Meredith Frampton (British, 1894-1984), 'Dr. Clive Forster-Cooper, F.R.S.', bears inscription on label on reverse, oil on canvas, 86.3 x 106.7cm (34 x 42in). Sold for £79,200. Photo Bonhams

Bonhams Gentleman's Library Sale on 20 January realised £1,084,320 making it the most successful in its history. "This impressive total in our first major sale of the year, and above estimate prices for high quality items, shows that the market remains resilient." said Bonhams Head of Collectables, Jon Baddeley.

The highlight of the sale was a work by British painter Meredith Frampton (above) which achieved a record price for the artist of £79,200 against an estimate of £5,000-7,000. The painting, a highly accomplished portrait of the former Director of the Natural History Museum, Dr Clive Forster-Cooper, shows the eminent palaeontologist surrounded by items from his personal collection of fossil vertebrates. (Dr Forster-Cooper lived at the Natural History Museum from 1940 – 1945, sleeping in his office to ensure the survival of the collections.) The painting dates from 1945 and although Meredith Frampton lived until 1984 this is believed to be his final work.

National Trust takes picture back to Sissinghurst

English School, circa 1761, Sissinghurst Castle, ink and dye on laid paper, 53.3 x 76cm (21 x 29 15/16in). Sold for £12,000. Photo Bonhams

The National Trust paid £12,000 for a rare view of Sissinghurst Castle in 1761 (above) when it was used as a prisoner of war camp to house French seamen captured during the Seven Years war. The drawing, by an unknown hand, shows the aftermath of an escape attempt. It will be displayed at Sissingurst. The Trust also purchased seven pictures of prize cows by the Worcestershire 19th century painter Richard Whitford (below).

Richard Whitford (British, d.1890), A prize cow in a barn, signed 'R. Whitford' and dated 1875 (lower right), oil on canvas, 50 x 61cm (19 3/4 x 24in). Sold for £12,600. Photo Bonhams

Top prices for quality lots

An 8ft 6 ice age cave bear skeleton made £36,000 over its estimate of £18,000 – 22,000 and a carved elephant ivory presentation tusk sold for £46,000 against an estimate of £10,000 – 15,000. Two 42 inch globes, facsimiles of 18th century originals by Vincenzo Coronelli, fetched £26,400.

A cave bear skeleton, Ursus spelaeus, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, Ice Age (50-100 thousand years ago), (the hip and shoulder-blades reconstructed), on a metal stand, 102.5in(260cm)high, 45.3in(115cm)deep. Sold for £36,000. Photo Bonhams

A carved elephant ivory presentation tusk, by Gedijala Satyaraju, Vizagapatam, 1929, 103cm wide, 130cm high (the tusk), 150cm high (tusk with stand). Sold for £45,600. Photo Bonhams

An impressive pair of Vincenzo Coronelli 42 1/2-inch (108cm) facsimile terrestrial and celestial globes, 20th century, 69in (175cm) high, 54in (137cm) wide (2). Sold for £26,400. Photo Bonhams