Latest News Articles by Ian McKay
Sale explores early America
15 March 2021Published in Paris, a 1613 first edition of a pioneering American exploration work sold for $160,000 (£114,285) in Philadelphia.
New York buyers curious about Dickens
15 March 2021Almost a hundred lots in a New York sale came from the extensive Dickens collections assembled over four decades by Martin Nason.
British musical Leppard spotted in Indiana
15 March 2021Though a Bösendorfer grand piano topped bidding at $42,500 (£31,250) in a January 16 sale, the main attractions for many came from a different source.
Vagabonds tramp to Chicago
15 March 2021Sold at a rather higher than expected $1900 (£1440) by Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) of Chicago was a lot offering not one, but two early copies of Rafaele Frianoro’s Il Vagabondo overo Sferza de Bianti, e Vagabondi.
Thomas Hardy under review
08 March 2021One 1870s Thomas Hardy work that was hated by the Spectator magazine critic, the other hailed
From my good friend Baden-Powell
08 March 2021Contained in an old buckram folder, a collection of scouting ephemera proved a highlight of a sale of books and ephemera held in Chichester.
British and Irish book auctions: March 9-24, 2021
08 March 2021Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.
Heroic price at 10 times top estimate
08 March 2021Given a modest estimate of £100-150 in a January 3 sale at Oxfordshire auction house Jones & Jacob (18% buyer’s premium), an edition of Hero & Leander published in 1949 by Christopher Sandford sold instead at £1500.
Winnie The Pooh set signed by ‘Christopher Robin’ emerges in San Francisco
01 March 2021A 50th anniversary edition of the much-loved AA Milne and EH Shepard books, a boxed set published in the appropriate years of 1974-78, is shown below.
British and Irish book auctions: March 2-20, 2021
01 March 2021Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.
Works that fit the double bill
01 March 2021Bumper selection of lots offered in Gloucestershire auction house Dominic Winter provides wide-ranging array
‘Bible that Charles I carried to the block’
22 February 2021Bible sold for £160,000 at auction is reputed to be that taken by Charles I to his execution in 1649
British and Irish book auctions: February 23-March 11, 2021
22 February 2021Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.
Captain America socks it to Hitler
22 February 2021A copy of the very first issue of Captain America soared to £320,000 (£235,640) at Heritage Auctions.
Coats of arms guide makes £4200
22 February 2021A manuscript volume sold for £4200 was the main attraction of a sale held by Crow’s (22% buyer’s premium) of Dorking.
Perry claims Florida and takes on slavers before his Japanese fame
22 February 2021A naval logbook kept by Matthew Perry offered in New York covered a very eventful period in this distinguished mariner’s career.
British and Irish book auctions: February 16-28, 2021
15 February 2021Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.
Pioneering sea atlas sails to a new high
15 February 2021Sold for a record €260,000 (£234,235) in Hamburg was a copy of Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer’s Speculum nauticum super navigatione maris occidentalis…
Miniature powers up to £1.2m
15 February 2021Work produced in Brussels in the 1530s by a master of illumination soars way over estimate in Sotheby's London auction
Peanuts: early days unveiled at Heritage Auctions
15 February 2021Early look of Peanuts cartoon strip evident from lot offered at Heritage Auctions.