What could be better than a library-themed Ben & Jerrys ice cream flavor, right? Well, if a certain Facebook group has its way, that flavor could be coming soon. Lots of suggestions for what to call the flavor have been tossed around this week, so in case you've missed the posts, I wanted to round them up and spread the word (my colleagues and I have been having great fun thinking up additional names - testing the library/literary punning skills is always enjoyable!).
- Stephen Gertz at Book Patrol got the ball rolling, posting about the Facebook group and urging readers to submit flavor suggestions and to support funding for their local libraries (always a good idea).
- Menachem Kaiser at The Book Bench weighed in from The New Yorker, throwing out some additional suggestions.
- Alison Flood of The Guardian joined the fracas, reporting that Ben & Jerrys officials aren't at all opposed to the idea. Flavor guru Andy Carbone told her "From Cherry Garcia to Bohemian Raspberry, some of our best-loved flavours have been fan suggestions. We've honoured rock'n'roll icons, so why not librarians?"
- And Elizabeth from Reading Copy posted yesterday with some more good flavor names (more literary than library, but no matter).
I think Gooey Decimal System seems to have the edge at the moment, and as a friend pointed out to me, the possibilities for playing that up on the packaging, &c. are endless! (yes, Dewey has its limitations, &c., but you gotta love the pun). Anyway, join the fun - suggest away!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Macclesfield Alphabet Book Stays in UK
The British Library has been successful in raising the £600,000 that will keep the Macclesfield Alphabet Book - a lovely little "font sample" manuscript from c. 1500 - in the British Isles.
The Guardian reports: "The 46 leaves of parchment may have been a demonstration of a luxury book workshop's skill, ready to show off to a potential customer, or a complete pattern manual for a craftsman to copy. It contains gold embellished borders, title pages, and 14 alphabets wreathed in flowers and foliage, made up of humans or serpents, fish, dragons and other animal figures." A BL curator described the manuscript as "the most complete set of designs for manuscript decoration known to have survived from late-medieval Britain."
Unknown until it was discovered in the Macclesfield Library (presumably during preparations for one of the recent sales), the manuscript was purchased after a lengthy public appeal for funds, and with the support of the Art Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Beginning today, the Alphabet Book will be on display in the BL's Ritblat Gallery.
More from The Guardian, Rare Book Review. There's a picture here [via Laura]
The Guardian reports: "The 46 leaves of parchment may have been a demonstration of a luxury book workshop's skill, ready to show off to a potential customer, or a complete pattern manual for a craftsman to copy. It contains gold embellished borders, title pages, and 14 alphabets wreathed in flowers and foliage, made up of humans or serpents, fish, dragons and other animal figures." A BL curator described the manuscript as "the most complete set of designs for manuscript decoration known to have survived from late-medieval Britain."
Unknown until it was discovered in the Macclesfield Library (presumably during preparations for one of the recent sales), the manuscript was purchased after a lengthy public appeal for funds, and with the support of the Art Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Beginning today, the Alphabet Book will be on display in the BL's Ritblat Gallery.
More from The Guardian, Rare Book Review. There's a picture here [via Laura]
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Simmons Alum Nominated as U.S. Archivist
President Obama has nominated my fellow Simmons library science alumnus David Ferriero, currently the Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of The Research Libraries at The New York Public Library, to be the Archivist of the United States (i.e. head of the National Archives). Ferriero previously was the library director at Duke and worked at the MIT libraries for thirty-one years prior to that.
Neat! And good luck!
Neat! And good luck!
New Hope for Filling the "Watergate Gap"
David Corn reports in Mother Jones on a fascinating new project that might - just might - shed some light on the infamous 18 1/2-minute gap in the Watergate tapes. Corporate security analyst Phil Mellinger thinks that a CSI-like technique - electrostatic detection analysis - might be able to reconstruct notes taken by Nixon chief of staff H.R. Haldeman during the 20 June 1972 meeting.
Two pages of Haldeman's notes from the 79-minute meeting are in the National Archives, and Mellinger thinks that a middle page may have been removed (corresponding with the gap in the tapes, interestingly enough). Mellinger proposed that the archives give electrostatic detection analysis a try, and NARA Watergate records archivist David Paynter says he's currently awaiting permission from his superiors to do just that. He told Corn "Here's another avenue to shed light on an important episode in history. It's very exciting."
As Corn notes, even if this procedure works, it might tell us nothing. "It's possible Haldeman didn't take any more notes corresponding to the gap. The impressions on the second page, Paynter points out, could have come from the writing on the first page. There's also no telling if any recovered notes would alter the basic tale of Watergate—or further incriminate Nixon." But there's a chance it could greatly enhance our understanding of those minutes. Cool!
