Saturday, January 30, 2021

Links & Auctions

- If you missed any of the great programming as part of the BSA's Bibliography Week events, videos will be posted on their YouTube Channel this week.

- Over on the Smithsonian Libraries' Unbound blog, "The Staple of Libraries Past," which takes a close look at a library card catalog catalog.

- The first issue of SHARP in the Classroom launched this week.

- From William Hogeland for TNR, "Against the Consensus Approach to History."

- Madeline McMahon writes for Not Even Past on "An Archbishop's Lost Library Catalog."

- Over at Edmond Hoyle, Gent., David Levy asks "Who printed Piquet for Francis Cogan? Thank you Compositor!"

- The ABA will host three virtual "Firsts" book fairs in February and March.

- Information: A Historical Companion is now out from Princeton University Press, and the accompanying website is well worth a look.

Upcoming Auctions

- The Gaon of Vilna and his Disciples - Books and Manuscripts from the Yeshayahu Vinograd Collection at Kedem Auctions on 2 February.

- Books and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 4 February.

- The Artists of the WPA at Swann Galleries on 4 February.

- Detective Fiction Including the Alexis Galanos Collection at Sotheby's London ends on 4 February.

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Links & Auctions

- The Rocky Mountain Book & Paper Fair is happening this weekend over on Getman's Virtual.

- The ABAA's Bibliography Week showcase will be held 27–28 January - watch the ABAA website for the link.

- The Jan/Feb issue of the Library of Congress magazine is devoted to "The Art of the Book."

- From Beth DeBold for the AHA's Perspectives, "Reconciling Professional Rifts."

- Submissions are open for the prestigious 18th ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography, to be awarded in May 2022 for new bibliographical publications printed between 2018–2021. The prize winner will receive $10,000 and an additional second and third prize of $5,000 and $3,000 will be awarded. Any aspect of bibliography (enumerative, textual, history of the book, design, binding, the book trade, etc.) is considered and only certain categories are not eligible, notably catalogues of books intended for sale and translations of works appearing in another language. Submissions are made by sending a copy of the publication to Fabrizio Govi, ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography Chair, Libreria Govi, via Bononcini 24, I-41124 Modena, Italy. The deadline is December 2021. For rules, past submissions and winners see: https://ilabprize.org/ and to discuss an entry, please contact secretariat@ilab.org.


- A "Book of the Dead" scroll more than thirteen feet long is among the artifacts recently discovered in a tomb in the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo.

- An initial batch of Rhode Island newspapers from the collections of the Providence Public Library and the Rhode Island Historical Society are now available via the LC's Chronicling America site.

- If you missed Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff's visit to the Library of Congress, it's worth a watch!

- The BPL has uploaded more than 8,000 public domain images to Wikimedia Commons to mark the 20th anniversary of Wikipedia.

Upcoming Auctions

- Books and Manuscripts at Il Ponte Auctions on 26 January.

- Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 28 January.

- Livres Anciens et Modernes at Aguttes on 28 January.

- Manuscrits et Autographes at Aguttes on 28 January.

- Illustration Art at Swann Galleries on 28 January.

- Some (important!) books are included in various sales from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Gutfreund of 834 Fifth Avenue at Christie's New York: The Collection (ends 27 January) and Selections from the Library (ends 29 January).

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Links & Auctions

- The BL's Medieval Manuscripts blog has a roundup of recently-digitized manuscripts.

- Submissions for the LHRT's Justin Winsor Prize are due by 1 February.

- A project to keep an eye on: Durham University and Durham Cathedral are working together to digitally recreate the medieval Durham Priory Library.

- From the LC blog, "Free to Use and Reuse: The Art of the Book."

- "More Ottley Identifications" from Peter Kidd at Medieval Manuscripts Provenance.

- From Erin Blake for The Collation, "Using Cardboard Spacers to Fill Gaps on the Shelf."

- Liz Broadwell writes for the Penn blog on "Two Unrecorded Woodcuts from Urs Graf's 'F.M.S.' Cycle."

