Nostalgia auction set to appeal to Millennials’ pixel perfect childhood
The earliest home computers and ‘pong’ style consoles are among the retro classics appearing at Hansons London’s first ever nostalgia sale later this month.
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HANSONS AUCTIONEERS · NEWS & STORIES
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Discover remarkable auction finds, extraordinary results, expert insights and stories from Hansons salerooms across the UK.
Flower power: a hand-embroidered Central Asian cover sells for £3,800
A hand-embroidered suzani from late 19th-century Uzbekistan sold for £3,800—five times its estimate—at Hansons Auctioneers. The vibrant textile, part of a traditional bridal dowry, drew global interest before being won by a Turkish rug specialist.
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New kid on the block. Is Daniel the UK’s youngest auctioneer?
At just 21, Daniel Armstrong has taken to the rostrum as one of the UK’s youngest auctioneers. From spotting Fabergé to George Bullock, his passion for antiques is already shining at Hansons.
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Collectors in a stampede to acquire rare Beswick animals
A collection of Beswick animals, ranging from rare cows to pot-bellied pigs, created a stir in our Etwall saleroom last week.
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Top secret D-Day maps found in a cardboard box could spark a bidding war
Maps used by Allied troops in the Normandy landings are set for auction at Hansons on the 13th August. Once owned by Royal Naval sub-lieutenant Walter Page, they detail terrain, German defences and minefields across Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches. Discovered in a £10 box of ephemera, they could fetch up to £15,000.
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Top secret WWII plans to liberate the Channel Islands discovered in a cardboard box
A long-lost document detailing Britain’s 1945 mission to free the Nazi-occupied Channel Islands has surfaced 80 years after liberation. Discovered in a cardboard box, the 50-page “Operation Nestegg” plan reveals meticulous instructions for the high-risk landings on Jersey and Guernsey. It goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ Militaria Sale on August 13, guided at £800–£1,200.
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Movie memorabilia collection that survived a bomb blast goes on sale
A remarkable 70-year collection of more than 2,500 pieces of movie memorabilia – which survived the 1996 IRA Manchester bombing – is set to go under the hammer in Newark. Built by lifelong film enthusiast Steve Ellison, the haul includes posters, lobby cards and autographs spanning Hollywood’s golden age to modern blockbusters.
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Unseen sketches of Queen Elizabeth II go on sale
Intimate preparatory works for Jeff Stultiens’ iconic 2003 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II are now up for auction at Hansons Hertfordshire saleroom. The 207-lot sale includes oils and sketches created during sittings with Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace, alongside portraits of other notable figures.
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Bidders go nuts for Huntley & Palmer advertising sign
A vintage Huntley & Palmers enamel sign advertising ginger nuts sold for a surprising £831 at Hansons Norfolk on July 26 — far exceeding its £30–£60 estimate. Featuring 1930s Quaker mascot John Ginger, the sign drew strong interest from collectors of nostalgic biscuit memorabilia.
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Rare WWI Dartmoor prison album to go under the hammer
A powerful WWI album made by conscientious objectors at Dartmoor Prison goes under the hammer at Hansons, Derbyshire, on the 13th August. Featuring artwork by illustrator George Peace Micklewright, the 58-page book offers a rare glimpse into the lives of those who refused to fight. Estimate: £400–£600.
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Gold sovereigns set to spark a tidal wave of interest on Penzance quay
A treasure trove of around 300 rare gold proof coins is set to go under the hammer at Hansons Cornwall on the 5th August. The collection, built over a decade by a Penzance man in memory of his late wife, features Royal Mint coins from the reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III — including limited-edition commemoratives and ultra-rare proofs.
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Snap happy: a rare Fabergé photo frame set to make thousands
A lozenge-shaped nephrite and silver photo frame by Fabergé, bearing the maker’s iconic “KF” mark, is set to go under the hammer at Hansons London on July 31 with a £5,000–£7,000 estimate. Once owned by a collector’s grandfather, the frame epitomises Edwardian elegance and the opulence that made Fabergé a favourite of royalty and high society.
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Timeless French luxury comes to Derby
Hansons’ Luxury Auction on the 30th July features standout pieces from Cartier, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, including a Cartier Love bracelet, classic watches, and iconic handbags — offering nearly 100 lots of designer fashion and fine jewellery.
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Rare Star Wars figure priced £1.59 in 1983 sells for more than £3,000
A Yak Face figure found in a Northampton loft with its £1.59 price tag still attached sold for over £3,000 at Hansons on July 24. Part of a stash untouched for 40+ years, the ultra-rare figure helped the collection reach £6,880 at auction.
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New TV series promises to blow the lid on local auction house
Derby’s Charles Hanson and his Etwall saleroom take centre stage this week in a new TV series promising to blow the lid on…
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Rare three-in-one Rolex watch/ clock standing the test of time
Among Rolex’s countless horological innovations, one lesser-known – though equally inventive – is a multipurpose pocket watch that transforms into a clock.
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Bottoms up! A 100-bottle collection of Absolut vodka is up for sale
It is the UK’s most favourite spirit but how many of us can claim to have eight dozen bottles in the drinks cabinet?
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Scottish Whisky Fans Tee Up for a Very Special Sale
Golf and whisky unite in Hansons’ July Wine, Whisky & Spirits Auction, featuring 50 rare bottles celebrating iconic moments from The Open, Ryder Cup, and St Andrews.
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Extremely rare ‘bee’ clasp taken from Napoleon Bonaparte’s apartment on St Helena set to get collectors buzzing
A rare cloak clasp featuring Napoleon Bonaparte’s emblematic bees—said to have been taken from his apartment after his death on St Helena—is set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ Militaria Auction in Etwall on 13th August, with an estimate of £3,000–£5,000.
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Rare Star Wars figures set to sell for more than 600 times their original price tag
A collection of 1980s Star Wars figures found in a Northampton loft is expected to fetch over £6,000 at Hansons Auctioneers' Toy Auction on July 24. Highlights include the rare Yak Face figure by Palitoy, estimated at up to £1,000.
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Hansons Auctioneers – Cornwall set to put Cornish art on the map
Cornish Art Breaks Records in Penzance: Hansons Auctioneers - Cornwall set a world record for St Ives artist Victor Bramley, selling a damaged painting for £900—well above its £30–£50 estimate. The sale highlights Cornwall’s rich artistic legacy.
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