Letters to the Editor

You will know all about the new VAT import situation for second-hand goods coming from the EU.

RE: Dealer’s Diary, ATG No 2492, ‘Aubrey Beardsley: magic prints’

Re: recent letters highlighting the importance of printed catalogues.

I observe with interest the reports of the sales of Napoleonic items to coincide with this years bicentenary of the emperor’s death (ATG No 2492).

David Walker asks about ‘My mystery double sided picture of a racehorse and donkey’…. (Letters, ATG No 2492).

On behalf of ILAB (International League of Antiquarian Booksellers), I would like to send you a ‘thank you’ for putting together again such a great Books, Maps & Prints supplement (ATG No 2492).

Just a thought: the main reason to withdraw Benin and other West African cultural artefacts from auction should be their connection with the slave trade (‘Benin plaque withdrawn from auction’, front page, ATG No 2491).

I was wondering if ATG’s learned readers might be able to help identify the artist who has drawn this fabulous double-sided pen and ink I have.

As part of my ongoing research I would very much like to hear from ATG readers and collectors who have furniture, art, or photographs, by the British furniture designer and interior decorator Denham Maclaren, or any information about him in the form of ephemera (receipts, publications, personal writings etc) however small.

Having drawn a blank at the V&A and British Museum, might readers be able to identify this mystery object?

MADAM – Marian Waters’ letter (‘Online catalogues are not much good for a breakfast chat’, ATG No 2489) highlights what I also believe is an important issue.

MADAM – A recent email from thesaleroom.com had, as a featured lot, a replica Darth Vader helmet described as ‘vintage’.

MADAM – re: Gavin Littaur’s letter (‘Ivory: don’t forget collector expertise’, ATG No 2487), I wholeheartedly agree.

Unni van Dort writes in to say “I attach a photo of Humbug the cat enjoying the latest edition of ATG. We both very much appreciate it!”

MADAM – The last 12 months have seen a somewhat inevitable shift towards the online sales catalogue, with honourable exceptions such as Lawrences and now Mallams.

MADAM – I was interested to see the piece in ATG No 2485 relating to the sale of an ensign, claimed to be from HMS Medway Queen, by Bonhams of New York.

MADAM – In September 1989, a valuable painting was left by my garage in central Cambridge.

MADAM – Can your readers identify the workshop responsible for this ‘Last Supper’ triptych of glazed tiles, set on a slate and mortar matrix?

MADAM – Re: Daniel Fearon’s letter concerning the ivory ban fiasco (ATG No 2486).

MADAM – I write with reference to ‘The Key Moment’ article in ATG No 2485, and specifically the bold statement that it was Dreweatt Neate’s auction on March 15, 2006, that offered live bidding via thesaleroom.com “…that launched the modern era of internet bidding among UK regional auction houses and paved the way towards the world of online auctions as we know them today”.