WW2 RAF Ace Billy Drake’s medals go on sale

A group of medals awarded to RAF squadron leader Billy Drake heads the sale of military medals at Bonhams on 12 March in Knightsbridge.

The medals, including a World War II DSO and DFC and bar group, are estimated to sell for  £20,000-£30,000.

Billy Drake was born in London on 20 December 1917 to an English father and Australian mother. He was educated in Switzerland after several schools in England failed to cope with his lively temperament. 

Sotheby’s London to sell royal and aristocratic heirlooms

On 23 January 2014, Sotheby’s London will present Of Royal and Noble Descent, a sale featuring royal and aristocratic heirlooms from important European dynasties. 

The sale comprises a suitably eclectic collection of items says Heinrich Graf von Spreti, President Sotheby’s Germany: ‘Having survived through inheritance, these treasures from palaces and historic houses have never been seen by the general public and their appearance at auction offers a unique opportunity for discerning collectors to acquire them.’

Rare shipwreck archive on sale at Sotheby's

An unparalleled archive of shipwreck images will be presented for sale at Sotheby’s London auction on 12th November 2013. 

Taken by four generations of the Gibson family of photographers over nearly 130 years, the 1,000 negatives record the wrecks of over 200 ships and the fate of their passengers, crew and cargo as they travelled from across the world through the notoriously treacherous seas around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly between 1869 and 1997. 

Russian artworks hit new heights at Christie’s

The strength of Russian art as an investment has been underlined once again with Christie’s achieving a record price for The Coachman by Boris Kustodiev.

The work was painted in 1923 and was formerly in the collection of Noble Prize winner and friend of the artist Peter Kapitza (1894-1984). 

Viking swords top the list at Bonhams’ sale

A fearsome array of swords from the Medieval period and earlier, including Viking weapons, form the main thrust of Bonhams’ sale of antique arms and armour on 28 November in London’s Knightsbridge.

David Williams, director of arms and armour at Bonhams, said: ‘Many of these rare and remarkable weapons would have been used in battle. The scarring and damage goes some way to confirm this, though the years have also taken their toll.’

Bonhams to auction German enigma machine

Auction house Bonhams is scheduled to put a German enigma enciphering machine under the hammer for the first time on 14 November in London.

The machine, which is estimated to sell for between £40,000 and £60,000, was built in 1941 and was used by German forces during World War II. 

Falklands War Surrender Telex goes on sale

With the Falkland Islands back in the news, Bonhams will soon be auctioning a copy of the original Falklands War Surrender Telex.

This document, announcing the laying down of arms by the Argentine Forces under General de Brigada Mario Menendez in June 1982, is to be sold at the auction house’s marine sale on 3 April.

The auction takes place immediately following the 30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands (2 April 1982).

Controversial figures excel in Bonhams’ arms and armour sale

A sword and pistols belonging to two swashbuckling 19th-century military men achieved impressive prices at leading London auction house Bonhams last week.

A Lloyds Patriotic sword awarded to Captain Arthur Farquhar (RN) was sold for £79,250 and a set of duelling pistols once owned by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Thornton achieved £67,250.

David Williams, director of antique arms and armour at Bonhams, said: ‘The market [for arms and armour] remains buoyant with interest coming from round the world for what was an outstanding collection of material. Interest in collecting antique arms and militaria continues to grow.’

Farquhar, was commander of HMS Acheron, but lost his ship and 67-man crew to a much larger French man of war after an encounter off Malta, while he was protecting a convoy of merchant ships.