Books and Works on Paper

Large group of pugilist-related works was collected over more than 50 years by London couple

The sale of Vintage & Modern Magic at Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) in Chicago on August 26 included this original theatre contract signed by Erik Weisz, the man better known as Harry Houdini (1874-1926).

A trove of material related to the Japanese Antarctic Expedition (JAE) of 1910-12 comes to market at Potter & Potter in Chicago on October 12.

The Americana & International sale at Pook & Pook in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, on October 5-6 includes a collection of art from a Delaware estate.

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

Hindman in Chicago will offer a complete copy of Edward S Curtis’ seminal work The North American Indian as part of an auction of Fine Books from the Dorros Family Collection on November 9.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper auctions being staged on thesaleroom.com

One of two texts in a single volume revealed after eager bidding to be by Hungarian Jesuit

Almost 120 years ago at 13 Bruton Street an estimated 10,000 visitors were drawn to an exhibition that caught the public attention and attracted record queues.

As co-publishers and editors of Firsts: The Book Collector’s Magazine established in 1991, Robin and Kathryn Smiley’s bookshelves were brimming with choice first editions from across the broad span of British and American literature.

The Book of Sports by Robin Carver is considered the first American publication to describe the sport of baseball.

A special selection of upcoming auction lots

The earliest book on the boy wizard continues to entrance collectors

“I get loads and loads of emails and calls all the time from people whose eyes have lit up when they see those words ‘first edition’…”

Robert Weaver, a teacher and keeper of the Fellows’ Library at Dulwich College in south London, has collected medieval manuscript fragments for close to 50 years

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions running on thesaleroom.com

While the rare book trade is steadily becoming more diverse, challenges still exist, as four newer members of the Forum Auctions team in London tell ATG

A previously unrecorded 18th century manuscript containing 75 pieces of traditional Scottish music sold for £5000 at Lyon & Turnbull (plus 26% buyer’s premium).

This medieval document with a royal seal attached amounts to a pardon granted by Henry IV (1367-1413) to John Barlawe of the manor of Barlow in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy (now suburban Manchester).

Extensive selection of the long-running cricket guides on offer at auction runs up a market test