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.


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Illustration done on a grand scale: fantastic fish watercolours from naturalist Sarah Bowdich Lee

15 July 2024

Naturalist produced a fish-focused work featuring nearly 3000 original watercolours across 50 copies

British and Irish book auctions: July 16-August 8, 2024

15 July 2024

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

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Poetry work that awakened the genius of John Keats

15 July 2024

Only 29 books from the library of John Keats are recorded - among them a 1679 printing of the collected works of the Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser given to him by the artist Joseph Severn (1793-1879).

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Original Harry Potter artwork takes a magical $1.6m result

08 July 2024

The original artwork for 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' sold at Sotheby’s for $1.6m (£1.3m) plus 20% buyer’s premium in New York on June 26.

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Inscription helps Holtby result

08 July 2024

Little-known work by the Yorkshire author dating from 1927 is boosted by dedication to Suffragette friend

Books and works on paper auction calendar, July 10-August 3, 2024

08 July 2024

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

Books and works on paper auction calendar, July 3-31, 2024

01 July 2024

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

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Mystery writer's musings on meteorites prove a big hit at auction

01 July 2024

Hammer falls at 24 times the top estimate as Scandinavian buyer snaps up highly unusual collection

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Photographer Deakin captured the Soho social whirl

01 July 2024

Wirral-born photographer John Deakin (1912-72) is best-known for his uncompromisingly honest portraits of the Soho art scene of the 1950s and 60s.

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Personal signed Churchill letter to his old teacher adds up to £14,000

01 July 2024

“You were the only person who ever succeeded in teaching me mathematics or indeed - let me add - in making me work at anything that did not excite my interest. I regard my work at mathematics under your care as the most salutary mental discipline I ever received.”

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Camus classic written in poverty takes six-figure sum

01 July 2024

In a private collection since it was last sold in 1991, one of only two known autograph manuscripts by author and journalist Albert Camus of his masterpiece L’Etranger was sold by Tajan (23/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Paris on June 5.

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Innovative Earth design ready for assembly

01 July 2024

Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was one of 20th century USA’s most prominent architects, inventors and designers.

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Marx makes a dedication in Das Kapital

01 July 2024

The Rare Books sale at Ketterer Kunst (25/20/19% buyer’s premium) in Hamburg on May 27 included this first edition dedication copy of Das Kapital (1867).

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Shakespeare’s First Folio lands in Tasmania

29 June 2024

London rare book dealer Peter Harrington sold the copy to an edgy Australian museum

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The real Withnail: diaries of Vivian MacKerrell, the actor who inspired Withnail and I, for sale at auction

27 June 2024

Personal effects of the actor who inspired the classic cult film Withnail and I are expected to fetch up to £18,000 at Sotheby's.

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A present for Sir Bufton Tufton? Complete run of Private Eye mags on offer at auction

26 June 2024

A complete set of Private Eye is coming to auction on July 17, presenting almost certainly a unique opportunity to acquire every copy up to now.

Casino Royale Results L&T

Two first edition Casino Royales cash in at auction - but condition is key

25 June 2024

A 1953 first edition, first impression copy of Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel Casino Royale in its original dust jacket, bought at a car boot sale for £1, has sold for £10,000 hammer.

Books and works on paper calendar, June 26-July 9, 2024

24 June 2024

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

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Franklin searchers found themselves in need of help

24 June 2024

The McClure Arctic Expedition of 1850 was one of the Franklin rescue missions but ended up with the ironic fate of getting trapped themselves.

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Rare Rousseau herbarium bought by Swiss institution

24 June 2024

The last Jean-Jacques Rousseau herbarium in private hands came for sale at Ader in Paris on June 17.

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