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To inject new blood into the senior ranks of TEFAF exhibitors, the fair’s organisers allow younger dealers, some from non-traditional disciplines, to do a live audition each year in the Showcase section. Kate Quill finds out what this tough test involves...

The generally encouraging start to the year enjoyed by English auctioneers extends to Scotland where Lyon & Turnbull (25% buyer’s premium) enjoyed a buoyant season-opener.

MADAM – No amount of banning the sale of the millions of items containing antique ivory will stop the wholesale slaughter of elephants in Africa.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period February 15-21, 2018. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Lifting the lid on what it takes to be an exhibitor at a TEFAF fair, ATG asked three dealers – one American, one British and one German – to chart their preparations, concerns and hopes as they head to Maastricht for the 2018 event. Compiled by Lisa Johnson.

Under the overall command of James Clark Ross, one of the earlier major expeditions to the Antarctic regions focused principally on magnetic and geographical investigations – but others aboard had different priorities.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Topographical watercolours may not be the hottest area of the art market, but they can still pack a punch in the saleroom.

The many voyages made in search of the lost Franklin expedition feature strongly in another spotlight on polar exploration covering sales in London and New York. The splendid Martin Greene library again provides notable highlights.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Like most enduring events, the Bath Decorative Antiques Fair boasts a formula both familiar and distinctive which has been tempered by gradual changes.

The Palladian home of the Earls of Pembroke will host the 41st staging of venerable vetted antiques fair on March 2-4.

A dazzling red and black herringbone-patterned Conklin Nozac cushion point pen and pencil set dating from 1932 and with an ability to write 7000 words before running out, is for sale at the Eastern Pen Show on March 4.

MADAM – Are people aware of the compensation that the UK Government paid out when the handgun ban came into force after the Dunblane massacre in 1996?

Fellows is now the leading UK regional auctioneer by hammer total after recording overall sales of £17m in 2017.

Coin-grading firm The Certified Collectibles Group (CCG) has expanded again in the UK and will open an office in London in April on the third floor of dealership Spink’s headquarters.

The long-term future of the historic London Silver Vaults is uncertain as the landlord weighs up options for the building.

Australian bookseller Sally Burdon has been elected president of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). She succeeds Gonzalo F Pontes who was president from 2016-18.

A country house library in south-west Scotland was the source of an album of 19th century photographs of India that provided a Valentine’s Day surprise at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh.