Auctioneers

Surviving records for the London instrument maker Smith & Beck state this superb microscope from the brass and glass era was purchased on September 2, 1853, by Francis Herbert Wenham (1824-1908) – the British engineer who became a key figure in the improvement of the microscope.

Simple folk art depictions stuffed full of charm prove highly attractive to buyers at Dreweatts' auction.

An array of affordable alternatives to the blue-chip names in Modern British art generated strong bidding at Roseberys' (25% buyer’s premium) auction.

Works by Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) were the highlights of the Koller (25/22/15% buyer’s premium) sale of Swiss Art, held in Zurich as part of its December auction series.

Selection of skiing posters focused on winter sports and travel is on offer at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull.

In playing condition but with enough problems to be catalogued as ‘sold as seen’, a Nicole Frères brass inlaid music box was one of the unexpected stars of the first three-day sale to be held at Ripon auction house Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium).

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Harry Fidler oil.

A ‘superb connoisseur’s collection’ of classic travel posters underlined the appeal of rare works from the biggest names of this genre

This 12½in (32cm) Vincennes circular dish or plat d’entremets from the first Louis XV service sold for £95,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Woolley & Wallis.

Furniture by Robert ‘Mouseman' Thompson and more recent productions from the Kilburn workshop attracted the usual enthusiasm at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium).

A group of works by the elusive Austrian émigré artist Marie-Louise von Motesiczky (1906-96) made a rare appearance at Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest British & European Fine Art sale.

A gap in many collections of 1960s James Bond posters often involves rarities to promote On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) starring George Lazenby.

A rare complete copy of a famous Arabic medical text sold for £30,000 in a sale of manuscripts and other works on paper from the Islamic and Near Eastern worlds.

Model produced for pilgrims and tourists to Jerusalem in mind is a highlight as specialist sales launch

Quaintly titled book about Great Yarmouth was one of the varied attractions in Cambridge auction.

A new auction firm has launched in the market town of Leominster in Herefordshire.