Books and Works on Paper

Greek philosopher Epictetus (c.50-c.135AD) is best-known for his contribution to Stoicism.

As Forum Auctions enters its 10th year of trading, Rupert Powell reflects on a busy year

We take a closer look at the ‘idiosyncratic mixture of independent businesses’ established in this charming book and map-selling hub in central London

ATG takes a look at some stand-out lots sold recently at an auction in Berlin

Can you tell your foxing from your deckle edge? Or quire from collation? Here is a handy guide to some of the terms used in the books and works on paper collecting field.

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about,” Oscar Wilde wrote in The Picture of Dorian Gray - a prescient observation that has proven remarkably true.

The public may have been surprised to discover that Barry Humphries (1934-2023), the creator of Dame Edna Everage, was a great bibliophile with a passion for rare books by the ‘decadent’ writers of the fin de siècle.

Our look ahead at fairs coming up in the capital, including the Firsts and PBFA events held a short hop apart on the same weekend

Stand-out lots from Shakespeare to Sendak, Marie-Antoinette to Mary Queen of Scots, Gill to Waugh and Turing to Buffalo Bill

Inscriptions and annotations can make a massive difference to value

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

With crossover interest to several collecting disciplines, early manuscript recipe and remedy books continue to thrive at auction.

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

A watercolour of a dandelion attributed to Beatrix Potter estimated at £200-300 ended up selling at a hammer price of £2600.

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

Fragment found in an attic with receipt for £25 now sells for £39,000 hammer price

A letter from Robert Falcon Scott – aka Scott of the Antarctic – came up for sale at Canterbury Auction Galleries (20% buyer’s premium) on April 11-14.

This rare playbill on silk printed in the Arctic in 1852 sold for £4400 at a recent sale at Keys (25% buyer’s premium) in Aylsham.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book sales

Oxfam discoveries from a pile of donations include Chinese religious rarity, Communist manifesto and Dickens