Two pages of Haldeman's notes from the 79-minute meeting are in the National Archives, and Mellinger thinks that a middle page may have been removed (corresponding with the gap in the tapes, interestingly enough). Mellinger proposed that the archives give electrostatic detection analysis a try, and NARA Watergate records archivist David Paynter says he's currently awaiting permission from his superiors to do just that. He told Corn "Here's another avenue to shed light on an important episode in history. It's very exciting."
As Corn notes, even if this procedure works, it might tell us nothing. "It's possible Haldeman didn't take any more notes corresponding to the gap. The impressions on the second page, Paynter points out, could have come from the writing on the first page. There's also no telling if any recovered notes would alter the basic tale of Watergate—or further incriminate Nixon." But there's a chance it could greatly enhance our understanding of those minutes. Cool!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Book Review: "The Mapmakers"
The revised edition of John Noble Wilford's The Mapmakers (Vintage, 2001) updates the original edition of 1981, bringing the history of cartography and cartographers into the twenty-first century (of course given the current pace of technological changes, it's certain that it won't take twenty years before more revisions are warranted). This is probably the best single-volume history of cartographic endeavor, and most specifically the best treatment of those Wilford calls "the great pioneers of mapmaking."
From the earliest period of human history, we've been making maps: some good, some bad, some grossly inaccurate. Wilford surveys the historical trends in cartography and profiles those responsible for the greatest breakthroughs (and the greatest blunders). Eratosthenes and Ptolemy, Columbus and the Cassinis, Frémont and John Wesley Powell, all get their due here. Wilford tracks the involvement of governments in cartographic pursuits, and offers in-depth examinations of how changing technology (from aerial photography to laser imaging to GPS) has shaped the field.
While the majority of Wilford's text focuses on historical mapmaking and its difficulties, he also covers more recent efforts to map the still-hidden parts of our own planet (including the deep seas). In the final chapters, Wilford turns his gaze to the skies, focusing on the efforts to create useful maps of the moon, the local planets, the solar system, and even the universe.
Entirely readable and very nicely paced, this is an excellent introduction to the field, and the extensive list of references at the back will be very useful for anyone seeking further information (my one quibble is that there aren't footnotes referencing specific sources; I would have appreciated those).
From the earliest period of human history, we've been making maps: some good, some bad, some grossly inaccurate. Wilford surveys the historical trends in cartography and profiles those responsible for the greatest breakthroughs (and the greatest blunders). Eratosthenes and Ptolemy, Columbus and the Cassinis, Frémont and John Wesley Powell, all get their due here. Wilford tracks the involvement of governments in cartographic pursuits, and offers in-depth examinations of how changing technology (from aerial photography to laser imaging to GPS) has shaped the field.
While the majority of Wilford's text focuses on historical mapmaking and its difficulties, he also covers more recent efforts to map the still-hidden parts of our own planet (including the deep seas). In the final chapters, Wilford turns his gaze to the skies, focusing on the efforts to create useful maps of the moon, the local planets, the solar system, and even the universe.
Entirely readable and very nicely paced, this is an excellent introduction to the field, and the extensive list of references at the back will be very useful for anyone seeking further information (my one quibble is that there aren't footnotes referencing specific sources; I would have appreciated those).
Book Review: "Fakes & Forgeries"
Brian Innes' Fakes & Forgeries (Reader's Digest, 2005) is a very basic introduction to the subject, taking a wide-angle view which encompasses everything from counterfeit money to identity theft to forged antiquities, art, and books. Unfortunately that breadth means that nothing gets covered in any great depth, and Innes' text is strangely disjointed: the narrative bounces around rather rapidly, and characters/topics blip in and out, sometimes without any introduction whatever. Occasionally the only mention of a given topic was in a picture caption, which also seemed slightly bizarre.
The best use of this book might be as an entry point into more research on a given area of the subject, although without any source notes, even that might be a stretch. Perhaps for the very casual reader, this would be a sufficient overview, but overall, I think there are better books out there.
The best use of this book might be as an entry point into more research on a given area of the subject, although without any source notes, even that might be a stretch. Perhaps for the very casual reader, this would be a sufficient overview, but overall, I think there are better books out there.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Two New Early American Libraries
I've added two new fairly small but very interesting collections to the Libraries of Early America project this weekend:
- Hannah Lee Corbin (1728-1782): one of the "Virginia Lees," the sister of Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee (among the bunch of other Revolutionary-generation Lees). Hannah was well educated at her family's plantation Stratford Hall, and would become a strong advocate of increased rights for women. Like Lady Jean Skipwith, Hannah had a long widowhood (she was married to Gawin Corbin from 1748 through 1759/60, and cohabited with Dr. Richard Lingan Hall until his death in 1774), and significant amounts of money, enabling her to purchase many books for pleasure reading (a large portion of her collection is novels). Her LT library is drawn from several invoices and inventories, for which many thanks to her descendent Dr. William McCarty for bringing them to my attention.
