- On 6 July, Sotheby's London will sell Western Manuscripts and Miniatures, in 40 lots. The expected big attraction here is the Hours of Anne de Montmorency, a French illuminated manuscript from 1539. It's estimated at £300,000-500,000. A Hebrew Pentateuch from the 13th century has pre-sale estimates of £200,000-300,000.
- Quite possibly the most important sale of the summer will be held at Christie's London on 7 July. This is the first part of the Arcana Collection: Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts and Incunabula. This sale will feature just 48 lots, but estimates suggest the sale could bring in something on the order of £11-16 million. Fully half of the lots have low-end estimates of £100,000 or more, and two lots may make more than £2 million (even before premiums). I'll be doing a complete preview of this auction as it approaches, so stay tuned for that.
- On 8 July, Bloomsbury London will sell Manuscripts, Literature and History, Children's and Illustrated Books, in 488 lots.
- On 15 July, Sotheby's London will sell English Literature, History, Children's Books and Illustrations, in 215 lots. The major lot is expected to be a copy of the first print appearance of "A Study in Scarlet," inscribed by Conan Doyle (one of two known inscribed copies). Estimates on that are £250,000-400,000.
- Also on 15 July at Sotheby's London, Books for Cooks, in 154 lots. The print version of this catalog is really very lovely - they've strategically scattered foodstains throughout.
