Books & Periodicals

Material in this specialist market ranges from the early printed works of the Gutenberg Press and William Caxton right through to Modern First Editions and now up to signed copies of Harry Potter. Condition and rarity are the keys to this sector.


A portrait of Caroline Herschel

Bath museum buys visitor book of astronomer Caroline Herschel

09 March 2022

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath has bought Caroline Herschel’s visitor book dating from her time living near Windsor.

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Signed writer photo-portraits at Christie's

07 March 2022

The two signed photo-portraits of writers reproduced here formed part of a November 17-December 1 sale held by Christie’s (15/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) that dispersed a single-owner collection of literary manuscripts billed as Exiles and Idealists.

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Investment that brings a big return

07 March 2022

One of the stand-out lots at Sotheby’s New York (26/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) was a 1949 first printing of The Intelligent Investor.

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Sumptuous seaweeds at Surrey sale

07 March 2022

A set of the four volumes that make up William G Johnstone & Alexander Croall’s 'Nature-Printed British Sea-Weeds' of 1859-60 was offered in a December 21 sale at John Nicholson’s (20% buyer’s premium) in Fernhurst, Surrey.

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Dulac Snow Queen drifts in

07 March 2022

This splendid example of the illustrative work of Edmund Dulac, a watercolour, gouache and ink drawing on paper, is his original artwork for one of the 28 plates he produced for a 1911, Hodder & Stoughton edition of Stories from Hans Andersen.

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Burmese blaze and golden gains

07 March 2022

Nineteenth century aquatint and map provide global perspective in Gloucestershire saleroom

UK and Irish book auctions: March 8-19, 2022

07 March 2022

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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Pick of the week: Pioneering rail trio took a trip to the US

28 February 2022

Sometimes it pays to look a little further afield.

British and Irish book auctions: March 1-12, 2022

28 February 2022

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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Three Marys star in a ‘classical and romantic’ selection

28 February 2022

Mary Queen of Scots, Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley lots feature in Edinburgh auction

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Firsts Online offers collectors a spot of armchair travelling

25 February 2022

From an 18th century bestseller to a 20th century modern fantasy first edition, the Antiquarian Booksellers Association’s fair offers buyers a chance to snap up antiquarian and rare books from the comfort of their homes this weekend.

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Letters saved by mum march on in manuscript

21 February 2022

The distinguished military career of Major General Sir George Ridout Bingham (1777-1833) included service in the Peninsular War during the years 1809-14.

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Sermons and rabbiting on

21 February 2022

Two very different lots from a Sussex sale are noted here: a German manuscript of Lenten sermons and the tale of a toy rabbit.

British and Irish book auctions

21 February 2022

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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Take me to the Rivière bindings

21 February 2022

Aubrey Beardsley and John Batten add the illustrative attractions in North Yorks sale

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Very early guitar lessons

21 February 2022

The big number in a London sale of music books, manuscripts, etc, was a collection of early pieces for guitar described as the most significant manuscript of its kind seen at auction in over 20 years.

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Franklin gives peace a chance

21 February 2022

Two letters in the hand of Benjamin Franklin, dating from 1782 and 1784 and both relating to the terms of the peace agreement between the newly independent USA and Britain that were being worked out during negotiations in Paris, provided the highest bids at Bonhams New York (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) on December 15.

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First edition of TS Eliot's first book on offer at Swann

14 February 2022

Swann Galleries is holding a sale of Books and Autographs in New York on February 17.

British and Irish book auctions: February 15-28, 2022

14 February 2022

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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Kelmscott press edition from 1892 emerges in Chicago

14 February 2022

This Kelmscott press 1892 edition of William Caxton’s translation of 'The History of Reynard the Foxe' will be offered by Potter & Potter auctions as part of its February 26 auction of books and manuscripts in Chicago.

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