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As very personal items, typically weighing little more than an ounce of bullion, the most numerous silver survivors from the 17th century are spoons.

In demand at home and abroad during his lifetime, the eminent miniaturist John Smart was an international draw at a trio of sales.

Running to just 20 or so words, a tiny signed card in which Abraham Lincoln instructs Edwin Stanton to meet with the African-American abolitionist and officer Martin Delany in Washington led the bidding at Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) on September 23.

A selection of 15 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

This Charles II silver mounted coconut cup is particularly rare on account of its marks for the Hull silversmith Edward Mangie (1634-85).

Now handsomely bound in full red morocco and contained in slipcases, a set of first-edition copies of what are collectively known as ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ of CS Lewis led a Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) sale of October 7 with a bid of £3400 from a buyer on thesaleroom.com.

Group of works from the late US dealer’s collection demonstrates his wide range of interests.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

The V&A loses out in £23,000 bidding battle for Prince Albert’s drawings of the diamond and sapphire coronet he designed for Queen Victoria.

This pair of William III silver candlesticks came for sale at Potteries Auctions (20% buyer’s premium).

“Dealing in art is not just a hobby but also a disease which is very hard to throw off,” says dealer Malcolm Innes.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s work has long held a fascination, as a near-contemporaneous copy confirms

Given their relatively small metal content, many silver-mounted ‘tigerware’ beer jugs survived the great bullion melting of the English Civil War, making them perhaps the most recognised example of late 16th century silver today.

The auction at toy specialist C&T (22% buyer’s premium) in Kenardington, Kent, on November 3 included this very rare pair of doll’s shoes dated to c.1700.

Bid to to £400 in an October 6 sale held by Halls (20/12% buyers premium) of Shrewsbury was a simple, partly printed receipt in the sum of three guineas with autograph additions and signature that date it to April 24, 1806.

A carved oak falcon depicting Anne Boleyn’s royal badge discovered in a Devon auction and bought for £75 could soon be on display at Hampton Court Palace if a dealer gets his wish.

On December 2 Australian auction firm Shapiro will be offering the collection of Spode blue and white earthenwares assembled over the past 25 years by Russell Brooks. The majority were purchased in first 15 years mainly in England but also in Australia.

Hindman Auctions has appointed Christine Broski to oversee business development in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region.

Many sales in late November and early December are assembled with presents in mind and silver and jewellery are much to the fore.

Most angles on the collecting spectrum were covered in Bamfords’ (24.75% buyer’s premium) three-day autumnal catalogue.