Auctions

A previously unrecorded family archive relating to Richard Grindall (1751-1820), an able seaman aboard Cook’s Second Voyage, surfaced for sale in London last week with spectacular results.

The master wood carver and furniture maker copied out missing Bible pages when aged just 13.

The Modern British Art sale at Woolley & Wallis on May 31 offers family photographs that come by descent from the war poet Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967).

Potter & Potter’s early spring signature Circus, Sideshow and Oddities Sale in Chicago features a collection of photographs of such subjects, plus theatrical images, amassed by collector and historian Gary Bart.

This 19th century albumen print is by the pioneering French photographer Gustave le Gray (1820-84).

Toadstones are understood to be the button-like palatal teeth of lepidotes, an extinct genus of ray finned fish from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

The story of the Poniatowski gems provided one of the great art scandals of its day.

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, featuring both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

The 19th & 20th Century Photography sale at Dominic Winter on May 18 includes several works by Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-79).

On June 13 the Paris auction house Millon is selling items from the collection of Lili Grenier, celebrated artist’s model and muse and friend of some of the most famous artists of the late 19th century including Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The inscription “To dearest Clare from her affectionate P.B.S….” proved key to the price achieved by an 1812, two-volume Venetian edition of the Poesie toscane of the lyric poet Vincenzo da Filicaja (1642-1707).

Scottish artist Joseph Farquharson (1846-1935) is best known for his snowy landscapes with sheep that earned him the nickname ‘Frozen Mutton Farquharson’.

These two salt prints from waxed paper negatives by Roger Fenton (1819-69) carry an estimate of £1000-2000 at Cheffins in Cambridge on April 28.

As this illustration of the title-page shows, a 1549 London edition of the Bible offered in a timed online sale ending on March 13 held by East Bristol Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) had its shortcomings where condition was concerned.

A selection of eight upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

The Fine Photographica sale at Flints in Thatcham, Berkshire, on April 23 includes this Ansco Photo Vanity 'spy' camera, estimated at £800-1200.

North Yorkshire saleroom Tennants is selling this Kemp & Co field camera with ‘tropical’ mahogany casing and brass fittings, with an estimate of £150-250.

China trade wares attract significant bidding at Dreweatts

Many of the Asian sales in the US held over recent weeks took place in New York as part of its Asia week celebrations but auctions were also staged in other cities.