Pretty much the only news out of today's English Literature, History, Children's Books and Illustration sale at Sotheby's London will focus around two lots:
The autograph draft manuscript of Jane Austen's unfinished novel The Watsons fetched an eye-popping £993,250 ($1.6m), over estimates of £200,000-300,000. This was the only substantial Austen manuscript still in private hands, but according to early media reports, the buyer today was "an institution." Presumably we'll find out fairly quickly where this will be ending up. [Update: The Bodleian Library was the buyer. See their press release.]
The Sheffield Football Club archive sold for £881,250, within the estimate range. Preliminary reports do not identify the buyer.
Other prices: a collection of Benjamin Disraeli letters sold for £73,250, the James Joyce family passport made £61,250, and the first edition of Gulliver's Travels fetched £49,250. A first edition Jane Eyre sold for £27,500.
