North America

Richly illuminated manuscripts from a ‘truly exceptional collection’ shine in New York

Stanley Gibbons, the buyer of the world’s most expensive stamp at Sotheby’s New York last week, said it plans to “democratise” its ownership by inviting the public to buy shares in it.

An Illustration Art sale held in Dallas by Heritage (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) included a classic EH Shepard Winnie-the-Pooh work.

An Americana sale held by Swann (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) was led at $55,000 (£39,855) by an 1830, Palmyra first of 'The Book of Mormon'.

After a decade riding a market wave, ‘original owner’ Rolex tool watches are increasingly scarce at auction.

Sold for $42,500 (£30,795) was a very appealing Einstein lot that offered a short but amusing letter dating from November 1928 and a signed photo-portrait.

The Travellers Tour through the United States of 1822 was once described as the first American board game.

The 'Oath of a Freeman', one of the most infamous forgeries in US history, heads to auction at Heritage this month. It comes for sale from Justin Schiller, the antiquarian bookseller who in 1985 attempted to broker its sale for $1.5m.

Doyle in New York is selling the collection of the Belk department store heiress Sarah Belk Gambrell in various auctions this year.

Hindman is holding a sale of antiquities and ancient art in Chicago on May 27 which will feature this Greek (Hellenistic) marble head of a panther.

Early Declaration of Independence leads a line-up celebrating key historical events stateside

Albert Einstein letter on Communism is one of the stand-out performers in a Chicago auction

At 2ft 5in (74cm) high, this English made wooden doll c.1740 is unusually large.

The latest flagship sales of Modern and Contemporary art in New York showed a return to some normality after a difficult 14 months.

Strawser auctions in Indiana has a long tradition of selling 19th and early 20th century English majolica wares by the likes of Minton and George Jones and Wedgwood.

Among the fine art to be included in the May 29 sale at Fontaine’s in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, will be this Parisian street scene by the French artist Edouard Leon Cortes (1882-1969).

Sotheby’s has made changes to its Old Master department in London.