LOUIS VUITTON RUBEN TOLEDO POSTCARD COLLECTION

LOUIS VUITTON IS HONORING ILLUSTRATOR RUBEN TOLEDO'S TWELVE YEARS OF ARTISTIC WORK FOR THEIR ACCLAIMED CITY GUIDES WITH A STUNNING BOX SET OF 100 POSTCARDS, EACH FEATURING A DIFFERENT WORLD CITY. ILLUSTRATED IN BLACK AND WHITE AND ACCENTED WITH VIBRANT FLUORESCENT COLOURS, EACH IMAGE AIMS TO CAPTURE THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF THE DEPICTED DESTINATION. THE COLLECTION CONTAINS IMAGES CREATED BY TOLEDO AS FAR BACK AS 1998 AND ABOUT THEM HE SAYS 'MY AIM IS TO PAINT A PORTRAIT OF A CITY AND TO DRAW OUT ITS SPECIAL AND ETERNAL ESSENCE; TO CAPTURE THE UNIQUE TEMPO AND CHARACTER OF EACH.' THE RUBEN TOLEDO 100 POSTCARDS FOR LOUIS VUITTON CITY GUIDE IS AVAILABLE AT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES FOR $115.

WHISTLER PRINTS SELL FOR RECORD PRICES

SWANN GALLERIES'S AUCTION OF WHISTLER AND HIS INFLUENCE RECENTLY OFFERED APPROXIMATELY 150 PRINTS BY JAMES AM WHISTLER AND HIS FOLLOWERS. NEARLY 20 PRINTS SET WORLD AUCTION RECORDS, INCLUDING THE SALE'S TOP LOT, A VERY EARLY IMPRESSION OF NOCTURNE, ETCHING AND DRYPOINT ON JAPAN PAPER, 1879-80, WHICH BECAME THE MOST EXPENSIVE WHISTLER PRINT EVER SOLD AT AUCTION WHEN IT BROUGHT $282,000. THE LUMINOUS AND RICHLY INKED ETCHING WAS LIKELY ONE OF THE FIRST THE ARTIST MADE UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN VENICE, AND DISPLAYS HIS SOUGHT-AFTER BUTTERFLY SIGNATURE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR SWANN SAID: 'SETTING THE RECORD PRICE FOR ANY WHISTLER PRINT SHOWS THE QUALITY AND SCARCITY OF THE MATERIAL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER IN THE PAST FEW SEASONS. THIS IS THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR A PRINT EVER SOLD AT SWANN, SOLIDIFYING SWANN'S PLACE IN THE MARKET FOR RARE WORKS ON PAPER.' AMONG THE MANY OTHER WHISTLERS THAT SET RECORDS IN THE SALE WERE A VERY SCARCE FIRST STATE OF 'ROTHERHITHE', 1860, ETCHING AND DRYPOINT, $14,400; 'LITTLE SMITHFIELD', ETCHING ON JAPAN PAPER, WHICH HAD NOT APPEARED AT AUCTION IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, $18,000; 'BATTERSEA: DOWN', DRYPOINT, 1875, WITH SOFT, HAZY TONES AND INKY PLATE EDGES, $13,200; 'FISHING BOATS, HASTINGS', ETCHING AND DRYPOINT ON JAPAN PAPER, $15,600; 'FULHAM', ETCHING, ONE OF THREE ETCHINGS WHISTLER MADE OF THE OLD PUTNEY TOLL BRIDGE IN 1879 BEFORE ITS DESTRUCTION, $14,400; AND 'RUE DES BON ENFANTS, TOURS', ETCHING AND DRYPOINT, CREATED WHILE HE WAS ON HONEYMOON IN THE LOIRE VALLEY, $21,600.

THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM ACQUIRES 'YOUNG WOMAN TUNING A FLUTE'

THE ART FUND HAS HELPED THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM, CAMBRIDGE ENRICH ITS WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION WITH A CARAVAGGIO-INSPIRED OIL ON CANVAS. 'YOUNG WOMAN TUNING A LUTE (1626-27) BY HENDRIK TER BRUGGHEN, IS NOW ON PUBLIC DISPLAY WITHIN THE FITZWILLIAM'S FINE COLLECTION OF DUTCH PAINTINGS. THE ART FUND GAVE £225,000 TO MAKE THE ACQUISITION POSSIBLE, ALONGSIDE THE MLA/V&A PURCHASE GRANT FUND WHICH GAVE £50,000. THIS IS THE MUSEUM'S FIRST ACQUISITION OF A WORK BY TER BRUGGHEN, ONE OF THE LEADING PAINTERS AMONGST THE UTRECHT FOLLOWERS OF CARAVAGGIO. IT IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF WORKS BY THIS ARTIST IN THE UK. TER BRUGGHEN, WHO DIED AT A YOUNG AGE, WAS AN IMPORTANT INNOVATOR FOR LATER DUTCH 17th CENTURY GENRE PAINTINGS. MORE RECENTLY HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN UNORTHODOX BUT SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE WORK OF ARTISTS SUCH AS VERMEER. THE WORK WAS PREVIOUSLY ON LOAN TO THE FITZWILLIAM BUT THE PURCHASE MEANS THAT GENERATIONS TO COME WILL BE ABLE TO ADMIRE THE SKILL AND SUBTLETY OF TER BRUGGHEN'S ART. 'YOUNG WOMAN TUNING A LUTE' CAN NOW BE SEEN IN GALLERY 15 AT THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM.

TIFFANY & CO RELEASES 2010-2011 BLUE BOOK

TIFFANY & CO HAS RELEASED THE 2010-2011 BLUE BOOK COLLECTION, THE JEWELER'S ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS. THIS YEAR'S STUNNING COLLECTION INCLUDES THE TIFFANY MAJESTIC NECKLACE. IT TOOK MORE THAN A YEAR TO PROCURE THE MORE THAN 300 PEAR-SHAPED AND ROUND BRILLIANT STONES AND OVER 700 HOURS TO CREATE THE NECKLACE ITSELF. THE SMALLER STONES ARE SET INTO DIAMOND FLORETS SURROUNDING A 30.31 CARAT, E-COLOUR, INTERNALLY FLAWLESS DETACHABLE DROP. THE PLATINUM MOUNTINGS WERE INDIVIDUALLY CRAFTED AND LINKED TO CREATE A FLEXIBLE SETTING THAT SPARKLES WITH EVERY MOVEMENT. THE BLUE BOOK COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES COLOURED DIAMONDS. A NECKLACE BASED ON ART DECO JEWELS IN THE TIFFANY & CO ARCHIVES HAS A TRIPLE-DROOP PENDENT WITH THREE EXTRAORDINARY RARE FANCY VIVID YELLOW DIAMONDS, A RECTANGULAR SHAPED 13.09 CARAT YELLOW DIAMOND AND TWO APPROXIMATELY 6 CARAT YELLOW DIAMONDS SURROUNDED WITH A TOTAL OF 642 ROUND BRILLIANT WHITE DIAMONDS.

