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.


Seeing stars for the first time

10 August 2020

Copy of newspaper containing what became the US national anthem makes sale appearance

British and Irish book auctions: August 11-30, 2020

10 August 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from August 11-30, 2020.

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First Batman from Down Under makes rare appearance at Comic Book Auctions

10 August 2020

With their regular photographer isolated in Somerset, it was proprietor Malcolm Phillips’ partner, Sally, who used her iPhone to produce all the catalogue images for a Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) timed sale on thesaleroom.com.

British and Irish book auctions: August 4-20, 2020

03 August 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from August 4-20, 2020.

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Copy of Viscount Kingsborough’s 'Antiquities of Mexico' sells at Christie's in New York

03 August 2020

Christie’s New York (25/20/13.5% buyer’s premium) recently staged two important book sales online that between them raised almost $3.38m, including premiums.

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Letters feature prominently in exceptionally varied Edinburgh auction

03 August 2020

An exceptionally varied and very successful recent Scottish sale contained a great many letters and plenty of fascinating manuscript material.

Mary Queen of Scots prayerbook

Mary Queen of Scots' prayer book sells at Christie’s Classic sale

30 July 2020

A prayer book that once belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) sold at Christie’s Classic Art evening sale in London.

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Early printed book in Arabic elucidates interest at Bloomsbury Auctions

20 July 2020

One of the “very earliest books printed in Arabic by means of moveable type” made £18,000 at Bloomsbury Auctions (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

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Last and lawless Just William makes appearance at Keys

20 July 2020

Published in 1970, 'William the Lawless' marked the last appearance in full book form of Richmal Crompton’s much-loved schoolboy hero – almost 50 years on from the publication of the first, 'Just William' of 1922.

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Geniuses score six out of 10 in test at Bonhams

20 July 2020

Running to just 10 lots and held online Essential Genius: Ten Important Manuscripts for Modern Times was a Bonhams New York (27.5/25/20/13.9%) auction.

British and Irish book auctions: July 21-Aug 1, 2020

20 July 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from July 21-Aug 1, 2020.

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Kenneth Grahame’s letter on the loss of his son sells in Bristol

20 July 2020

A letter in which Kenneth Grahame writes about the suicide of his son, Alastair, sold at East Bristol Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) for £1200.

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Books unite the trade

20 July 2020

This portolan atlas known as the Harisse Codex is attributed to cartographer Battista Agnese, who worked in Venice.

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Copy of David Roberts' The Holy Land owned by its creator

20 July 2020

Unusual proof example of mid-19th century work was a copy which belonged to David Roberts.

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Estimate €5000, sold for €6.4m: Lost folios of Chinese encyclopedia surface in Paris

13 July 2020

Two lost folios from the 'Yongle Dadian', the Ming dynasty encyclopaedia that has assumed national treasure status in China, surfaced for sale in Paris last week.

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‘First signature’ tablet hits the £140,000 mark at Bloomsbury Auctions

13 July 2020

A US collector is the new owner of a 5000-year-old tablet that contains the earliest-known record of any personal name in history.

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Portrait plays second fiddle to map with famous Blaeu name

13 July 2020

Bearing an estimate of just €100-150, a double-sided lot in a big Dutch sale attracted great international interest and ended up selling at €32,500 (£29,120).

British and Irish book auctions: July 14-29, 2020

13 July 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from July 14-29, 2020.

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Kipling first edition equals auction record thanks to author’s signature

13 July 2020

The gilt decorated blue cloth binding showed signs of age, but a copy of Rudyard Kipling’s 'Captains Courageous, A Story of the Grand Banks' offered in a Philadelphia sale bore the author’s signature on the title-page.

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Texas located for the third time

13 July 2020

Rare early map of the region from three years before the Alamo has another saleroom outing

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