Forum Auctions

Forum Auctions are a London auction house specialising in antiquarian books, manuscripts, works on paper, prints and modern & contemporary art. They were launched in 2016 with Stephan Ludwig serving as chief executive officer.


Kingsbridge map

Tudor map of Devon town bought by local museum

30 January 2026

A rare Tudor map of the Devon town Kingsbridge has been acquired by South West Heritage Trust.

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Pioneers of modern genetics catch the attention in a varied sale full of fascination

30 January 2026

Collection of molecular biologist Brenner attracts a lively response

Manuscript diary by Giles Roberts

Georgian pharmacist’s autobiography returns to his home county after museum buys manuscript at auction

22 January 2026

An autobiographical manuscript by a Georgian pharmacist in Dorset will return to the county after the local museum purchased it at auction.

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Positive impressions of the Great Bardfield school

20 October 2025

The printed work of Eric Ravilious (1903-42) has always been a fascinating area of the artist’s market - something with appeal both to connoisseurial collectors and the wider public.

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Printing plate helped to spread the slavery abolition message

13 October 2025

An original printing plate for one of the best-known images of the abolitionist movement emerged at a recent Forum Auctions (27% buyer’s premium) sale in London.

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It’s sail day on Isle of Wight

15 September 2025

Forum Auctions won the shield of the annual inter-auction house sailing regatta at Seaview, Isle of Wight.

Forum Auctions

Forum Auctions splits from Dreweatts and Gurr Johns

18 August 2025

Books and works on paper specialist Forum Auctions has split from Dreweatts and parent company Gurr Johns.

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Sponsor’s message: Reassuring words in a changeable climate

12 May 2025

As Forum Auctions enters its 10th year of trading, Rupert Powell reflects on a busy year

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Dame Edna was wild about Wilde

12 May 2025

The public may have been surprised to discover that Barry Humphries (1934-2023), the creator of Dame Edna Everage, was a great bibliophile with a passion for rare books by the ‘decadent’ writers of the fin de siècle.

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Print shows British delight at American woes

05 May 2025

The etching 'A View in America in 1778' is a satire on the progress of the American Revolution.

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Brontë Parsonage buys Emily’s painting

07 April 2025

The Brontë Parsonage was the successful bidder at £32,000 (plus premium) when an original watercolour drawing by Emily Brontë came for sale in London.

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Bees create a buzz in the 17th century

24 March 2025

Written by the English naturalist and apiarist Rev Charles Butler and printed by the Oxford bookseller Joseph Barnes in 1609, 'The Feminine Monarchie or A Treatise Concerning Bees' is considered the first book on the science of beekeeping in the English language.

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Four Kemp-Welch works gallop into Lincoln auction

10 March 2025

Among the watercolours attracting interest at the earlier part of the year were four works by Lucy Elizabeth Kemp-Welch (1869-1958) that appeared at Lincoln saleroom Golding Young & Mawer (24% buyer’s premium).

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Lord of the Rings full signed set makes six figures at Forum

10 February 2025

Forum Auctions has set a record for a copy of JRR Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings'.

Street Life in London book

Early photographs on life in Victorian London to appear at auction

28 January 2025

Street Life in London was one of the first examples of photojournalism, captured by Scottish photographer John Thomson and writer Adolphe Smith in 1877

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

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Architectural drawings treasure trove helps to build art market optimism

13 January 2025

End of year highlights included specialist collection amassed by couple who were both renowned experts

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The Ottoman world opened up thanks to historical and illustrated books

09 December 2024

Single-owner collection offered in south London reveals costumes and culture of the empire

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Agatha Christie collection detects high demand

18 November 2024

Highlights from the The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper offered at Forum

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Mr Toad stars in a Shepard original sold at Forum Auctions

18 November 2024

Wind in the Willows illustration leads varied selection of lots offered by west London saleroom

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