LAWRENCES Auctioneers of Crewkerne's recent book sale was one of the most successful provincial specialist book auctions this year, with some great treasures among the 325 lots.

An archive of material relating to Albert Smith, the Victorian Alpinist and performer, contained some unrepeatable items which came to the market for the first time, direct from the family.

It was from India that the two most eagerly contested lots originated, Emily Eden’s large-scale volume of 24 lithographed plates ‘Portraits of the Princes and Peoples of India’ from 1844 was much admired. It realised a hammer price of £10,500.

The handwritten journal that followed a few lots later was compiled in 1840 by J.H. Eden, written for his ‘beloved’ in England, it described life in India and was illustrated by 25 pen and ink or watercolour images. Achieving a hammer price of £18,000, both items had been consigned from the same library.

There were 26 autographed letters written by Rudyard Kipling to a Captain Edward H. Bayly. Offering as interesting an insight as Kipling always does, this collection of letters gave a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between the two men, achieving a hammer price of £6,000. It was Captain Bayly’s own archive that appeared in the following lot, including journals from some of the ships mentioned and some fascinating ephemeral items from his time in China. This made slightly more with a hammer price of £6,500.

The highlight of the sale was the archive relating to Albert Smith, the Victorian Alpinist and performer. The archive which achieved a total of over £40,000 hammer included his original lecture notes, publications, letters, and items of ephemera which had been kept by the family in wonderfully good condition. The scrolling Diorama gives a taste of the Mont Blanc Show which was enjoyed by thousands of paying guests, including Queen Victoria and her family at Osborne House.