THE contents of two libraries from estate dispersal sales proved a great draw for collectors at a recent auction sale.

Lawrences’ bi-annual auction of books, maps, manuscripts and photographs in boasts a vast assortment of lots and their recent sale had the added benefit of containing the principal contents of two fascinating libraries that boosted the auction total to one of the highest of recent years.

The dispersal of the library contents from Limington House was sold in 61 lots that made £29,180 and Cefntilla Court in Monmouthshire - home to the Dukes of Raglan yielded 95 lots that made just under £50,000

There were surprises in store - including the 1830s game of `The Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque`, an unusually complete parlour game inspired by the illustrations of Thomas Rowlandson.

Especially rare for being so complete after nearly 200 years, the game made £2920 [image 2042].

There were two lots of photography - an album of 79 photos of mainly amateur photographs of China and Peking dated to about 1887 and took £4020 [image of one item, 2234] whilst an important series of 24 late 19th Century large panoramic views of Kashmir by Vishi Nath attracted interest from international collectors.

The lot had been found in a cupboard at Limington House and its potential was recognised immediately by book specialist, Robert Ansell.

It was bought on the telephone by a continental bidder for £10,980 [image 2242]

From the library of the Lords Raglan at Cefntilla Court, Monmouthshire came a lot containing a diary by Lt Col. R. E. A. Hamilton relating his travels from Kuwait in late 1917.

With eight other volumes in the lot, the price hit £17080.

An album of important autograph letters contained letters from Charles Darwin, Rev. Charles Dodgson (`Lewis Carroll`), Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale and Sir John Everett Millais. The album had passed by descent in the family of Sir Richard Bagallay and Violet, Lady Bourdillon, wife of the Governor of Nigeria.

The album was bought for £14640 [image of Dickens letter, 2488].

A further highlight was a collection of letters and documents from the archive of the publishers and booksellers Cadell and Davies. This made £5360 [image 2496]