Books & Periodicals
Material in this specialist market ranges from the early printed works of the Gutenberg Press and William Caxton right through to Modern First Editions and now up to signed copies of Harry Potter. Condition and rarity are the keys to this sector.
Rare Wainwright correspondence arrives at auction
30 August 2025Letters to fellwalking pen pal to be sold in Cumbria
Royal National Hotel saves the day for Etc Fairs
28 August 2025Book and ephemera fairs organiser Etc Fairs’ usual London venue, Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, is closed until February 2026 for refurbishment.
FBI returns historic conquistador manuscript to Mexico
27 August 2025A manuscript linked to a Spanish conquistador and believed stolen in the 1980s has been given to the Mexican government.
Jersey museum successfully bids for top secret Second World War D-Day landing maps and Channel Islands liberation plan
26 August 2025Four top secret Second World War documents are to go on public display at a Jersey museum after being sold at auction by Hansons.
Copy of earliest book on laws relating to women emerges at Newcastle saleroom
25 August 2025‘The Lawes Resolutions of Women’s Rights: or the Lawes Provision for Women’, attributed to the English lawyer Thomas Edgar and printed in 1632 by John More, is recognised as the earliest book in the English language to compile laws relating to women.
Books and works on paper auction calendar, August 27 to September 16, 2025
25 August 2025Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales
York National Book Fair ‘suits younger crowd’
25 August 2025While a Rowntree centenary brings historic interest, exhibitors are also focused on attracting fresh faces
Live Aid programme signed by Sting, Phil Collins and Queen members marked ‘the greatest show on Earth’
25 August 2025This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most extraordinary music concerts ever held: Live Aid.
Auction catalogues also collectable when it comes to the famous Lowther Castle sale
25 August 2025Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944) inherited enormous wealth derived from his father’s coalmines.
The magic of an occult themed lot: £3 3s becomes £7100
18 August 2025Occult group listed by specialist bookseller in the 19th century reappears at a 21st century auction
Manuscript leaf flies to five times the low estimate
18 August 2025A late 15th century French illuminated manuscript vellum leaf achieved the stand-out result in a collection of illuminated manuscripts offered at Batemans (25% buyer’s premium).
Books and works on paper auction calendar, August 20 to September 3, 2025
18 August 2025Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales
Books and works on paper auction calendar, August 13 to September 1
11 August 2025Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales
Expert’s mine of information on the evolution of the English language
11 August 2025Etymologist buys a glossary which provides a rich seam when it comes to English language changes
Bridehead revisited: Dorset home delivers a ‘textbook’ bumper country house sale
11 August 2025Auctions like this don’t come along often these days.
Hobbit first edition rediscovered in house clearance takes five-figure sum
07 August 2025A “once in a lifetime” discovery of a 1937 jacketless first impression of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit smashed expectations, selling for £43,000 (£52,030 with fees) at auction.
Concert programme signed by Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Sting and Phil Collins at Live Aid sells for £4500
07 August 2025This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most extraordinary music concerts ever held: Live Aid.
Pamphlet sold in West Sussex shows William Wordsworth turning from revolutionary to reactionary
04 August 2025The books section at a recent Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) auction included a volume containing more than a dozen early 19th century political pamphlets concerning the issue of reform.
Books and works on paper auction calendar, August 6-26, 2025
04 August 2025Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales
Signed first edition run of seven Harry Potter books takes six-figure sum at US auction
29 July 2025A group of seven first edition hardback copies of the Harry Potter books, all signed by author JK Rowling, were hammered down at $130,000/£97,500 (or $162,500 including premium) by Heritage Auctions.
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