- John Fitzpatrick (~1737-1791): a British merchant who settled at Manchac, a small trading outpost north of New Orleans in the late 1760s and lived there until his death. His library, inventoried at his death (the first I've entered where the values are given in pesos and reales), contained twenty-five books, a selection of literature, history and commercial works.
The two share four titles: Rollin's Ancient history, Smollet's Peregrine Pickle, The spectator, and Pope's Works.
- Hannah Lee Corbin (1728-1782): one of the "Virginia Lees," the sister of Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee (among the bunch of other Revolutionary-generation Lees). Hannah was well educated at her family's plantation Stratford Hall, and would become a strong advocate of increased rights for women. Like Lady Jean Skipwith, Hannah had a long widowhood (she was married to Gawin Corbin from 1748 through 1759/60, and cohabited with Dr. Richard Lingan Hall until his death in 1774), and significant amounts of money, enabling her to purchase many books for pleasure reading (a large portion of her collection is novels). Her LT library is drawn from several invoices and inventories, for which many thanks to her descendent Dr. William McCarty for bringing them to my attention.
- John Fitzpatrick (~1737-1791): a British merchant who settled at Manchac, a small trading outpost north of New Orleans in the late 1760s and lived there until his death. His library, inventoried at his death (the first I've entered where the values are given in pesos and reales), contained twenty-five books, a selection of literature, history and commercial works.
The two share four titles: Rollin's Ancient history, Smollet's Peregrine Pickle, The spectator, and Pope's Works.
Links & Reviews
First, some bad news: yesterday in my circuit of Boston/Cambridge bookstores I found out the hard way that the Harvard University Press display room/shop had closed since my last visit. A real shame, that.
[After I put it together, I found that this week's selection of links is weirdly skewed toward the Boston Globe, but I will say they've had a pretty good run of book coverage lately, so I've let it slide].
- In the Boston Globe, Hobson Woodward talks to Anna Mundow about his research for A Brave Vessel.
- Also from the Globe, a writeup of the Google Books discussion I discussed here. The reporter interviewed Google's Dan Clancy and others the day after the talk, and includes some comments about what they're calling the "uber book platform," to make their digital copies available (see their recent deals with Sony and Barnes & Noble, for example).
- I'm awfully glad J.L. Bell picked this up: he takes on an absolutely ridiculous op/ed [read: puff piece] that was printed in the Globe last week, by a proponent of so-called "intelligent design." The piece claimed the support of Thomas Jefferson for the pseudo-scientific claptrap these folks peddle (why the Globe stooped to printing it is quite beyond me), which Bell rebuts elegantly.
I particularly like this paragraph, where Bell notes that TJ didn't have the works of Darwin and Wallace to inform his thinking: "Thus, Jefferson never had a chance to consider the most fundamental ideas of modern biology or the best evidence for it. For Meyer to cast Jefferson as a creationist like himself is therefore akin to claiming that the third President would support only organic farming—after all, that’s the only type of agriculture he had his enslaved laborers practice. Or that Jefferson would oppose nuclear power, genetic engineering, and the mumps vaccine—he undoubtedly never wrote a word in favor of any of those things!"
- Ian noted the arrival of a new reference work, Stephen Matyas' Declaration of Independence: A Checklist of Books, Pamphlets, and Periodicals, Printing the U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776-1825. With an appendix checklist of American newspapers printing the Declaration of Independence. You can download the book for free at the author's website.
Reviews
- Richard Eder reviews Richard Holmes' Age of Wonder in the Boston Globe.
- Laurie Scheck's A Monster's Notes is reviewed by Ed Siegel, also in the Globe.
- In the LATimes, Nick Basbanes reviews Paul Collins' The Book of William.
- Michael Dirda reviews Keith Thomas' The Ends of Life in the WaPo.
- James MacGregor Burns' Packing the Court is reviewed by Adams Liptak in the NYTimes.
- Also in the Times, Janet Maslin reviews Douglas Brinkley's The Wilderness Warrior.
[After I put it together, I found that this week's selection of links is weirdly skewed toward the Boston Globe, but I will say they've had a pretty good run of book coverage lately, so I've let it slide].
- In the Boston Globe, Hobson Woodward talks to Anna Mundow about his research for A Brave Vessel.
- Also from the Globe, a writeup of the Google Books discussion I discussed here. The reporter interviewed Google's Dan Clancy and others the day after the talk, and includes some comments about what they're calling the "uber book platform," to make their digital copies available (see their recent deals with Sony and Barnes & Noble, for example).
- I'm awfully glad J.L. Bell picked this up: he takes on an absolutely ridiculous op/ed [read: puff piece] that was printed in the Globe last week, by a proponent of so-called "intelligent design." The piece claimed the support of Thomas Jefferson for the pseudo-scientific claptrap these folks peddle (why the Globe stooped to printing it is quite beyond me), which Bell rebuts elegantly.
