Auctioneers

A small sketch of two ships in a gale by the leading Dutch marine painter Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) was among the lots bringing interest at Roseberys’ (25% buyer’s premium) summer sale of Old Master, British & European pictures.

An oil on canvas by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) estimated at €4m-6m is billed as a highlight of the sale of Old Master and 19th century art to be held by Artcurial in Paris in November.

As co-publishers and editors of Firsts: The Book Collector’s Magazine established in 1991, Robin and Kathryn Smiley’s bookshelves were brimming with choice first editions from across the broad span of British and American literature.

Hindman’s 116-lot auction of Post War & Contemporary Art on September 28 includes a classic pop art painting by Wayne Thiebaud that comes for sale from the estate of Kansas City collectors Morton and Estelle Sosland.

While the ‘peak season’ for Old Master sales in the UK traditionally falls twice a year in early July and December, coinciding with the flagship sales in the London rooms, notable lots nevertheless appear throughout the year at auctions around the country.

One of the better performing ‘manner of’ pictures of late was a landscape very much in the style of the great French Baroque painter Claude Lorrain (1600-82).

The Coinex extravaganza brings out the big guns of the UK numismatics trade alongside continental European dealers.

A copy of Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy album signed by all four members of the band sold to a phone bidder for £15,000 .

One of two texts in a single volume revealed after eager bidding to be by Hungarian Jesuit

On October 3 Noonans will sell two single-owner collections.

Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) painted several versions of his portrait of Neil Gow, the most famous 18th century Scottish fiddler, for a number of patrons.

Among the lots on offer at Sworders’ upcoming Old Master, British and European Art sale is a small sketch of two lawyers by Honoré Daumier (1808-79).

Sensational was the only word for it.

An 18th century copy of Tikkunei Shabbat (an amalgam of Hebrew prayers and devotions for the Sabbath) sold for £57,000 to an international phone bidder at Hansons on September 5.

A timed online sale of sporting memorabilia that closed on August 27 at Graham Budd was topped by a photocard of Cuthbert J Ottaway (1850-78).

While the rare book trade is steadily becoming more diverse, challenges still exist, as four newer members of the Forum Auctions team in London tell ATG

Trio of works by the Hungarian artist underlines the appeal of portraits as conversation pieces

A highly decorative example of Japanese lacquer provided one of the highlights of Tennants’ (24/20% buyer’s premium) July 15 summer sale.