Features

A selection of upcoming highlights at UK, US and European auctions

One of the wonderful things about the Firsts London fair is the range of material on offer to browse and buy from rooms full of dealers who are happy to chat and impart their knowledge about the items they are offering for sale.

On how many different journeys can an old map take you? We spotted this 1930 novelty map of London which sold for £1250 at Sportingold in Barnsley in February this year and were so intrigued by its content that we could not resist researching it further

It is now 10 years since we started Forum Auctions.

Ahead of a very busy period for the trade, we kick off our guide to the events coming up with a London fair marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

Callum White, a young book collector from Birmingham, won last year’s ABA National Book Collecting Prize awarded in December for his collection Splitting the world: The atomic scientists and their second acts. He told ATG about his background, how he started the collection and his plans for it

Ian Fleming’s scions will be at Firsts London book fair this year, as they continue to play an important part in both promoting their relative’s books and book collecting as a whole.

While May’s series of UK Asian art auctions lacks the overall focus of the Asian Art in London initiative in the autumn or the pomp of other spring events in New York or Hong Kong, it remains a key moment in the calendar.

As vintage wristwatches continue to dominate the watch market, finding interesting examples at reasonable prices has become a challenge. However, opportunities are out there

The London watch and clock maker Brounker Watts (c.1670-1717), an apprentice to Joseph Knibb, became a member of the Clockmakers Company in 1697.

Henry VIII, King of England 1509-47 was not a happy man on July 14, 1539, it seems.

A Queen Anne olivewood oyster, holly and walnut cabinet on stand offered by Dreweatts (27/26% buyer’s premium) in Newbury was among a number of lots sold recently showing the commercial boost that royal provenance can provide.

Robes and coronets worn by notable dignitaries invited to coronations are not uncommon sights at auctions but often prove popular.

A 17th century Safavid carpet on offer at Christie’s in London on April 30 is woven into the ceremonial life of the British monarchy in the early 20th century.

This copy of The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha (Cambridge: at the University Press, 1961) is signed in ink by Queen Elizabeth II on a mounted presentation plate, dated Christmas 1961.

Royal costumes and fashion have long been a source of fascination.

The unknown maker of this commemorative creamware mug produced for the coronation of King George IV seems to have been in a rush.

A record price will always stand out, but this comprehensive collection also boasted a much wider range of strong prices underlying a buoyant market

A rare surviving group of unseen early aviation photographs documenting the pioneering long-distance flights of Italian pilot Carlo Francesco ‘Francis’ Lombardi (1897-1983) was offered at Roseberys (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) in south London on March 11.

This British Aero Lubricants AMG No 1 motor oil can estimated at £100-150 sold instead via thesaleroom.com for a £1700 hammer price.