I particularly like this paragraph, where Bell notes that TJ didn't have the works of Darwin and Wallace to inform his thinking: "Thus, Jefferson never had a chance to consider the most fundamental ideas of modern biology or the best evidence for it. For Meyer to cast Jefferson as a creationist like himself is therefore akin to claiming that the third President would support only organic farming—after all, that’s the only type of agriculture he had his enslaved laborers practice. Or that Jefferson would oppose nuclear power, genetic engineering, and the mumps vaccine—he undoubtedly never wrote a word in favor of any of those things!"
- Ian noted the arrival of a new reference work, Stephen Matyas' Declaration of Independence: A Checklist of Books, Pamphlets, and Periodicals, Printing the U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776-1825. With an appendix checklist of American newspapers printing the Declaration of Independence. You can download the book for free at the author's website.
Reviews
- Richard Eder reviews Richard Holmes' Age of Wonder in the Boston Globe.
- Laurie Scheck's A Monster's Notes is reviewed by Ed Siegel, also in the Globe.
- In the LATimes, Nick Basbanes reviews Paul Collins' The Book of William.
- Michael Dirda reviews Keith Thomas' The Ends of Life in the WaPo.
- James MacGregor Burns' Packing the Court is reviewed by Adams Liptak in the NYTimes.
- Also in the Times, Janet Maslin reviews Douglas Brinkley's The Wilderness Warrior.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
This Week's Acquisitions
Just one arrival through today:
- Errands into the Metropolis: New England Dissidents in Revolutionary London by Jonathan Beecher Field (Dartmouth University Press, 2009). Publisher. I've been looking forward to this one, and will probably read it fairly soon.
- Errands into the Metropolis: New England Dissidents in Revolutionary London by Jonathan Beecher Field (Dartmouth University Press, 2009). Publisher. I've been looking forward to this one, and will probably read it fairly soon.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Book Review: "Edgar Huntly"
Charles Brockden Brown's 1799 gothic novel Edgar Huntly, or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker is another of those works that's rather difficult to review. Like Brown's other works, it contains fascinatingly complex motifs (concealed or mistaken identities, sleep-walking, unrequited guilt, revenge) and intensely complicated problems (tangled financial matters, inter-racial warfare, and the persistent dilemmas associated with growing up).
In his prefatory note, "To the Public," Brown notes that his unconventional uses of particularly American gothic motifs is entirely intentional: "One merit the writer may at least claim; that of calling forth the passions and engaging the sympathy of the reader, by means hitherto unemployed by preceding authors. Puerile superstition and exploded manners; Gothic castles and chimeras, are the materials usually employed for this end. The incidents of Indian hostility, and the perils of the western wilderness, are far more suitable; and, for a native of America to overlook these, would admit of no apology. These, therefore, are, in part, the ingredients of this tale, and these he [the author] has been ambitious of depicting in vivid and faithful colours." He certainly succeeds there.
It's impossible to evaluate 18th-century novels in the same ways I would a novel published today: the styles are utterly different, as are the motives (of both writer and reader). But that's alright. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the narrative, and even after all these years, Brown's ability to creep out his reader remains as powerful as it ever was. Well worth a read.
In his prefatory note, "To the Public," Brown notes that his unconventional uses of particularly American gothic motifs is entirely intentional: "One merit the writer may at least claim; that of calling forth the passions and engaging the sympathy of the reader, by means hitherto unemployed by preceding authors. Puerile superstition and exploded manners; Gothic castles and chimeras, are the materials usually employed for this end. The incidents of Indian hostility, and the perils of the western wilderness, are far more suitable; and, for a native of America to overlook these, would admit of no apology. These, therefore, are, in part, the ingredients of this tale, and these he [the author] has been ambitious of depicting in vivid and faithful colours." He certainly succeeds there.
It's impossible to evaluate 18th-century novels in the same ways I would a novel published today: the styles are utterly different, as are the motives (of both writer and reader). But that's alright. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the narrative, and even after all these years, Brown's ability to creep out his reader remains as powerful as it ever was. Well worth a read.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Google Books Settlement Discussion @ BPL
After work tonight I went down to the BPL for their panel discussion on the Google Books Search Settlement, featuring project engineer Daniel Clancy, MIT Libraries Director Ann Wolpert and professors John Palfrey of Harvard Law School and Hal Abelson of MIT. The discussion was moderated by Maura Marx of the Open Knowledge Commons. The Rabb lecture hall was packed to the gills with librarians, authors, publishers and other interested folks, and the very energetic discussion ended up running much longer than the planners had intended.
While there were entire elements of the Google Book Search program and the settlement which didn't get touched on at all, the exchange ended up being fairly wide-ranging (probably as wide-ranging as it could possibly be in a couple hours). Clancy provided a very succinct overview of the program and the settlement (his bottom line: "ultimately, people want access"). The three other panelists then responded briefly to various aspects of the program, and the key word quickly became "queasy". Each of them confessed what I think many of us feel about Google Books: it's a great thing in principle, but the devil's in the details.
