Latest news with #HansonsAuctioneers
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rare Star Wars figure from Wellingborough a big hit at auction
A rare Star Wars figure described as the "holy grail" for collectors has sold for more than double the anticipated price at Yak Face toy, from the 1983 film Return of the Jedi, had been stored in an attic in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire for 40 years and was found with several other camel-faced creature was never officially sold in the US, hence its draw for collectors, and was expected to go for about £1,000 at an auction held by Hansons Auctioneers in ended up selling for £2,100, with the 15 unopened figures fetching £5,460 in total. The collection of Star Wars figures, discovered in-box with their original price labels, was put up for sale by the original owner's wife, who said he had not been a collector as such, and did not play with them much. The toys were made by Palitoy in Coalville, Leicestershire in the early 1980s. The rarest item in the collection was considered to be Yak Face, a character that also featured briefly in Return of the Jedi as a member of Jabba the Hutt's and toy expert David Wilson-Turner said: "The figures came from the vendor's husband's collection. "He didn't collect as such, just toys from his childhood that didn't get played with much. She was delighted with the result."He said there was international interest but the Yak Face figure went to a collector in toys went under the hammer in Etwall, Derbyshire on Thursday. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bargain Hunt star supported by fans as he makes huge announcement away from BBC show
Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson has announced his latest move away from the BBC show Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson has been supported by fans as he made a huge announcement away from the BBC show. The beloved auctioneer is set to host a new auction show, giving viewers an exclusive peek into his Derbyshire salesroom and unveiling some "jaw-dropping discoveries". Charles took to Instagram on Tuesday (July 22) to tease fans with a promotional snapshot of his upcoming series, Secret Life of the Auction House, which will premiere on Quest on Thursday, July 31. His announcement post read: "Exciting news from Hansons Auctioneers! We're thrilled to announce our brand-new TV series, Secret Life of the Auction House! Step inside our Derbyshire saleroom as hundreds of thousands of extraordinary treasures pass through each year - from a 1966 World Cup flag to Queen Victoria's bloomers," reports the Express. "With exclusive, behind-the-scenes access, watch as Charles Hanson (@HansonsAuctions) and our 75-strong team research provenance, spot the fakes, and run the live auctions that send rare Harry Potter first editions, Victorian vampire slaying kits, and so much more out the door to eager collectors." The post also included details about the show's premiere: "Tune in Thursday 31st July at 9 PM on @QuestTV to catch the first episode!" Adding to the anticipation, the caption concluded: "Whether you're a seasoned collector or just love a good treasure hunt, this series is packed with insider tips, jawdropping discoveries, and all the auction excitement you could ask for." Charles received an outpouring of support from his fans in the comments section, with one writing: "I will look forward to this." Another added: "Sounds really interesting great to see behind the scenes," while a third expressed anticipation: "Fantastic. Looking forward to watching this." A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: "Great news! I will be delighted to tune in!" In a recent update, Charles couldn't hide his excitement as he anticipated the launch of his new show. He took to X (formerly Twitter), saying: "Hope everyone's well this Tuesday (not Wednesday) evening! New show out soon! 31st July at 10pm (not 9pm) on #Quest #SecretLifeOfTheAuctionHouse." In a brief clip that was filmed in his car, Charles said: "I hope everyone is well. I'm really excited about a new show appearing on your TV screens. Making a show for Discovery Plus seen on Quest starting on the 31st July. "It's the Secret Life of the Auction House. It stars me and my brilliant team at Hansons Auctioneers as we cover all the country and we make some quite riveting, revealing, emotive, cliffhanging, nail-biting, times." He concluded: "We sell with theatre, drama and romance and we make a memory. So do tune in." Known for his appearances on Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt, Charles is a familiar face to many. Bargain Hunt is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Se cret Life of the Auction House premieres on July 31 at 10pm on Quest
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Star Wars figures found in Wellingborough loft could sell for £6k
A collection of rare Star Wars figures discovered mint in box with their original price labels are expected to sell for thusands at Auctioneers said the 21 toys were found in an attic in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, where they had "languished for 40 years". They are being sold at auction by the original owner's wife - and could fetch £6,000. David Wilson-Turner, Hansons' toy expert, said the owner "didn't collect as such, just toys from his childhood that didn't get played with much". The toys were made by Palitoy in Coalville, Leicestershire, in the early 1980s. The rarest item for sale is Yak Face, from the 1983 film Return of the Jedi, which is expected to go for about £1, also featured briefly in Return of the Jedi as a member of Jabba the Hutt's camel-faced creature was never officially sold in the US, and was now a "holy grail" for collectors, the auctioneers said. Mr Wilson-Turner said: "The figures came from the vendor's husband's collection."She was delighted when we told her how much they were worth."Palitoy secured the rights to produce Star Wars toys in the 1970s via its US sister company, Kenner. At first Palitoy was reluctant to even launch a Star Wars range because no one had heard of the film."But, while America went on produce the franchise's merchandise in the millions, Palitoy's output was more modest, making it all the more appealing to collectors both sides of the Atlantic."Also in the sale will be a R2-D2 figure with pop-up lightsabre, which is expected to sell for between £300 and £400. An Amanaman could go for a much as £350 and a Luke Skywalker figure has a guide price of between £200 and £ toys go under the hammer in Etwall, Derbyshire, on 24 July. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Views of pacifist prisoners recorded in Dartmoor jail album
