Collectables

A 1908, presentation first of one of WW Jacobs’ maritime tales, 'Salthaven', was the top lot in a sale held by Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium).

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Full-page artworks featuring Dan Dare and the unmistakable green features of the villainous Mekon were among the most successful lots in a Comic Book Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) timed online sale of February 26.

An unrecorded and apparent first Scottish edition example of the 18th century children’s book Tom Thumb’s Play-book is set to feature at the Edinburgh Book Fair.

Nelson’s life and work has been exhaustively researched and evaluated since the day he died.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Early example note from Sir Christopher Wren issue takes group lot to high four figure price

Military history and regimental glamour combine in a Victorian silver cigar case offered at Ripon auction house Elstob & Elstob (25% buyer’s premium).

Extraordinary letter by Nobel Prize-winning biophysicist both commends and condemns a colleague

Available from the school’s own bookshop from 1937 was a printed collection of Harrow School Songs, but it was a rather special copy that sold for £7500.

Featured in an Oxford sale was a copy of the 1893, Kelmscott Press edition of The History of Godefrey of Boloyne and of the Conquest of Jerusalem.

While they may not appear such comfortable bedfellows today, the novel weapons of mass destruction created during the First World War were deemed a perfectly suitable subject for novelty trinkets of the day.

For many British schoolchildren Roy of the Rovers was just as famous as any of the real-life footballers of the day.

Rare books specialist Shapero Rare Books run by Bernard Shapero is a regular exhibitor at TEFAF.

Inscription signalled one of American literature’s most significant editorial relationships

There is some discolouring and it appears to have spent some considerable time folded up, but this early 19th century vellum document signed “Bonaparte” as Premier Consul was sold for £3000.

Dating from November 1917, a copy of 'Hydra, the Magazine of Craiglockhart War Hospital of Edinburgh' was sold for a notably higher than expected £7500.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Held at the Bath & West Showground in Somerset for many years, the annual Festival of Cards has moved to a smaller location nearby.