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BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS

Daily news updates from the rare and antiquarian book world plus investment tips, how to buy and sell and what to collect...

News on authors, rare books, antiquarian books, Bibles, biographies, comics, early printings, first editions, libraries, illuminated manuscripts, literature in all its shapes and guises, and manuscripts - in fact the full cross-section of all printed material. We will cover all the main exponents, from...

Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton, Dickens, Tolstoy, JK Rowling, Mark Twain, Tolkien, JD Salinger, Dr. Spock, Beatrix Potter, Jeffrey Archer, Harper Lee, Margaret Mitchell, Napoleon Hill, George Orwell, Gutenberg Bible, Burns Bible, and Bronte sisters... amongst hundreds more of great and famous bestsellers, many by authors not so well known...

Older news stories can be found in our 2009 and 2010 archives.

Click here to see our books and manuscripts for sale.

Documents in this Section

Batman Detective Comics #27 'graded 6.5' signed by Bob Kane sells online

Detective Comics #27 - the word's '#2 comic' - is for sale, autographed by Batman creator Bob Kane

Posted: 4 February 2012
Amazing Spider-man #1 comic set to scale great heights at Morphy's auction

Among antique toys and banks, Morphy's comics sale will star an 8.5 graded Amazing Spider-man #1

Posted: 2 February 2012
Harry Potter First Edition 'Philosopher's Stone' book rises in value by 99%

That's not all: add JK Rowling's signature to you rare book and its value could escalate even more

Posted: 2 February 2012
Joyce's First Edition Ulysses: one of the best rare collectible book buys

Today is Joyce's birthday and also an important anniversary for his collectible masterwork, Ulysses

Posted: 2 February 2012
Superman Action Comics #1, rare '3.0' graded copy, auctions in online sale

Action Comics #1, Superman's first adventure and the 'most important comic book', is selling online

Posted: 2 February 2012
The Story of... Charles Dickens and the fascination with the man and his collectibles

Charles Dickens is sometimes seen as the start of modern celebrity, and his memorabilia is valuable

Posted: 1 February 2012
John Dillinger bank autograph could get away with $15,000 from California

A sheet from a bank ledger bearing John Dillinger's autograph is expected to be a big hit at auction

Posted: 31 January 2012
John Hancock document with autograph leads American signatures in California

Signer of the American Declaration of Independence John Hancock left his autograph on this document

Posted: 31 January 2012
John James Audubon's Birds of America swoops into Pennsylvania auction

A tall edition copy of the most valuable book in the world, Audubon's Birds of America is to sell

Posted: 31 January 2012
Matthias Schmitt, HWPH auctioneer: exclusive interview on collecting scripophily

Scripophily is a growing and underreported hobby, as expert and auctioneer Matthias Schmitt explains...

Posted: 31 January 2012
Einstein's rare autograph values rise by 15.83% in 12 months – these are for sale

Thanks to his influence and iconic appeal, Albert Einstein is an ‘autograph blue chip’ for collectors

Posted: 30 January 2012
Geoffrey Chaucer rare book by famed Kelmscott Press appears for sale

'The Kelmscott Chaucer' comprising the works of Geoffrey Chaucer is auctioning in a rare books sale

Posted: 30 January 2012
Rare Dmitri Mendeleev manuscript 'with chemistry content' sells online

Russian inventor of the periodic table, Dmitri Mendeleev, is set to star in an online manuscripts auction

Posted: 27 January 2012
Rare Henricus Hondius map 'Nova Totius Terrarum...' auctions in London

Henricus Hondius's 'Nova Totius Terrarum orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula' map is for sale

Posted: 26 January 2012
Christie's Americana Week auctions net $24.8m - highest total since 2007

The Americana collectibles markets are going from strength-to-strength, say Christie's leading experts

Posted: 25 January 2012
Henry VIII rare manuscript: the letter which changed the course of history

Here is King Henry VIII's letter to the Bishop of Ravenna requesting a divorce - we have it for sale

Posted: 25 January 2012
John James Audubon's Birds of America flies to $7.9m in Christie's book auction

Another copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America set the world record price in 2011

Posted: 20 January 2012
Alexander Graham Bell signed letter about the telephone brings $92,856 at auction

Concerning lightning strikes to telephone wires, the Alexander Graham Bell signed letter excited bidders

Posted: 19 January 2012
'Hitler assassination attempt' manuscript auctions in Los Angeles online sale

A manuscript showing Nazi General Adolf Heusinger's first-hand account of Operation Valkyrie is for sale

Posted: 19 January 2012
Reina-Valera Bible book could bring '$18,000' in San Francisco auction

This limited edition of the first majorly revised 'Reina-Valera' Spanish Bible will star in a book sale

Posted: 18 January 2012
Rick Marschall's comics collection - the history of it all is held by the 'komics konnoisseur'

Nobody has a comics collection quite like Rick Marschall, and he loves to celebrate its history

Posted: 18 January 2012
Alexander Graham Bell autographed letter goes up for sale tomorrow

An autographed letter signed by Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, is being sold online

Posted: 17 January 2012
Emily Bronte portrait painting could reach Wuthering Heights at UK auction

A second portrait painting of Emily Bronte has shown up at a Northamptonshire auction house

Posted: 12 January 2012
The story of... James Earl Ray and his notorious memorabilia

A memorabilia collection from the lawyer for James Earl Ray, who killed Martin Luther King, is to sell

Posted: 11 January 2012
Michael Jackson autograph 'lyrics' for sale at Bonhams Entertainment auction

Bonhams' Entertainment sale is offering some Michael Jackson autograph notes - for a potential bargain

Posted: 10 January 2012
Princess Diana signed letter to young boy sells with 'found' Fantin-Latour art

Found on a living room wall, Henri Fantin-Latour's flower painting auctioned with a rare Diana note

Posted: 10 January 2012
Antiques Roadshow US tour dates are revealed – ‘to match Justin Bieber’

The US Antiques Roadshow show turns 17 with its new series, and may be coming to a town near you

Posted: 8 January 2012
First edition Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman opens a new year for PBA auction

Walt Whitman's great work Leaves of Grass was once considered obscene, but this first edition is valuable

Posted: 5 January 2012
Duke of Portland's book collection including Audubon's Birds of America

The eccentric Duke of Portland kept his collection of rare books in a library amongst tunnels underground

Posted: 4 January 2012
Spink New York auction to feature fateful '$20,000' share certificate

A share certificate featuring an ill-fated air ship is set to auction at Spink's sale in New York

Posted: 1 January 2012
Collecting rare comic books: Top Five reasons why you should buy

Whether you love Batman, Tintin or Charles Schulz, comic books are a great place to put your money

Posted: 31 December 2011
'From fine wines to Peanuts comic art - choose rare collectibles in the New Year'

Paul offers tips to help your 2012 collecting - including what you can learn from wine and comics

Posted: 28 December 2011
National Book Auctions' sale features Corrado's $3,000 Il Cuoco Galante

The 1778 work on Italian cooking will be among the big stars at National Book Auctions' Ithaca sale

Posted: 28 December 2011
Audubon's Birds of America set for $10m auction at Christie's

One of just 13 privately owned copies of Audubon's The Birds of America is coming to Christie's

Posted: 22 December 2011
Captain Scott's farewell letter to his financier could deliver $233,000