NEWLY DISCOVERED HONUS WAGNER CARD TO BE AUCTIONED

THE SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME IN BALTIMORE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE A LITTLE DIVINE LOVE FROM THE HOLY GRAIL OF BASEBALL CARDS. A NEWLY DISCOVERED T206 HONUS WAGNER CARD, LEFT TO THE CONVENT BY THE BROTHER OF A MEMBER OF THE ORDER WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF ON 4.NOVEMBER IN DALLAS AS PART OF HERITAGE AUCTIONS' SIGNATURE SPORTS MEMORABILIA EVENT. THE CARD IS ESTIMATED TO BRING AT LEAST $100,000. 'THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS CARD WILL GO BENEFIT THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME ALL OVER THE WORLD, IN ABOUT 35 COUNTRIES', SAID SISTER VIRGINIA MULLER, TREASURER FOR THE BALTIMORE CONVENT. 'WHEREVER THE NEED IS, WE WILL SHARE IT.' NEW T206 WAGNER CARDS TURN UP ABOUT AS OFTEN AS BOTTLES OF 1921 DOM PERIGNON, AUCTION COMICS #1 OR A DIAMOND AS BIG AS YOUR FIST. NONETHELESS, THIS EXAMPLE TURNED UP IN MID-SUMMER 2010 WHEN THE CARD WAS LEFT TO THE CONVENT. WHILE THE CONDITION IS NOT GREAT, FAR BELOW THE MOST FAMOUS OF T206 EXAMPLES, WHICH SOLD FOR $2 MILLION, IT IS STILL QUITE VALUABLE, HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF COLLECTORS EVERYWHERE AND REPRESENTS A REMARKABLE FIND IN THE WORLD OF HIGH-END CARDBOARD. IT CAME, PRESENTED SIMPLY IN PLASTIC, WITH A NOTE THAT READ: 'ALTHOUGH DAMAGED, THE VALUE OF THIS BASEBALL CARD SHOULD INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE 21st CENTURY.' 'FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THIS COPY OF THIS COVETED RARITY IS BEING PLACED ON THE AUCTION BLOCK', SAID CHRIS IVY, DIRECTOR OF HERITAGE SPORTS COLLECTIBLES. IT WAS WAGNER HIMSELF WHO PULLED THE PLUG ON THE USE OF HIS IMAGE ON THE CARD, CREATING HISTORY'S MOST FAMOUS BASEBALL CARD, THOUGH THE REASON IS A SUBJECT OF GOOD-SPIRITED DEBATE AMONG AFICIONADOS EVERYWHERE. 'THE MOST POPULAR STORY IS THAT WAGNER WANTED NO ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF TOBACCO USE TO KIDS', SAID IVY. 'ANOTHER THEORY ARGUES THAT IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A FAILURE TO AGREE ON MONEY THAT LED THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY TO END PRODUCTION OF WAGNER'S CARD SOON AFTER IT STARTED.' 'I HAD NO IDEA WHO HONUS WAGNER WAS BEFORE WE SAW THIS BASEBALL CARD', SISTER VIRGINIA, 'BUT I'VE CERTAINLY TRIED READ EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT HIM NOW.' EITHER WAY, THE BOON TO THE SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME IS OBVIOUS, AND THE POTENTIAL GOOD WORK DONE AS A RESULT OF THE SALE WILL ONLY ADD TO WAGNER'S LEGEND.

QUEEN ACCEPS HELPING HAND FROM EMIR OF QATAR

THE QUEEN ACCEPTED A HELPING HAND FROM THE EMIR OF QATAR AFTER WELCOMING HIM TO WINDSOR CASTLE AT THE START OF A THREE-DAY STATE VISIT INTENDED TO CEMENT BRITAIN'S TRADE LINKS WITH THE GULF STATE. AFTER WATCHING A MARCH PAST OF THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY AND ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY SOLDIERS, SHEIK HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI GUIDED THE QUEEN DOWN A SHORT FLIGHT OF STEPS FROM A DIAS. THE EMIR, WHO FLEW TO LONDON WITH HIS CONSORT, SHEIKA MOZAH BINT NASSER AL-MISSNED, ONE OF HIS THREE WIVES, WILL ALSO MET DAVID CAMERON IN DOWNING STREET AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DRIVE TO STRENGTHEN TRADE WITH QATAR AND OTHER GULF EMIRATES. QATAR, A BRITISH PROTECTORATE UNTIL 1971, IA A KEY ENERGY SUPPLIER TO THE UK, AND IS EVENTUALLY EXPECTED TO PROVIDE UP TO ONE FIFTH OF THE COUNTRY'S GAS SUPPLY IN THE FORM OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, WHICH IS SHIPPED TO A TERMINAL IN MILFORD HAVEN, PEMBROKESHIRE. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR INVESTOR IN THE UK, WITH HIGH-PROFILE ASSETS INCLUDING THE HARRODS DEPARTMENT STORE IN LONDON, WHICH THE QATARI ROYAL FAMILY BOUGHT IN MAY FOR AN ESTIMATED £1.5 BILLION. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE EMIR AND HIS CONSORT BEFORE ESCORTING THEM TO WINDSOR CASTLE.

