Letters to the Editor

Dear Sir, Re: ATG 2660, in the article Brothers’ business boosted by TV show you used the phrase ‘bartering at a brocante’.

Dear Sir, The news that the dealers of the Dolphin Arcade in Portobello Road have been served with an eviction notice (ATG no 2661) is shocking and regrettable.

Dear Sir, I read with great interest Roland Arkell's account on page 41 of ATG 2660 of the geological books which sold for £6000 at Tennants on August 23.

You featured the forthcoming sale of the Thomas Crapper Museum in your News pages in ATG No 2658.

Reading that Tennants sold a lock of Florence Nightingale’s hair (Auction Reports, ATG No 2654) reminded me of my luck trying to sell hair.

I was very interested to see your story on the gold medal for the Paris Exposition Universelle 1900 (News, ATG No 2654).

I have had this vase on my shelf for over 30 years and in that time various requests to auctioneers have failed to identify the signature.

As a collector who had been privileged to previously own a Climax apple parer for over a decade, I was very interested to see the article highlighted in ATG No 2650 (International). Importantly, it is a slicer as well as a parer.

With regard to ‘Charity sales: should buyer’s premium be charged?’ (News, ATG No 2652), we are hosting a huge sale for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice in Maidenhead on Tuesday, August 7.

Further to your report on the extremely rare Plate 77 Penny Red, offered for sale at a tempting £650,000 (News Digest, ATG No 2652), it might be of interest to readers who are neither philatelists, nor postal historians, to note that it was the imperforate Penny Red which replaced the Penny Black in February 1841, not the perforated Penny Red, like the example illustrated.

The fascinating article on the exhibition of Kasmin’s photographs suggests that he arguably invented the ‘white cube’ concept (Dealers’ Diary, ATG No 2651).

At the risk of sounding pedantic, the coin illustrated on the Back Page (ATG No 2651) regarding Tim Millett’s book on engraved coins is a coin of William III (not George III), so some hundred years earlier than stated.

BADA dealer Timothy Millett, a specialist in historical medals and related works of art, says today’s election debates have nothing on an 18th century hustings.

Most people will be familiar with Charlie Ross due to his garrulous presence on TV screens for many years, across several BBC antiques programmes.

Oh dear, here we go again (‘Crackdown on marine ivory trade: date revealed’, ATG No 2649).

British trade associations concerned about impending EU legislation that will affect UK exports will brief dealers on the changes at a seminar in London on June 28.

I have frequently locked horns with auction houses over their increasing postage costs.

I have recently purchased a Victorian photo album which might contain the earliest cricket photos, c.1852.

A fundraising campaign to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity has been launched following the news that George Wade, a well known member of the auctioneering community, was diagnosed with a double brain tumour.

I always enjoy your 5 Questions column (Dealers’ Diary).