The star of the live auction was an extraordinary presentation copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, inscribed by the author to ‘the original “Gatsby”’, selling for £226,800. A world auction record was set for the first edition presentation copy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles, which achieved £214,200. The live auction at Christie’s King Street saw lively bidding across the sale, with particular excitement for works by Agatha Christie, including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd which sold for £56,700, and The Thirteen Problems which achieved an impressive, record-breaking £60,480.

The Jazz section was equally vibrant with two Down Beat awards, presented to Charlie Parker for ‘Favorite Soloist: First Place’ and ‘Alto Sax: First Place’, selling for £37,800, while The Autobiography, an inscribed first edition by Miles Davis and Quincy Thomas Jr. Troupe, closed the live auction with a flourish, selling for a record price of £27,720.

In the Part II online sale, P.G. Wodehouse’s A Damsel in Distress took centre stage and realised an impressive £21,420, while an evocative signed photograph of Josephine Baker realised £13,860 and a collection of twelve presentation copies by Agatha Christie achieved £18,900, concluding this wonderful two-part auction.

Shirley and Charlie Watts first met as students at the Royal College of Art in 1964 - before the Rolling Stones shot to stardom. Shirley was an accomplished sculptress and produced numerous artworks throughout her lifetime usually inspired by the animals she loved - dogs and horses. Shirley spent most of her time on their country estate in Devon where she established a renowned Arabian stud. Perhaps unsurprisingly she collected equestrian themed fashion items, for example an early 19th century purse beaded with an Arab stallion and assorted handbags from the 1950s onwards woven or embroidered with horses.

She kept very few garments from her younger days – but one piece – a pretty Cacharel floral printed dress - she was photographed wearing in 1971 in San Tropez, accompanied by Charlie and Ringo and Maureen Starr. Although Charlie was renowned for his sartorial style (usually immaculately turned out in Savile Row elegance)Shirley had a more relaxed, eclectic, bohemian approach to fashion. She was very independently minded and was never guided in her fashion choices by her husband.