English-born climber, explorer and photographer Alfred Gregory (1913-2010) undoubtedly received his first big break when in 1953 he was chosen as a climbing member of the British team, led by John Hunt, to scale Mount Everest.

The team reached 8500 metres in support of Sir Edmund Hillary-Norgay Tenzig’s historic first successful summit attempt.

Leski Auctions first Stamps, Coins & Postal History auction since December last year will be held from 12pm Wednesday August 28 and largely reflects substantial contributions from new team member Matt Hancock.

Hancock is an acknowledged expert in stamps and postal history and is keen to expand his knowledge of the types of collectables that pass through Leski Auctions doors.

The auction, at 727-729 High Street Armadale, features consignments from more than 60 vendors and includes a substantial group of Australian Commonwealth collections (lots 90-123).

A Russian Morozol enamel carriage clock (lot 86) is an outstanding example of the 18^th and 19^th century clocks to be auctioned from noon Sunday August 25 by Christian McCann Auctions at 429 Burnley Street, Richmond.

According to auctioneer Christian McCann this “Goodbye Burnley Street” auction part two will be the final sale at the premises the company has occupied since it was established in 2010.

“It will take a while to move to the new premises because we have three large on site house auctions in the next three months,” he said.

One of Australia’s largest private collections of Roy de Maistre paintings will be offered for auction from 7pm Wednesday August 28 by Deutscher and Hackett at Sydney’s Cell Block Theatre, National Art School in Forbes Street, Darlinghurst.

Part of Glen Iris couple the late Ken and Joan Plomley collection of modernist art and comprising the first 36 lots in the auction, the paintings were assembled largely because of the former’s close connection with the de Mestre family through his great-uncle Etienne de Mestre, Roy’s father.

Who would have thought that a man who cut his teeth as a child on the rugby field (including playing for Melbourne’s Scotch College, Victoria and as an Australian junior) then won a gridiron football scholarship to Arizona State College would end up as one of Australia’s leading jewellery experts.

A comprehensive range of porcelain and dinner settings are the highlight of E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday August 13 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

The auction also contains large concrete garden urns, lion heads and other garden furniture including an interesting wired sculptured shelf.

One of the more intriguing items is a six-panel Japanese screen featuring women in traditional Japanese costumes.

Australia’s cricketing icon and batting legend Sir Donald Bradman still attracts an enormous amount of public attention – even though it is more than 70 years since he last competed at international level.

With a batting average of 99.94, he is regarded as the greatest batsmen to ever live and, although he died in February 2001, every time a cricketing item or piece of memorabilia he owned comes onto the market collector hearts appear to beat just a little faster.

Gibson’s Auctions is marking its first anniversary in business with a two-day sale entitled The Winter Auction Series, which over three sessions from 1pm Monday August 5 and 11am Tuesday August 6 will offer a comprehensive 789-lot range of jewellery, antique furniture, porcelain, sculptures, clocks, art and other collectables.

To be held at 885-889 High Street Armadale, jewellery will be auctioned on the Monday and features items with estimates ranging from several hundreds of dollars to many thousands – well within the reach of most auction goers.

Internationally famous and colourful Casala furniture and homeware products are making their first appearance at E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday July 30 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

The 1970s retro items still carry the innovative design flair which has once again become popular in more than 20 countries.

Established in 1917 in Lauenau, Lower Saxony, Casala was named after its founder and home town ( Carl Sasse Lauenau), initially producing wooden sole shoes.

After a decade at 426 Burnley Street, Richmond, Christian McCann Auctions is on the move to new and larger premises.

Before the shift, however, the auction house must sell all its existing vendor stock – a monumental task that has become a full-time preoccupation for managing director Christian McCann.

“Our ‘Goodbye Burnley Street’ auction will be from noon Sunday August 4,” he says. “However, there are so many items we cannot possibly achieve it in one sale so this auction will be part one and comprise more than 750 items.”