The Musical Collector, Unlikely Provenance and Significant Results


September 2026

In this blog we take a look at the remarkable collection of Alan Cuckston, share some standout results from our previous Music, Sport and Entertainment sale, and invite entries for the next edition of this ever popular auction.

Alan Cuckston

Last year we had the privilege of presenting something genuinely rare: nine exceptional instruments from the personal collection of Alan Cuckston, one of Britain's most respected authorities on historic keyboard instruments and early music performance. A distinguished harpsichordist, organist, pianist and broadcaster. Cuckston trained under Fanny Waterman and Thurston Dart and built a career that took in extensive BBC work and concert appearances across Europe and North America. His collection reflected a lifetime of immersion in early music, and the instruments offered a direct connection to that world.

You can read the full story of Alan Cuckston, his collection and listen to recordings on our blog here.
Four instruments in particular deserve attention. An early 19th century Grand Piano by John Broadwood and Son, London 1828, with mahogany case, brass inlay and six octave keyboard, sold for £850. A second Broadwood Grand, this one dating from 1820 with a satinwood case and ebony inlay, sold for £9,000. Its connection to history runs deep: in 1818, just two years before this piano was made, a piano of identical design was presented to Beethoven by Thomas Broadwood himself. A 20th century Flemish style two manual harpsichord by John Rooks of Ticknall, after Jan Ruckers 1637, with outer casework marbled by Sheila Barnes of Edinburgh and soundboard decorated with birds and foliage, sold for £1,600.  A further two manual harpsichord by John Rooks, this one in French style dating from 1971, with black outer casing and gold banding and inner lid painted with a rural scene, sold for £2,100. 

Now Inviting Entries: Music Sport & Entertainment

Following the outstanding success of our previous Music, Sport and Entertainment sales, which attracted bidders from across the UK and beyond, we are now inviting entries for the next edition. To give a sense of the breadth and quality we are looking for, here are some highlights from recent sales.

Strings Attached

String instruments have delivered some of the most significant results recently. A 1977 Martin M-38 prototype acoustic guitar formerly owned by British folk guitarist John Pearse, illustrated on page 74 of Martin Guitars: A Technical Reference and complete with certificate of authenticity in its original Martin hard case, sold for £4,000. A Rickenbacker model 360 six string electric guitar in midnight blue, circa 2017, sold for £1,800. A Fender Stories Collection Brent Mason Telecaster in primer grey with convertible Glaser Bender sold for £1,600. An HS Anderson Madcat HS-1 electric guitar in fitted case sold for £1,500.

Beyond the Guitar

Other instruments performed with equal strength. A Paxman Model 25L French Horn with fixed bell incorporating the Merewether system of horn design, in yellow lacquered finish, sold for £3,000. A Borsini Professional five row chromatic button accordion with 92 chromatic buttons and 136 bass buttons in black high gloss case sold for £1,900. A mid-19th century three piece flute by Rudall and Rose of Covent Garden, stamped with serial number 5060 and complete with its original velvet lined case and makers certificate with matching serial number, sold for £1,600. A Football League Championship Division 2 9ct gold medal awarded to Colin Appleton of Leicester City for the 1956-57 season, hallmarked Vaughton and Sons, Birmingham 1956, sold for £2,100.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Signed memorabilia consistently attracts some of the most competitive bidding in the room and recent sales have been no exception. A Wings at the Speed of Sound signed vinyl, together with a signed Christmas card and birthday card carrying personal messages from Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine and others, sold for £3,200. The provenance is wonderfully unlikely: the vendor rented their home to a couple who had previously sold a hotel in Vancouver where Wings had stayed, and left the record and cards behind. 

An FA Cup Final Wembley 1963 match worn long-sleeved shirt, worn by Leicester City captain Colin Appleton in the final against Manchester United, framed in a glazed display case with engraved plaque, sold for £3,200. A half-size signed 1996 Michael Schumacher Ferrari helmet, signed at the 2004 British Grand Prix and in a display case with certificate of authenticity, sold for £850. A Queen 'The Game' signed vinyl, signed to the mirrored silver sleeve by Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, sold for £550, with a vendor provenance story involving a hotel phone call, an Australian accent and a very determined fan. Muhammad Ali and George Foreman signed boxing gloves, each signed in black marker pen and displayed in a Perspex case, sold for £750.

Enter the Next Chapter

These results reflect the extraordinary breadth of what this category can offer, from a Beethoven-connected Broadwood grand to a shirt worn at Wembley, from a Samuel Gilkes cello to a signed Queen vinyl with a story that still makes us smile.

Our next Music, Sport and Entertainment is inviting entries from musical instruments of all eras, sporting memorabilia including match-worn kits, medals, programmes and signed items, film and television memorabilia, props, costumes and autographs, and rare vinyl records from limited editions to albums of genuine cultural significance. The last day for entries is Thursday 1 October.
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