This report on a few of them begins with a couple devoted to woodworking tools.
They get pre-eminence partly because of all the one-subject interests, the romance of pieces used by craftsmen over centuries to create fine furniture, is probably easiest for the non-cognoscenti to comprehend. The sales also emphasise just how impervious specialist subjects are to outside influences.
At the 1465-lot March 26 sale held at Coalville by Leicestershire auctioneers David Stanley Auctions (10% buyer's premium), not only did 85 per cent of the lots get away, but, despite the woes of the dollar keeping Americans out of other markets, no less than half of all offerings went to the States.
More positively still, David Stanley reported: "Twenty seven of the lots sold between £1000 and £4000, a record for us."
Offerings ranged in age from a 14th/15th century French anvil which went to an American collector at £1800 to rare early 20th century planes.
Planes of all ages, sizes and shapes for specialist jobs, generally dominate the higher prices at tool sales.
Here a relatively modern little boxwood compass plane, beautifully carved with scrolls around the body and wedge went to France at £1650. A more familiar favourite, a c.1890 Stanley No 1 smoother, which was made hugely desirable by being unused and in its original box, brought £1700.
However, it was a couple of earlier tools, of types that usually take second place to planes, which brought the higher bids.
One was a 17th century "Nuremberg"-style iron brace described as "important" and of museum quality.
With a rotating fruitwood handle and bulbous head and with the maker's mark of an Armoured Hand, this went within estimate in the room at £3500.
More of a surprise was the top lot of the day.
This was an 18th century Dutch saw with a fruitwood pistol-grip handle carved as a moustachioed Dutch trader. The Dutchman had a chip from his nose and the saw blade was pitted, but age and rarity was enough to justify its "museum quality" catalogue description.
Estimated at £500-£1000, it triggered a battle between a bidder in the room and an American on the phone - the latter emerging triumphant with a bid of £4000.
MARCH 24 saw the latest of the sales Tony Murland holds at Stowmarket, Suffolk, under the banner of Tool Shop Auctions (10% buyers premium).
One of the firm's "general sales", there was no blockbuster star among the 810 lots but it was a day of steady selling with, as expected, planes taking all the better prices. A 201/2in (52cm) Norris No 1 jointer led the day at £740, and a Mathieson Improved Pattern mitre plane "in need of a clean-up' took £450.
One of the earliest of English toolmakers was represented by a dovetailed steel and brass 8in (20cm) mitre plane marked I.Sym, dating it to the late 18th century. It sold to a Continental bidder at £580.
