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Discover remarkable auction finds, extraordinary results, expert insights and stories from Hansons salerooms across the UK.

Rare £20 note issued in Leeds in 1918 could sell for £800 at auction
Articles |

Rare £20 note issued in Leeds in 1918 could sell for £800 at auction

An exceptionally rare 1918 Bank of England £20 note issued in Leeds is expected to fetch £500–£800 at Hansons’ upcoming coin sale. Signed by chief cashier E.M. Harvey, the note offers a fascinating glimpse into Britain’s WWI banking history and is among the last of the elegant handwritten-style “white notes.”

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On the eve of Bonfire Night, Charles Hanson uncovers a rare 17th-century book with what may be the first ever mention of a firework in English
Charles Hanson |

On the eve of Bonfire Night, Charles Hanson uncovers a rare 17th-century book with what may be the first ever mention of a firework in English

A rare 1634 volume, The Mysteryes of Nature and Art by John Bate, reveals the first English instructions for making fireworks - from rockets to “flying dragons.” The book, set to be auctioned in Lichfield, offers a fascinating glimpse into 17th-century science, spectacle, and Bonfire Night’s explosive origins.

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