Cumbria

An inscription bearing Winston Churchill’s signature and dated 1948 found in a single volume of his famous history of the Second World War that came to auction in Cumbria was believed to be authentic.

Demonstrating how the internet has transformed the market for potential sleepers, three portraits that drew strong interest recently at different auctions in the UK and Europe all sold to online buyers.

Sasha dolls were popular presents in the sixties and seventies and still in demand enough at auction today to hit four figures.

A recent sale held by Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) of Carlisle, one that included further items of local interest from the library of the late Maurice Cole, was led by one of the newer books on offer.

Glamorous portraits of wealthy women such as Lady Northcliffe command the highest prices

One of the most notable harbour scenes ever to emerge by the Victorian artist William Mitchell (1823-1900) of Maryport was among the lots bringing interest at a recent Mitchells sale.

First published 1817, Joseph Walker’s 'The Shepherd’s Guide' has been updated many times and is still in use today, noted Bill Nelson of 1818 Auctions.

A small group of Riccardi Press limited editions, each title produced in runs of 500 copies for the Medici Society, were offered in an April 7 sale held by Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) of Carlisle.

The only known blueprint of a Great War British Mark I tank has been sold by Carlisle auction house Laidlaw (18.5% buyer’s premium) to The Tank Museum in Bovington.

Formed by a local man, the late Brian Ferguson, a collection of over 40 books issued by the Golden Cockerel Press featured in an auction held by Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) of Carlisle.

This porcelain beaker from the Baltic Service was the highlight of a timed online sale held by 1818 Auctioneers (22.5% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Cumbria.

Vincent Page, the owner of three antiques centres under the brand name of Antiques on High, is considering looking for a social media influencer to grow the business.

Further lots from ancient country seat star alongside a stellar specialist collection.

Now handsomely bound in full red morocco and contained in slipcases, a set of first-edition copies of what are collectively known as ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ of CS Lewis led a Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) sale of October 7 with a bid of £3400 from a buyer on thesaleroom.com.

Leering 4ft 7in (1.4m) out from the saleroom wall and with a 4ft 2in (50cm) antlers spread, a massive taxidermy moose head and shoulders was the major trophy at the best-yet biannual Country and Sporting sale at Mitchells (22% buyer’s premium).

Bid to a much higher than expected £4000 on August 19 at Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) was a lot offering 10 volumes of pamphlets, offprints, reports, legal evidence, etc, relating to licensing laws and the campaign to regulate consumption in the UK.

This Victorian snake necklace is one of the best of its kind to appear on the regional market in recent memory.

William Billingsley (1758-1828), a key figure in the history of both English and Welsh porcelain, left the Derby factory in 1795 yearning to create the finest, whitest and most translucent porcelain.