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The Cotswolds Antiques, Decorative & Art Fair takes place from March 31-April 2, the first of three editions to run in 2017. Organiser Cooper Events added the third last year, and it was greeted with enough enthusiasm to keep the model going this year.

Among the picture highlights of Peter Wilson’s (24% buyer’s premium) Fine Art Sale on March 2 in Nantwich was a coastal sunset scene by prolific Birkenhead artist Samuel John Lamorna Birch (1869-1955).

A crease that runs around the lower part of the dust jacket detracts somewhat from the appeal of a first impression copy of the first of Ian Fleming’s Bond books, Casino Royale of 1953, but it sold for £16,000 in a March 1 sale held by Bonhams (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

The 28th annual Bath Decorative Antiques Fair closed on March 5 after a four-day run which included its busiest opening trade day on record.

Brothers Ben and Harry Tucker have given new meaning to the term ‘war cabinet’.

Austrian-born Josef Frank (1885-1967) was a partner in a successful practice in Vienna designing houses, interiors, furniture and fabrics, but fled his native country in 1933 for Sweden to escape Nazi discrimination.

A coin sold in the Dix Noonan Webb (20% buyer’s premium) auction on March 15 is a poignant reminder of the mysterious death of the Princes in the Tower.

Furniture takes a rare top spot despite numerous and varied delights at Dorchester auction

Textile designer Lucienne Day (1917-2010) was honorary president of the Textile Society from 1992-2002 and in 1993 she created an award in her name for innovative textile design.

Two opposing views on the big questions facing the trade…

The taxidermy market continues to grow – particularly for showpiece lots such as the Bengal tiger’s head offered at Andrew Smith (19% buyer’s premium) of Winchester on February 8.

Robert Eagle started his business specialising in less well-known Modern British artists over three years ago. He will appear at his first fair, the Cotswolds Antiques, Decorative & Art Fair, at the end of March. He started dealing when he bought a David Rolt landscape for £250 and then acquired the whole estate of the artist.

Mod Brit artist who produced many local scenes is subject of Suffolk gallery show

Caspar Neher, the focus of Abbott and Holder’s upcoming exhibition, was a long-time collaborator with the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Neher designed the stage sets for a number of his theatre productions in the 1920s and ‘30s.

If you are interested in the history of the cotton spinning industry, head to the Stockport Vintage Emporium.

An academic report based on a small sample of dealers and auctioneers has called for “significant structural changes” to the laws governing the sale of ivory.

Rare painting by 19th century American artist achieves record price at Bonhams