Questions of access models, privacy, copyright and future actions by Google and/or its partners in the settlement all came up, as well as the fundamental question of whether we as a cultural community/society want to allow a single company to effectively commercialize the corpus of digitized out-of-print books. Another major point of contention was the perceived lack of input by librarians and "public-interest" folks in the settlement; Clancy argued that in fact much of the settlement debates centered around how best to make the knowledge base available to the greatest number of people.
John Palfrey made several of the best points of the evening. He praised Google for having the "chutzpah" to make the effort in pursuit of this settlement (by challenging the authors and publishers), and pointed out that "we" (the library/cultural institution community) should have done it ourselves five years ago and left the commercial interests out of it (but we missed the boat). Now, he argued, we must "get in front of the mob and call it a parade," and he urged librarians to make noise and get active in shaping the new digital world, not being shaped by it. I think if those in the audience took one thing away from this evening's discussion it should be that: the world is changing, and if we're not riding the wave, we're getting swept under it.
I confess I haven't made up my own mind about the Google settlement (as proposed). Yes, I wish that the whole digital debate had been different, but that ship sailed a long time ago. And I still don't think we know enough about the pricing structure that Google will offer for institutional subscriptions to the corpus of materials covered by the settlement to say whether or not that's a workable option. I know that librarians need to be even more involved than they have been thus far, and I certainly hope that they will be.
Overall, tonight's debate raised quite a few good questions and provided some really useful details to those in attendance. And we'll have to wait and see what ends up happening with the settlement in court before we really know whether we will need to work to shape its provisions to our advantage, or whether we're back to square one.
While there were entire elements of the Google Book Search program and the settlement which didn't get touched on at all, the exchange ended up being fairly wide-ranging (probably as wide-ranging as it could possibly be in a couple hours). Clancy provided a very succinct overview of the program and the settlement (his bottom line: "ultimately, people want access"). The three other panelists then responded briefly to various aspects of the program, and the key word quickly became "queasy". Each of them confessed what I think many of us feel about Google Books: it's a great thing in principle, but the devil's in the details.
Questions of access models, privacy, copyright and future actions by Google and/or its partners in the settlement all came up, as well as the fundamental question of whether we as a cultural community/society want to allow a single company to effectively commercialize the corpus of digitized out-of-print books. Another major point of contention was the perceived lack of input by librarians and "public-interest" folks in the settlement; Clancy argued that in fact much of the settlement debates centered around how best to make the knowledge base available to the greatest number of people.
John Palfrey made several of the best points of the evening. He praised Google for having the "chutzpah" to make the effort in pursuit of this settlement (by challenging the authors and publishers), and pointed out that "we" (the library/cultural institution community) should have done it ourselves five years ago and left the commercial interests out of it (but we missed the boat). Now, he argued, we must "get in front of the mob and call it a parade," and he urged librarians to make noise and get active in shaping the new digital world, not being shaped by it. I think if those in the audience took one thing away from this evening's discussion it should be that: the world is changing, and if we're not riding the wave, we're getting swept under it.
I confess I haven't made up my own mind about the Google settlement (as proposed). Yes, I wish that the whole digital debate had been different, but that ship sailed a long time ago. And I still don't think we know enough about the pricing structure that Google will offer for institutional subscriptions to the corpus of materials covered by the settlement to say whether or not that's a workable option. I know that librarians need to be even more involved than they have been thus far, and I certainly hope that they will be.
Overall, tonight's debate raised quite a few good questions and provided some really useful details to those in attendance. And we'll have to wait and see what ends up happening with the settlement in court before we really know whether we will need to work to shape its provisions to our advantage, or whether we're back to square one.
Calling All Libraries: Do You Have Any Washington Books?
Since I am fairly confident this blog gets read by at least a few librarians out there, a plea: if your institution holds any books which once belonged to George Washington, would you be so kind as to let me know? Why, you ask?
I've been working for several months on the Washington library, which is now entirely entered into LT to the best of my knowledge. The most extensive bibliography of the Washington collection was published in 1897 (Appleton P.C. Griffin, , William Coolidge Lane, and Franklin Osborne Poole. A catalogue of the Washington collection in the Boston Athenæum. Boston: Boston Athenæum, 1897 - digital version here) - and while it's a great starting point, quite a few books have moved around in the intervening 110 years or so.
The locations as I know them are listed at the top of this page, and in each bibliographic record within the LT-catalog. The good folks at Mount Vernon tell me they have received many more original Washington books, and are preparing a list for me to update their holdings. But I'm sure there are hundreds more Washington titles now in institutional collections, and there's no easy way to find them (Google's come up with a few, but not many).
Additionally, and this is a quest for anybody - I'd like to know of any auction records for Washington books that are not already reflected in the LT-records (i.e. all those through 1897, plus a few more that I've found after that). Any leads, lot numbers, prices, buyers, &c. are always appreciated.
