London

In July 1908, a group of workmen in Brussels were pulling down an old tavern near a cathedral in the city centre during construction of the main railway line.

London book dealer Peter Harrington is to offer for sale Lord Byron’s first edition presentation copy of ‘Frankenstein’ (1818), given to him and inscribed in her own hand by Mary Shelley.

Later this year, Sotheby’s will be offering three valuable works of art from the Devonshire collection at Chatsworth House including one of the best Raphael drawings remaining in private hands.

A portrait of Princess Elizabeth by Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) completed just a few years before she became Queen is to go under the hammer at Bloomsbury Auctions in London on September 12.

In a new blow to art and antiques dealers who are increasingly being priced out of London’s West End, seven of the 22 galleries in Mayfair’s Cork Street have been informed that their leases will not be renewed next year.

Antiques dealers in the heart of central London who are suffering from being caught up in one of Europe’s largest construction projects are calling for some respite from the ongoing disruption.

While the eyes of the world have been on the 2012 London Games, the Olympic influence did not leave the auction scene untouched.

Every October for the past decade, the excitement whipped up by the arrival of ‘Frieze Art Fair’ in London has been the envy of many a fair organiser and the wider art world.

To most people air guns are the low-powered toys that little boys play about with in the back garden, but the air rifle has a surprisingly long history and at one time they were among the most feared weapons on the battlefield.

“My dear Caroline, The enclosed Ring once belonged to your Aunt Jane. It was given to me by your Aunt Cassandra as soon as she knew that I was engaged to your Uncle. I bequeath it to you. God bless you.”

Many objects can go on show for the first time now that the William Morris Gallery has reopened after a £5m revamp.

There were several highlights at Bonhams’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) latest portrait miniatures sale in Knightsbridge on June 28.

This is the season of agricultural shows and so Duke’s of Dorchester’s June 20 sale of British agricultural medals was well timed.

Among the clocks sold in London this summer, there were some of the glitziest and most expensive timekeepers to go under the hammer in recent times, many of them made for the Chinese market.

In 1922, Beatrix Potter, with her most famous little books already behind her, was persuaded by Anne Carroll Moore of the New York Public Library to produce a book of illustrated nursery rhymes.

EXHIBITION: Bruce Beasley at Pangolin London

Bloomsbury Auctions will offer 42 original pencil sketches by American novelist Norman Mailer at their July 19 sale in London.

The Victoria and Albert Museum has been given planning permission to create a new purpose-built underground gallery, courtyard area and entrance.

Portobello Road antiques dealers have a fresh chance to air their views about police cover in the area now that a public meeting has been rearranged.

Just three copies of the 1640, first English edition of Nicholas Machiavelli’s short treatise on political leadership have come to auction in this century, the last of them in 2005.