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Further to the article by Milton Silverman (ATG no. 2702) which gave some positive news for those of us that use the temporary admissions procedure, I wanted to point out that the new system has also led to extra costs.

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

Sotheby’s €7m sale of the original Hermès Birkin handbag, custom made for late actress and singer Jane Birkin in 1985, has given some welcome exposure to the market for preloved luxury accessories. And for many of today’s collectors, vintage is best.

More than 70 works of art from King Charles’ private collection, many of which have never been on public display, are on show in the special exhibition The King’s Tour Artists, as the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace opened to visitors for the summer from Thursday July 10.

Kate Button of Blackdog Events tells us that the first summer brocante held in June in the atmospheric surroundings of the ruins of Creake Abbey in Norfolk was a success.

With a trio of leading dealers bringing the best of British horology, the Treasure House Fair has become a focus for the clock trade, just as Grosvenor House and Masterpiece were before it.

A previously unrecorded Elizabethan gold and enamel signet ring, a gift from the influential Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79), sold for £42,000 at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).

Just a month after a rare Christian Dior (1905-57) musical brooch was sold Tajan in Paris, two more examples appeared for sale at Fellows’ (30% buyer’s premium inc VAT) Handbags & Accessories auction in Birmingham on June 24.

A modestly estimated Van Cleef & Arpels, 18ct yellow gold gem set charm bracelet from c.1960 did particularly well for Dreweatts.

Described as “rare and exquisite” when it came up for auction at C&T (22% buyer’s premium), an early painted carved wooden doll lived up to her billing.

Antique and vintage jewellery remains a strong suit across a broad range of styles, periods and values.

Crowning the summer jewellery sales was the spectacular Cartier London turquoise and diamond tiara from 1930 offered by Bonhams (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

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.

The record-setting £27.5m Canaletto at Christie’s on July 1 represented the sixth highest sum ever recorded at auction for an Old Master painting. But which others feature in the top 10?

A first edition copy of 'The Left Bank and Other Stories' by the Dominican author Jean Rhys (1890-1979) and 'Portrait of New York' by Cecil Beaton (1904-80) were offered together at Ewbank’s (25% buyer’s premium).

The finest mourning jewels pertain to historical events, royalty, and well-known personages. A good selection has come to market in recent weeks

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including rare book dealership Sotheran’s becoming the latest victim of cyber criminals

For a sector often tainted by an inadequate supply of fresh and top-draw material, the latest series of Old Master auctions in London certainly had moments where the core market woes seemed mysteriously absent.

I acquired Sotheran's, the rare book dealership, last year and it has been a bit of an odyssey moving to new premises in Charing Cross Road and revitalising a business that has survived in various forms for over 250 years.

A group lot of works by or pertaining to CS Lewis performed rather better than its modest guide at Scottish firm Taylors Auction Rooms (26% buyer’s premium).