Features

How letters related to wars bring a connection that history books cannot match

In the bicentenary year of his death, relics connected to Napoleon will inevitably catch the eye.

Among the publishing houses that helped put Modern British prints on the map was The Curwen Studio.

The great British tradition of celebrating last stands and heroic defeats includes the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.

Convoys to protect merchant vessels have a long history in naval conflict. A letter sold at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium) in a timed Military Books, Ephemera & Photographs Auction reveals Royal Navy ships in action back in 1808.

This typewritten draft of a letter from President Kennedy to Winston Churchill, with annotated amendments by JFK, will feature in the auction of Books and Manuscripts to be held by Freeman’s in Philadelphia on May 20.

'Five Circles' first appeared as part of Ben Nicholson’s (1894-1982) publication 23 Gravures in 1934 and was then released as a limited-edition print. The initial run of approximately 30 signed copies was followed by various reprintings.

After a long and illustrious naval career, it is a pity that Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell is best known for the circumstances of his death.

Forum Auctions’ Rupert Powell celebrates the easing of lockdown – and the firm’s fifth anniversary

London gallery devotes catalogue to items from the era to mark bicentenary of his death

The antiquarian booksellers’ associations of Switzerland, Austria and Germany have joined forces to launch a new online rare book fair.

The sale at Roseberys London on May 18 includes this gold and silver-inlaid bronze tapir-form zun dated to the Yuan or early Ming period.

This late Ming (17th century) jade water pot in the form of a chimera will be offered by Dreweatts on May 19.

Schedules for all sorts of auction series have been shaken up by pandemic restrictions, and the Asian art sales reflect this – but plenty is still on offer at the upcoming series

A number of Paris salerooms will be holding dedicated auctions of Asian Arts in June.

A highlight of the Asian Art sale at Tajan will be this still-life of a pot of primroses, apples and porcelain by Chinese artist Pan Yu Liang (1895-1977).

Chiswick Auctions conducts two sales on June 1-2: the usual Asian Art sale, plus a themed sale called Chinese Art: 100 Stories.

Among the highlights of the Asian Art auction at Koller on June 2 is this ink and colour scroll painting 'Sunrise at Mount Tai' by Li Keran (1907-89).

The May 11-14 auction at Adam Partridge will feature the last 40 lots of Meiji period Satsuma from a noted Worcestershire collection.

This large, 3ft (92cm), high imperial gilt bronze figure of Varjrabhairava features in the Asian art sale at Nagel in Stuttgart on June 23-25.