Auctions

It was in the wake of the Great Fire of London in 1666 that the first societies were created to protect against the losses caused by fire.

In anticipation of an exhibition at London’s Somerset House, ATG reviews 10 landmarks of Beano comic collecting

To coincide with the belated launch of 'No Time to Die', Lyon & Turnbull of Edinburgh is offering a fine selection of 007 designs as part of a specialist sale of vintage posters held in partnership with specialist Tomkinson Churcher on October 19.

Two Marilyn Monroe lots were among the more successful entries in an Entertainment & Music Memorabilia sale at Heritage (25% buyer’s premium).

Works by the Croatian painter Nikola Mašić (1852-1902) have appeared at UK auctions on only a handful of occasions in the last 20 years.

Sotheby’s New York is selling the Ricky Jay collection on October 27-28.

Tennants’ sale of Books, Maps and Manuscripts in Leyburn on November 24 will include this rare 15th century illuminated folding almanac on vellum.

The third edition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was the last of those published in 1843, coming out (appropriately) on Christmas Eve.

Adam and Eve charger takes top price in collection amassed by American couple

The Islamic and Indian Art sale at Chiswick Auctions on October 29 includes this gilt and painted shield made in north-western India (possibly Rajasthan) in the first half of the 18th century.

Striking composition of artist who fused themes and styles is sold to Budapest gallery.

This complete copy of the first folio atlas ever printed in the Islamic world was discovered in one of the nine attics at Weston Hall in Northamptonshire, home of the Sitwell family for more than 300 years.

This Indian gold necklace with a fringe of ruby and imitation pearl drops and flowerheads of green paste and moonstone has a guide of £1800-2400 at Bonhams’ sale of Islamic and Indian art on October 25.

The sale at Peter Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionshaus in Pforzheim on October 14-16 includes a near complete copy of 'Atlas minor, sive geographia compendiosa qua orbis terrarum per paucas attamen novissimas tabulas ostenditura' by the Dutch engraver, cartographer and publisher Nicolaes Visscher (1649-1702).

On October 25 Philadelphia firm Freeman’s will offer the Alexander Hamilton collection of John E Herzog.

According to the memoir Le Mémorial de Sainte- Hélène by Count Emmanuel de Las Cases published in 1823, Napoleon first expressed an interest to learn the English language during the two-month voyage from Europe to the island in 1815 aboard the Northumberland.

Among the Middle Eastern works of art in Woolley & Wallis’ Asian Art Part II sale taking place in Salisbury on November 24 are these two 17th century Safavid Gombroon ware bowls.

The Books and Works on Paper sale at Chiswick Auctions on November 9 includes a rather special copy of Sir William Gell and John P Gandy’s The Topography, Edifices, and Ornaments of Pompeii.

This late 16th or early 17th century portrait depicts the Hurrem Sultan Roxelana (1502-58), the legendary wife of the longest reigning Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (r.1520- 66). She became the most powerful and influential woman in Ottoman history.

A copy of the first modern atlas by Abraham Ortelius, which set the standard for all following atlases, will be on offer at Ketterer Kunst in Hamburg on November 29 with an estimate of €80,000.