Welcome to the WCN Collecting Articles and Features Channel dedicated to all things related to collecting, antiques, pottery, vintage toys, dolls, teddy bears, memorabilia, books, comics, figurines and everything else collectable. Our aim is to provide collectors with information on all aspects of antiques and collecting, from identifying and valuing antiques, to tips on starting and growing a collection, and to featured collectible histories.
We feature hundreds of articles and features on all aspects of collecting, written by experts in the field. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting started, we hope you’ll find something of interest here. Thanks for reading! You can also search for articles using the magnifying glass to the top right of the web site.
Penguin Books transformed British publishing when the first ten titles appeared in 1935. Affordable, instantly recognisable and intended to bring good books to a much wider audience, the early Penguins cost just sixpence each – the price of a packet of cigarettes at the time. More than ninety years later, […]
For generations of British readers, the sight of a Pan Horror paperback on a bookstall was an invitation to discover something gruesome. The Pan Books of Horror Stories combined supernatural tales, psychological horror, macabre fiction and, increasingly, stories designed to shock. Just as memorable were the covers. Skulls, severed heads, […]
Few sporting collectables capture the excitement of England’s greatest footballing triumph in quite the same way as the 1966 World Cup Final cigar bands. Small enough to fit around a cigar, these colourful paper bands have become a fascinating niche within football memorabilia collecting. They combine sporting history, tobacco advertising […]
The success of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. during the mid-1960s inspired producers to expand the hugely popular spy franchise with a female-led spin-off. The result was The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., which premiered on NBC in September 1966 and brought glamour, espionage and Cold War intrigue to television audiences. Although the […]
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be the biggest tournament in football history, collectors are already turning their attention to one of the event’s most appealing areas of memorabilia: the official mascots and the growing range of related collectibles. Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, […]
Clichy Paperweights rank among the most sought‑after objects in antique glass collecting. Their soft colours, delicate millefiori patterns, and unmistakable Clichy Rose set them apart from every rival. Yet their factory operated for just a few decades, making genuine examples rare and valuable. We also include some a price guide […]
Few television shows have had the enduring cultural impact of The Brady Bunch. Airing from 1969 to 1974, this family sitcom chronicling the lives of a blended family of six children, two parents, and a quirky housekeeper became a defining show of the 1970s. Though its original run lasted only […]
George Borgfeldt is not a household name today, but his influence on the American toy industry is profound and enduring. Although Borgfeldt was not a toy maker himself, he pioneered a practice that now dominates the global toy market: licensing. Through his innovative approach to licensing intellectual property and distributing […]
Disney Wade Lady and the Tramp Blow-Up Prototypes – Disney and Wade pottery enthusiasts had the chance to acquire some exceptionally rare pieces at a recent Potteries Auctions event, where five unmarked prototype ‘Blow Up’ colourway figures from the classic Lady and the Tramp series went under the hammer. These […]
Arequipa Pottery occupies a distinctive place in the history of American studio ceramics. Produced at the Arequipa Sanatorium in Fairfax, Marin County, California, the pottery emerged from a remarkable social and artistic experiment during the early twentieth century. Founded in 1911 by physician Dr. Philip King Brown, the Arequipa Sanatorium […]
