Features

Edward Donovan’s 'The Natural History of British Fishes', a 19th century colour plate-illustrated British ichthyological work, featured in the Sporting & Travel Books sale held by Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) in New York earlier this year.

A handwritten note signed twice by Abraham Lincoln written just days before winning the 1864 presidential election was the toast of University Archives’ (25% buyer’s premium) April 19 online auction in Connecticut.

A copy of Johann Kraft’s 'Pomona Austriaca' (Fruit Trees of Austria) featuring both the French and German texts as well as 100 hand-coloured plates is on offer at this spring’s Bloomsbury Book Fair Spring Event.

The PBFA’s London International Antiquarian Book Fair takes place on May 20-21. Book dealer and PBFA publicity manager Jeremy Carson explains to ATG what to expect this year

Stand-out lots to watch out for in UK, Irish, European and US sales of books and works on paper

Now hugely popular, this collecting field actually took many years to get going

An early 16th century illustrated edition Aesop was the highlight of an auction of books held by Giquello & Associes (25/20.5/17% buyer’s premium) in Paris on April 14.

Sarah Key and Phil Salin celebrated 30 years at the helm of the PBFA’s Cambridge Premier book fair in February. They chat to ATG about changes facing the fair, recent trends in the trade – and working together as a married couple

A rare souvenir, an example of correspondence between two key figures in the French Revolution, was one of the highlights of a sale held by Osenat (25% buyer’s premium) in Versailles on March 12.

A library of works relating to hunting, horseriding and dogs assembled over a 40-year period by a hunting historian, the Comte d’Orglandes, went under the hammer on April 12 at Deloys (22% buyer’s premium inc tax) in Angers, part of the Ivoire group.

A lively market has emerged for the linocuts of Great Bardfield artist Edward Bawden

François Pierre de la Varenne (1618-78) is the chef credited with bringing French cuisine into the modern era.

'Cattle Market, Braintree' from 1937 is a trademark Edward Bawden image. But it is also the artist’s only pre-war editioned print.

The Negro Motorist Green Book, first produced in 1936, was the indispensable guide for African-American families travelling.

'A Magician Among the Spirits' by Harry Houdini conjured up one of the highest prices in the Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) Houdini-related sale in Chicago on April 8 when it sold for $15,000 (£12,095).

Despite volatility in so many markets, the rare book world continues to offer a calm respite, as Rupert Powell of Forum Auctions writes

Amy Scanlon, head of Modern and Contemporary art at Sworders of Stansted Mountfitchet, discusses her affection for Bawden prints

The first 90 or so lots in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) sale of Islamic and Indian Art held in Paris on April 6 were the property of a Royal collection.

Australian dealer coming to the UK for Firsts describes the attractions of the Chelsea event

Bonhams’ flagship sale of Fine Chinese Art in Bond Street on May 18 includes a rare Qianlong period ink on silk court painting.