Sunday, December 10, 2017

Links & Reviews

- Michael Blanding reports for the NYTimes on what looks like yet another modern forgery come to light: a ~1507 Waldseemüller world map that was set to be sold by Christie's this week before doubts were raised about its authenticity by Alex Clausen, Barry Ruderman, Michael Peichl, and Nick Wilding. Christie's has withdrawn the map from this week's sale.

- News this week from Salem, MA, where local media is covering the story that the Phillips Library collections, removed from their building in 2011 for renovations and kept at a facility in Rowley since then, probably won't be returning to Salem. See the Salem News report or "Shameless Stewards" at streestsofsalem.

- Over at Mental Floss, Rebecca Romney offers some tips for taking care of your books (common-sense to most of us, but useful reminders).

- Elizabeth DeBold explains this month's Crocodile Mystery at The Collation.

- From American Book Collecting, "The Heroic Age: Dibdin, Heber, and Bibliomania."

- On the Library of Congress blog, John Cole reflects on his job as the Library's first official historian.

- Jennifer Howard highlights a few of her recent stories on the biblio-world.

- The LATimes profiles Whitmore Rare Books and other LA-area rare booksellers.

Reviews

- Ron Chernow's Grant; review by Padraic Scanlon for the Guardian.

- Carol Porter Grossman's The History of the Limited Editions Club; review by Lise Jaillant in the TLS.

- Gordon Wood's Friends Divided; review by Edith Gelles in the WaPo.

- Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris' The Lost Words; review by Meara Sharma in the WaPo.

Upcoming Auctions

- Fine Books & Manuscripts at Sotheby's New York on 11 December.

- English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations at Sotheby's London on 11 December.

- History of Science and Technology at Sotheby's New York on 12 December.

- Printed Books, Maps & Documents at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 13 December.

- Valuable Books and Manuscripts at Christie's London on 13 December.

- The Library of Richard Adams at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 14 December.

- Books and Works on Paper, Including Fine Photographs at Bloomsbury on 14 December.

- Fine Americana - Travel & Exploration - World History - Cartography at PBA Galleries on 14 December.

- Children's & Illustrated Books at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 15 December.