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.

Paul Daniels sale creates touch of magic
09 January 2023Collection amassed by the popular TV magician leaves bidders spellbound as nearly all items get away

“We had lots of interest – he had everything going for him": Early Steiff teddy put in the picture
05 December 2022This wonderful photo taken in 1914 shows the Coghill family plus a rather hairy friend: a rare large Steiff centre-seam teddy bear c.1906.

Bidders embrace best of Lalla’s Wedgwood Arts and Crafts revival
12 September 2022This large 21in (54cm) early 20th century Arts and Crafts charger was painted by Louise Powell (1865-1956) for Wedgwood.

The small world of Gamda toys
22 August 2022Special Auctions Services (25% buyer’s premium) in Newbury sold the collection of John Garside last month.

Single-owner collection of Winston Churchill memorabilia offered in Newbury
30 July 2022Special Auction Services is holding an auction in Newbury on August 9-10 that will feature the first part of a single-owner collection of Winston Churchill memorabilia.

‘Liberation dolls’ come to auction in Newbury
09 May 2022When the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated on April 15, 1945, a party of British Red Cross nurses and doctors stayed and tended those they could help back to health.

Two versions of the Compass
18 April 2022It was supposedly as a result of a bet whether it was possible to make a camera that could fit into a cigarette packet that Noel Pemberton Billing (1881-1948) began work on a miniature, collapsible camera that would accept 35mm film.

The world in stereo
18 April 2022The sale of Photographica & Cameras at Special Auction Services in Newbury on April 26 features this complete set of 'Tour Of The World' stereoviews by the Keystone View Company of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Dee family’s animal magic
28 March 2022Henry William Dee, the son of Soho silversmith Thomas William Dee (c.1792- 1869), made a speciality of producing silver novelties for Garrard, Leuchars & Son and Asprey’s and other retail goldsmiths. There was real genius here and the patterns for many were patented.

Avery jockey scales go weigh above estimate
07 March 2022Former champion jockey Joe Mercer 1934-2021) was a keen buyer of racing memorabilia.

A duo of ‘Qianlong’ objects inspired by China’s archaic past emerge at regional sales
28 February 2022This blue and white ewer with a Qianlong mark offered at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge as part of an Interiors sale is of a type modelled on a Zhou bronze ritual wine vessel or 'he'.

German mass market appeal
31 January 2022A rare large-scale Erzgebirge mid-19th century painted wooden market was one of the stand-out lots of the largest-ever Toys, Dolls, Dolls’ Houses and Teddy Bears sale to be staged by Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium) in Newbury.

The quality Aynsley appeal
03 January 2022The Aynsley factory’s reputation for good quality, unadventurous bone china tea and coffee wares made it the safe choice for many British households.

Pick of the week: Nicole musical boxes to get your teeth into
13 December 2021François Nicole (b.1766), the Geneva-based pioneer of the key-wind musical box, is thought to have made around 440 boxes during his working life, but only around 60 are known today.

Fossils fuel interest in 19th century microscope slides
01 November 2021A group of early 19th century microscope slides mounted with specimens of fossilised wood sold for £11,500 (estimate £1000-1500) to a Canadian private collector at Special Auction Services (25% buyer’s premium) in Newbury.

Owner stories boost value of Pearson teddy bears
16 August 2021Toys from the private collection of Sue Pearson, the UK’s leading dealer in antique and vintage teddy bears and soft toys, were offered in Newbury.

Rare Steiff ‘hot-water’ bottle bear makes special appearance
28 June 2021Some of the zest has gone out of the teddy bear market since the crazy days of two decades ago.

Hound kept in garage
05 April 2021Classic Hammer Horror film posters are always popular at auction. This example below was probably the first UK quad release of The Hound of The Baskervilles (1959) starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

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.

- Adam Partridge
- Paintings, Northern Art, Militaria, Sporting, Antiques & Interiors
- 27 Sep 2023 - 10:00 AM
- Leo Spik
- Paintings, Works on Paper, Prints & Sculptures
- 28 Sep 2023
- J. Straker Chadwick & Sons
- Wines & Spirits
- 28 Sep 2023 - 10:00 AM
- J.S. Fine Art Auctioneers
- Antiques, Furniture & Interiors
- 28 Sep 2023 - 10:00 AM
- Jeschke & Van Vliet
- Rare Books, Prints & Historical Photography
- 29 Sep 2023
- Auctioneum
- 20th Century Design & Interiors
- 29 Sep 2023 - 09:00 AM

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