Philip Brown (right) is in charge of the rare books department at Blackwells, Oxford. For Philip, there is one book he'd love as a gift, the Golden Cockerel Press edition of The Four Gospels.

It is a masterpiece, issued in an edition of only 500 copies and illustrated with 65 wood-engravings by the artist Eric Gill, who also designed the typeface for the book.

"They are regarded, by many, as the finest to appear in a 20th-century book and are particularly noted for the marriage of illustration with text," Philip said.

"I'm afraid it is a book I shall never discover in a parcel under the Christmas tree, a copy in premium condition might well cost more than £10,0000 now!"

David Marcus Church, at Reginald Davis on The High, Oxford, would love to find the Alfred Jewel in his Christmas stocking. It resides in the Ashmolean Museum, here in Oxford.

"Dating from Anglo-Saxon England, made in the reign of Alfred the great 871-899, it is a just a stunning object," he said. "It is made of gold, enamelled, then covered with rock crystal. I would then own a unique piece of history from more than 1,000 years ago which was made for a king - now that would make my Christmas! Don't worry about a box, I will be happy to receive it unwrapped," David laughed.

John Howard, of Heritage in Woodstock, specialises in early British pottery. If he could add one piece to his fine collection what would it be?

John's choice was Wombwell's Menagerie. (pearlware with coloured glazes, circa 1815) "It is one of the rarest and most colourful of early Staffordshire pottery," he said. "Polito had a circus with animals, dancers and performers. This pottery model depicts this against a showman's backdrop. It is a wonderful piece. I was offered one, years ago, for £25,000, but could not afford it.

I still can't!

Roger and Sue Samson sell mostly 20th century art at the Mulberry Gallery in Wantage. Which work by a 20th century British artist would they dream of finding under their Christmas tree.

"At first our thoughts went to the Impressionists, especially Van Gogh and Monet," Roger explained. "But Van Gogh died in 1890 and, although the series of Monet paintings of the Houses of Parliament were done in the first decade of the 20th century, painting British scenes does not make him British!

"Considering 20th century British art brought us to a completely different style, and the work of L S Lowry. Snapshots of British industrial life, well observed. Almost any large oil would do, and one of the attractions is that they do still come up for sale, albeit outside our price range."

"One entitled "Ironworks, 1941" was auctioned at Christies last year, for around £250,000. But choosing one from a British collection, we opted for Coming out of School, 1927, in the Tate collection.

Sally Clegg of The Country Seat in Huntercombe. Which piece would she pick as a dream gift?

"I have always been a particular fan of C R Ashbee," she said. "His work is immediately identifiable. The decanter pictured on this page, is, for me, Ashbee at his very best - stylish, free, and very, very beautiful. It captures all that is best of the age when this country was at its most productive and creative.

"The silver was made in Gloucestershire by The Guild of Handicraft Ltd and the glass by Harry Powell of Whitefriars in London, so it combines the most sophisticated London taste with a wonderful naturalistic flow which reminds me of the best of the British countryside which I love."

Manfred Schotton, who has a shop in Burford, is a world expert on sporting antiques.

"Although there are some fantastic golf clubs and equipment I would love to have, I have chosen something different. Having been brought up in the Bavarian Alps, skiing is one of my passions alongside golf.

"I have chosen a painting by Alfons Walde entitled Aufstieg (ascent of the skiers) which dates from 1931.

"This is a beautiful oil painting that captures the light, the snow, the breath taking views and the quietness of the mountains. It also reminds me of the feeling of freedom and achievement gained once you've reached your goal, in this case, the Pengelstein summit in Kitzbuehel."