Books & Periodicals

A new study suggests that buying a first edition book, such as Hilary Matel’s Wolf Hall, is a better investment than buying stocks in tech companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo and eBay.

A new London book fair organised by a pair of dealers debuts this autumn and features some of the trade’s most familiar names in a three-day luxury event.

This week’s York National Book Fair hosts the most exhibitors ever to feature in its 42-year history.

Forum Auctions are to introduce a credit facility for buyers at future sales. In an exclusive arrangement with lending platform Unbolted, the new London firm will offer approved bidders the opportunity to pay for purchases with up to 90 days of interest-free finance.

A four-day sale of the contents of a Norfolk country house being conducted by Keys at their Aylsham rooms will include on September 8-9 the vast library formed by Ron Fiske at Morningthorpe Manor.

Not all copies of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone that bear a tell-tale typo sometimes signifying the first edition, first run of the book are the real deal.

One of a great many books removed from a couple of terraced houses in Norwich for sale by Keys of Aylsham was an 1612 first English edition of the first part only of Don Quixote.

A 366-year-old book on the virtues of Charles I is to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers after it was discovered in a box among 20th-century paperbacks.

Historical documents and manuscripts from the scandal-hit Aristophil investment scheme could soon return to the market as the slow process of restitution promises to quicken in the coming weeks.

With the new film The BFG coming to cinemas this week, it’s a good time to revisit the words and works of its creator Roald Dahl (1916-1990).

The inaugural sale held by new London saleroom Forum Auctions concluded yesterday with £1.1m raised (including premium) from 364 lots.

The original artwork for the cover of The Mighty Thor, published by Marvel Comics in 1968, sold for £36,000 at a recent auction at Charterhouse in Sherborne, Dorset.

Peter Harrington have announced a new exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter with a selling exhibition of her books.

The 59th London International Antiquarian Book Fair (or “book paradise” as described by author Mark Beech in an admiring Facebook post), drew more than 180 book dealers to Olympia. View ATG's exclusive photogallery from the drinks reception held at the end of the fair’s second day.

With an estimate of $2-3m, a first printing of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) being offered by Christie's New York on June 16 is eagerly anticipated.

New books and works on paper specialists Forum Auctions will hold their first London sale at the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair on July 13-14.

While other rock stars were demolishing hotel rooms or setting their trousers and their instruments alight, Queen guitarist Brian May was busy buying Victorian photographs.

A private US collector spent £2.48m at Christie’s, acquiring all four of the early William Shakespeare folios on offer in a specially-staged auction.

A signed copy of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 promising freedom to all slaves in the rebel states will be offered at an upcoming Sotheby’s sale in New York.

A private collection of Charles Dickens’ novels put together by a collector in the early 20th century went under the hammer in Cuttlestones' latest sale.