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.


Bob Dylan Tambourine Man Lyrics

Bob Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man lyrics sell at auction

28 January 2025

Bob Dylan’s draft lyrics for 1965 hit 'Mr Tambourine Man' sold for $400,000 (£320,800) plus 27% buyer’s premium at Julien’s Auctions in Nashville, US, earlier this month.

img_29-4.jpg

Great Bible ignores condition issues to bring a £7200 hammer price

27 January 2025

The estimate of £1000-1500 reflected the condition of an Elizabethan ‘Great Bible’ offered at Cotswold firm Wotton Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium).

img_28-2.jpg

Science fiction and fantasy debut sale attracts stellar prices

27 January 2025

Original cover artwork, antiquarian books and more modern novels made up a sci-fi and fantasy selection at a London saleroom

Books and works on paper auction calendar, January 29 to February 18

27 January 2025

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

First edition of Harry Potter

Harry Potter first edition earmarked for the bin now set for auction

24 January 2025

A first edition copy of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' found on a pile of books earmarked for the bin is set to go to auction.

Marye The Quene

Mary I letter outlining Wyatt Rebellion response to appear at Edinburgh auction

23 January 2025

A letter signed 'Mary the quene' to William Paget on the outbreak of Wyatt's Rebellion, January 28, 1554, is to appear at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull on February 5 with an estimate of £15,000-20,000.

img_4-1.jpg

Sotheran’s moves to London's Cecil Court antiques hub

20 January 2025

Sotheran’s, the longest-established rare book dealer in the world, has announced it will be relocating later this year to new premises in Charing Cross Road and Cecil Court.

img_20-3.jpg

Kelmscott Press presented in full at auction sells in full

20 January 2025

Collector’s complete set of books from Morris’ publishing project comes to a saleroom for first time in 50 years

img_22-3.jpg

Sherlock Holmes moves from mags to book form

20 January 2025

The first two great collections of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories were gathered from their original appearances in Strand Magazine by its proprietor George Newnes (Southampton Street and Exeter Street, Strand, London) and issued in book form.

img_12-2.jpg

Master mariner Muddle’s mix of intriguing items reflects worldwide travels

20 January 2025

Alabaster fragments from old Alexandria, a small box of gold from Australia, dried seaweed from the Gulf of Florida and Oceanic tribal artefacts.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, January 22 to February 4, 2025

20 January 2025

Our regular listing of books and works on paper sales

img_21-1.jpg

European discovery of Australia and the Pacific documented in detail

20 January 2025

Peter Arnold’s (20% buyer’s premium) auction of the first part of the Alexander Collection held in Melbourne, Australia, achieved a selling rate of 80% with 15 lots sold in the following days, all at the reserves, to several buyers.

Essex Book By Chase Owen

Owen Chase’s first-hand account of sunken whaleship sells at auction

17 January 2025

A first edition copy documenting the sinking of the Essex by a sperm whale in 1820 went under the hammer at Potter & Potter

Young Woman From Sanwich Islands

Lots illustrating Captain Cook’s fatal third voyage to appear at Forum Auctions

15 January 2025

A first edition book documenting the voyage by a crew member is on offer at Forum Auctions

Barbara Hepworth archive

Collection of Barbara Hepworth drawings and working notes sells at Chiswick Auctions

15 January 2025

An archive of annotated sketches and correspondence showing the working methods of sculptor Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) sold for £20,000 at the end of last year.

img_9-7.jpg

Winnie the Pooh archive offers a 'unique opportunity' for collectors

13 January 2025

A previously unseen Winnie the Pooh archive is on offer at Stourbridge saleroom Fieldings on January 16.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, January 15-February 2, 2025

13 January 2025

Our regular listing of books and works on paper sales

img_21-2.jpg

Early football memorabilia hits the spot

13 January 2025

A cornerstone in any early football library is 'Association Football & The Men Who Made It', the history of the modern game in its first half-a-century as written by Alfred Gibson and William Pickford and published by Caxton in 1905.

img_20-2.jpg

Extraordinary English bird book tops estimate in Ireland

13 January 2025

Over 300 watercolours were produced for each one of the 60 copies of a remarkable ornithological work

img_21-3.jpg

Frankenstein comes to the stage

13 January 2025

Based on Mary Shelley’s novel published in 1818, the play 'Frankenstein; or the Man and the Monster, A Romantic Melo-Drama, in Two Acts' debuted at the Royal Coburg Theatre in July 1826.

Categories

News