remarkable century-old survivor plus highlights from across the UK regions

Snaggletooth figure on offer
20 July 2020This Star Wars Kenner Blue Snaggletooth action figure, undented toe version, complete with original weapon, is estimated at £80-120 in the Special Auction Services October 27 Toys for the Collector sale.

Portobello dealer’s collection of kitchenalia and more proves a sell-out at Newbury auction
06 July 2020Joan Dunk (1930-2019) was a Portobello Road market stalwart. Her stall, for decades an outside pitch on the corner of Westbourne Grove, was affectionately known as IDA – the trade name of an early 20th century German kitchen equipment manufacturer which she adapted to mean ‘Interesting Domestic Appliances’.

Collection from Portobello Road market trader comes to Berkshire auction
03 June 2020The house contents of Portobello Road market stalwart Joan Dunk (1930-2019) is to be sold in Newbury next week.

Auction calendar begins revival via the virtual rostrum
27 April 2020After a month’s hiatus, a number of top-tier regional auction houses are returning to the rostrum to conduct ‘live online’ sales.

Sale drives towards a sell-out
23 March 2020With just five of the 630 lots of toys and models failing to get away and an £80,000 total well above top hopes, Special Auctions Services’ Newbury sale was, said auctioneer Hugo Marsh, “just like the old days – even better”.

Art Nouveau vases, Mouseman wall brackets and Great War gallantry medals – five lots to watch at auction this week
02 March 2020With estimates from £600-3000 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.

Posters lead the way on road to music stardom
17 February 2020Concert posters from the earliest days of bands that later became famous are particulary sought-after at auction. Leading this selection from recent sales is a five-figure example from 1964 which promotes one of the first Rolling Stones tour performances, but many others are available at a lower price range announcing appearances at venues with evocative names such as Bridlington Spa Hall, Basildon Locarno Ballroom and Barnston Women’s Institute.

Rare teddies from museum collection bare all at auction in Newbury
06 February 2020More than 300 teddy bears collected over an eight-year period are to be auctioned later this year.

Wedgwood vase, Minton tile and Victorian carriage clock – six lots to watch at auction this week
06 January 2020With estimates from £40-12,000 here are six previews of upcoming items this week.

Treen with the Trafalgar touch
23 December 2019Tucked inside an18th century treen model of a ship’s hull is a historic note reading This was taken out of a writing bureau belonging to Lord Collingwood. I saw the bureau and know its history.

News in brief
23 December 2019Sotheby’s has undergone a restructure following the purchase of the auction house by telecoms businessman Patrick Drahi earlier this year.

Railwayana, memorabilia from the Snowman film and a ‘James Bond’ watch are among four lots to watch at auction this week
16 December 2019With estimates from £400-3200 here are four previews of upcoming sales this week.

Trains Galore auction steams into Newbury saleroom
14 December 2019Special Auction Services is bringing railway fans its annual Trains Galore two-day auction of more than 1000 lots.

Insurance fire marks sell in a blaze of glory
18 November 2019The practice of placing a metal mark on a building to indicate insurance against a fire started in earnest after the Great Fire of London (1666). Each insurance company had its own fire service and distinctive logo.

Star decorators from Desire Leroy to Joseph Bailey
18 November 2019The talented Sèvres factory decorator Desire Leroy (1840-1908) came to the United Kingdom in 1878 to take up an appointment at Minton in Staffordshire. However, he is perhaps best known for his work at the Royal Crown Derby where he worked from 1890, aged 50, until his death in 1908.

Five lots to watch at auction this week including a Kutchinsky brooch, a ceramic fire mark and a signed Oliver Cromwell document
11 November 2019With estimates from £300-6500, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week.

- Victor Mee Auctions
- Decorative Interiors
- 03 Mar 2021 - 14:00 PM
- Auktionshaus Wendl
- Decorative Arts, Collectables, Jewellery & Fine Art
- 04 Mar 2021
- Georg Rehm
- Art & Antiques
- 04 Mar 2021
- Thomas N. Miller
- Antiques, Collectables & Furniture
- 04 Mar 2021 - 10:00 AM
- Morphets
- Fine Art & Antiques
- 04 Mar 2021 - 12:00 PM
- Swan Fine Art Auctions
- Antiques & Interiors
- 04 Mar 2021 - 12:00 PM

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