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2009 News Archive

All of our Medals & Militaria news stories from 2009 can be found here.

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Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) signed letter (PF9)

An exceptionally rare one page signed letter, dated February 13, 1813, written to the Duc de Feltre

Posted: 10 August 2011
The Editor’s Top 5 stories of 2009

There have been thousands of stories on the website this year – here I highlight my favourites

Posted: 1 January 2010
Happy Hogmanay!

Happy Silvester, Reveillon and Nochevieja for our overseas readers

Posted: 31 December 2009
Extremely rare 1858 Colt could sell for $16k

This scarce and sought-after Dragoon pistol, marked 'Col. Colt London', is auctioning online

Posted: 30 December 2009
German flying ace's medals to sell online

Adolf Ritter von Tutschek's three distinguished medals are essential pieces of WW1 and aviation history

Posted: 29 December 2009
Soldier's books to make 'Great Escape' at auction

Memorabilia of a captured Private held in the famous Stalag Luft III camp will sell next month

Posted: 26 December 2009
Merry Christmas!

Don't forget your free gift from Paul Fraser Collectibles...

Posted: 25 December 2009
Flag held high by black Unionist troops fetches $50k

Heritage's Arms and Militaria auction sold some classic pieces of Americana

Posted: 22 December 2009
Paul Fraser Collectibles: one of the 100 best things about Bristol

With Banksy and Wallace and Gromit, we've been named among the Top 100 things to love about our home city

Posted: 22 December 2009
Stolen Auschwitz sign found, and five men arrested

A twisted collector is believed to have had the sign stolen to order

Posted: 22 December 2009
WW1 pilot's D.F.C. medal sells at Bonhams

A Flight Lieutenant bravely completed his mine-laying sortie, despite the loss of an engine

Posted: 22 December 2009
Today in history... George S Patton dies

December 21, 1945: an automobile accident claims the life of the legendary army commander

Posted: 21 December 2009
£3k for the boots of the man who 'banned' Christmas

A collector has gotten his hands on Oliver Cromwell's 15th century boots

Posted: 17 December 2009
SAS soldier's memorabilia sells for £60k

Lieutenant Colonel Marsh could have won a VC, say documents. Here is his remarkable story

Posted: 16 December 2009
WW2 soldier returns stolen 'Hitler art' to Germany

Paintings taken as a souvenir from Hitler's home in 1945 could be displayed at the Linz museum

Posted: 14 December 2009
Florida sale promises rare coins and militaria

From the auctioneers that brought you a $17k suit of Prussian armour and Elvis's $107.5k diamond ring...

Posted: 11 December 2009
Collector 'saves' WW1 medals from eBay

A collector has made it his passion to ensure that veteran's medals don't fall into the wrong hands

Posted: 10 December 2009
Paul Fraser welcomes James Bly to the Expert Panel

Antique Expert and Fund Manager

Posted: 9 December 2009
'Dam Busters' autographs sell at Bonhams

A party menu signed by the real-life No 617 Squadron after their legendary mission has auctioned

Posted: 8 December 2009
The Collections of Lord Ashcroft

The politician, Crimestoppers' founder and medal collector

Posted: 8 December 2009
It's a steal... a wealth of Dillinger memorabilia goes under the hammer

The notorious outlaw's letters, pocket watch and gun top the bill at $35k each

Posted: 7 December 2009
George Washington (1732–1799) earliest known autograph (PF5)

Believed to be the earliest known George Washington autograph in private hands.

Posted: 4 December 2009
Your chance to own a highly-valuable Russian pistol

The Luger is auctioning with an opening reserve of $20k, with live bidding closing this weekend

Posted: 4 December 2009
Falkland war hero's medals and memorabilia sell for £70k

Captain Ian Bailey fought alongside a VC winning Sergeant - now his own medals have been auctioned

Posted: 3 December 2009
WW1 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal at auction

Polish Battle of Britain hero's Distinguished Flying Medal also to sell

Posted: 30 November 2009
'Stolen' George Cross appears at auction

Auction house counters claims with signed affidavits

Posted: 29 November 2009
The Collections of Malcolm Forbes

The cheerful multi-millionaire businessman, philanthropist and enthusiastic collector...

Posted: 26 November 2009
US TV star Reyne Haines joins Paul Fraser Collectibles expert panel

Here Reyne shows us that valuable collections aren't just confined to rare stamps or coins, classic cars, or wine cellars

Posted: 26 November 2009
The incredible story behind the World Record sale

The identity of the £357,500 World Record winning bidder is revealed

Posted: 25 November 2009
Double award of Victoria Cross sells for £1.5m

A VC and Bar awarded to an heroic Liverpool-born WW1 officer has been bought by a British Billionaire

Posted: 23 November 2009
Distinguished Conduct Medal sells for £120k

A Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was amongst others valued highly at record breaking VC auction

Posted: 21 November 2009
Warren Buffett v Luxury Collectibles

You'd think there could only be one winner... right?