Captain Scott of the Antarctic wrote a few farewell letters whilst waiting to die in the Polar ice

Posted: 20 December 2011
Charlotte Bronte miniature manuscript sells for over $1m at Sotheby's auction

A miniature manuscript by Charlotte Bronte, author of Jane Eyre, excited bidders at Sotheby's auction

Posted: 16 December 2011
Sotheby’s auctions Steve Jobs-signed Apple founding document for $1.6m in NY

Signed by Steve Jobs and his two partners, this document founded Apple – and changed the world

Posted: 14 December 2011
Da Vinci, Bill Gates and Codex Leicester: why it pays to invest in genius

Sold for $5.12m in 1980, and for $30.8m in 1994, Da Vinci's Codex Leicester is a truly great investment

Posted: 12 December 2011
Spider-Man #1 comic stars in first Morphy and Sparkle City joint auction

Action Comics #1 recently sold for $2.1m, leading Morphy and Sparkle to form a new comic book division

Posted: 11 December 2011
John Hancock signed lottery ticket set to be the biggest winner at Americana auction

With free franks and rare currency on offer, the John Hancock signed lottery ticket is still the prize

Posted: 9 December 2011
Top Five Rediscovered Collectibles - gems which should never have been lost

After intriguing claims of a rediscovered portrait of Jane Austen, here are our top five re-found collectibles

Posted: 7 December 2011
'James Joyce' gold watch owned by Ulysses' John O'Connell brings $80,700

James Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses referred to a real caretaker John O'Connell and his gold watch

Posted: 6 December 2011
Bonhams auctions map manuscript by Abraham Ortelius ‘creator of the atlas’

Abraham Ortelius, creator of the modern atlas, will star in Bonhams' upcoming New York map auction

Posted: 5 December 2011
Willem Blaeu world map could show the way to $20,000 next week

Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica by Willem Blau is a beautiful map of the world made in 1635

Posted: 4 December 2011
Action Comics #1 grade 9.0 Superman debut hits $2.16m World Record price

Thought to be Nicolas Cage's copy, the grade 9.0 Action Comics #1 comic introduced Superman

Posted: 1 December 2011
Mark Twain books and autographs still entice collectors after all these years

The US author Mark Twain was born today in history – but his history is very much alive for collectors

Posted: 30 November 2011
Superman Action Comics #1 auction could soar to new World Record - tonight

Will bids on this highest graded copy of Superman Action Comics #1 soar to a new World Record price?

Posted: 30 November 2011
George Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio shoots to $116,700

Despite being desired by US collectors, George Catlin's American Indian Portfolio will stay in Germany

Posted: 29 November 2011
Steve Jobs signed Apple founding contract auctions 'for $150,000' at Sotheby's

A 1976 manuscript signed by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs could bring $150,000 in Sotheby's auction

Posted: 29 November 2011
Tintin cartoons signed by moonwalkers float to $132,400 at Artcurial auction

Artcurial's highly successful Tintin auction starred a book signed by moonwalkers including Buzz Aldrin

Posted: 28 November 2011
Winston Churchill documents sell at three-figure sums - including from his funeral

A Churchill wartime letter could auction for a low price - and we have our own rare documents in stock

Posted: 28 November 2011
John Lennon's handwritten note-to-self is worth remembering at Gotta Have It

The 'to-do list' note, handwritten by John Lennon, mentions marmalade, cats and a cursed diamond

Posted: 27 November 2011
Julien Green's Leviathan manuscript expected to make a monstrous $239,000

A handwritten manuscript of Julien Green's 'a terrible and hopeless romance' Leviathan is to sell

Posted: 26 November 2011
Sotheby's auctions Raymond Chandler classic 'Big Sleep' and other books

This December, Sotheby's Fine Books sale will include rare editions of Raymond Chandler's Big Sleep

Posted: 26 November 2011
'Real Deal' - HISTORY Channel's new auction TV series debuts this weekend

The HISTORY Channel's 'Real Deal' show is billed as 'the most authentic auction-based TV series yet'

Posted: 25 November 2011
Top Five Collectible Magazines - from Life to Playboy

With striking images and groundbreaking stories, here are our top five collectible magazines

Posted: 23 November 2011
'Why stock market gambles pale compared to the booming collectibles markets'

Paul looks at how Thomas Cook's falling stock price starkly contrasts the booming collectibles markets

Posted: 23 November 2011
Abraham Lincoln 'white rabbits' letter is worth following to this California sale

A letter to a kind benefactor who gifted white rabbits to Abraham Lincoln's bereaved son is auctioning

Posted: 21 November 2011
Spiderman's first Amazing Fantasy #15 comic could bring $125,000 in Metropolis

This 9.0 grade issue of Amazing Fantasy #15 - Spiderman's debut - is on offer at a US comic specialist

Posted: 19 November 2011
Original Tintin artwork showcased at Artcurial's 'Universe of Hergé' auction

Books, toys, original artwork, a statue of Tintin and even moonwalkers' autographs are on offer

Posted: 18 November 2011
Elizabeth I's historical significance - a look at the Elizabethan Age and its collectibles

Remembered as a Golden Age, Elizabeth I's reign offers some valuable items of historical significance

Posted: 17 November 2011
George Washington's Inaugural Address manuscript stirs collectors to $182,000

The handwritten piece by George Washington from his undelivered inaugural address sold at Christie's

Posted: 17 November 2011
Rabindranath Tagore poems manuscripts auction at Sotheby's New York

Manuscripts by Rabindranath Tagore, who reshaped Bengal's literature, poems and music, are up for sale

Posted: 17 November 2011
Walt Disney memorabilia collection - owned by his very own sister Ruth

This memorabilia collection of legendary cartoon character creator Walt Disney is worth six figures

Posted: 16 November 2011
Thomas Jefferson signed letter brings a message from history to Spink Smythe

From the time of the American Revolution, the letter is signed by Virginia's governor Thomas Jefferson

Posted: 14 November 2011
Walt Disney memorabilia collection will keep collectors entertained

An extraordinary collection of memorabilia, previously held by Walt Disney's sister Ruth is to sell

Posted: 11 November 2011
Rare Revolutionary War Map could show collectors to ‘$1.5m’ at Christie's

Drawn by Charles de Gironcourt, this map dates to 1780, the time of America's Revolutionary War

Posted: 9 November 2011
Edward Elgar Third Symphony sketch leaves for sale at Bonhams

Part of the collection of Edward Elgar's beloved Vera Hockman, they're from his unfinished Third Symphony

Posted: 7 November 2011
English version of Hitler's Mein Kampf book may make $2,400 at Mullock's

A rare English version of Hitler's Mein Kampf book, from a PoW camp, is coming to auction

Posted: 7 November 2011
James Joyce Ulysses watch could be set for $11,000 Adam's Ireland auction

A pocket watch worn by a real-life character in James Joyce's Ulysses is coming to a Dublin sale

Posted: 7 November 2011
Lehman Brothers Stock Certificate #1 sells for $33,100 at auctioneer HWPH

Proof that Lehman Brothers stock certificates are worth more than the shares they're written about...

Posted: 7 November 2011
Avengers comic book World Record price set by Metropolis at $250,000

Not for the first time this year, Metropolis has set a record in the comic book market with Avengers #1

Posted: 5 November 2011
James Bond 'Skyfall' title revealed: but how did 007 first get his name?

