What is your bidding technique? This Bateman cartoon on offer at John Nicholson’s on May 23 should strike a chord with ATG readers who remember the days before bidding paddles.
Published in Punch in 1933, The Art of Bidding shows nine heads captioned Some do it by raising an eyebrow, Some by the slight inclination of the head, Some with a wink, Some by adjusting their tie, Some by elevating the catalogue, Or a forefinger, Some by the removal of their spectacles, Another by replacing them, But the heathen – does it by word of mouth.