Books & Periodicals

Ralph ‘Randolphus’ Ayres is recorded as being head cook at New College, Oxford at various times in the 18th century.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper auctions

A landlord and tenancy agreement signed by Freddie Mercury in 1986 was among the highlights of the Autographs and Memorabilia at Chiswick Auctions (25/12% buyer’s premium).

First edition of key Mormon work lists Joseph Smith as ‘author and proprietor’ of text not ‘translator’

The Fonsie Mealy Chatsworth Summer Rare Books & Collectables Sale on July 30-31 includes a private collection of works by Jack B Yeats, The Cuala Press and modern Irish and English literature.

Only 29 books from the library of John Keats are recorded - among them a 1679 printing of the collected works of the Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser given to him by the artist Joseph Severn (1793-1879).

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

Naturalist produced a fish-focused work featuring nearly 3000 original watercolours across 50 copies

The original artwork for 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' sold at Sotheby’s for $1.6m (£1.3m) plus 20% buyer’s premium in New York on June 26.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper auctions

Little-known work by the Yorkshire author dating from 1927 is boosted by dedication to Suffragette friend

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works and paper sales

Hammer falls at 24 times the top estimate as Scandinavian buyer snaps up highly unusual collection

Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was one of 20th century USA’s most prominent architects, inventors and designers.

The Rare Books sale at Ketterer Kunst (25/20/19% buyer’s premium) in Hamburg on May 27 included this first edition dedication copy of Das Kapital (1867).

“You were the only person who ever succeeded in teaching me mathematics or indeed - let me add - in making me work at anything that did not excite my interest. I regard my work at mathematics under your care as the most salutary mental discipline I ever received.”