Features

The random selection of a place in the line is one of the long-established rituals of English driven game shooting and novel methods continue to emerge.

Boss over-and-under guns from the golden age of London gunmaking have long ranked among the most sought by game shots.

This Victorian dirk – with ensuite knife and fork – sold for 10 times the top estimate, £2000, at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow on January 21.

Such was the demand for suits of armour from late 19th and early 20th century collectors that European master armourers were kept hard at work long after the practical need for such protective wear had passed.

Krupp mountain guns made in Nanjing as China modernised come up at Thomas Del Mar auction.

Even the composite parts of weapons now long lost have a value at auction.

How did toy manufacturers get boys in the rather less PC 1960s to play with dolls?

Models, props, scenery and scripts linked to Gerry Anderson emerged for sale at Ewbank’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Send, Surrey at the end of last year.

It was not uncommon in the 18th century for a doll to be presented within its own miniature doll-scaled world.

As with so many other collecting areas recently, the conditions of lockdown – meaning spare money and time for the fortunate – have led to buoyant demand for toys, models and collectables.

The British Toy Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) sale on January 8 in Runcorn included several Pelham Puppets rarities.

The cow catcher and bell on this Gauge 1 clockwork loco gives the game away: although made by German firm Märklin, the set was for the American market.

An extensive selection of Pelham Puppets came up on the first day of the Piers Motley (18% buyer’s premium) auction in Devon on January 18-20.

This charming early English-style station below was produced for the export market by German toy manufacturer Märklin.

Auction house H&H Classics (15% buyer’s premium) is best known for selling full-sized vehicles but a smaller model impressed in a recent automobilia sale.

This Volvo PV 444 diecast toy is by the Swedish toy distributor Gösta Norén.

Furnished dolls’ houses and accessories in general are proving the most dynamic area of the collecting market

A Dinky Supertoys 935 Leyland Octopus flat truck with chains in its original box sold for £8200 at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium) on January 14.

The strong level of prices being paid by collectors for dolls’ house furniture was underlined at a recent C&T sale.

The collecting market for dolls’ house furniture has been enjoying a boom period if recent prices have been anything to go by.