Books & Periodicals

Material in this specialist market ranges from the early printed works of the Gutenberg Press and William Caxton right through to Modern First Editions and now up to signed copies of Harry Potter. Condition and rarity are the keys to this sector.


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Samuel Johnson letter located and bought by UK institution at auction

09 October 2023

While its existence was known, the whereabouts was a mystery until a routine house valuation

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Top stories this week including news of the auction of Charlie Watts’ book collection

08 October 2023

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of Christie’s sale of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts’ extraordinary library of modern first editions.

Shakespeare

One of just five copies of a Shakespeare jointly written play in private hands comes up for sale through book dealer

03 October 2023

Peter Harrington Rare Books is offering a first edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen (1634) at Frieze Masters in London this month – the only extant Shakespeare play not included in any of the four folio editions.

Charlie Watts’ copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles

Charlie Watts books sale: it’s all over now

02 October 2023

Christie’s sale Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone combined stardust with an extraordinary library of modern first editions.

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Chrysanthemums in full bloom at Bonhams Skinner

02 October 2023

The late 19th century Japanese artist Keika Hasegawa remains something of an enigma.

ATG letter: This is a fantastic time to be in the books and booksellers industry

02 October 2023

We were disappointed to read the article The Young Guard, published in ATG No 2609. After an hour-long interview discussing our experiences as young women in the beginning of our careers, we were taken aback by the published article’s seemingly disparaging portrayal of our narrow commentary around some of those experiences.

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Take a tour to the Lakes and Devon

02 October 2023

Travel journals that appeared at auction date from a time when British leisure travel was in its infancy

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Harry Potter work wins joint prize price

02 October 2023

Boy wizard Harry Potter was up against prize fighter Daniel Mendoza for the top spot at Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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A 17th century rarity: unrecorded book emerges at Sussex auction

02 October 2023

An unrecorded 17th century printed book took £8800 hammer at a West Sussex sale.

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Shakespeare play was staged as a joint production

02 October 2023

Peter Harrington Rare Books is offering a first edition of 'The Two Noble Kinsmen' (1634) at Frieze Masters in London this month – the only extant Shakespeare play not included in any of the four folio editions.

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Fist editions: boxing books at auction

25 September 2023

Large group of pugilist-related works was collected over more than 50 years by London couple

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Houdini ready to wow the crowds in Bolton

25 September 2023

The sale of Vintage & Modern Magic at Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) in Chicago on August 26 included this original theatre contract signed by Erik Weisz, the man better known as Harry Houdini (1874-1926).

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Archive tells story of the little-known Japanese Antarctic Expedition

25 September 2023

A trove of material related to the Japanese Antarctic Expedition (JAE) of 1910-12 comes to market at Potter & Potter in Chicago on October 12.

British and Irish book auctions, September 26-October 8, 2023

25 September 2023

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions held via thesaleroom.com

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Complete copy of Curtis' 40 volumes on offer at Hindman

25 September 2023

Hindman in Chicago will offer a complete copy of Edward S Curtis’ seminal work The North American Indian as part of an auction of Fine Books from the Dorros Family Collection on November 9.

Pamflyt Compiled Of Cheese

Say cheese: University buys Elizabethan manuscript on cheese making

19 September 2023

The University of Leeds Libraries has bought the earliest known book about cheese making in Britain.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, September 19-October 2, 2023

18 September 2023

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper auctions being staged on thesaleroom.com

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Mystery manuscript identified at Cornish auction

18 September 2023

One of two texts in a single volume revealed after eager bidding to be by Hungarian Jesuit

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How society folk lined up to sign a visitors’ book

18 September 2023

Almost 120 years ago at 13 Bruton Street an estimated 10,000 visitors were drawn to an exhibition that caught the public attention and attracted record queues.

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First principles: the Smiley library

18 September 2023

As co-publishers and editors of Firsts: The Book Collector’s Magazine established in 1991, Robin and Kathryn Smiley’s bookshelves were brimming with choice first editions from across the broad span of British and American literature.

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