Posted: 20 November 2009
World record for Victoria Cross to a British recipient

VC sells for £348,000 at Spink Auction

Posted: 19 November 2009
Document from the Mayor of New Amsterdam to sell for $40k

Neil Armstrong, Einstein and Abraham Lincoln signatures also go under the hammer

Posted: 17 November 2009
WW2 Militaria sold for $1.9m

Over 4,000 pieces of war memorabilia based around the D-Day landings were offered

Posted: 17 November 2009
Distinguished Conduct Medal is valued at £60k

An SAS Captain's 1975 medal for gallantry under heavy fire will head a medals auction in London

Posted: 10 November 2009
$250k Third Reich tapestry to sell in Florida

Once owned by powerful Nazi Heinrich Himmler, the gold bullion tapestry will auction next month

Posted: 9 November 2009
WW2 Captain's militaria could bring £50k

The remarkable war artefacts of Captain Meredith and his father will auction in Cheshire, UK

Posted: 6 November 2009
Cambridge's £1.25m bid for WW2 poet's archive

The university's campaign hopes to save Military Cross winner Siegried Sassoon CBE's writings

Posted: 5 November 2009
Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid's VC

WW2 hero's Victoria Cross has come up for sale

Posted: 4 November 2009
30 more Kiwi medals stolen, one is found on eBay

Museum checks its archives after eBay find, and realises NZ$50k of medals have been taken

Posted: 3 November 2009
Paul Fraser welcomes John Bly to the expert panel

John Bly is an antiques dealer, author, after-dinner speaker and broadcaster who is best known from the BBC Antiques Roadshow

Posted: 3 November 2009
Royal memorabilia from Queen Victoria's coachman

His family served the Royals for 80 years, making this a fascinating auction with affordable prices

Posted: 31 October 2009
£48k for the battleship Horatio's log-book

The sale making headlines for its £384k Union Jack had some other Battle of Trafalgar highlights

Posted: 28 October 2009
'Cruellest' Roman Emperor's £250k bust to auction

For sale: a sculpture of one of the worst rulers in the history of the Roman Empire

Posted: 27 October 2009
1940s weapons discovered in Israel

The four rusty Egyptian machine guns may have been used in the Civil War against Palestine

Posted: 26 October 2009
Thief of nine VC medals is sentenced to six years

His NZ$6m haul included the double Victoria Cross awarded to Charles Upham

Posted: 24 October 2009
The World's most expensive Union Jack sells for £384k

With bullet holes and a faint smell of gunpowder, this Battle of Trafalgar flag is a record breaker

Posted: 22 October 2009
Canada's 'Purple Heart' will be given to more soldiers

The Canadian Sacrifice Medal hasn't been awarded due to its strict criteria, but this is about to change

Posted: 21 October 2009
It's just a small wooden chair...

Yet it's expected to sell for £10-15,000 at auction tomorrow. Why?

Posted: 16 October 2009
Bronze Star and 11 medals awarded to WW2 veteran

An ex-soldier, whose fluent German was a valuable weapon against the Nazis, is finally honoured

Posted: 15 October 2009
Abraham Lincoln signed document (1809–1865) (PF10)

An exceptionally rare piece of autographed political memorabilia - a Presidential document signed by Abraham Lincoln...

Posted: 14 October 2009
Unemployed man could get £1m for largest ever Anglo Saxon haul

He scanned the Staffordshire countryside with his metal detector for 18 years - and it finally paid off

Posted: 13 October 2009
Chinese Emperor's personal seal to sell for £100k-150k

'This object of unique Imperial Chinese importance causes one to catch one's breath' says Bohnam's

Posted: 11 October 2009
Legion of Honour awarded to New York veterans

Two WW2 soldiers who survived D-Day and machine gun fire have finally been honoured

Posted: 9 October 2009
Scotsman who guarded Hitler’s Deputy is awarded service medal

John Romanes watched over notorious Nazi war criminal Rudolph Hess during his final years

Posted: 8 October 2009
Afghanistan rebuilds its cultural history

Once destroyed by bombs and lootings, the country is now restoring its National Museum

Posted: 7 October 2009
Civil War Gatling gun sells for $173k

$1.1m memorabilia and militaria auction features vintage muskets, revolvers, rifles and cannons

Posted: 7 October 2009
State of New Hampshire bans sales of human remains

A new law has been cast after the attempted illegal sale of a Civil War soldier's skeleton

Posted: 6 October 2009
WW2 prisoner receives Legion of Honour

The remarkable story of how a POW was captured by Germans - and later helped by one

Posted: 5 October 2009
Could medals finally be given to the SS Mendi dead?

South Africa's greatest WWI shipwreck has now been classified as a grave - raising hopes for posthumous honours

Posted: 2 October 2009
Bockscar (August 8, 1945)

The plane that dropped the second Atomic Bomb. A superb piece of history is for sale.

Posted: 25 September 2009
Collectibles investments are booming, says The Times

'High net worth individuals are increasingly turning to alternative investments,' reports the respected UK newspaper

Posted: 24 September 2009
George S Patton signed letter (1885–1945) (PF3)

In the midst of World War II, General George S Patton, wrote a letter to Suzanne Miner, who had served as his housekeeper in Langres, France, during World War I...