The answer involves Sir Ian Fleming's coffee table, a book on ornithology and a $70,000 US sale...

Posted: 4 November 2011
Alec Guinness Star Wars 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' award nomination appears for sale

This certificate dates to 1977, commemorating Alec Guinness's legendary turn in Star Wars

Posted: 3 November 2011
Original smurf cartoons by Peyo reach $170,500 at Artcurial

The auction house sold 33 cartoons by Peyo including the original adventures of the smurfs

Posted: 3 November 2011
'Lost Dauphin' Louis Charles's autograph spells a once in a lifetime opportunity

Calligraphy exercises of the 'Lost Dauphin' who died after the French Revolution could bring $50,000

Posted: 2 November 2011
Orson Welles Falstaff masterpiece 'hidden manuscripts' auction at Bonhams

Chimes at Midnight, or Falstaff, was Welles's favourite film from which these notes are for sale

Posted: 1 November 2011
RMS Titanic 'first class' deck plan finds its way to $48,400 at Henry Aldridge

Given to Titanic victims Ida and Isidor Straus, this first class deck plan survived with their maid

Posted: 31 October 2011
Schiller's Ode to Joy manuscript sells for $573,400 World Record price

Rare and historically significant, the handwritten Ode to Joy is now the highest priced German manuscript

Posted: 29 October 2011
Lord Nelson 1799 manuscript letter brings $32,372 in Derby, UK, sale

One of Britain's greatest heroes, Admiral Lord Nelson, has made his mark in the collectibles markets

Posted: 28 October 2011
Detective Comics #67 Batman & Penguin artwork could reach $300,000

The classic piece from Jerry Robinson is one of the oldest original covers still known to exist

Posted: 27 October 2011
Original Smurf cartoon drawings by artist Peyo lead 'smurftastic auction'

Artcurial's sale of orginal drawings by the master of the little blue people is taking place this weekend

Posted: 27 October 2011
Books & Manuscripts auction: Sotheby's devotes 'whole day' to rare works

'The Library of a Connoisseur' will sell at Sotheby's Paris sale among various rare books & manuscripts

Posted: 25 October 2011
Reggie Kray’s prison manuscript letters appear for sale at Gary Don, UK

Kray’s letters and ephemera date to 1988, written while in a ‘relationship’ with a Bradford woman

Posted: 25 October 2011
Titanic letter led collection steams to $100,570 at Philip Weiss Auctions

Letters from returning honeymooners John & Nelle Pillsbury Snyder outdid expectations at the weekend

Posted: 24 October 2011
Titanic letter and archive will 'go under' the hammer at Philip Weiss

John and Nelle Snyder survived the Titanic tragedy and held an archive of material including letters

Posted: 21 October 2011
Unique edition of Legenda Aurea, the Golden Legend, set to shine at auction

Though a popular medieval text, this is the only copy of this early German edition of the Legenda Aurea

Posted: 20 October 2011
'Nicolas Cage, John Wayne and others offer you the best-ever piece of advice'

What do John Wayne, action star Nicolas Cage and 'the oldest collectible car' each have in common...?

Posted: 19 October 2011
The Top Five rare action movie collectibles by Paul Fraser Collectibles

Explosions, car chases and fights - action movie memorabilia has caused a blast on the markets

Posted: 19 October 2011
Benjamin Franklin's smallpox book sees outbreak of enthusiasm in New York

The rare books auction saw a first edition of the work, which had a tragic significance for Franklin

Posted: 18 October 2011
Paul McCartney handwritten letter to 'a wannabe Beatles drummer' is for sale

'My initial reaction was one of disbelief' said Christie's expert after seeing this unknown Beatles letter

Posted: 17 October 2011
'Scripophily trends up' as HWPH auction offers The Lehman Heritage

More than 100 historical stocks and bonds from the Lehman Brothers archives are up for sale

Posted: 15 October 2011
Rare Henry Cook travel book cruises to $88,100 at Dominic Winter

Painter and author Henry Cook recorded his travels round the Ionian Islands in a rare and valuable book

Posted: 14 October 2011
Mahatma Gandhi signed letter has peaceful victory at Nate D Sanders

A letter signed by the Indian pacifist and leader Mahatma Gandhi achieved $20,572 this week

Posted: 13 October 2011
Audubon’s Birds of America copy flies to $10,575 at Cowan’s auction

A seven volume copy of Audubon’s ‘most valuable auctioned published book’ starred in this US sale

Posted: 11 October 2011
Confederate Constitution of America set to draw support at Heritage

One of just a handful of copies of the US constitution reworked by the confederates is stirring interest

Posted: 11 October 2011
Larsson's Celebrated Millennium Trilogy unique box set could sell for $18,749

Sotheby's is offering a "spectacular, unique" boxed set of Stieg Larsson's Celebrated Millennium Trilogy

Posted: 11 October 2011
Nicolas Cage's Action Comics #1 could set World Record price at ComicConnect

A '9.0 grade' of the issue introducing Superman, thought to be owned by Nicolas Cage, is for sale

Posted: 11 October 2011
Mahatma Gandhi 'non violence' letter's '$7,000-plus' bids close tomorrow

'My doctrine of non-violence is making slow headway,' writes Gandhi in this handwritten note

Posted: 10 October 2011
Discovery Channel's brand new TV show needs you...

Would you like to sell your collectibles on a global TV programme?

Posted: 7 October 2011
Rare Russian Icon: Madonna of the Burning Bush is for sale

This exquisite and historic piece was 'formerly in the collection of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna'

Posted: 5 October 2011
John James Audubon book could score a $55,000 sale at Bonhams

Audubon's other book Birds of America is the most expensive book ever, sold for a whopping $11.6m

Posted: 4 October 2011
Rare early printed book showing the Creation of Eve in woodcut heads auction

Philippus de Bergamo's early printed work will be offered in Swann Galleries' rare book sale

Posted: 4 October 2011
Enigma machine World Record price set at Christie's Travel memorabilia auction

A number of records were set in this $3.1m sale, with 'several items causing a bidding frenzy'

Posted: 3 October 2011
Charles Schulz collectibles are worth much more than peanuts...

On this day in 1950, Charlie Brown and Snoopy were introduced to the world for the first time

Posted: 2 October 2011
'$25,154' poem collection by prose pioneer Bertrand doubles sale estimate

Bertrand and this book were instrumental in the introducing the prose poem into French literature

Posted: 1 October 2011
Birth of the US Navy: President John Adams's letter confirms America's first ships

Written in 1776, the missive marks a crucial stage in preparations for the War of Independence

Posted: 28 September 2011
Letters about RMS Titanic sinking will cross the auction block in New York

A historically significant archive of material pertaining to doomed ocean liner RMS Titanic is up for sale

Posted: 22 September 2011
The story of... Astrid Kirchherr and Stuart Sutcliffe's doomed romance

The Beatles' first bassist still captivates collectors, as will be demonstrated in an upcoming NY auction

Posted: 21 September 2011
American history and beyond - the Eric C Caren collection brings $655,400

The sale featured everything from battles over New York to an archive of collector Thomas Edison

Posted: 19 September 2011
'Birth Certificate of New York' sold for $120,000 from the Eric C Caren collection

Charles II instructs Edmund Andros to take the disputed territory from the Dutch for the last time

Posted: 17 September 2011
'A treat for serious collectors'... Rare comic auction stars Spiderman and the Avengers

A new offering from the webslinger follows ComicConnect's $325,000 Amazing Fantasy 15 sale

Posted: 16 September 2011
First-ever published book by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy goes to auction

‘Fleshweathercock and other poems’, the collection, was published in 1973 when Duffy was just 18...