- The catalog of the recent APS exhibit Dr. Franklin, Citizen Scientist is available free for download. And also from APS, Val Lutz on Benjamin Franklin's papers as "Survivors of the American Revolution."

- There's a call for papers for the second issue of Inscription, themed around "Holes."

- A new auction record for comic book art was set this week with the sale of a rejected Tintin cover for nearly €3.2 million.

Upcoming Auctions

- Lettres et Manuscrits Autographes at ALDE on 20 January.

- Livres Anciens et Modernes at De Baecque on 20 January.

- Books from the Library of the Late Brian Findlay at Forum Auctions on 21 January.

- Photography at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on 21 January.

- Fine Prints and Photographs at Skinner, Inc. on 21 January.

- Fine Books at PBA Galleries on 21 January. 

In Praise of America: Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver, Prints and Broadsides at Christie's ends on 22 January.

- Winter 2021 Auction at Arader Galleries on 23 January.


Saturday, January 09, 2021

Links & Auctions

- The Royal College of Physicians has backed off plans to auction off its rare book collection.

- From the LC blog, "Citizen DJ, Noah Webster and the Value of Copyright."

- Over at Early Modern Female Book Ownership, a copy of Katherine Philips' Poems (1667) with two Gough family ownership inscriptions.

- Sarah Matthews writes for the State Library Victoria blog about "Melbourne's First Newspaper."

- Les Enluminures has published a new volume on the works of medieval scribe Joel ben Simeon by Sandra Hindman and Sharon Liberman Mintz.

Upcoming Auctions

- L'Univers du Créateur de Tintin and Bandes Dessinées at Artcurial on 14 January.

- Art & Illustration – Literature – Americana – Maps – Books in All Fields at PBA Galleries on 14 January.

Saturday, January 02, 2021

Links & Auctions

Happy New Year, friends. May 2021 be better than the last.

- From the BBC, "Has Thomas Becket's treasured 'little book' been found?"

- Gerald Cloud is working on a census of Jose Figueroa's Manifesto a la Republican Mejicana (1835) and could use your help if you know of any copies.

- Peter Kidd has posted a three-part series about manuscript cuttings from an album previously sold in the Hoe sale: Frate Nebridio, More Cuttings Illuminated by Nebridio, and Payne.

- Rebecca Romney has listed her top fifteen favorite books sold in 2020.

- From Rare Book Monthly, Michael Stillman has his annual report on the top 500 book and manuscript lots at auction in 2020. Bruce McKinney has a look back at the year that was, statements from five auction professionals, and perspectives from the ABA, ABAA, ILAB, and Marvin Getman. I have to say I am particularly keen on Selby Kiffer's call if we continue down the road of fewer printed sale catalogs: "At the least, auction houses should make their past online catalogues fully available in an easily searchable archive, complete with unsold lots and any post-publication emendations." Absolutely (and please). Perhaps the most surprising news is Marvin Getman's: "I do not plan, at this time, to bring back my live fairs. I know that might be a disappointment to some who enjoy attending my satellite fairs during the ABAA fairs but the fact is that those fairs take a lot out of this old guy for their financial return. I will devote my time and attention to continuing to improve my virtual platform and to develop themes that will bring booksellers and their customers together." As someone who took great pleasure in attending Marvin's well-produced fairs, I will miss them terribly, though I certainly understand the reasons not to hold them. Marvin deserves great plaudits from all of us in the bibliosphere for stepping up and making the virtual fairs work smoothly and efficiently!

- Longtime Exlibris moderator and bibliographer Everett Wilkie died on 23 December, from complications related to COVID-19. 

Upcoming Auctions

- From the Antiquarian Library of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban at Humbert & Ellis on 4 January.

- Rare Manuscripts, Autographs and Books at University Archives on 6 January.

- Books and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 7 January.

- Fine Literature – Science Fiction & Mystery at PBA Galleries on 7 January.