I'm sure I missed some things this week, since it was the first RBS session of the summer. Feel free to pass along things that slipped by!
- In the "Bright Young Booksellers" series, Anke Timmerman of Type & Forme.
- From Christine Jacobson at Houghton, "A Mysterious Manuscript in a Banned Language."
- Quite an amusing post from the State Library Victoria blog: "The Chief Librarian and the soap thieves."
- One of the missing Lewis Chessman has been identified and will be sold at Sotheby's on 2 July.
Upcoming Auctions
- Important Manuscripts, Continental Books and Music at Sotheby's London on 11 June.
- Summa de Arithmetica at Christie's New York on 12 June.
- Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana at Christie's New York on 12 June.
- Fine Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams New York on 13 June.
Saturday, June 08, 2019
Saturday, June 01, 2019
Links & Reviews
- The seventeenth-century manuscript of Donne's poetry identified last year at Melford Hall in Suffolk has been placed under a temporary export ban to allow a UK buyer to match the £466,000 price.
- Two excellent posts on the Grolier Club blog recently: Scott Ellwood's "One dynasty, three names" and Meghan Constantinou's "Aristocratic Identity Erasure in the Private Library Catalogue of Madame la duchesse de La Vallière, ca. 1787."
- Collector Farley Katz has donated a fourteenth-century manuscript fragment in medieval Dutch to the University of Antwerp.
- In the Atlantic, Dan Cohen writes "The Books of College Libraries are Turning Into Wallpaper."
- From Colin Harris for Listology, "A List-maker in the Stacks: Photographically illustrated books in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, 1844–1900."
- The ABAA passed along reports of the theft of a copy of The Maltese Falcon.
- Don't miss Cait Coker's post at Sammelband on "Building a Letterpress Reference Library."
- Simon Beattie's turned up an Italian manuscript from the library of Edmund Burke, which Annie Rowlenson highlights.
- In the TLS, Hazel Wilkinson on "The water American," about Benjamin Franklin and Richard Castelman.
- Reporter and historian Tony Horwitz died suddenly this week while on tour for his new book. Jill Lepore has a nice remembrance post for the New Yorker.
- The David Library of the American Revolution is going to close its Washingtons Crossing, PA facility and relocate operations to the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
Reviews
- Edward Wilson-Lee's The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books; review by Irina Dumitrescu in the NYTimes.
- Karen Russell's Orange World; review by Bethanne Patrick in the WaPo.
- Robert Morrison's The Regency Years; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Illustration Art at Swann Galleries on 4 June.
- Beyond the Horizon: The Mopelia Collection of Fine Atlases and Travel Books at Christie's London on 5 June.
- Important Judaica at Sotheby's New York on 5 June.
- Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books at Swann Galleries on 6 June.
- Books and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions (online) on 6 June.
- Lettres et Manuscrits Autographes at ALDE on 7 June.
- June Auction at Arader Galleries on 8 June.
- Two excellent posts on the Grolier Club blog recently: Scott Ellwood's "One dynasty, three names" and Meghan Constantinou's "Aristocratic Identity Erasure in the Private Library Catalogue of Madame la duchesse de La Vallière, ca. 1787."
- Collector Farley Katz has donated a fourteenth-century manuscript fragment in medieval Dutch to the University of Antwerp.
- In the Atlantic, Dan Cohen writes "The Books of College Libraries are Turning Into Wallpaper."
- From Colin Harris for Listology, "A List-maker in the Stacks: Photographically illustrated books in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, 1844–1900."
- The ABAA passed along reports of the theft of a copy of The Maltese Falcon.
- Don't miss Cait Coker's post at Sammelband on "Building a Letterpress Reference Library."
- Simon Beattie's turned up an Italian manuscript from the library of Edmund Burke, which Annie Rowlenson highlights.
- In the TLS, Hazel Wilkinson on "The water American," about Benjamin Franklin and Richard Castelman.
- Reporter and historian Tony Horwitz died suddenly this week while on tour for his new book. Jill Lepore has a nice remembrance post for the New Yorker.
- The David Library of the American Revolution is going to close its Washingtons Crossing, PA facility and relocate operations to the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
Reviews
- Edward Wilson-Lee's The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books; review by Irina Dumitrescu in the NYTimes.
- Karen Russell's Orange World; review by Bethanne Patrick in the WaPo.
- Robert Morrison's The Regency Years; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Illustration Art at Swann Galleries on 4 June.
- Beyond the Horizon: The Mopelia Collection of Fine Atlases and Travel Books at Christie's London on 5 June.
- Important Judaica at Sotheby's New York on 5 June.
- Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books at Swann Galleries on 6 June.
- Books and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions (online) on 6 June.
- Lettres et Manuscrits Autographes at ALDE on 7 June.
