Collectables

The book section of a twice postponed Gloucestershire sale – one that included the rare white Chelsea owl featured on the front page of ATG No 2486 – comprised books from the library at Spetchley Park in the neighbouring county of Worcestershire.

The familiar red-lettered, yellow-cloth covers of an 1897 first of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, though now somewhat soiled, prompted a far higher than predicted bid of $21,000 (£15,150) to lead a Chicago auction of March 19 – a sum bettered only by a handful of inscribed copies.

Estimated at just £100-200, a rare automaton of a stereotypical Chinaman smoking an opium pipe sold for £7400 at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium).

Ground level views of Ceylon offered in same sale as uplifting account of balloon voyages.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

The mouthwatering kitchenalia collection of Annie Marchant (1951-2020) certainly served up a treat when it came to auction on April 12-13.

I am sad to report the passing of my dear friend Reginald ‘Reg’ Charles Remington (1931-2021) who died peacefully in hospital after a very short illness on Friday, April 2.

Collecting 19th and early 20th century board games and puzzles became a fascination for Bud Newman, who encountered them through his business.

Organiser Peter Binfield is hoping for fine weather and a good turnout of 100-plus dealers at the first of this year’s Vintage & Classic Arms Fairs at Kempton Park on Sunday, May 2.

On April 29, Lyon & Turnbull, in partnership with poster specialist Tomkinson Churcher, will present Design on the Move: Selected Posters from the Shell Heritage Art Collection.

Bid to a far higher than predicted £1000 in a recent West Country sale was a broadside whose lengthy title read: 'Life, Trial, and Execution of T.Cooper. Who was executed at Newgate this Morning for the Murder of Timothy Daly, a Policeman, at Highbury.'

The West as well as the East made a major contribution to the success of Gorringe’s £1m sale on March 30 where, overall, 86% of the 593 lots sold.

Account of a temple study in Scotland is one of the stand-out auction lots in South Cerney

A group of some 40 letters and greetings cards sent in 1990-97 by Diana, Princess of Wales, to her good friend Roger Bramble sold for almost £70,000.

Estimated at £60-80 but sold at £11,500, this set of 14-point deer antlers provided Martel Maides (17.5% buyer’s premium) with a sensational result.

Having missed the ritual of perusing bookshelves in shops and fairs due to lockdown, Marc and Marcia Harrison of Netherlands gallery Harrison Hiett Rare Books have launched a digital ‘fully clickable’ catalogue to replicate the experience for their clients.

Henry Dean’s 'The Whole Art of Legerdemain; or Hocus Pocus in Perfection', is one of the rarities in the conjuring and magic publications’ section of Potter & Potter Auctions’ next Magic sale.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book sales.