About Us

Humbert & Ellis Ltd (formally J.P. Humbert Auctioneers Ltd) was founded in 2003 by Jonathan Humbert.

Coming from eight generations of auctioneers- Jonathan was keen that all clients, both vendors and buyers, should be treated as important individuals. The firm grew in size, eventually having salerooms in Towcester and Northampton, quickly becoming Northamptonshire’s premiere auction house, having monthly three-day sales with over 1500 lots of antiques, jewellery, militaria, fine art, etc.

Francesca Ellis joined the firm in 2013 in the valuations and admin office. As a child Francesca was already building her specialism in jewellery featuring in an episode of ‘Antiques Roadshow The Next Generation’ with her collection of brooches. It seemed inevitable that she became Head of Administration and Jewellery Valuations, and eventfully a Partner in 2017.

Humbert and Ellis were one of the first auction houses in the UK to embrace online timed and live auctions. Indeed the firm was the first to hold an online antiques sale with competitive remote bidding.

Over the years, Humbert and Ellis have sold a vast array of nationally and internationally important items including Winston Churchill’s sofa, rare number plates, a concorde nose cone and even Eva Brauns knickers!

Links to national publicity for these items can be found below.

With Jonathan’s huge classic classic car, auction experience having been Principal Auctioneer at Silverstone Auctions and Classic Car Auctions for 12 years – in 2023 the firm decided to pursue the marketing and sales of classic cars as the mainstay of the business – specialising in private collections, deceased estates, barn finds and vehicles for restoration.

With this history, heritage and pedigree – the firm is supremely placed to market and sell your classic car in today’s marketplace.

Winston Churchill’s Sofa

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5912187/Winston-Churchills-sofa-from-skip-to-7500-sale.html

Eva Brauns Knickers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-37897103

Concorde Nose Cone

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-43159855

Woolly Mammoth Tusk

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-43657266

Rare Number Plate

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-43161995