Feel free to shoot me an email (philobiblos at gmail dot com) or post a comment here, and thanks in advance for anything you can provide!
I've been working for several months on the Washington library, which is now entirely entered into LT to the best of my knowledge. The most extensive bibliography of the Washington collection was published in 1897 (Appleton P.C. Griffin, , William Coolidge Lane, and Franklin Osborne Poole. A catalogue of the Washington collection in the Boston Athenæum. Boston: Boston Athenæum, 1897 - digital version here) - and while it's a great starting point, quite a few books have moved around in the intervening 110 years or so.
The locations as I know them are listed at the top of this page, and in each bibliographic record within the LT-catalog. The good folks at Mount Vernon tell me they have received many more original Washington books, and are preparing a list for me to update their holdings. But I'm sure there are hundreds more Washington titles now in institutional collections, and there's no easy way to find them (Google's come up with a few, but not many).
Additionally, and this is a quest for anybody - I'd like to know of any auction records for Washington books that are not already reflected in the LT-records (i.e. all those through 1897, plus a few more that I've found after that). Any leads, lot numbers, prices, buyers, &c. are always appreciated.
Feel free to shoot me an email (philobiblos at gmail dot com) or post a comment here, and thanks in advance for anything you can provide!
Rare Books & Financial Shenanigans
Dow Jones reports that a former chief compliance officer at broker WG Trading Co. "pleaded guilty Tuesday to criminal charges in connection with more than $100 million in loans allegedly made to her bosses." Deborah Duffy told the court "I assisted in the unlawful transfer to my bosses of more than ($100 million) to my bosses' benefit as loans." Duffy is cooperating with authorities, who have also charged her bosses - Paul Greenwood and Stephen Walsh - in connection with the misuse of funds. Duffy faces up to 20 years in prison.
"Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan have alleged Greenwood and Walsh, both former owners of the New York Islanders professional hockey team, misappropriated $550 million of funds invested by charities, university foundations and pension plans and used that money to finance their luxurious lifestyles." Some of the $160 million misused by the duo was spent on rare books purchased at several auctions, the report concludes.
"Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan have alleged Greenwood and Walsh, both former owners of the New York Islanders professional hockey team, misappropriated $550 million of funds invested by charities, university foundations and pension plans and used that money to finance their luxurious lifestyles." Some of the $160 million misused by the duo was spent on rare books purchased at several auctions, the report concludes.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Links & Reviews
Apologies for the delay in getting this out this week:
- At the Boston Public Library's Rare Books Room, an exhibit sponsored by the BPL and UMASS Boston has opened: "Sermons, Slavery and Scandal: The Printed Words of Early Boston, 1660-1830." The show will run through 30 September, during the regular hours of the rare books room (M-F, 9-5).
- Also at the BPL tomorrow (Tuesday), a panel discussion on the Google Books Settlement (6 p.m., Rabb Lecture Hall). Google Books Engineering Director Daniel Clancy, MIT Libraries Director Ann Wolpert and professors John Palfrey of Harvard Law School and Hal Abelson of MIT will explain and discuss the proposed settlement, and will take questions from the audience.
- From Vridar, an overview of the motives for forgery. [h/t Literary Fraud & Folly]
- Over at AuntieQuarian, the Rellas: a selection of 2008-09 Research Library awards. I'm pretty pleased that MHS won the "Best Pencils" award. We all decided we very much like the "Best Lunchtime Ritual" award as well ...
- In the Philadelphia Inquirer, Katie Haegele offers a list of summer reading for young adults.
- The semi-annual post about anthropodermic (human skin) bindings has arrived, courtesy of Carolyn Kellogg at Jacket Copy.
- Paul Collins notes his new Believer article on William Gardiner's 1832 pamphlet The Music of Nature.
Reviews
- Adam Kirsch reviews Richard Holmes' The Age of Wonder for Slate.
- Kathryn Hughes reviews Anna Letitia Barbauld: Voice of the Enlightenment in the Guardian.
- In the CSM, Marjorie Kehe reviews The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.
- Hobson Woodward's A Brave Vessel is reviewed by Jonathan Yardley in the WaPo.
- Also in the Post, Michael Grunwald reviews Lynn Hudson Parsons' The Birth of Modern Politics.
- A fascinating review essay in the TLS, "Google Books or Great Books?" by Peter Green.
- At the Boston Public Library's Rare Books Room, an exhibit sponsored by the BPL and UMASS Boston has opened: "Sermons, Slavery and Scandal: The Printed Words of Early Boston, 1660-1830." The show will run through 30 September, during the regular hours of the rare books room (M-F, 9-5).
