Friday (April 20th):Sotheby's, New York: A first-edition copy of Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest made $362,500 (€263,650) – the second-highest price ever at auction for a book by an Irish writer. The book was inscribed by Wilde to Robert (Robbie) Ross and was one of 12 copies published in a special edition, printed on Japanese vellum paper, by Leonard Smithers and Company in London in 1899.

Sunday (April 22nd):Drum's Auctioneers, Malahide, Co Dublin: A stub from a ticket to the launch of Titanic sold for €1,000 – considerably below the estimate (€5,000-€7,000).

Forthcoming auctions

Monday (April 30th): Morgan O'Driscoll Auctioneers, Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Cork city: Important Irish Art auction at 6.30pm. In The West of Ireland (oil-on-canvas) by Grace Henry €7,000-€10,000; Stormy Seas (pen-and-ink drawing) by Jack B Yeats €6,000-€8,000; Bog Scene (watercolour) by Percy French €5,000-€7,000.