Posted: 16 September 2011
Paul says... 'Rarity and history impact collectibles' values - but so does intrigue'

Take a look at this striking image: intrigue could boost its value up to $6.3m, next month...

Posted: 14 September 2011
Robert Frost works and a 'circa 14th century' manuscript sell in New York

An exceptionally rare 'Complete Poems' signed by the American poet is among NBA's highlights...

Posted: 12 September 2011
'The nicest, sweetest letters in the world'... James Dean's love notes are for sale

Love letters sent by the tragic movie star to his girlfriend will be offered at Christie's in London

Posted: 12 September 2011
'We are always pleased when you ask for information' - Wilbur Wright letter for sale

Addressed to one of America's great pilots, the text explains in detail how to use their plane

Posted: 10 September 2011
Napoleon leads again at Leighton Galleries with a $15,000 bust sculpture

The Premier Book Auction is awash with historical and political autographs, photographs and militaria

Posted: 9 September 2011
Alde auctions $28,102 'greatest achievement of Western literature'

An influence on Huxley and Orwell, this original Candide ou L'Optimisme book is for sale in Paris

Posted: 8 September 2011
Provoking America: Early reactions to the Stamp Act could bring $50,000

Two newspapers, one including text written by Benjamin Franklin, are auctioning at Swann Galleries

Posted: 4 September 2011
Magnificent $20,000 World Map by Willem Blaeu to show the way at Old World Auctions

The sale, which takes place this month, also features charts, atlases, globes, beautiful vintage prints

Posted: 2 September 2011
First off the press... Mistral's '$29,000' Nobel-winning poem sells in Paris

This poem bagged Frédéric Mistral a 1904 Nobel Prize - and this very special copy is another prize

Posted: 31 August 2011
That's magic! First printing of Harry Potter set to conjure up $20,000 at Heritage

Distinguished by a young Dumbledore on the back, this book comes with a rare signed photo

Posted: 31 August 2011
The Story of... 'The most famous and important American editorial cartoon'

Expected to bring more than $100,000, this cartoon carried a simple message: unify against the French

Posted: 31 August 2011
John Hancock's signature from just before Declaration of Independence is for sale

This autograph on a document about British prisoners will go under the hammer on September 13

Posted: 30 August 2011
Freedom! Classic piece of anti-slavery propaganda will star at Swann Galleries

The Eric C Caren collection will be sold under the title How History Unfolds on Paper

Posted: 29 August 2011
A full set: $345,000 re-unites Harbottle Dorr newspaper collection in Boston

The religiously kept and noted Massachussetts papers tell the story of America's Independence

Posted: 26 August 2011
Chinese scroll brings ten times estimate in Michaan's triumphant estate auction

Fine portrait watches, Asian history and assorted works of art helped them triple their estimates

Posted: 26 August 2011
'Boyce has lost his right leg': 1815 naval warfare account set for auction

A letter recounting the peacetime US attack on a British ship comes to a Peter Wilson UK sale

Posted: 25 August 2011
'Battered' Spiderman could crawl to the top at Mound City's sale, this weekend

Valuable comic books are available in Missouri, US, and online - including Amazing Fantasy #15

Posted: 24 August 2011
Have I got news for you... Newspapers from the birth of America are for sale

Harbottle Dorr's hoard of annotated print recalls the struggle for and Declaration of Independence

Posted: 23 August 2011
Mark Twain's celebrated works with handwritten page lead New York auction

This rare, limited edition collection will star alongside antique atlases and fine Americana in the Big Apple

Posted: 22 August 2011
Super once more... Restored copy of Superman's introduction leaps to $149,000

The auction also offered beautiful examples of Carl Barks art and Spiderman's first appearance

Posted: 19 August 2011
PBA Galleries holds record sale of Chinese maps and history

Including works by names such as Joannes Blaeu, the auction included Margaret Gee's collection

Posted: 18 August 2011
Franckens the younger’s $1.14m ‘pre-Rembrandt’ art auctions in Zurich

Koller hopes this work by the legendary Flemish Baroque painter continues its $17.7m June success

Posted: 16 August 2011
Wallis didn't want him? Letters suggest Edward VIII's abdication wasn't her idea

The much-maligned Duchess of Windsor may have intended to return to her second husband

Posted: 16 August 2011
President John Adams's passionate pro-US Constitution letter leads at Heritage

Patriotism 'burned in Adams like a blue flame' and this letter is a priceless piece of American history...

Posted: 15 August 2011
Discover which famous author's $9,000 writing desk could be yours

She was Britain's best selling author in the 1990s and continues to have a legion of fans

Posted: 12 August 2011
Superman, Spiderman and Scrooge McDuck fight for the top spot at Heritage

Next week's auction offers some great opportunities for fans of vintage comics and Carl Barks

Posted: 11 August 2011
Artist Frida Kahlo's 'highly coveted' Edgar Allen Poe book brings $24,000

The Mexican artist's illustrated copy of Poe's collected works enchanted collectors at Leslie Hindman

Posted: 10 August 2011
Build a collection: 'Find out everything you need to know by reading this...'

Or at least that was the challenge presented to me by a popular magazine, earlier this week...

Posted: 10 August 2011
From 18th century printings to Second Life: David Rumsey's map collection

Rumsey has assembled an extraordinary range of collectible maps - and he's keen to show them all...

Posted: 10 August 2011
Smash! $343,000 Captain America #1 breaks comic book World Record

An exceptional and rare copy of the 1941 book has defeated all expectations at ComicConnect's sale

Posted: 10 August 2011
Paul Fraser Collectibles' guide to preserving your rare book collection

Few things can be more personal and cherished than a book. Here's how to take care of them...

Posted: 8 August 2011
'Grotesque connotations': the '$4,000' critique of presidential hopeful Nixon

Even before the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon's image had much room for improvement

Posted: 7 August 2011
Pow! An exceptional copy of Captain America #1 hits the rare comic markets

Expected to raise as much as $240,000, the copy was part of an 85 year old's treasured collection

Posted: 5 August 2011
He could have just phoned... Alexander Graham Bell letters go under the hammer

A missive including illustrations of telephones written by the man himself is up for sale next week

Posted: 4 August 2011
'Neil Armstrong, Rosa Parks... For top collectibles, follow the pioneers...'

They made a big difference during their lifetimes - and are still influencing collectors' lives to this day

Posted: 3 August 2011
RAF 'Book of Heroes' which impressed Churchill soars to $55,000

Described as 'part of Britain's historical DNA', the book far surpassed expectations at Bonhams

Posted: 3 August 2011
Discover the latest twist in this amazing $10m Rosa Parks estate sale

The civil rights activist died in 2005, but her collectibles are only now appearing for sale

Posted: 2 August 2011
Composer Bach died today... But still makes sweet music for collectors

Since his death in 1750, the German composer's collectibles have become increasing sought-after...

