- One of the Transylvania Four thieves has self-published a book about the heist, Mr. Pink (available from several Kentucky bookstores, not that I'm recommending purchasing it). Travis McDade recaps the thefts and comments on Allen's book in an NPR segment (mp3).
- In the Telegraph, a look ahead to the new books that will hit (UK) shelves in 2011.
- AE Monthly reports that Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and the auction house Dominic Winter have settled their lawsuit, which stems from the David Slade thefts.
- The NYTimes "Windows on the World" series features Jorge Luis Borges' library window.
- Also in AE Monthly, Bruce McKinney reflects on the "American Experience" sale at Bonhams in December (my report), noting that overall the sale brought a 20% premium over the original purchase prices, and that the "high spots" continued to sell well while "less rare" items fell behind.
- In the NYTimes this week, some excellent coverage for the Bentham Project's crowdsourced transcription efforts.
- From BibliOdyssey, some early natural history watercolors from a South Carolina artist.
- "Arts & Letters Daily" editor Denis Dutton has died. The Chronicle of Higher Education has signaled that it will continue the site.
- Alberto Manguel has posted a list [PDF] of his hundred favorite books.
- The Top 500 Auction sales for 2010, as tracked by Michael Stillman. Number 500 sold for $47,806, an 8.5% rise over last year.
- Durham University has revealed its plans for restoration work on its recovered First Folio, including paper repairs and a new binding. Meanwhile, Raymond Scott speaks to the Sunday Sun about his time in prison, noting a visit to the prison library where he jokingly tried to make off with a copy of Shakespeare's works. This interview seems to contradict the last Scott rumor we had, that he was working in the prison library).
- Daniel Mendelsohn's piece in this week's New Yorker on the Vatican Library and its staff is absolutely a must-read (it's not all online, so go buy the magazine or subscribe online). Also check out the slideshow of Vatican manuscripts.
Reviews
- Robert Morrison's The English Opium-Eater; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
- The Autobiography of Mark Twain; review by James Campbell in the Telegraph.
- Pauline Maier's Ratification; review by Rosemary Zagarri in the WaPo.
