Collectables

“Siege notes are a niche but popular subsidiary of military banknote collecting,” says Andrew Pattison, head of the Banknotes Department at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).

An autographed photograph of Charles Darwin (1809-82) described as “very scarce” by Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) sold for £8500.

A lot catalogued simply as a ’French gilt bronze figure of Madonna and Child’ proved the highlight of the Furniture, Art & Asian auction at Clars (28% buyer’s premium) in Oakland, California, on May 17.

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

Well-known works covering the conflict come from the library of the famed and feared commander

John Robertson, the new fairs secretary of the Ephemera Society, got into the world of collecting ephemera and antique photographs back in the 1980s “due to my interest in local Sussex postcards and topographical views showing social history subjects”.

An 18th century folio bible in mosaic binding was among the notable sales at the recent Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair.

When antiques-hunting in Northumberland, the fine market town of Morpeth is well worth a visit.

This 1890s automaton made by Vichy (France) is known as Pierrot Serenading the Moon and is considered a signature model of the firm.

The French toymaker Georges Carette (1861-1954) is thought to have learned how to make magic lanterns from the Paris specialist maker August Lapierre.

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

Recognised as the ‘Father of Geology’, in 1815 William Smith was the first to map the geology of England and Wales, with part of southern Scotland.

Stephen Switzer (1682-1745), gardener, author, landscape designer and seedsman, was apprenticed in 1699 to George London, the senior partner of Brompton Park Nurseries.

Seventeenth century guide to growing vines in England was published just before the Great Fire of London