News

US: THE geographical surveys undertaken by George Vancouver, who had also served on Cook’s first and second Pacific voyages, were among the more arduous and significant ever accomplished under a British flag, and though Vancouver himself died on route, his brother John, with the assistance of Captain Peter Puget, oversaw the publication of A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World... in 1798.

US: IT MAY be 25 years since a copy of the Elegy on Captain Cook, as “composed and and publickly recited before the Royal Academy of Florence” by Michelangelo Gianetti, was last seen at auction, and this 1785 Florentine first edition, engraved throughout and bound in contemporary calf, would also appear to be the dedication copy.

UK: ORIENTAL antiques rarely make the strongest contribution to provincial sales – although they have provided a few hugely gratifying if rather embarrassing sleepers before today – but the first day of this Lincolnshire sale featured a private collection of Meiji works of art that attracted strong bidding from the specialist trade.

UK: CONFUSION reigned this week as to exactly what measures will be introduced with the adoption of the Kent County Council and Medway Council Bills.

US interest in famous English aristocrats has often propelled the value of the furniture to unforeseen heights, and at Dreweatt Neate’s Donnington Priory salerooms on March 28 it was the turn of this Regency mahogany and chinoiserie lacquer writing table, estimated at £6000-8000.

Farms still supply Herefordshire sale with original oak furniture UK: THE monthly two-day sale in Herefordshire got off to a rather unusual start with the first day largely given over to specialist items like instruments – both musical and medical – and collectables, but bidders responded with enthusiasm.

UK: LEVELS of demand at Bonhams & Brooks’ (15/10 per cent buyer’s premium) March 22 sale of Modern and Contemporary British and Continental Art were less impressive than the Phillips event of March 20.