Posted: 28 July 2011
Paul Fraser Collectibles'… Top Five most collectible novelists

There's nothing like a good read by the fire, though you wouldn't want to get these books singed

Posted: 27 July 2011
Charles Dickens, Aldous Huxley and others star at National Book Auctions

Signed works by a number of legendary authors are set to draw collectors from far and wide

Posted: 25 July 2011
Edgar Allan Poe book decorated by Frida Kahlo could bring $20,000

The doodles give some interesting insights into the life of the celebrated Mexican artist

Posted: 20 July 2011
Paul Fraser Collectibles'... Top 5 items of Harry Potter memorabilia

As the latest film breaks records at the cinema, we look at our favourite Harry Potter collectibles

Posted: 20 July 2011
Private collection of rare books including Ulysses first edition brings $500,000

Following the death of Fred Hanna last month, a range of books were sold including the Joyce work

Posted: 20 July 2011
'Priceless piece of Silver Age Marvel lore' among Spiderman comics for sale

The exciting auction includes original artwork and issues from the Edward M Sarley collection

Posted: 19 July 2011
The $400,000 journals of the 'Angel of Death' Josef Mengele

Extensive handwritten texts penned by the infamous Nazi war criminal are to sell this week

Posted: 19 July 2011
Discover the battle to keep Nelson Mandela collectibles in South Africa

On Mandela's 93rd birthday, we reveal how important collectibles are being pulled from auction

Posted: 18 July 2011
Harry Potter collectibles to star in collection offered for charity on eBay

A range of memorabilia from celebrities as diverse as Alan Shearer and Danii Minogue is on offer

Posted: 18 July 2011
PoW's Fukuoka sketchbook offers collectors unique WWII insight

A sketchbook displaying life for a prisoner of war in Japan will be coming to auction on July 20

Posted: 17 July 2011
James Joyce's British wartime passport makes $98,000 at Sotheby's

The Irish writer's emergency British passport offered him safe passage through wartime Europe

Posted: 15 July 2011
Your chance to own a unique World War II 'book of heroes'

The signatures of 107 RAF flying officers are coming to Bonhams in August with a $13,000 estimate

Posted: 15 July 2011
'Earliest' and only privately-owned Jane Austen manuscript brings $1.6m

The Watsons, written in 1804, has tripled its estimate at a Sotheby's auction in London

Posted: 14 July 2011
Revealed: the fight for Jackie Kennedy's $25,000 signed condolence letter

The latest instalment in the 'Curse of the Kennedys' is being played out in a US court legal battle...

Posted: 14 July 2011
Sheffield FC's 'earliest' rules in football score $1.4m at Sotheby's sale

Is this the most important manuscript in football? And was it bought by a Qatari collector...?

Posted: 14 July 2011
Fascinating Gibraltar collection led by atlas showing the way 'to the River Amazones'

The $47,900 work is going under the hammer in London this week alongside other books and stamps

Posted: 12 July 2011
Most expensive sports memorabilia in the world? First football rules may bring $4.8m

Offered by the oldest club in the world, the book may be bought by a newly football-mad nation

Posted: 12 July 2011
Declaration of Independence signer's autograph claims $24,800

An indenture, signed by the elusive Thomas Nelson Jr, excited bidders at Ira and Larry Goldberg

Posted: 11 July 2011
How should a collector spend a $241m Euromillions jackpot win?

With another rollover in the European lottery, here's some collectibles the winner may want...

Posted: 6 July 2011
Everything is illuminated: prayerbook by Europe's 'Greatest Master' could bring $3m

The 16th century Imhof Prayerbook is the highlight of Christie's third Arcana Manuscript Collection sale...

Posted: 5 July 2011
All American hero Ronald Reagan honoured in London

Now recognised as one of the finest Presidents in recent years, his stock is set to rise...

Posted: 4 July 2011
All collectibles are not created equal - the value of the Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, the document which founded the United States of America was signed

Posted: 4 July 2011
James Joyce's wartime passport could find its way to $112,400 at Sotheby's

The document roughly spans the period he was working on his masterpiece Ulysses

Posted: 1 July 2011
First edition Charles Darwin book proves its $62,500 worth in New York

His famous work on rare species is now rare and collectible itself, as were this sale's other great lots

Posted: 28 June 2011
'Volume of tragedies...' stars in National Book Auctions' sale of unique works

The Latin Tragoediae by Lucius Annaeus Seneca starred in this remarkable New York state auction

Posted: 27 June 2011
'If you have time to waste, feel sorry for Mrs Gauguin' - artist's angry letter sells

A typically forthright Paul Gauguin missive sparked competition amongst bidders in New York

Posted: 26 June 2011
Paul Fraser Collectibles' Top Five… Henry VIII collectibles

Henry VIII took the throne on June 24 1509. The next 37 years were a wild ride, as this list shows

Posted: 24 June 2011
A whale of a tale... Copy of Herman Melville's Moby Dick brings $74,500

The story of an ship captain's obsession to chase down a whale made a splash at Sotheby's

Posted: 23 June 2011
'Pottermore' profit... Harry Potter collectibles could provide magical returns

As mystery new projects are revealed by JK Rowling, it seems certain the series' popularity will endure

Posted: 22 June 2011
First script from Britain's 60-year-old radio drama The Archers goes up for sale

Sotheby's is expecting significant interest when the aging pages go under the hammer next month

Posted: 20 June 2011
Set of Albert Einstein letters could deliver $100,000 in Florida sale, next week

These historic pages chart Einstein's correspondence exchanging his scientific thoughts with a colleague

Posted: 20 June 2011
Visit our blog and get closer to all the latest collectibles news and opinion...

Our insider experts' views on the collectibles markets can now be read by you at the click of a mouse

Posted: 20 June 2011
'Supreme manuscript of any period or culture' brings $12m Islam art record

This incredible manuscript, sold at Sotheby's, is from the very centre of Greater Persia's cultural sphere...

Posted: 18 June 2011
How rare is this Winston Churchill book? You have six days to find out...

Unrecorded by experts and mysteriously inscribed, questions surround these Churchill volumes...

Posted: 17 June 2011
The horror! Late collector's rare Wells and Lovecraft books are for sale

Philip K Dick, HP Lovecraft and HG Wells were among those revered by the publisher Jerry Weist...

Posted: 16 June 2011
Sotheby's successful manuscript sale proves now is the time to invest

This auction of rarities, even without Mozart's sonatas, showed the market is buoyant...

Posted: 15 June 2011
Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and the art of getting rich through collecting

We reveal why the world's wealthiest business magnates all share one crucial thing in common

Posted: 13 June 2011
National Book Auctions sells early works by 'obscene' director Larry Clark

Is it art, or does he exploit children? Bidders can decide from themselves at this New York auction

Posted: 13 June 2011
McCartney and the lost family of mice... Beatle's animations go up for sale

Dominic Winter is offering a set of sketches for Bruce McMouse - the Beatle's forgotten show

Posted: 11 June 2011
Revealing the letter from a doomed marriage which changed history...

England's King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon wed on this day in 1509...

Posted: 11 June 2011
Benjamin Franklin essays including ideas for the study of farts may bring $350,000

Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, made scientific breakthroughs and told silly jokes

Posted: 9 June 2011
Storyboard showing 'one of Hitchcock's biggest mistakes' sells for $28,800

The sketchy scenes of Stage Fright include the notorious 'false flashback' sequence

Posted: 9 June 2011
Paul says... 'Why talk of a next 'great, great depression' needn't apply to you'

You should definitely watch this video - it's gone viral among the top people in the financial world...