- June Auction at Arader Galleries on 8 June.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Links & Reviews
- An Alexander Hamilton letter stolen from the Massachusetts Archives before 1950 is now in the custody of the FBI after an auction house employee charged with researching the provenance alerted the Massachusetts Archives and law enforcement. See coverage in the AP, NYTimes, Smithsonian, and the WaPo.
- From Aaron Pratt on the HRC blog, "Gutenberg Misbound."
- The National Library of Israel has received a tranche of some 5,000 Max Brod documents from Germany. These had been stolen from the apartment of Brod's secretary, Esther Hoffe, about a decade ago.
- The judge's copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover, sold at auction last year, is now subject to a temporary export ban to allow a UK buyer to match the £56,250 price. English PEN has launched a crowdfunding effort, which has raised more than £18,000 as of this morning.
- In The Yale Globalist, Alma Bitran on "The Voynich Manuscript: Finding Meaning in Meaninglessness." And in other—completely unsurprising—Voynich news, Bristol University is now walking (running?) back claims that a researcher based there had solved the mystery of the manuscript. See the Bristol University statement as well.
- A report in the Ithaca Journal reveals that National Book Auctions is the subject of a state attorney general's investigation, which has determined that the auction house defrauded at least 115 customers of sums totaling more than $1 million.
- Liz Broadwell writes for the Penn Rare Books blog about finding some Bohemian silver coins tucked into a numismatic treatise!
- Over on the New Zealand National Library blog, Simon Grigg writes about the process of digitizing the music magazine Rip It Up.
- A manuscript diary documenting the last days of seventeenth-century Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt has turned up, nearly two centuries after it was last documented.
- At Medieval Manuscripts Provenance, "A Dismembered Book of Hours Once Owned by Count Durrieu," "Another 'Spanish' Forger?" and "Another 'Spanish' Forger?: An Addendum."
- From Simon Newman at The Collation, "'Run away': a life in 78 words."
- On the BL's Medieval Manuscripts blog, "Cataloguing the Harley manuscripts."
- Abbie Weinberg offers a great book snakes primer at The Collation.
- Author Ian Rankin has donated his personal archive to the National Library of Scotland.
Reviews
- Leo Damrosch's The Club; review by Jenny Uglow in the NYRB.
- Brenda Wineapple's The Impeachers; review by John Fabian Witt in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Reliures Originales & Livres Illustrés Modernes at ALDE on 28 May.
- Rare Books & Works on Paper at Chiswick Auctions on 29 May.
- Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 30 May.
- Fine Books & Manuscripts – Food & Drink at PBA Galleries on 30 May.
- Autographs & Memorabilia at Chiswick Auctions on 30 May.
- From Aaron Pratt on the HRC blog, "Gutenberg Misbound."
- The National Library of Israel has received a tranche of some 5,000 Max Brod documents from Germany. These had been stolen from the apartment of Brod's secretary, Esther Hoffe, about a decade ago.
- The judge's copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover, sold at auction last year, is now subject to a temporary export ban to allow a UK buyer to match the £56,250 price. English PEN has launched a crowdfunding effort, which has raised more than £18,000 as of this morning.
- In The Yale Globalist, Alma Bitran on "The Voynich Manuscript: Finding Meaning in Meaninglessness." And in other—completely unsurprising—Voynich news, Bristol University is now walking (running?) back claims that a researcher based there had solved the mystery of the manuscript. See the Bristol University statement as well.
- A report in the Ithaca Journal reveals that National Book Auctions is the subject of a state attorney general's investigation, which has determined that the auction house defrauded at least 115 customers of sums totaling more than $1 million.
- Liz Broadwell writes for the Penn Rare Books blog about finding some Bohemian silver coins tucked into a numismatic treatise!
- Over on the New Zealand National Library blog, Simon Grigg writes about the process of digitizing the music magazine Rip It Up.
- A manuscript diary documenting the last days of seventeenth-century Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt has turned up, nearly two centuries after it was last documented.
- At Medieval Manuscripts Provenance, "A Dismembered Book of Hours Once Owned by Count Durrieu," "Another 'Spanish' Forger?" and "Another 'Spanish' Forger?: An Addendum."
- From Simon Newman at The Collation, "'Run away': a life in 78 words."
- On the BL's Medieval Manuscripts blog, "Cataloguing the Harley manuscripts."
- Abbie Weinberg offers a great book snakes primer at The Collation.
- Author Ian Rankin has donated his personal archive to the National Library of Scotland.
Reviews
- Leo Damrosch's The Club; review by Jenny Uglow in the NYRB.
- Brenda Wineapple's The Impeachers; review by John Fabian Witt in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Reliures Originales & Livres Illustrés Modernes at ALDE on 28 May.
- Rare Books & Works on Paper at Chiswick Auctions on 29 May.
- Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 30 May.