- Also at the BPL tomorrow (Tuesday), a panel discussion on the Google Books Settlement (6 p.m., Rabb Lecture Hall). Google Books Engineering Director Daniel Clancy, MIT Libraries Director Ann Wolpert and professors John Palfrey of Harvard Law School and Hal Abelson of MIT will explain and discuss the proposed settlement, and will take questions from the audience.
- From Vridar, an overview of the motives for forgery. [h/t Literary Fraud & Folly]
- Over at AuntieQuarian, the Rellas: a selection of 2008-09 Research Library awards. I'm pretty pleased that MHS won the "Best Pencils" award. We all decided we very much like the "Best Lunchtime Ritual" award as well ...
- In the Philadelphia Inquirer, Katie Haegele offers a list of summer reading for young adults.
- The semi-annual post about anthropodermic (human skin) bindings has arrived, courtesy of Carolyn Kellogg at Jacket Copy.
- Paul Collins notes his new Believer article on William Gardiner's 1832 pamphlet The Music of Nature.
Reviews
- Adam Kirsch reviews Richard Holmes' The Age of Wonder for Slate.
- Kathryn Hughes reviews Anna Letitia Barbauld: Voice of the Enlightenment in the Guardian.
- In the CSM, Marjorie Kehe reviews The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.
- Hobson Woodward's A Brave Vessel is reviewed by Jonathan Yardley in the WaPo.
- Also in the Post, Michael Grunwald reviews Lynn Hudson Parsons' The Birth of Modern Politics.
- A fascinating review essay in the TLS, "Google Books or Great Books?" by Peter Green.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
This Week's Acquisitions
Catching up from the mini-vacation. Here's what arrived recently:
- U. S. Sharpshooters: Berdan's Civil War Elite by Roy M. Marcot (Stackpole Books, 2007). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Thomas Jefferson: Architect: The Interactive Portfolio by Chuck Wills (Running Press, 2008). Edward R. Hamilton.
- The Geese of Beaver Bog by Bernd Heinrich (Ecco, 2004). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages by Ammon Shea (Perigree, 2008). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Faking Literature by K. K. Ruthven (Cambridge University Press, 2001). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Fakes & Forgeries: The True Crime stories of History's Greatest Deceptions by Brian Innes (Reader's Digest, 2005). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Schott's Miscellany 2009: An Almanac by Ben Schott (Bloomsbury, 2008). Brookline Booksmith.
- Edgar Huntly, Or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker by Charles Brockden Brown (Penguin, 1988). Brookline Booksmith.
- Disquiet, Please! More Humor Writing from The New Yorker; edited by David Remnick and Henry Finder (Random House, 2008). New Yorker.
- U. S. Sharpshooters: Berdan's Civil War Elite by Roy M. Marcot (Stackpole Books, 2007). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Thomas Jefferson: Architect: The Interactive Portfolio by Chuck Wills (Running Press, 2008). Edward R. Hamilton.
- The Geese of Beaver Bog by Bernd Heinrich (Ecco, 2004). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages by Ammon Shea (Perigree, 2008). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Faking Literature by K. K. Ruthven (Cambridge University Press, 2001). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Fakes & Forgeries: The True Crime stories of History's Greatest Deceptions by Brian Innes (Reader's Digest, 2005). Edward R. Hamilton.
- Schott's Miscellany 2009: An Almanac by Ben Schott (Bloomsbury, 2008). Brookline Booksmith.
- Edgar Huntly, Or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker by Charles Brockden Brown (Penguin, 1988). Brookline Booksmith.
- Disquiet, Please! More Humor Writing from The New Yorker; edited by David Remnick and Henry Finder (Random House, 2008). New Yorker.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
To the Coast!
I'm off tonight for the usual trip to the Maine coast (much abbreviated this year, alas). Posts will resume on Sunday.
The books which are coming along:
- Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Huntly
- Patrick O'Brian, The Mauritius Command
- John Noble Wilford, The Mapmakers
The books which are coming along:
- Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Huntly
- Patrick O'Brian, The Mauritius Command
- John Noble Wilford, The Mapmakers
Book Review: "Curiosities of Literature"
Modeled on Isaac D'Israeli's Curiosities of Literature, John Sutherland's Literary Curiosities (Skyhorse, 2009) is a loose compendium of short pieces about literature and its characters. Sutherland writes in the introduction "Some of the pieces may be considered too unserious for even unserious readers; some boring; some already stale; some codswallop. Most, I hope, will divert. Driving the enterprise is less the intention to instruct, or inform, then to communicate the random pleasures which may be found in reading literature, and reading about literature."
Fair enough. If one takes Sutherland at his word, and sees this book as a bit of brain candy, to be amused (and possibly intrigued) by, it does the job. The essays are generally interesting, and there are some intriguing questions examined. There are no references cited, which of course always bothers me (at least a bibliography would be helpful, in case anyone is struck by the need to delve further into a topic).
Overall - fine for the occasional browse, or an afternoon's diversion.
