Books & Periodicals

Involving a string of spectacular works, the saga of the collapsed French firm is worth a novel itself

A rare souvenir, an example of correspondence between two key figures in the French Revolution, was one of the highlights of a sale held by Osenat (25% buyer’s premium) in Versailles on March 12.

The first 90 or so lots in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) sale of Islamic and Indian Art held in Paris on April 6 were the property of a Royal collection.

Stand-out lots to watch out for in UK, Irish, European and US sales of books and works on paper

Sarah Key and Phil Salin celebrated 30 years at the helm of the PBFA’s Cambridge Premier book fair in February. They chat to ATG about changes facing the fair, recent trends in the trade – and working together as a married couple

The best-selling lot in a recent Carlisle auction was a 1919, Collins first of Heritage, the debut novel of Vita Sackville-West, who at that time was better known for her poetry.

When the Bletchley Park boffins were taking a break from code-breaking in the Second World War, complicated puzzles were one of the diversions.

'A Magician Among the Spirits' by Harry Houdini conjured up one of the highest prices in the Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) Houdini-related sale in Chicago on April 8 when it sold for $15,000 (£12,095).

The Negro Motorist Green Book, first produced in 1936, was the indispensable guide for African-American families travelling.

More than 50 lots featuring the illustrative work of Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) were offered in the extensive book section of a March 24 auction.

Now hugely popular, this collecting field actually took many years to get going

Despite volatility in so many markets, the rare book world continues to offer a calm respite, as Rupert Powell of Forum Auctions writes

A copy of Johann Kraft’s 'Pomona Austriaca' (Fruit Trees of Austria) featuring both the French and German texts as well as 100 hand-coloured plates is on offer at this spring’s Bloomsbury Book Fair Spring Event.

François Pierre de la Varenne (1618-78) is the chef credited with bringing French cuisine into the modern era.

Edward Donovan’s 'The Natural History of British Fishes', a 19th century colour plate-illustrated British ichthyological work, featured in the Sporting & Travel Books sale held by Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) in New York earlier this year.

'Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair' is returning to its usual May schedule this year and is committed to a spring date.

An early 16th century illustrated edition Aesop was the highlight of an auction of books held by Giquello & Associes (25/20.5/17% buyer’s premium) in Paris on April 14.

A library of works relating to hunting, horseriding and dogs assembled over a 40-year period by a hunting historian, the Comte d’Orglandes, went under the hammer on April 12 at Deloys (22% buyer’s premium inc tax) in Angers, part of the Ivoire group.

This special edition of A Japanese Collection (1898) by Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921) is one of the first 25 copies printed on Indian paper and is signed and dedicated by the author to his daughter Dora.

Illustrator John Buckland-Wright’s own specially bound and annotated copy of the 1947, Golden Cockerel Press edition of John Keats’ Endymion topped a sale.