Books and Works on Paper

Inaugural Forum standalone auction achieves impressive results in south London

A first edition of Agatha Christie’s Five Little Pigs published by The Crime Club (Collins), London 1942, was consigned to Wessex Auction Rooms (24% buyer’s premium) by the family of Phyllis Rice, housekeeper to the author at Greenway House.

Our regular listing of books and works on paper sales

The 1690 Utrecht edition of Suetonius Caius Tranquillus’ Opera, “with Samuel Pitiscus’s seminal commentary, was a landmark in classical scholarship and perfectly reflects Sir William Hamilton’s deep antiquarian interests, particularly in Roman history”.

Pristine first editions from sought-after authors or documents written by the luminaries of times past are usually the ones that command the greatest attention at book auctions.

A collection of nine letters from Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne sold at Derbyshire saleroom Irita Marriott (24% buyer’s premium) had been passed down through the family of Vincent Seligman and his wife Barbara, who were lifelong friends of the author.

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

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

Book dealers and auction houses are all saying the same thing about fantasy and sci-fi novels: once derided as not serious objects of desire, they are now eagerly sought after by collectors and achieving really big prices.

According to an article in The Times ahead of the estate sale of the paper’s former theatre, film and art critic John Russell Taylor (1935-2025), the west London flat where he lived was crammed not only with artworks but also 20,000 books.

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

Group lot shows how a shared interest in communication linked Louis Mountbatten and a telegraphist

Fresh batch of material related to artist Anne and husband Hezekiah brings extra family detail

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

Collection of molecular biologist Brenner attracts a lively response

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

The records for JK Rowling’s early work sold at auction keep tumbling, both hardback and paperback

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

A set of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings realised a premium-inclusive $250,000 (£187,500) at Heritage Auctions of Dallas.

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