From Russia with love: Spy kits under the hammer and sickle

Des O’Sullivan previews a Cold War relics sale this Valentine’s weekend that shows all’s fair in love and war

Soviet spy purse with hidden camera ($2,000-$3,000).

If the Cold War relics auction taking place today reveals anything, it is that all’s fair in love and war. Deceit trumps love in this St Valentine’s weekend sale live and online at Julien’s in in LA.

More than 400 artefacts used by American astronauts, Cuban revolutionaries and Soviet spies feature in a sale which includes everything from the KGB Espionage Museum in New York — almost.