Books, DOCUMENTS,
MAPS, EPHEMERA
& AUTOGRAPHS
Alan McIlwain
Antiques Cataloguer & Valuer
Alan began his career in book dealing specialising in childrens' books such as Rupert Bear. He has many years experience working with first editions, antique books, atlases and maps also.
The most highly collectable authors include Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Lewis Carroll, and A. A. Milne to name but a few, with true first editions being the most sought-after. Later print runs will be worth significantly less. On a final note - just because a book is old doesn’t mean its valuable. Value is dependant upon collectability. Some old books can look impressive but are undesired especially encyclopaedias.
AUC.223, Lot 127, HAMMER £3600
Beatles interest: Ono (Yoko), Grapefruit, 1st UK edition 1970, signed by both John Lennon & Yoko Ono.
AUC.254, Lot 384, HAMMER £1350
Rowling (J. K.): Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, signed first edition, Bloomsbury 2000.
AUC.223, Lot 147, HAMMER £2900
Dodgson (Charles Lutwidge 'Lewis Carroll') Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 2nd (1st published) edition.
The world of antiquarian books goes hand-in-hand with auto-graphs and documents. Letters, autograph books, sketch and watercolour books, manuscripts and more comprise this category. Certain names stand out above others in certain categories for example The Beatles in the world of music. We've sold manuscript letters by the judge who condemned Charles I to death; by politicians such as Winston Churchill, and many historic royals. Archives of correspondence can turn up which change our view of history, and are highly sought-after by researchers and historians.
AUC.267, Lot 680, HAMMER £5200
Beatles autographs, comprising J. Lennon, G. Harrison, P. McCartney & R. Starr, from Shrewsbury Music Hall 1963.
AUC.228, Lot 342, HAMMER £7400
Cecil Beaton, a group of eighteen original pen and watercolour illustrations for Donn Casey.