007-MODIFIED ASTON MARTIN SELLS FOR $4.1 MILLION

ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS JAMES BOND CARS, THE SPECIALLY EQUIPPED SILVER ASTON MARTIN FIRST DRIVEN BY SEAN CONNERY IN 'GOLDFINGER', WAS AUCTIONED OFF WEDNESDAY IN LONDON FOR $4.1 MILLION. THE UNIQUE CAR, WHICH BOASTS AN EJECTOR SEAT, MACHINE GUNS, ROTATING LICENSE PLATES AND OTHER SPY GEAR, WAS INITIALLY EXPECTED TO GO FOR MORE THAT $5.5 MILLION. 'THIS IS THE ONLY GENUINE, 007 JAMES BOND CAR', SAID MICK WALSH, EDITOR IN CHIEF OF CLASSIC AND SPORTS CAR MAGAZINE. IT WAS BOUGHT BY HARRY YEAGGY, AN AMERICAN CLASSIC CAR COLLECTOR WHO HAS A SMALL PRIVATE MUSEUM IN OHIO. 'WE'D RIDE IT AROUND THE STREETS OF LONDON TONIGHT', HE TOLD THE BBC. HE SAID THE FACT THE ICONIC ASTON MARTIN HAS NEVER BEEN AUCTIONED BEFORE MEANT IT HAD TREMENDOUS APPEAL TO COLLECTORS. BOND'S CREATOR, NEWSPAPERMAN AND NOVELIST IAN FLEMING, HAD ORIGINALLY PLACED BOND IN A BENTLEY, WHICH WAS HIS OWN PERSONAL CAR CHOICE. BUT THE FILMMAKERS PUT HIM IN THE ASTON MARTIN, WHICH THEN COMPETED MAINLY WITH THE JAGUAR E-TYPE FOR THE LUCRATIVE BRITISH AND AMERICAN SPORTS-CAR MARKET. ASTON MARTIN WAS SEEN AS A HEADY MIX OF ITALIAN DESIGN AND BRITISH ENGINEERING. THE SILVER ASTON MARTIN DB5 COUPE AUCTIONED WEDNESDAY WAS USED BY CONNERY TO ELUDE VARIOUS VILLAINS IN BOTH 'GOLDFINGER' AND 'THUNDERBALL', GENERALLY REGARDED AS EARLY CLASSICS IN HOLLYWOOD'S LONGEST RUNNING AND MOST SUCCESSFUL FILM FRANCHISE. THE USE OF THE ASTON MARTIN, WITH A REAR BULLETPROOF SHIELD THAT COULD BE ACTIVATED WITH THE PUSH OF A DASHBOARD BUTTON, PROVIDED A MAJOR BOOST FOR THE BRITISH CAR-MAKER, WHICH RECEIVED WORLDWIDE PUBLICITY WHEN THE CAR WAS FEATURED IN 'GOLDFINGER' IN 1964. THE CAR AUCTIONED BY RM AUCTIONS AUTOMOBILES OF LONDON IS ONE OF TWO ASTON MARTINS FACTORY-MODIFIED FOR USE IN THE EARLY BOND FILMS, AND IT IS THE ONLY SURVIVING EXAMPLE. THE CAR, WHICH CONTAINS AND EARLY VERSION OF THE MODERN-DAY NAVIGATION SYSTEM, IS DESCRIBED AS BEING IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE OTHER 007-MODIFIED ASTON MARTIN WAS REPORTED STOLEN IN 1997 AND HAS NEVER BEEN RECOVERED. MANY BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN DESTROYED.