I agree wholeheartedly about the clearing of the collection and as far as I am concerned, legal ownership needs to be established as quickly as possible. I would imagine any other party would feel the same and it is much more important to them.

The position of the books is slightly more complicated.

I do not ask if the executor of the will has legal title to items I take from them, bought (normally) or in this case for selling. I have never met anyone who did.

At the time I collected the books there was no claim from Halsway Manor as far as I was aware.

Thus the books were obtained legally and sold legitimately as far as I was aware.

As for the position now, vis-a-vis these books, I will not take anyone´s advice except that of a legally qualified person. And since that is just as much of an art form as accountancy - probably not even then.