Collectables

Mechanical music will be going under the hammer on March 20 as part of the Miller & Miller auction in New Hamburg, Ontario.

Though a Bösendorfer grand piano topped bidding at $42,500 (£31,250) in a January 16 sale, the main attractions for many came from a different source.

Sold at a rather higher than expected $1900 (£1440) by Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) of Chicago was a lot offering not one, but two early copies of Rafaele Frianoro’s Il Vagabondo overo Sferza de Bianti, e Vagabondi.

One 1870s Thomas Hardy work that was hated by the Spectator magazine critic, the other hailed

Hindman is holding an auction of Literature from a Private New Orleans Collection on March 19.

This first edition, first printing of Raymond Chandler’s 'The Big Sleep' is the book that introduced detective Philip Marlowe.

Contained in an old buckram folder, a collection of scouting ephemera proved a highlight of a sale of books and ephemera held in Chichester.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Given a modest estimate of £100-150 in a January 3 sale at Oxfordshire auction house Jones & Jacob (18% buyer’s premium), an edition of Hero & Leander published in 1949 by Christopher Sandford sold instead at £1500.

If the famous image of the Milton Shield by Elkington and its £800-1200 estimate drew a double-take at a recent auction, there was good reason.

Gold coin rejected at first but now identified as once owned by renowned Russian collector

A rare, candid autobiographical account by a soon-to-be-executed 18th century brickmaker has been bought by Horsham Museum.

A 50th anniversary edition of the much-loved AA Milne and EH Shepard books, a boxed set published in the appropriate years of 1974-78, is shown below.

With crossover appeal to Meccano collectors and advertising enthusiasts, this Meccano Dealer’s No 1 slope-back cabinet from 1929-35 went well over hopes.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

One of the pleasures of Daniel Crouch’s work life has been buying trips to the Continent – for the serendipity of making contacts as well as the chance to handle the goods.

The latest Interiors sale at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge included one of the rarest of all the Britains lead soldier sets.

Lacking the glitter of a former rock star owner, this Fender Stratocaster sold on the traditional antiques virtues of quality, age and condition.