North America


Mexican document

FBI returns historic conquistador manuscript to Mexico

27 August 2025

A manuscript linked to a Spanish conquistador and believed stolen in the 1980s has been given to the Mexican government.

Dick Fosbury's 1968 Olympics gold medal

Dick Fosbury’s Olympic gold medal soars at auction

26 August 2025

In a poignant tribute to one of track and field's most revolutionary figures, items once owned by Olympic high jump gold medallist Dick Fosbury have been sold by Heritage Auctions in Dallas.

Léon Spilliaert self-portrait

Belgian symbolist portrait shown at TEFAF acquired by Art Institute of Chicago

26 August 2025

A self-portrait by Belgian artist Léon Spilliaert (1881-1946) featured on the stand of David Lévy at TEFAF Maastricht earlier this year has been acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago.

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Rietveld pieces boast provenance back to very beginning

25 August 2025

Two early furnishings by the Dutch designer and architect Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) beat their guides at Wright (27% buyer’s premium) in Chicago, Illinois. Both came with primary provenances.

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First print to show game of ‘goff’ emerges in New York auction

25 August 2025

A cherished piece of golf history came for sale at Carlsen Gallery (20% buyer’s premium) in Freehold, New York, and commanded a significant sum.

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Claret jug is toast of both Cincinnati and Stourbridge

25 August 2025

A claret jug combining the talents of Stevens & Williams of Stourbridge in the UK and US firm Duhme & Co from Cincinnati crushed its $2000-3000 guide to hammer for $35,000 (£25,890).

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French 17th century cabinet stands out as a favourite for a US specialist

25 August 2025

Auction house expert eulogises about a French 17th century piece of furniture ‘jewel for the eyes’

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Mainland Chinese buyers out in force for Virginia auction

25 August 2025

Buyers from mainland China propelled Asian lots at Quinn’s Auction Galleries (27% buyer’s premium) far beyond their guides at a recent sale in Falls Church, Virginia.

Sotheby's Breuer Building in New York

Sotheby’s to open Breuer Building premises ahead of flagship New York sales

21 August 2025

Auction house Sotheby’s has announced the opening date of its New York headquarters at the Breuer Building.

Augsburg ring

Surprise: gold, jewelled and enamelled ring reveals hidden detail

18 August 2025

The latest Collector’s Cabinet auction at Freeman’s Hindman in Chicago included this remarkable gold, jewelled and enamelled ‘surprise’ ring.

Haradin’s last wishes granted as toy soldier business is handed on to Morphy

11 August 2025

Morphy Auctions will take over Old Toy Soldier Auctions (OTSA) following the death of founder Ray Haradin.

Harry Potter books

Signed first edition run of seven Harry Potter books takes six-figure sum at US auction

29 July 2025

A group of seven first edition hardback copies of the Harry Potter books, all signed by author JK Rowling, were hammered down at $130,000/£97,500 (or $162,500 including premium) by Heritage Auctions.

Joshua Johnson portrait

Pair of paintings come to auction from first known black American professional portraitist

28 July 2025

A pair of portraits by Joshua Johnson (c.1763-c.1825), one of the earliest black professional painters in the United States, is coming to auction this summer.

Phillips auction house London

Phillips raises buyer’s premium – but reduces it for ‘early engagement’

23 July 2025

Auction house Phillips has introduced a new format for its buyer’s premium.

Rosebud sledge

Citizen Kane Rosebud sledge makes record sum at auction

18 July 2025

The sledge becomes the second most-valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold

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Herbert and Huxley classics in original jackets taken to record results at Heritage Auctions

14 July 2025

A recent rare books sale at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in the US delivered strong performances for a handful of coveted 20th century firsts in dust jackets.

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Batt’s donkeys charm animal-loving US bidders

14 July 2025

Based in Lyndhurst in southern England, the late Victorian painter Arthur Batt (1846-1911) ploughed his artistic furrow painting dogs and donkeys either as portraits or in New Forest settings.

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Art Nouveau cabinet displays Michaut talent

14 July 2025

A fine example of French Art Nouveau furniture more than doubled its high estimate at Collective Hudson (30% buyer’s premium) in Kingston, New York.

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‘This is where the Venn diagram between Tiffany glass and jewellery overlaps’

14 July 2025

A Louis Comfort Tiffany pendant-necklace with matching ear clips in gold, star sapphire, moonstones, and enamel hammered for $200,000 (£148,000) at Doyle (28/27% buyer’s premium).

19th century ambrotype

Rare ambrotype photograph takes 30-times estimate at auction

14 July 2025

Image possibly showing co-creator of the ambrotype brings major bidding battle in the US

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