Books & Periodicals

Material in this specialist market ranges from the early printed works of the Gutenberg Press and William Caxton right through to Modern First Editions and now up to signed copies of Harry Potter. Condition and rarity are the keys to this sector.


An album of rare photographs of China

Album with rare photos of China takes £8200 at Flints

10 January 2024

Estimated at £3000-5000, an album containing rare - possibly unique - views in the Treaty Port of Chinkiang (Zhenjiang) was the top lot at an auction in Thatcham, Berkshire.

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Ephemera reveals Freddie Mercury’s band before Queen

08 January 2024

Freddie Mercury mania in 2023 was not confined to Sotheby’s in London.

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Faces of crime: mugshots reveal minor offenders

08 January 2024

These days you have to pay for the privilege of spending the night at the former House of Correction in Folkingham, Lincolnshire.

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Meet the Barringtons in a comprehensive archive

08 January 2024

‘Substantial’ was certainly the description to use when it came to an archive related to the Barrington family of Beckett Hall, Shrivenham, Oxfordshire.

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Virginia as the garden of Eden

08 January 2024

In 1585 English colonists Thomas Hariot and John White recorded their first impressions of life on Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina.

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‘What to the slave is your 4th of July?’

08 January 2024

Printing of abolitionist Douglass’ famous speech on a ‘rich inheritance’ not shared takes nearly $70,000

Books and works on paper auction calendar, January 10-23, 2024

08 January 2024

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

ATG letter: Note of caution on Watts sale

02 January 2024

The report in ATG No 2615 that some copies of the Agatha Christie titles in the Charlie Watts sale at Christie’s were sold with dust jackets supplied from other copies raises some concerns.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, January 3-21, 2024

02 January 2024

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

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Bowie lyrics make a stellar result in Merseyside sale

02 January 2024

The music memorabilia sale at Omega (28.8% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on November 29 included the handwritten lyrics to two tracks on David Bowie’s 1972 classic The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

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Fascinating Fleetwood Mac material reveals the road to stardom

02 January 2024

Fleetwood Mac are famous for the huge-selling Rumours album that propelled the band to superstardom but the original line-up and sound were very different.

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Spa town’s book fairs boom again

02 January 2024

Revived event in Tunbridge Wells is full with a waiting list, reflecting the strong national trend

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Life of a debutante — and views of destroyed ships

02 January 2024

The handstitched booklet titled Balls & My Partners, 1844-1845 was written by Adelaide Horatia Elizabeth Seymour (1825-77) as she enjoyed the life of a debutante.

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Tale of an 18th century US journey returns Stateside

02 January 2024

Bidder in Massachusetts goes to £24,000 to secure an account of a 1764 trip along the eastern seaboard

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Forster’s letters and books to the policeman he loved

02 January 2024

Letters and books marking the deep relationship between author EM Forster and policeman Bob Buckingham and his family sold for £9000.

Florence Nightingale

The ‘final photos’ of Florence Nightingale

18 December 2023

A fascinating personal collection of items relating to Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) that sold in a south London auction included what are among the last photographs ever taken of her.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, December 19 2023-January 18, 2024

18 December 2023

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions taking place via thesaleroom.com

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Turing and Bayley in tandem as scientific archive comes to the saleroom

18 December 2023

Newly discovered papers show how renowned mathematician and his collaborator worked hand in hand

WEB Harry Potter 1 Hansons

Boy wizard Harry Potter casts his spell on book collectors

12 December 2023

Harry Potter continues to bring big bids at auction especially for the earliest hardback editions

Victorian travel album

Indian and Egyptian travel photo album takes sensational £135,000

11 December 2023

An impressive result emerged at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood on December 5 when a travel album titled The Ramblings and Adventures of an Indian Officer was knocked down at £135,000.

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