Collectables

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

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.

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.

A handwritten note signed twice by Abraham Lincoln written just days before winning the 1864 presidential election was the toast of University Archives’ (25% buyer’s premium) April 19 online auction in Connecticut.

A 13th century Mamluk (Egyptian or Syrian) manuscript on astronomy sold for a surprise £140,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) in south London on April 28.

West Sussex sale highlights – including a work detailing author’s obsession with bricklaying as a hobby

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.

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.

The PBFA’s London International Antiquarian Book Fair takes place on May 20-21. Book dealer and PBFA publicity manager Jeremy Carson explains to ATG what to expect this year

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

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

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

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.

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

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

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.

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

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.

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

'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).