Books and Works on Paper

Seventeenth century guide to growing vines in England was published just before the Great Fire of London

Recognised as the ‘Father of Geology’, in 1815 William Smith was the first to map the geology of England and Wales, with part of southern Scotland.

Television host's collection yields rare studies at London auction

Victorian mountaineering book annotated by the author climbs to 20 times the top estimate

A world atlas produced by a Dublin-born man who is considered the first US commercial publisher made its way to the Irish capital to be sold at auction house Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium).

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

Manuscript ‘sold in 1776’ at forerunner of Sotheby’s emerges in New York sale

Published between 1750-73, Plantae selectae quarum imagines ad exemplaria naturalia Londini in hortis curiosorum (‘A selection of plants from natural specimens nurtured in London’s curious gardens’) is considered the most important botanical work ever printed in Germany.

Owen Simmons was a bit of a bread fan, it is fair to say. A lecturer at the National Bakery School in London, he produced the lavish book shown here.

Cryptoryptomentyces et Cryptographiae has been described as ‘arguably the most complete tome on esoteric cryptography ever published’, an esoteric claim to fame in itself.

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

A letter from Ernest Shackleton to a supporter, written from South Georgia on the eve of his final departure on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, was offered at Charles Miller’s (24% buyer’s premium) latest Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art sale.

Rupert Powell of Forum Auctions reflects on a busy year in the ‘stage-play’ of rare books

A wide range of dealers are set to offer a variety of items at upcoming fairs

First editions are not always the be-all and end-all for collecting

A selection of stand-out lots coming up at a variety of auctions

Our regular listing of books and works on paper sales

Designs promoting exhibitions can be a great way to collect on a tight budget

Based on his own experiences and those of his clients, a seasoned rare books buyer offers advice on getting the most from the collecting journey

ATG takes a whistlestop tour of the globe via the greatest recent collection of colour plate travel and costume books