Fair enough. If one takes Sutherland at his word, and sees this book as a bit of brain candy, to be amused (and possibly intrigued) by, it does the job. The essays are generally interesting, and there are some intriguing questions examined. There are no references cited, which of course always bothers me (at least a bibliography would be helpful, in case anyone is struck by the need to delve further into a topic).
Overall - fine for the occasional browse, or an afternoon's diversion.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Auction Report: Sotheby's
Sotheby's London sold English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations today (full results here). Highlights:
- An archive of the personal and official papers of Sir Harford Jones, East India Company factor at Basra, resident at Baghdad, and minister to Persia (1783-1811). More than 3,100 items. Sold for £217,250.
- A first edition of Darwin's Origin of Species (1859) made £67,250.
- A presentation copy of Plath's Colossus (1960) fetched £17,500.
The sale total was £904,775.
- An archive of the personal and official papers of Sir Harford Jones, East India Company factor at Basra, resident at Baghdad, and minister to Persia (1783-1811). More than 3,100 items. Sold for £217,250.
- A first edition of Darwin's Origin of Species (1859) made £67,250.
- A presentation copy of Plath's Colossus (1960) fetched £17,500.
The sale total was £904,775.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Book Review: "Newton and the Counterfeiter"
Thomas Levenson's Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009) highlights a little-known entry on Isaac Newton's C.V., his time as Warden of the Royal Mint in the late 1690s. Levenson contrasts Newton with one William Chaloner, a big-time counterfeiter whose downfall Newton eventually secured, but not until Chaloner had managed to tweak the strings of justice a few times.
The book works. Levenson provides capsule histories of Newton's scientific and alchemical careers, plus the English financial, political and criminal justice systems (particularly as relevent to counterfeiting). He puts the existing sources to good use in trying to suss out details about Chaloner's life and activities (plus those of other forgers, coiners and rogues). The way he manages to bring the two together was effective, and carried off very well. It's the kind of story that would make a good novel, but which written by the right person works even better as history.
I'll quibble, as usual, that the notes (which are very good) are not indicated in the text. The bibliography is extensive, and useful. Overall, a fine read, and one I'll happily recommend.
The book works. Levenson provides capsule histories of Newton's scientific and alchemical careers, plus the English financial, political and criminal justice systems (particularly as relevent to counterfeiting). He puts the existing sources to good use in trying to suss out details about Chaloner's life and activities (plus those of other forgers, coiners and rogues). The way he manages to bring the two together was effective, and carried off very well. It's the kind of story that would make a good novel, but which written by the right person works even better as history.
I'll quibble, as usual, that the notes (which are very good) are not indicated in the text. The bibliography is extensive, and useful. Overall, a fine read, and one I'll happily recommend.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Links & Reviews
- Police say that the investigation into the murder of book collector Rolland Comstock (July, 2007) is continuing. Green County, Missouri sheriff Jim Arnott said that authorities are still awaiting lab results and re-analysis of certain evidence related to the case. One detective is devoted solely to solving Comstock's murder, Arnott said. More via KSPR.
- In Slate, Paul Collins examines the life and legacy of Wycliffe A. Hill, "the man who invented
the Hollywood schlock machine."
- A British bookselling newsletters, Sheppard's Confidential, solicited suggestions this week for a collective noun for a group of booksellers. The Bookfinder.com blog passes along the list. This is a bit of a spin-off from the group of librarians list posted here back in 2008.
- The obscure Jefferson reference of the week goes to Jeff Pasley's correspondent at Publick Occurrences, for this.
- Yesterday was the 200th anniversary of John Quincy Adams' 42d birthday. In a post at The Beehive, I highlight his diary entry from that day, and offer a sneak peek to JQA's next adventure.
Reviews
- In the WaPo, Ron Charles reviews Laurie Scheck's A Monster's Notes.
- Hobson Woodward's A Brave Vessel gets top billing in the Boston Globe "Shelf Life" column today, and is reviewed by Patricia Hagen in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
- In Slate, Paul Collins examines the life and legacy of Wycliffe A. Hill, "the man who invented
the Hollywood schlock machine."
- A British bookselling newsletters, Sheppard's Confidential, solicited suggestions this week for a collective noun for a group of booksellers. The Bookfinder.com blog passes along the list. This is a bit of a spin-off from the group of librarians list posted here back in 2008.
- The obscure Jefferson reference of the week goes to Jeff Pasley's correspondent at Publick Occurrences, for this.
- Yesterday was the 200th anniversary of John Quincy Adams' 42d birthday. In a post at The Beehive, I highlight his diary entry from that day, and offer a sneak peek to JQA's next adventure.
Reviews
- In the WaPo, Ron Charles reviews Laurie Scheck's A Monster's Notes.
- Hobson Woodward's A Brave Vessel gets top billing in the Boston Globe "Shelf Life" column today, and is reviewed by Patricia Hagen in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
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