Posted: 8 June 2011
The vast and spectacular collections of Sheikh Saud al Thani of Qatar

Charged with making Qatar a cultural hotspot, he spent billions on art, books, antiques and more

Posted: 8 June 2011
Video of the Week: The World's greatest collection of Oscar Wilde at the Clark Library

The Los Angeles library boasts an incredible range of autograph and printed material

Posted: 8 June 2011
$164,357 Mahler manuscript and Mozart 'junk' piece sell at Sotheby's

A Mozart masterpiece, rescued from being thrown away, is just one of the unique pieces being sold

Posted: 7 June 2011
Flora and Fauna: Bloomsbury's rare book auction takes a turn around the garden

Two beautifully illustrated works of natural history are going under the hammer for over $50,000

Posted: 7 June 2011
Bring all Bob Dylan's songs back home... The legend's lyrics are for sale

The autographed typescripts at Christie's include Subterranean Homesick Blues and Maggie's Farm

Posted: 2 June 2011
'Most important work on the human body' gets the blood pumping for $43,992

William Harvey's De motu cordis continued the recent strong showings of medical publications

Posted: 26 May 2011
Signed Hitler letter could make $8,000 at Mullock's sale

A 1932 letter that enabled Hitler to run for president comes to auction in June

Posted: 25 May 2011
Bonhams has great expectations for ‘almost complete’ Dickens collection

A $1.5m collection of 18th and 19th century serialisations will head to New York in October

Posted: 24 May 2011
Only remaining Jane Austen manuscript in private hands could sell for $485,000

The much celebrated author's incomplete novel The Watsons is going under the hammer at Sotheby's

Posted: 24 May 2011
The ongoing legacy of Queen Catherine of Aragon's divorce from Henry VIII

On May 23 in 1533, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer ruled Henry VIII's first marriage illegal

Posted: 23 May 2011
Jackie O's $134,500 letters show 'recovering market on an upward trend'

Collectors got a peek at young Jackie Kennedy's love letters at Christie's $1.1m New York auction

Posted: 22 May 2011
200 years on, a first edition of Jane Austen's debut book is for sale at Christie's

The copy of Sense and Sensibility, credited only to 'A Lady', was published in 1811

Posted: 20 May 2011
'Trials must come because of some great wickedness' - Eisenhower letters are to sell

The General and President's letters are up for sale, alongside a John C Fremont archive, today

Posted: 20 May 2011
Paul says... 'When hunting for a strong collectible buy, the eyes have it'

Here are four factors which could help you hunt out a solid long-term collectible investment...

Posted: 18 May 2011
The world in paper and ink... Books of Darwin and Captain Cook's journeys to sell

Bloomsbury Auctions' upcoming sale includes a first edition of the Voyages of the Beagle

Posted: 16 May 2011
$150,000 Washington signed patent that revived slavery comes to Heritage

A 1796 George Washington signed cotton gin patent is set for auction later in the month

Posted: 13 May 2011
Great Collections: The book collection of the London Library

The London Library is a world of calm and learning, far removed from the clatter of nearby Piccadilly

Posted: 11 May 2011
Flotsam and jetsam to treasure: Valuable Titanic memorabilia washes up at Heritage

A fragment from the hull of the doomed vessel and a pair of Titanic lifebelts are up for sale

Posted: 10 May 2011
Murderer! The notorious collectibles of Lincoln's assassin: John Wilkes Booth

Born today in 1838, the Confederate sympathiser shot his victim in a Washington DC theatre

Posted: 10 May 2011
Nelson Mandela collectibles continue to inspire a new generation

Collectibles associated with the former South African president can command huge sums at auction

Posted: 10 May 2011
Children's book illustrations continue to draw grown-up collectors

The investment potential of original children's book illustrations delights collectors young and old

Posted: 9 May 2011
'I fainted at the sight of Hill's great work' - legendary botanical book comes to auction

Ketterer Kunst is offering J Hill's magnum opus The Vegetable System later this month

Posted: 9 May 2011
The Dark Knight rises again... Batman drawing achieves World Record price

An iconic drawing from Frank Miller's classic DC series has made $448,125 at Heritage Auctions

Posted: 9 May 2011
'Lost' poem by an all-time greatest scholar is revealed at Bloomsbury

For the first time since 2004, a forgotten poem by the scholar AE Housman is for sale in London

Posted: 6 May 2011
Bonhams prepares to auction 'history of the known world' for $49,600

The Nuremberg Chronicle is the most lavishly illustrated printed book of the 15th century...

Posted: 4 May 2011
'Greatest entomological rarity' by De Clerck flutters into Paris book sale

Swedish artist De Clerck put great passion into his drawings - which you now have a chance to own

Posted: 3 May 2011
Harper Lee's '$4,000' Mockingbird is expected to soar at auction

A signed first edition of the modern classic is for sale at National Book Auctions in May

Posted: 26 April 2011
Hitchcock's '$49,000' Stage Fright storyboard has collectors in suspense

A revealing pre-production storyboard for Alfred Hitchcock's 1950 film is selling at Bonhams in June

Posted: 26 April 2011
Flinders' A Voyage to Terra Australis first edition sails into May auction

A rare book recounting Matthew Flinders' circumnavigation of Australia could make six figures

Posted: 25 April 2011
First printing of Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year makes $2,520 at auction

A 1722 edition of Defoe's historical novel was the leading lot at National Book Auctions' recent sale

Posted: 23 April 2011
Death row pardons signed by Queen Elizabeth II come to auction

Three death row pardons signed by the Queen are being sold by Unique Auctions in May

Posted: 22 April 2011
Lavish 'elephant folios' from Egypt will make a big impression at Sotheby's

The Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History sale will also include a $130,250 Egyptian archive

Posted: 20 April 2011
Our Top Five… Rare and historic maps sold at auction

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue - setting in progress a revolution for cartography

Posted: 20 April 2011
Paul says... 'Gold is at a record high - but collectibles are doing even better'

Gold's record value rise to $1,500 an ounce is great news. But here's why collectors are even happier...

