Features

We take a closer look at the ‘idiosyncratic mixture of independent businesses’ established in this charming book and map-selling hub in central London

ATG takes a look at some stand-out lots sold recently at an auction in Berlin

Trade associations play a valuable role in representing their members, organising fairs and events and, among many other things, making sense of changes in legislation – particularly useful when US policy on tariffs seems to change every five minutes.

Can you tell your foxing from your deckle edge? Or quire from collation? Here is a handy guide to some of the terms used in the books and works on paper collecting field.

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about,” Oscar Wilde wrote in The Picture of Dorian Gray - a prescient observation that has proven remarkably true.

Our look ahead at fairs coming up in the capital, including the Firsts and PBFA events held a short hop apart on the same weekend

Stand-out lots from Shakespeare to Sendak, Marie-Antoinette to Mary Queen of Scots, Gill to Waugh and Turing to Buffalo Bill

Inscriptions and annotations can make a massive difference to value

Noonans’ Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale on April 9 included a rare group of medals awarded to Lancaster Bomber pilot, Warrant Officer, later Flight Lieutenant, Edward Sydney Ellis of 625 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

The British War Medal 1914-20 is not exactly uncommon. Issued in the First World War, about 6.5 million were struck in silver and 110,000 in bronze.

Four medals awarded to members of the Robertson family included one to a Battle of Trafalgar veteran.

A case containing plumes from the Duke of Wellington’s hat was central to a lot offered by Hannams (25% buyer’s premium) in Hampshire on March 11.

An RAF uniform, log book and medals that belonged to one of ‘The Few’ was a highlight when Cornish saleroom Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) dispersed the contents of Flambards theme park.

Both parts of the excellent Jason Pilalas collection delivered suitably impressive results for London auction house Noonans

There is no doubt that the Asian art auction market in London’s major salerooms is feeling the squeeze.

An intriguing collection that came from a house of a well-connected Devon family caused a stir when it emerged at Exeter saleroom Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (26/25% buyer’s premium).

Operation Chariot on March 28, 1942, was one of the most daring British commando raids of the Second World War, aimed at destroying the heavily fortified dry dock at St Nazaire used by the German battleship Tirpitz.

From Pokémon trading cards to retro gaming consoles, the growing market in modern collectables is bringing new buyers and consignors to the market – and providing new business opportunities

The rise in modern collectables at auction has enabled one relative newcomer to prosper.

In 1950, the Swiss artist, architect and designer Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) joined his cousin Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (who assumed the pseudonym Le Corbusier) to create a new capital of Punjab.