An album containing the thoughts and illustrations of conscientious objectors (COs) held in prison during World War One (WWI) is to be sold at booklet contains stories, images and poems from the prisoners held in Dartmoor jail in Devon from show 1,000 COs, also known as "conchies", were imprisoned in the jail from 1917 - with some of their stories reflected in the 58-page book, which was later passed on by one of the former prisoners to another pacifist, is being offered for sale at Hanson Auctioneers in Derby on 13 August. Hansons said the album recorded how the Napoleonic jail was first renamed Dartmoor Work Centre, and then Princetown Work Camp, during WW1. A spokesman for Hansons said: "Imprisonment was a far cry from the men's civilian days. Viewed as traitors and cowards, they were often treated worse than prisoners."Punishments included fines, solitary confinement and hard labour shifting granite on the famous moor." One page of the album contains a pen-and-ink illustration by book illustrator George Peace Micklewright (1893-1951) who went on to create a series of satirical cards detailing the life of a CO. Micklewright refused to take part in any aspect of the war effort, and was imprisoned at Lichfield, Warwick and Wormwood Scrubs before being sent to another page Wallace Cartwright wrote: "If music be the food of love - play on." Cartwright was 18 at the time of his imprisonment with documentation from the army authority asserting: "An eighteen-year-old could have no beliefs strong enough to warrant exception from military service." On another page William Shaw wrote on May 17, 1918: "The machine gun is powerful. But a united working class can spike it."Hansons' militaria specialist Matt Crowson said: "Even after the war, COs were denied employment with many carrying the stigma of for years. "But in hindsight, this group of men have been increasingly recognised for their courage and moral conviction. "The Peace Pledge Union among others now honours their stance and various memorials, including the CO memorial in Tavistock Square, London, unveiled in 1994, pays tribute to their convictions." 'Pacifist by nature' The book has been through several hands since WWI and the anonymous seller is hoping it will find a good said the book had been passed to her husband's father many years after WW1."My husband's father was of Irish descent and too young to fight in WW1 but was a pacifist by nature."He worked in the Channel Islands as a butler in the 1920s and it was then he met a fellow pacifist - actually one of the COs who had been imprisoned at Dartmoor - and he gave him the subsequently re-discovered the book amongst his father's possessions when he died. "We have been looking after it ever since but would very much like to find it a good 'home' for posterity."
Euronews
18-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Rare papers of World War II hero Alan Turing sell for record price
A collection of rare scientific papers written by mathematician, computer scientist and Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing has sold for a record £465,400 (€544,400) at auction in Lichfield, UK. The documents were discovered in a loft at a property in Bermondsey, London, and were almost destroyed during a house clearance. Some of the rare items that went under the hammer included a personal signed copy of Turing's 1938 PhD dissertation, "Systems of Logic Based on Ordinals", which sold for £110,500 (€129,200), as well as his paper "On Computable Numbers" - also known as "Turing's Proof" - which introduced the world to the idea of a universal computing machine in 1936. The collection also included "The Chemical Basis Of Morphogenesis", which sold for £19,500 (€22,800). Dating from 1952, it is Turing's last major published work. The treasure trove of Turing material had originally been gifted to Turing's friend and fellow mathematician, Norman Routledge, by Turing's mother, Ethel. Routledge kept the papers and, on his death, they were taken to his sister's loft. Hansons Auctioneers had estimated the lots would sell for £40,000 to £60,000 each, but "On Computable Numbers" alone sold for £208,000 (€243,000). Jim Spencer, director of Rare Book Auctions, said of the papers, which were brought to experts in a carrier bag: 'Nothing could've prepared me for what I found in that carrier bag. These plain, academic papers were absolutely electrifying – they are the very bedrock of modern computing. Handling them was both humbling and haunting.' He continued: 'Knowing the tragic arc of Turing's life only adds to the emotional weight. He was treated appallingly despite all he had done and yet, here, his ideas remain alive, relevant, and revolutionary.' Spencer added: 'This was the most important archive I've ever handled. The papers came within inches of being destroyed, and instead they've captured the world's imagination. It's a once-in-a-lifetime discovery – not just for collectors, but for the sake of preserving the story of one of the greatest minds in history.' Turing is widely regarded as the father of computing science and played a central role in breaking the Enigma code, used by the Nazis during the Second World War. After the war, he was convicted of being involved in homosexual acts and accepted a procedure commonly referred to as chemical castration as an alternative to prison. Truing took his own life on 7 June 1954, aged 41. Following a campaign in 2009, British prime minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology for the 'appalling way' Turing was treated after the war. Queen Elizabeth II granted a pardon in 2013. The "Alan Turing law' is a term used informally to refer to a 2017 law in the UK that retroactively pardoned men convicted under historical legislation that outlawed homosexual acts.