Posted: 20 April 2011
From General to President: Eisenhower archive commands $56,800 at Heritage

Dwight Eisenhower's letters to his brother will make an excellent investment for their new owner

Posted: 15 April 2011
Ancient accumulation: The autograph manuscript collections of the Library of Alexandria

Including handwritten texts from Plato, Euclid and Sophocles, it shows how old the tradition is

Posted: 13 April 2011
Hollywood actor's rare '$1m' Superman comic found after 11 years

An Action Comics No.1 stolen from Nicolas Cage has been discovered in a storage locker

Posted: 13 April 2011
Spellbound book collectors set to fight over $5,700 Harry Potter first edition

A first edition of JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book comes to auction in London next week

Posted: 11 April 2011
$12m Persian Shahnameh manuscript smashes Islamic art record

The 'unique work of extraordinary quality and beauty' caused a sensation at Sotheby's

Posted: 9 April 2011
The 'rarest edition' of Hitler's infamous work Mein Kampf comes to auction

A 1925 first edition of Hitler's book is up for sale at Mullock's Auctioneers in the UK this month

Posted: 8 April 2011
'Speak softly and carry a big stick' - Roosevelt's proverb could bring $80,000

A letter containing the first known use of the much-quoted aphorism will sell in New York tomorrow

Posted: 7 April 2011
$4,800 cosmetic surgery manual excites collectors with a nose for a bargain

A rare 19th century first edition nose surgery book comes to auction on April 6

Posted: 5 April 2011
Extraordinary US Civil War shirt collar letter auctions at Spink Shreves

A soldier resorted to an unusual method of sending news of Union victories back home

Posted: 5 April 2011
'The words of Christ tell against them'... Luther manuscript goes under the hammer

The handwritten text is to sell for up to $35,600 in Piasa's books and documents sale in Paris

Posted: 5 April 2011
The legacy of Martin Luther King continues to enthral the masses

Martin Luther King was assassinated 44 years ago today - we look at his collectible heritage

Posted: 4 April 2011
Time to buy a beautiful manuscript: A Book of Hours could sell for $325,000

The illuminated Latin text was once bought at a huge price by the wealthiest man in America

Posted: 4 April 2011
Harper Lee's Mockingbird flies high at National Book Auctions sale

The signed first edition sold alongside a range of MacKenzie-Childs antique pottery

Posted: 31 March 2011
Agatha Christie collectibles market to receive Disney film boost

Hollywood beauty Jennifer Garner will play Miss Marple in a forthcoming big screen adaptation

Posted: 30 March 2011
Page from 'greatest illustrated manuscript ever produced' set for $5m Sotheby's sale

An illustrated page from a 16th century Persian manuscript will be auctioned next month

Posted: 30 March 2011
'I shall Kiss your name and mine' - Keats letter brings World Record price in London

Unable to risk physical contact with his lover, the dying poet wrote a passionate message to her

Posted: 29 March 2011
Collectors are standing up for Civil Rights Movement memorabilia

We take a look at the popularity of memorabilia from the US African-American Civil Rights Movement...

Posted: 28 March 2011
Do you have an amazing collection? A TV cash prize could be yours...

If you're a budding Malcolm Forbes or King Farouk, then a BBC Saturday night show needs your help

Posted: 28 March 2011
Our Top Five… Rare Winnie the Pooh collectibles

After the recent Pooh Sticks world championship, we look at collectibles of the bear of very little brain

Posted: 28 March 2011
For Whom the Bell Tolls: New movie tells the story of Hemingway's inspiration

Nicole Kidman will play the great writer's wife Martha Gellhorn in a film which could boost his memorabilia

Posted: 24 March 2011
'Saviour of Europe' Pitt the Younger's most important State Papers are for sale

A selection of highly important British manuscripts are to sell - they would be worth millions if American

Posted: 23 March 2011
Earliest star maps could chart a course to $290,000 at Sotheby's

The oldest star charts published in Europe, by Albrecht Dürer, are auctioning on Wednesday

Posted: 21 March 2011
Rediscovered manuscript from Abraham Lincoln's legal career sold at Bloomington's

The valuable document was acquired by the seller for free in a box which was given away

Posted: 21 March 2011
Culinary advice for 'virgins, wives, or widows' on offer at Bloomsbury Auctions

An 18th century English cook book is one of several lots sure to attract investors and gourmets next week

Posted: 19 March 2011
'How glad I shall be to see the last of them': DH Lawrence papers at auction

A letter and manuscripts penned by Lawrence are set for auction with a combined estimate of $30,000

Posted: 18 March 2011
'Manuscripts bring history home to us'... a look at the Roy Davids collection

The passionate collector's hoard includes amazing writings by Keats, Gandhi, Blake and Churchill

Posted: 16 March 2011
Rare $322 Pepys diary is returned to south London library after 30 years

A rare copy of Samuel Pepys's account of Restoration London has been returned to a library

Posted: 15 March 2011
A 'relentless pursuit of truth' - a letter from Gandhi in 1919 could bring $16,000

India's great social reformer and political leader Mohandas Gandhi will be strong draw at Bonhams

Posted: 14 March 2011
Spiderman's debut 'swings' past $1m to become most expensive Silver Age comic

This pristine copy of 'Amazing Fantasy #15' will have fanboys' spidey senses tingling

Posted: 11 March 2011
Gibberish letter from Edward Lear features a tiny 'hidden' hound

Bonhams will sell a peculiar example of the British author's unique penmanship - with a twist

Posted: 10 March 2011
What do the Forbes billionaires have in common? They collect...

The financial magazine releases its rankings of the richest people: many of whom invest in collectibles

Posted: 10 March 2011
Record sale of the week: Archie #1 comic brings $167,300

Heritage's recent comic book sale had a star from the Golden Age - but not the one you'd expect

Posted: 9 March 2011
It's a miracle: rare and valuable King James Bible turns up in Wiltshire church

The text is known as 'the only literary masterpiece ever to have been produced by a committee'

Posted: 7 March 2011
'Glimpses of a better world' - unpublished Churchill speech set for auction

An unpublished address by the great war leader from 1959 sells at Bonhams later this month

Posted: 6 March 2011
A whole stripey hatful of collectibles - the continuing influence of Dr Seuss books

The creator of the Cat in the Hat is unlikely to be forgotten in the US any time soon

Posted: 3 March 2011
Our Top Five... Most valuable novels ever sold at auction

To celebrate World Book Day, we look at some of the priciest novels ever to have gone under the hammer

Posted: 3 March 2011
Text that introduced Arabic numerals to the West could achieve six-figure sum

Fibonacci's Book of Calculation which changed the course of history is to sell for up to $180,000

Posted: 2 March 2011
Video of the Week... The Frank M Robinson collection of pulps and books

Soon appearing at Adventure House, this sale is offering a great range of exciting and colourful works

Posted: 2 March 2011
Almost definitely Defoe - rediscovered papers may be by the Robinson Crusoe author

The handwritten, historic documents have turned up under floorboards in the UK

Posted: 1 March 2011
'Greatest poet who ever lived' brings seven-times his estimate in Paris

'Obscene' poems by the Venetian Senator Giorgio Baffo starred at Era's sale, earlier this month

Posted: 1 March 2011
Thomas Jefferson’s signed commission leads William Bunch’s US sale

The third US President will star at this Pennsylvania sale, alongside a classic Karmann Ghia car

Posted: 1 March 2011
Signed copy of Harper Lee's Mockingbird swoops into New York auction

The first edition will sell alongside an antique letter from Susan B Anthony about women's suffrage

Posted: 28 February 2011
Beautiful copy of David Roberts's The Holy Land could bring $145,000

These rare books were once owned by Britain's controversial Consul General in Egypt, Eldon Gorst

Posted: 27 February 2011
George Washington leads the way once more at Maryland manuscripts sale

Among the stamps and other collectibles in the sale are some very exciting Presidential writings...

