Print Edition

Here we focus on three events this summer of interest to textiles enthusiasts

Can you make a living from selling ephemera and low-value works on paper?

Letters found in family archive include first-hand accounts from St Helena in 1821

At the time that the London-born artist George Chapman (1908-93) first encountered the Rhondda Valley in 1953, he happened to be reading a series of books by US writer William Faulkner.

The toy manufacturer Märklin did not just produce models for private use.

Spot the difference?

Sheet of various figures and body parts in red and white chalk set an auction record for Primaticcio

A Citroën 2CV toy car is not quite as glamorous as a Lotus Esprit, even when the full-size version helps to save James Bond in an epic chase.

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

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

Matthew Boulton’s inventory of stock in 1782 lists “1 small figure of Minerva”, according to Nicholas Goodison’s Ormolu: the Work of Matthew Boulton, 1974.

Our selection of lots from five upcoming auctions

Silverware with connections to key figures from the famous French firm of Puiforcat proved to be a major component in a sale of items from a Parisian family collection held by Beaussant Lefèvre (28% buyer’s premium).

An untitled abstract by Gillian Ayres (1930-2018) was among the works attracting interest from the collection of Simon and Jennifer Murray at Dore & Rees (25% buyer’s premium) in Somerset.

I read with particular interest Graham Smith’s announcement last June of his intention to retire after 50 years in the antiques business. He began working for Owen Humble in April 1973.

On Friday, May 16, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $3208.38 / €2863.46 / £2412.35

By the time H Turner’s book on billiards came out in 1849 (Northampton, printed for the author by JT Burgess) the game was hundreds of years old – with roots back to the 15th century.

Ship models ruled the waves but railway toys were certainly on track too as two sales held either side of the Pond offered the collection of the late Tony Cuff.

The Ephemera Society Fair is still going strong for its 50th anniversary despite having to make a move this year.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including the acquisition of Adams Blackrock by Ross's Auctioneers