Demands are growing in the antiquities trade for the British Museum to publish a list of objects stolen in an alleged theft from its collection by a member of staff.

Richard Beale, director of the London auction house Roma Numismatics, has pleaded guilty to a series of charges in connection with unlawful sales of ancient coins.

With the traditional hiatus in the UK auction market typically stretching across the month of August, a number of notable picture highlights appeared slightly earlier this summer at sales around the country.

Concerns have been raised in the antiquities trade that items allegedly stolen from the British Museum by a staff member and offered on eBay may start emerging on the wider market.

The artist Richard Ernst Eurich (1903-92) is rather hard to categorise.

What’s best to do with unsold lots… offer them again at half the price guide perhaps?

Testing the market for still-lifes by Bloomsbury school favourite Duncan Grant (1885-1978), a painting by the artist emerged fresh from a notable source in Somerset.

Coastal scene formerly owned by collector in the diamond mining industry attracts considerable interest

A large and striking 1920s portrait of a young woman drew strong competition at Dreweatts’ (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Anouska Hempel’s collection.

Trial run for a full worked-up version counts as a highly sought-after picture in its own right

When it comes to historic views of England’s university cities, bidders’ interest is not only determined by the usual factors such as the calibre of the artist and the picture’s condition.

Works coming fresh to the market from British aristocratic sources were once a staple of London Old Master sales.

Strong results and supply boost the market but challenges remain with bidders highly selective

The presence of a cat added commercial appeal to a 17th century portrait of a young girl offered at Bonhams’ latest Old Master sale in London.

Thoughts that the sweet homely watercolours of Helen Allingham (1848-1926) have fallen from favour commercially may be premature, at least judging by the performance of a couple of works sold at a recent regional sale.

A number of strong sums for Frederick Gore’s (1913-2009) richly coloured views of Mallorca and the French countryside have been recorded since his auction record was smashed two years ago.

Founder of London gallery Agi Katz had personal experience after escaping from persecution herself

A couple of cat pictures made bidders’ whiskers twitch of late.