Latest News Articles by Ian McKay
British and Irish book auctions: January 20-February 5, 2021
18 January 2021Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.
Noteworthy Dickens and Austen delight in NY
18 January 2021Two of the best-selling literary lots in a New York sale were copies of Jane Austen novels.
Hugs and kisses, Christopher Robin
18 January 2021Mounted in an autograph book that was compiled from 1937 onwards by Miss Joyce Cartmell, a sketch of Christopher Robin was a highlight of a Yorkshire sale.
Very earliest Christmas Carol sold in Philadelphia
18 January 2021There were, inevitably, a few copies of Charles Dickens’ much-loved tale, 'A Christmas Carol', on offer at auction as the big day approached.
Books and works on paper: Middle East volume set enthrals bidders
18 January 2021Nineteenth century travel accounts by European visitors are sold in London auction
Books and works on paper: Rugby School gives auction a try
11 January 2021Controversial school sale of library books and manuscripts includes an Irish/Latin surprise
Monstrous German auction over four days
11 January 2021Presenting, as always, huge numbers of lots – some 2800 this time, an auction held by Reiss & Sohn (19% buyer’s premium) produced some notable prices.
British and Irish book auctions: January 12-30, 2021
11 January 2021Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.
Single-owner books bring 007 heaven
11 January 2021A significant collection of Ian Fleming’s books, typescripts and assorted autograph material raised close on £1m at Sotheby’s.
Broadside or chapbooks in demand
04 January 2021The surprise lot at Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) was one in which the principal attraction may well have been a penny broadside of 1826.
Norfolk auction sets record for autobiography of pioneering evolutionist Alfred Russel Wallace
04 January 2021Bid to a record £1900 in a Norfolk auction was a 1905, two-volume first of 'My Life: A Record of Events and Opinions'.
British and Irish book auctions: January 5-28, 2021
04 January 2021Our regular listing of British and Irish book and works on paper sales.
Shakespeare brightened up by colouring
04 January 2021Shown here is the opening spread of a special copy of an 1895 Dent edition of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' sold at Lyon & Turnbull (25/20% buyer’s premium).
First of famous Christopher Marlowe tragedy
04 January 2021A 1633 first edition of Christopher Marlowe’s 'The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta' was a highlight at Swann Galleries (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).
‘Greatest logician since Leibniz or Aristotle’
04 January 2021Among the successful lots in a History of Science & Technology sale held by Bonhams Los Angeles (27.5/25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) was a group of five signed and inscribed offprints from periodical publications of papers and other work by the logician, mathematician and analytic philosopher, Kurt Gödel.
Naturally appealing in NY
21 December 2020Americana, travel and natural history were billed as the main attractions of a sale at Bonhams New York (27.5/25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium).
British and Irish book auctions: December 20, 2020-January 28, 2021
21 December 2020Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.
Arabic work presents ‘complete book of the medical art’
21 December 2020A rare complete copy of a famous Arabic medical text sold for £30,000 in a sale of manuscripts and other works on paper from the Islamic and Near Eastern worlds.
Olde Worlde charm… from 1847
21 December 2020Quaintly titled book about Great Yarmouth was one of the varied attractions in Cambridge auction.
When art meets science
14 December 2020Sixteenth century book-maker’s creativity makes maths and astronomy more accessible