Collectables

Our regular update of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

At the same time as a naval arms race was taking place in the years just before the First World War another maritime competition developed in the shape of liners.

Dealer Paul Frecker’s new book examines the rise of the carte de visite and its enduring cultural legacy.

An autographed photograph of Charles Darwin (1809-82) described as “very scarce” by Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) sold for £8500.

Well-known works covering the conflict come from the library of the famed and feared commander

John Robertson, the new fairs secretary of the Ephemera Society, got into the world of collecting ephemera and antique photographs back in the 1980s “due to my interest in local Sussex postcards and topographical views showing social history subjects”.

The Alfred Jewel is a famous piece of Anglo-Saxon goldsmith craftmanship, a gold-mounted piece of rock crystal enamelled with a portrait of a man and the inscription translating as ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’.

I am trying to find out the source of 15 what, I believe, are armorial badges which have been attached to a board.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

Not only is this 1960 first edition of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' inscribed by Harper Lee to her friend Harold Caufield, but it was sold with a Christmas card from the author penned with a lengthy message.

An 18th century folio bible in mosaic binding was among the notable sales at the recent Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair.

It was on March 1, 1849 that Nathaniel Cook, the editor of the Illustrated London News, registered the design that would provide the ancient and cosmopolitan game of chess with its first standardised set.

Extensive collection on tennis theme inlcudes early Wimbledon designs and Broders view of Monte Carlo

A lot catalogued simply as a ’French gilt bronze figure of Madonna and Child’ proved the highlight of the Furniture, Art & Asian auction at Clars (28% buyer’s premium) in Oakland, California, on May 17.

“Siege notes are a niche but popular subsidiary of military banknote collecting,” says Andrew Pattison, head of the Banknotes Department at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).