The Dig is a new film by Netflix, based on the novel of the same title by John Preston. But do you know the true story of the excavation of the Great Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo? Read on to discover more. The Dig (released on 29th January) is a film by Netflix exploring the story of the excavation of the Great Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo in 1939. The film is based on a novel, also titled The Dig, written by John Preston. Many of the events and characters depicted in both the film and the novel are inspired by real events and real people. Read on to discover the incredible true story, and meet some of the characters involved with one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.

Many of you will have seen the recent Netflix film The Dig about the discovery of Sutton Hoo. There is one notable scene on the excavation when Charles Phillips exclaims that Saxon England “was no longer in the Dark Ages”.

Under continued difficult circumstances as the UK went into its third lockdown in January this year, I am proud to say that Spink held an incredible total of 23 auctions during the first month of the year, all of course safely conducted behind closed doors by our dedicated teams. I am truly proud to say that the show really does go on no matter how arduous the task may seem, and we will always find a way of bringing fresh material to sale for the enjoyment of our collecting family.

To coincide with the 50th anniversary of decimalisation on 15th February 2021, Spink Books are delighted to announce the release of Tom Hockenhull’s Making Change in collaboration with The British Museum.

As part of our series looking at what gives some people the “collecting bug” we spoke to Judith Grant, collector of historical documents and ephemera, who is also one very few women professionally involved in the hobby – though we are pleased to see more and more female collectors coming through our doors (please see Voice of a New Generation for young philatelist Katrin Raynor’s fascinating article on astronomy celebrated via philately).