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Rare lover’s ring found in a Norfolk field could spark golden returns
A rare, centuries-old “love” ring discovered by a metal detectorist in a Norfolk field is expected to make £600-£800 at auction this week <Sept…
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Discover remarkable auction finds, extraordinary results, expert insights and stories from Hansons salerooms across the UK.
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Rare Bowie knife slices through its guide price
A rare Sheffield-made Bowie knife with a crocodile handle sliced past its £200–£250 estimate to fetch £2,500 at Hansons. Crafted by John Hinchliffe, the folding blade features the words “For self-preservation” and a lion pommel, making it a rare and highly collectable piece.
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Bids fly in from around the world for a Kent pilot’s royal gifts
A pair of gold cufflinks presented by Queen Elizabeth II to the pilot who flew the body of the Duke of Windsor back to the UK sold for £1,700 - more than four times its low guide price of £400 at Hansons Auctioneers’ Kent saleroom in Penshurst today . The cufflinks were part of a treasure trove of presents given to Squadron Leader Denis Lowery (1925-2012) from royal heads of state from around the world, including the late Queen.
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Royal platter serves up a tasty treat for collectors
A silver-plated meat cloche that once served Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Duke of Wellington at a grand 1845 banquet is heading to auction at Hansons on September 18, guided at £600–£800. Once the centrepiece of a family Christmas table, it now offers collectors a rare slice of royal dining history.
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Nanny state: more than 50 vintage prams including royal favourites go under the hammer
A 50-year collection of vintage prams, including the royal favourite Silver Cross, will be auctioned at Hansons on September 28. Highlights include an ornate 1878 model, a 1930s French Art Deco design, and a Millson Prince like those used by King Charles III and Princess Charlotte. Valued at £10,000, the sale features museum-quality craftsmanship from Britain’s finest makers.
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Just like that – Tommy Cooper’s fez set to net £1,500
A fez worn by comedy legend Tommy Cooper in the 1950s could sell for up to £1,500 at Hansons Auctioneers on the 17th September. Gifted to jazz musician Stanley Cooper, the iconic red hat became a trademark of Cooper’s act and remains a cherished piece of comedy history.
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Ring with links to Nelson’s “secret” daughter could net £5,000 in Norfolk
A gold signet ring linked to Admiral Nelson’s “secret” daughter, Horatia, has been found in a Norfolk field. Discovered near Trunch Hall, it bears the Ward family crest and dates to the 17th century. It heads to auction on Sept 27, estimated at £3,000–£5,000.
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A rare 19th-century Cornish sampler of a trout set to make a splash in Penzance
An unusual Victorian sampler stitched around 1840 by 10-year-old Phillipa Venning of Altarnun, Cornwall, is coming up for auction in Penzance on the 26th September. Instead of the usual alphabet or religious verses, Phillipa’s work depicts a beautifully detailed trout surrounded by floral and natural motifs.
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Royal pilot’s treasure trove of gifts set to fly in Kent
Royal gifts belonging to RAF pilot Squadron Leader Denis Lowery, who repatriated the Duke of Windsor in 1972, go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, Penshurst, on September 16. Highlights include gold cufflinks from Queen Elizabeth II. The collection, valued near £10,000, reflects a career flying the royal family and international dignitaries.
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Thumbnail-sized Norfolk Qur’an set to make it big at auction
A thumbnail-sized Qur’an, once kept in a dolls’ house, is set to make £2,000–£3,000 at Hansons’ Norfolk saleroom on the 27th September. Dating from the 18th–19th century, the tiny 300-page text was once used by Ottoman soldiers as a protective talisman.
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Behind-the-scenes photos by Hogwarts Express’s boilerman set to steam ahead
Over 140 behind-the-scenes photos taken by Graham Wood, a fireman on the Hogwarts Express, go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on 17 September. The archive features cast autographs, props, and unseen on-set shots from the Harry Potter films.
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Going, Going, Gogh! Charles Hanson turns artist for a good cause
For once TV auctioneer Charles Hanson isn’t selling fine art, he’s creating it. The star of Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip is picking up a paintbrush to decorate a giant gavel for charity.
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Estimate-busting results from the studio sale of a leading British portraitist
Portraits by British artist Jeff Stultiens (1944–2023) captivated bidders at Hansons, led by a Cardinal Basil Hume painting at £8,500. The 207-lot sale, including studies of Queen Elizabeth II and Nude in the Financial Crisis, totaled £35,989.
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Top secret WWII plans to go on show at a Jersey museum
Rare D-Day landing maps and original Operation Nestegg plans, sold by Hansons Auctioneers, are set to go on display at Jersey War Tunnels. The documents, once owned by a Royal Navy officer, mark a major addition to the museum’s WWII collection.
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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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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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