Auction House Details

Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood

Auction House Name Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood
Site URL https://www.bhandl.co.uk/
About Us The firm covers Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. It regularly attracts buyers from around the World who are able to bid online at all of the firm's major sales. The firm's history stretches back to 1945 when Arthur Bearne established auction rooms in Torquay, which were expanded by his son Brian. The firm realised its first auction record in 1963 when it sold a Spode dinner service from Saltram House on behalf of The National Trust for £3,400. Bearne's subsequently identified other important works of art including an unrecorded Hogarth portrait, which sold in 1967 for £24,000. In 1968, after extensive research, an Hawaiian wood bowl brought back to England from Captain Cook's third voyage and originally in the collection of Sir Ashton Lever, realised £15,000, which was a world record at that time for any item of ethnological art. In 1976, Bearne's formed a close association with Sotheby's and in 1977 became part of the London company and operated from Rainbow, an imposing mansion overlooking Torbay. The Torquay business operated under the name of Sotheby Bearne until 1982 when, following a reorganisation throughout Sotheby's worldwide, a partnership was formed to re-acquire and continue the business. In 1997, in order to develop the business further, Bearne's relocated to Exeter, Devon's capital city. The salerooms at St Edmund's Court in Okehampton Street were purpose built and have proved to be an ideal location from which to expand. Christopher Hampton and Rachel Littlewood established Hampton & Littlewood in 2001, specialising in antiquarian books, maritime and sporting sales as well as holding regular sales of selected antiques in salerooms previously occupied by the internationally renowned auction house Phillips. Christopher Hampton was the former South West Regional Director for Phillips, while Rachel Littlewood was the firm's Probate Manager in the West Country. Hampton & Littlewood have built strong links with the professional community in Exeter and had sales in excess of £1.4M in 2008. As a founding member of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers (SOFAA), Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood is committed to the highest standards of ethics, probity and performance and have a long track record for identifying, valuing and selling fine art, antiques and collectables.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
City Honiton
Country United Kingdom
Zipcode EX14 1LX
Contact Number +44 (0)1392 4131
Buyer's Fee Our Buyer's Premium is 23.0% (plus VAT at 27.6%), which is equivalent to a VAT inclusive rate of 25.2%.
Consigner's Fee 18% seller's commission. This rate includes VAT (at 20%)

AUCTION LIST


  • University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Jefferson's Owned & Signed "Plutarch's Morals" Vol. 4. - 1st Time At Auction In Nearly 200 Years!
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Flown NASA Hasselblad 203S Space Camera On Endeavour STS-111, With Components, Data Module & Flown Film Magazine!
    University Archives, Jan. 7: One Of The Finest Lincoln Assassination Letters Extant, April 15, 1865 - Illustrated & Beyond Dramatic! 8pp.
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Isaac Newton Highly Important Religious Manuscript With 85+ Words In His Hand, Ex-Bonhams
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Marilyn Monroe Gorgeous Signed & Inscribed Photograph, PSA Authenticated
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Rare Ernest Hemingway, 1 Of 10 Signed Presentation Copies Of "Farewell To Arms"
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Ayn Rand 11pp Revised AMS "The Cold Civil War" For LA Times Newspaper- 900+ Words In Her Hand!
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Mary Todd Lincoln Calls Abe A "great & good man, who loved & served his country so well"
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Abraham Lincoln Gives Rebel Woman Pass To Visit Prisoner Of War Husband, Showing A Very Human Lincoln!
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Babe Ruth PSA Type II Signed Conlon Photo, With Ruth Miniature Louisville Slugger, 16.25"
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Armstrong, Collins, Aldrin Signed Photo - Prime Crew Apollo 11 - PSA Authenticated
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Huge Abraham Lincoln Hesler Photo, Ca. 1880 - As If He Were In The Room!
  • Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 1775 Map of Virginia, Fry and Jefferson, ex-John Tyler. $6,000 to $8,000.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Albrecht Durer Engraving, The Peasant Couple at Market. $3,400 to $3,800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 1777 Map: Wm. Faden, British Colonies in N. America, ex. John Tyler. $2,000 to $2,400.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 30 Vols. George Eliot 1st Editions; Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Deronda, etc. $1,400 to $1,800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Celestial Floor Globe c. 1800. $1,400 to $1,800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1866 London MacMillan. $900 to $1,200.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: President Andrew Jackson Signed Patent, 1831. $1,000 to $1,200.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Civil War Tintype of Calvin “Old Ballie” Walker, CSA 3rd TN Infantry, KIA, plus 3 Union Images. $800 to $1,000.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 1855 Georgia Pocket Map, W. G. Bonner. $800 to $1,000.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Audubon c. 1835 Birds of America Common Cormorant, Havell Edition. $800 to $900.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1st Edition in 8 Volumes. $600 to $800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Four NASA Moon Survey Photos; 144M, 148M, 149M, 149H1. $400 to $600.
  • Sotheby’s
    Year in Review
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: A Rare Hebrew Bible with Micrographic Masorah. Sold: 1,514,000 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: "The Freedman's Primer.” Sold: 241,300 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Smith, William. "The Map that Changed the World." Sold: 139,700 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Psalter, C13th. Illuminated Psalter. Sold: 330,200 GBP
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Lincoln, Abraham. The abolition of slavery. Sold: 13,697,500 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Vergilius. Opera, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 1501. Sold: 1,041,400 USD