Posted: 24 February 2011
Tell me a story: Captain Cook's book could sail to more than $5,000

A rare botany book and a document of early Guiana are also ready to leave the shelf

Posted: 23 February 2011
John Gould's $81,000 Birds of Europe book perches at top of Cambridge auction

The beautiful 1837 work filled with hand-coloured lithographed plates leads a sale at Cheffins

Posted: 22 February 2011
Classic Manga by great Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai appears for sale

Pierre Bergé & Associés' auction will include pieces from the creator of the Great Wave off Kanagawa

Posted: 21 February 2011
Charles II's own 'King's Speech' goes under the hammer at Bonhams

With his place on the throne uncertain, Charles was forced to apologise for a strange escape attempt

Posted: 20 February 2011
Map of the newly-created United States is offered to lucky bidders

Drawn up even before George Washington became President, the Robert Sayer work is up for sale

Posted: 18 February 2011
T’ain't nothin’ – collectors still value of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Published today in history, 1885, Mark Twain's most praised novel remains a true American classic

Posted: 18 February 2011
Holy highlight at PBA Galleries' rare books sale: a first edition King James Bible

'The only literary masterpiece ever to have been produced by a committee' has found a new home

Posted: 17 February 2011
Beatrix Potter's guinea pigs scamper all the way to $85,000 in San Francisco

Early illustrations by the beloved children's author quadrupled expectations at Bonhams

Posted: 15 February 2011
'Such a course would be injurious to the service' - General's letter is for sale

The renowned Confederate General Robert E Lee is set to star in Heritage's auction of Americana

Posted: 14 February 2011
'World Record' Birds of America could soar again at PBA's rare books sale

A ‘facsimile’ of a most valuable book is selling with one of Shakespeare’s earliest printed works

Posted: 14 February 2011
$100,000 William Blake letter meets its 'Last Judgement' at Bonhams

A rare Blake letter detailing his watercolour, The Last Judgement, is set to be an auction star in March

Posted: 10 February 2011
Beautiful 17th century map shows collectors the way forward next week

Decorated with the seasons, zodiac and elements Frederick de Wit's Nova Orbis map is breathtaking

Posted: 9 February 2011
Video of the Week... How to research rare and collectible books

Here, Erik Bosee of Aldridge Books offers you some tips on knowing the value of a volume

Posted: 9 February 2011
Many Happy Returns: How Jules Verne started the multi-million dollar sci-fi genre

183 years later, the grand-daddy of Darth, Deckard and the Doctor remains relevant and collectible

Posted: 8 February 2011
The Great Seal and signature of Good Queen Bess brings $22,500 in California

Collectors who ignored the Superbowl saw the Elizabeth I manuscript sold alongside a silver saddle

Posted: 7 February 2011
War, polar exploration and gardening - an eclectic mix of collectibles comes to auction

National Book Auctions' latest sale centres on a wealth of WWI and WWII memorabilia

Posted: 7 February 2011
Pre-Darwinian theorist’s $8,200 essay on monkeys leads Paris auction

This little known document by theorist Saint-Hilaire will sell alongside a four century family archive

Posted: 6 February 2011
'Shout about your business to 200m+ global collectors - for absolutely free'

Fancy publicising your business to readers across 207 countries? Then why not drop us an email...

Posted: 4 February 2011
Early Beatrix Potter illustrations brighten Bonhams' rare books auction

These captivating watercolours were made to go with Potter's Amiable Guinea-Pig poem

Posted: 3 February 2011
The Story of... Why Superman's collectibles are more powerful than ever

The Man of Steel is returning to the big screen, which could be good news for fans and collectors alike

Posted: 2 February 2011
$150,000 colour copy of a 'scenic journey around the world' appears at Bonhams

The beautiful work by Louis Choris with many lithographs will sell alongside scientific classics

Posted: 1 February 2011
Queen Elizabeth I signed manuscript could rule at Clars' auction

The document, including the Greal Seal, is sellling alongside letters by Presidents and Napoleon

Posted: 1 February 2011
Don Quixote succeeds against the odds at Bloomsbury Auctions' antique books sale

The rare edition of a classic work sold alongside a Russian masterpiece by Gogol

Posted: 30 January 2011
Garth Williams's Little House on the Prairie cover art sells in California

The British-born illustrator captured something of the heartlands of America in these classic works...

Posted: 27 January 2011
Poet Keats's love letter could be 'most exciting auction for over 40 years'

An exceptionally rare and moving letter is starring in Bonhams' sale of major papers and portraits

Posted: 26 January 2011
The Royal and Noble manuscript collections of 'People's Poet' Edgar Guest

When not penning some of the USA's most popular poems, Guest appreciated the writings of others

Posted: 26 January 2011
A collection fit for a King: Charles II letter could rule manuscripts sale

Over 100 handwritten documents from the great and the good of English history go under the hammer

Posted: 24 January 2011
Duffers' Golf Club Papers could land $30,000 in rare books sale

PBA Galleries looks to continue its successful tradition of sales of texts related to the sport

Posted: 23 January 2011
'One of the most important exploring voyages to the Pacific' goes up for sale

A first edition of George Vancouver's Voyage of Discovery leads the way at PBA

Posted: 20 January 2011
Video of the Week... Edgar Allan Poe and 'the rarest book in America'

Today is the 201st birthday of one of the most unique, enduring and influential American writers

Posted: 19 January 2011
Learning through the ages... rare books sale has everything from Euclid to DNA

The pioneering texts will guide readers through early geometry and the double helix at Bonhams

Posted: 17 January 2011
From Russia with love: Bond and Harry Potter sell with Gogol masterpiece

007 first editions and a very early Philosopher's Stone are auctioning beside a Russian literary classic

Posted: 14 January 2011
On the anniversary of James Joyce's death, Ulysses lives on for collectors

Joyce's mission to achieve 'immortality' was evidently a success, as Ulysses' value continues to grow

Posted: 13 January 2011
Great collections: Johnny Depp's amazing rare books and manuscripts

When he's not playing Jack Sparrow or Sweeney Todd, Depp is a fan of Kerouac and Edgar Allan Poe

Posted: 12 January 2011
Buy Alberto Giacometti, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro... All in one handy little book

Estimated at €10,000, a publisher's favour among his circle of notable artist friends is for sale in Marseille

Posted: 11 January 2011
Your chance to join an exciting 2011 for militaria at National Book Auctions

NBA's sales boast everything from Mark Twain to Mein Kampf, and they want you to get involved

Posted: 11 January 2011
Holy $23m World Record breaking year for collectible comics, Batman!

Heritage Auctions has posted year-end sales of $677m - and it's largely thanks to a caped crusader

Posted: 6 January 2011
Legendary pop artist Robert Indiana spreads the 'LOVE' in Florida

This multi-signed leather bound 1966 book by the American artist is going under the hammer in the US

Posted: 6 January 2011
Love letters by fascist and 'most influential writer' Céline sell in Belgium

As influential as he is controversial, love notes by Louis-Ferdinand Destouches are up for sale

Posted: 5 January 2011
Revealing... The Top Five most expensive printed books

The printing press has passed the Bible, the Bard and birds of America round the world

Posted: 5 January 2011
Need a New Year's resolution? How about starting your dream collection....

2011 could well be the perfect time to invest in something you love... Here we show you why and how

Posted: 1 January 2011
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) (PT147)

Exceptional first edition of A Study in Scarlet, inscribed by the author

Posted: 11 October 2010
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) (PT147)*

Full description of an exceptional first edition of A Study in Scarlet, inscribed by the author

Posted: 11 October 2010
Rare book collectors discover 'Where the Wild Things Are' in New York

Maurice Sendak, author of the famous 1963 children's book, auctioned with illustrator FOC Darley

Posted: 31 August 2010