This is a plate from Walker's Costume of Yorkshire, published in 1813-14 in a large paper copy with 41 hand-coloured aquatint proof plates. But what makes it special, even for those of us in this part of the world, is that the mining scene in the background includes the first English representation of a steam locomotive. This was some 10 years since Richard Trevithick first successfully ran a steam engine on rails, and a good deal before the world's first passenger train, hauled by Stephenson's Rocket on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830. With a duplicate set of plates in etched outline, the book is estimated at £2,000-£3,000 at Dominic Winter's sale in South Cerney on March 31, when it is part of an important collection of antiquarian books and maps on Yorkshire.

An impressive Arts and Crafts lot at Chippenham Auction Rooms a week today is this pair of silver buckles by Alexander Ritchie, which sounds as if it could well sell at above its £200-£300 estimate. It was in the summer of 1899 that Alec Ritchie and his wife Euphemia set up their Iona Celtic Art workshop and shop on the Hebridean island, and over the next 40 seasons they designed and sold a huge range of finely wrought silver jewellery and decorative items in brass, copper, enamel, wood, leather and linen. The couple had trained at Glasgow School of Art at the time of the Glasgow Style and Celtic revival, and much of their inspiration was drawn quite clearly from the rich patterns of interlace, foliage and knotwork on Iona's carved stones and crosses – to which Alec was also the official guide.

In the early 19th century, William Smith of Princes Street, London, was gunmaker to everyone who was anyone from the Prince Regent to the Emperor of Russia, so this double-barreled flintlock sporting gun by him should be in demand at Dreweatts 1759 Bristol's sale of medals, militaria and arms at Apsley Road, Clifton on March 23. Those in the know who have already viewed it speak of its finely figured walnut half-stock, engraved silver mount and original finish, and its current estimate of £3,000-£4,000 seems by no means over-optimistic.

These caricature figures of the Victorian political giants Gladstone and Disraeli feature soon at a Lawrences of Crewkerne sale, where they are expected to fetch £200-£400. "They're very unusual, and political memorabilia is highly sought-after," says auctioneer Simon Jones. "They were traditionally thought to have been Staffordshire, but are much more likely to be continental, made for the British market." The Conservative Disraeli served as Prime Minister twice, the Liberal Gladstone a remarkable four times, and their rivalry was legendary. The sale is in April, at much the time when two rather less memorable Westminster leaders will be battling it out for the big prize.

Early Mickey Mouse memorabilia has a worldwide following, and it could well be that this money box will surpass its top estimate of £400 at Greenslade Taylor Hunt's antique and collectors' sale at the Priory Saleroom in Taunton on Thursday. "It dates from the early Thirties, and comes in from the family of an elderly lady who was given it new as a little girl and kept it for the rest of her life," says auctioneer Stuart Triggol. "It's one of very few surviving examples of this most sought-after of all early Disney toys."

It's good to see Minton majolica taking a higher profile in the salerooms again, even though it has a long way to go before it begins to reach the heights it touched back in the Nineties, when the Americans simply could not get enough of it. A couple of weeks ago a conservatory seat did well at auction in this part of the world, though it would have done better still 15 years ago. And at Tamlyn and Son's sale in Bridgwater on Tuesday, auctioneer Claire Rawle estimates this fox and grapes vase, based on the Aesop's fable Sour Grapes, at £150-£180. "There's a bit of damage to the fox and the crow's beak, but otherwise it's in good order," she says. At one time that would not have mattered all that much, and the extent to which it does today will tell us much about the current market for Minton majolica.

Marrying off your daughter can be eye-wateringly expensive these days, but buying this 1952 Riley 1.5 litre RMA at Clevedon Salerooms' specialist sale at Kenn Road on March 11 could be a nice little earner if you land it within its £3,000-£4,000 estimate. It would certainly save you a few hundred pounds on the big day, and looks capable of starring at any number of other people's daughters' weddings over the years ahead. A few yards of white ribbon, a dove grey peaked cap and voilà, away you go.