Collectables

A “fine”.470 calibre percussion long range target rifle by John Dickson & Co of Edinburgh offered at the April 7-8 Antony Cribb (25% buyer’s premium inc VAT) sale was boosted by an inscription from the City of Edinburgh & Midlothian Rifle Association.

How one venerable firm is accelerating its push into modern collectables

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

An Indian tulwar offered at JS Fine Art (26.4% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on March 27-30 came with the simple description: “A rare Indian Tulwar from Tipu Sultan’s armoury with a characteristic lion’s head pommel and guard (formerly in the private collection of Robin Wigington).”

Amid tariffs and Trump uncertainties, recent stories have concentrated on the difficulties of doing business with the US. However, the April 29 auction held by Gavin Gardiner (25% buyer’ premum) revealed all is not lost.

This bizarre beast of a gun is a William Smith of London 80 bore flintlock quadruple-barrelled volley pistol.

The East Anglia sale at Reeman Dansie (25% buyer’s premium) in Colchester on April 8-9 featured a stump work bound book of sermons delivered by the prominent 17th century Puritan divine Samuel Ward (1577-1640).

Among the highlights of the Fine Jewellery sale at Adam’s in Dublin on May 12 was this remarkable Louis XV hardstone, gold and gemset cane handle.

A rare 18th century medal issued to commemorate the death of explorer James Cook is to become part of an exhibition marking the 300th anniversary of the explorer’s birth after being sold at auction.

Jodocus Hondius’ additions for his edition of Gerhard Mercator’s pioneering 'Atlas Sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura' made the work one of the most accomplished collections of maps from the early 17th century.

Just a small thing, I saw that you wrote in ATG No 2743 that £22,500 for Casino Royale was, you believed, the joint-highest price for a straight, uninscribed copy.

An intriguing Jacobite relic was sold at a recent Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) auction in Nottingham.

One of two translated versions that appeared almost simultaneously emerges in German saleroom

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

The sales at Stargardt (20% buyer’s premium) in Berlin are an important rendezvous for autograph dealers and collectors.

Perth saleroom Lindsay Burns (22% buyer’s premium) posted a new house record with an exceptional piece of period jewellery at its latest three-day sale.