Posted: 15 August 2009
Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) (PF7) signed document

Incredibly rare signed document circa 1650, featuring Oliver Cromwell's autograph

Posted: 1 July 2009
Rare medal from Tudor England

A gold medal worth £250k is one of many coming up at auction

Posted: 1 October 2009
Aristocratic Armoury for sale

19th Century jousting equipment goes under the hammer

Posted: 29 September 2009
German WWI POW's letters auctioned

A naval cadet's letters are to sell in New Zealand

Posted: 28 September 2009
Korean weapons could bring $23m

'The greatest single battle implement ever devised by man' will be sold with weapons from WW2, Korea and Vietnam

Posted: 26 September 2009
Largest ever Anglo Saxon treasure uncovered

A metal detector has found 1,500 gold, silver and military items - and their value is too high to calculate

Posted: 25 September 2009
The first Military Cross holder dies in combat

Sergeant Mike Lockett, 29, who performed 'one of the most outstanding rescues of the Afghan war,' died in a roadside bomb on Monday

Posted: 25 September 2009
Rare medal sells for £88,000

A Conspicuous Gallantry Medal has beaten its £60k estimate at auction

Posted: 23 September 2009
Vintage firearms sale totals $8m

Over 500 lots sold, including Civil War, WWI and WWII weapons and a Winchester for $425k

Posted: 23 September 2009
93 year old receives late medal...

Polish man who survived slave labour in Siberia receives honour from the RAF

Posted: 19 September 2009
16th century body armour sells for record $772k

Centuries-old armour vastly exceeds its estimate price in Lucerne, Switzerland

Posted: 18 September 2009
A global interest in a provincial auction...

Unusual art and militaria antiquities attract worldwide bids

Posted: 15 September 2009
American-born Nazi's microphone sells for £8,000

A mic used by the infamous Lord Haw-Haw in his pro-fascist WW2 radio broadcasts has tripled its estimate at auction

Posted: 15 September 2009
Exemplary Bravery honoured in Plymouth

Awards include the second ever MC awarded to a woman

Posted: 11 September 2009
Good news: collectibles improve your mental health

They can reduce stress, add years to your life and 'people with hobbies are healthier and happier,' says a new study

Posted: 11 September 2009
High School dig yields Civil War memorabilia

New Jersey find includes buttons for the first President worth five figure sums

Posted: 10 September 2009
Largest ever cache of Jewish coins discovered

'Excellent condition' coins, pottery and weapons from Third Jewish-Roman War found in a cave in Israel

Posted: 10 September 2009
Vietnamese weapons to appear in museum

'Home-made, primitive weapons' used against US and France show 'unique military-cultural heritage of Vietnam'

Posted: 8 September 2009
Iraq hero's medal to be sold

Medal won for remarkable act of bravery will be sold for at least £60,000 for the benefit of his family

Posted: 1 September 2009
The FBI Stolen Valor case squad

Falsely claiming to be decorated is now a crime in itself...

Posted: 31 August 2009
100,000 PoW records released online

The records of WWII prisoners including royalty and a James Bond actor are now accessible on a website

Posted: 27 August 2009
Remembrance of a hero

Medals and Memorabilia connected with a WWII soldier and PoW have come up for auction

Posted: 27 August 2009
Pet's bravery recalled

A medal in recognition of animal valour has surfaced on a BBC show

Posted: 24 August 2009
'Unsung hero of Battle of Britain' for sale

One of the most versatile fighter planes of WWII can be yours for AU$2-4m

Posted: 20 August 2009
Whisky expert slashed by antique knife

World-renowned whisky blender's career is stalled thanks to a 18th century Bowie knife

Posted: 20 August 2009
Last Tommy's medals go on display

Harry Patch's medals have been showcased at a museum he favoured

Posted: 13 August 2009
Coin museum goes on road trip

Vast collection of coins, medals and banknotes to be shown in travelling exhibition

Posted: 7 August 2009
Item rejected by TWO New York auction houses sells for $620k

It was left to a small auction house to uncover a story of Hitler, Goering and a 101 year-old undiscovered artefact

Posted: 6 August 2009
Dillnger memorabilia sets record prices

US outlaw continues to cause excitement in auction houses

Posted: 3 August 2009
'Fake' claims of war heroics on increase

Claims 'cheapen the valour of service, warp historical records and scam taxpayers' says former sergeant

Posted: 1 August 2009
Hero receives Bronze Star... after 64-year wait

‘I didn't know if I would get the medal or if the undertaker would get here first,’ he says

Posted: 1 August 2009
Arms and armour fetch £740,000 at auction

Weapon-themed sale from all ages exceeds estimates in London

Posted: 30 July 2009
WW2 medals from notorious P.O.W. camp to be sold

‘These are some of the most interesting we have had in the sale room for many years,’ says auctioneer

Posted: 30 July 2009
Too severely wounded to receive his medal...

Hero accepts award 64 years later, awarded to his 'magnificent' infantry unit

Posted: 29 July 2009