Treasures in the attic are a bit of a cliche, but they can be found. One of the most expensive items ever sold by Bloomsbury Book Auctions was a brown paper package simply marked ‘old book’ and consigned by a solicitor, acting on behalf of a family. It turned out to be a medieval manuscript which we estimated at £40,000-£60,000, but which eventually fetched a staggering £240,000. The moral of the story is, never judge a book by its wrapping paper, let alone its cover.
Books, particularly leather-bound books, can not only lend gravitas to a room, but are also handsome and decorative. Antiquarian law books have been published since the dawn of printing and can command extraordinary prices today, because of their historical importance and relevance. A first edition of Blackstone’s Commentaries for example, a cornerstone of the English legal framework, now sells for £10,000-£15,000 and subsequent editions regularly fetch between £200 and £800.
