Collectables

Like many scientists and eminent thinkers of the time, Isaac Newton was also a devout Christian who thought deeply about religious matters, as a manuscript sold at auction in New York reveals.

A lucernal microscope is a rare survivor.

This lacquered brass and mahogany Hawksbee-type double valve vacuum pump is signed to the recessed silvered plate Ladd, Penton Place, Walworth.

A group of Victorian rowing memorabilia generated plenty of bidding at Claydon Auctioneers (19.5% buyer’s premium) in Buckinghamshire on June 25-26.

Almanacs became hugely popular as printing made them widely accessible

Interest in wireless telegraphy, that was piqued when Guglielmo Marconi successfully sent a message from Poldhu, Cornwall to St John’s, Newfoundland in 1910, prompted many amateurs to build and develop their own sets based on the ‘Coherer’ principle for sending and receiving Morse code.

The 40 trays of British butterflies in this handsome mahogany four-section cabinet by JJ Hill & Son of London were collected by Geoffrey Alfred Cole.

Heritage Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Dallas broke the record again for what it terms “the most valuable original work of comic book or fantasy art” during its four-day Comics & Comic Art sale held on June 22-25.

This brass cased mining aneroid pocket barometer altimeter, c.1885, was almost certainly a one-off order or commission.

A Tennis Match at Manchester is a very rare print marking one of the first British tennis tournaments.

A look ahead to the new PBFA fair in a renowned town for book-lovers.

Another tranche of items from the Dudley Ollis collection of playing cards was offered at a recent Dominic Winter auction.

A chance purchase at auction during lockdown inspired a whole book on a single day of the Tour de France 100 years ago

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

The Books and Works on Paper column on this week’s pages is Ian McKay’s last for ATG.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

After 2600 issues Ian McKay is hanging up his much-used quill. The column on this week’s pages is his last for ATG.

Vendor finds glass marbles are worth more than expected as they make surprise four-figure sums in Bury St Edmunds