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Hugo de Groot, also known as Hugo Grotius, was a Dutch philosopher, political theorist and theologian. His publication 'On the Law of War and Peace' in 1625 earned him the status as the ‘father of international law’.

The latest Interiors sale at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge included one of the rarest of all the Britains lead soldier sets.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Brexit, CITES, new ivory act on the way… it can be hard for the UK art and antiques trade to keep up with the many regulations. However, the good news is that much of CITES has not changed fundamentally, as this update from expert Kim McDonald of The Taxidermy Law Company reveals

One of the attractions of the March 24-26 sale at Siebers in Stuttgart is a collection of 18 paintings by 19th century Polish artists who primarily belonged to the Munich school. The works were the property of a family of textile merchants, who moved from south Germany to Lodz, south west of Warsaw, in the 1930s.

MADAM – I am intrigued by the ongoing debate surrounding Christie’s interpretation of the current Covid-19 restrictions in relation to the viewing of auction lots – in particular the Apter- Fredericks sale of January 26 (front page, ATG No 2481).

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, including both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Lacking the glitter of a former rock star owner, this Fender Stratocaster sold on the traditional antiques virtues of quality, age and condition.

With crossover appeal to Meccano collectors and advertising enthusiasts, this Meccano Dealer’s No 1 slope-back cabinet from 1929-35 went well over hopes.

A 50th anniversary edition of the much-loved AA Milne and EH Shepard books, a boxed set published in the appropriate years of 1974-78, is shown below.

Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842) was one of the most prolific painters of her era, creating up to 1000 works of art, the majority of them portraits.

MADAM – Martin Levy’s letter (ATG No 2480) brought back happy memories of my time as a porter at Phillips Oxford in the early 80s.

Rated a museum-quality piece, this rare c.1902 spirit-fired Märklin fire engine led the field at toys specialist Wallis & Wallis (24% buyer’s premium).

Approved by parliament on December 30, 2020, the long-awaited trade accord between the EU and the UK is an unwieldly 1300 pages long.

In June 1925, only six months before his death, the Swiss painter Felix Vallotton and his wife visited the Périgord for the first time, which he declared to be “the most beautiful countryside on earth”.

Johnny, of Austrian, Belgian and English parentage, was born in London and educated at Downside, a Catholic boarding school in Somerset.

When astronaut Ed White was pictured during the first US spacewalk it was not only the first still photograph of a human in space, but also the first taken by another human – James McDivitt. Up to that moment all images released were taken by television or monitoring cameras.

Dunhill Aquarium table lighters painted by Margaret Bennett and husband Alan in the 1950s-60s remain popular among collectors in these non-smoking days.

One of the pleasures of Daniel Crouch’s work life has been buying trips to the Continent – for the serendipity of making contacts as well as the chance to handle the goods.

MADAM – Recent events (Brexit, the removal of the exemption for antique ivory, Covid) have all highlighted the need for a clear single ‘Antiques Trade’ voice to speak to Government and the wider world.