- Fine Books & Manuscripts – Food & Drink at PBA Galleries on 30 May.
- Autographs & Memorabilia at Chiswick Auctions on 30 May.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Links & Reviews
- Two reports via the ABAA this week of boxes of books gone missing in shipment: medical books from Columbus, OH, and Japanese books from Salt Lake City. See the links for lists and descriptions of the missing books.
- Abbie Weinberg takes a close look at ligatures in Aldine type over at The Collation.
- Coming up on 3 June in London, "Toward Inclusive Bibliography," sponsored by The Bibliographical Society, the Bibliographical Society of America, and Maggs Bros.
- Johanna Drucker's recent talk at Smith College, "Alphabet Historiographies: A Study in Knowledge Production," is now available on YouTube.
- In the TLS, Michael Caines traces the history of a copy of the First Folio that will be on display at the Firsts book fair in London next month.
- New from the Library of Congress, the Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection, featuring scans about 1,000 rare Chinese books from before 1796.
- The LOC is also finishing up a four-year project to digitize rare material from the Persian-language collection.
- Alison Flood highlights a copy of David Copperfield read by members of the 1910 Scott expedition that is on display at London's Charles Dickens Museum as part of the exhibition Global Dickens: For Every Nation Upon Earth.
Reviews
- John Boardley's Typographic Firsts; review by Simon Garfield in the Spectator.
- Bridge Collins' The Binding; review by Naomi Novik in the NYTimes.
- Ali Smith's Spring; reviews by Rebecca Makkai in the NYTimes and Ellen Akins in the WaPo.
- Brian Jay Jones' Becoming Dr. Seuss; review by David Silverberg in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- 19th & 20th Century Literature at Swann Galleries on 14 May.
- Historical Manuscripts at Heritage Auctions on 14 May.
- Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History at Sotheby's London on 14 May.
- Travel, Exploration & Natural History, Archaeology & Gastronomy at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 15 May.
- Declaration Signers, Autographs, Signed Books & Relics at University Archives on 15 May.
- Rare Golf Books and Memorabilia at PBA Galleries on 16 May.
- Fine Books and Manuscripts (online) at Skinner, Inc, ending on 16 May.
- Vintage Posters at Potter & Potter on 22 May.
- Graphic Design at Swann Galleries on 23 May.
- Books (online) at Bubb Kuyper, ending on 24 May.
- Abbie Weinberg takes a close look at ligatures in Aldine type over at The Collation.
- Coming up on 3 June in London, "Toward Inclusive Bibliography," sponsored by The Bibliographical Society, the Bibliographical Society of America, and Maggs Bros.
- Johanna Drucker's recent talk at Smith College, "Alphabet Historiographies: A Study in Knowledge Production," is now available on YouTube.
- In the TLS, Michael Caines traces the history of a copy of the First Folio that will be on display at the Firsts book fair in London next month.
- New from the Library of Congress, the Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection, featuring scans about 1,000 rare Chinese books from before 1796.
- The LOC is also finishing up a four-year project to digitize rare material from the Persian-language collection.
- Alison Flood highlights a copy of David Copperfield read by members of the 1910 Scott expedition that is on display at London's Charles Dickens Museum as part of the exhibition Global Dickens: For Every Nation Upon Earth.
Reviews
- John Boardley's Typographic Firsts; review by Simon Garfield in the Spectator.
- Bridge Collins' The Binding; review by Naomi Novik in the NYTimes.
- Ali Smith's Spring; reviews by Rebecca Makkai in the NYTimes and Ellen Akins in the WaPo.
- Brian Jay Jones' Becoming Dr. Seuss; review by David Silverberg in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- 19th & 20th Century Literature at Swann Galleries on 14 May.
- Historical Manuscripts at Heritage Auctions on 14 May.
- Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History at Sotheby's London on 14 May.
- Travel, Exploration & Natural History, Archaeology & Gastronomy at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 15 May.
- Declaration Signers, Autographs, Signed Books & Relics at University Archives on 15 May.
- Rare Golf Books and Memorabilia at PBA Galleries on 16 May.
- Fine Books and Manuscripts (online) at Skinner, Inc, ending on 16 May.
- Vintage Posters at Potter & Potter on 22 May.
- Graphic Design at Swann Galleries on 23 May.
- Books (online) at Bubb Kuyper, ending on 24 May.
Saturday, May 04, 2019
Links & Reviews
It was a great pleasure to see so many friends (and so many good books) at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair last weekend. I even had the great treat of catching a glimpse of a manatee!
- A Geneva Bible stolen from the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh has been recovered; it had been purchased by the Leiden American Pilgrims Museum. More coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Smithsonian. In not-unrelated news, Emily Hetzel, the wife of John Schulman, has launched Common Crow Books, according to a report in the Post-Gazette. At least as of time of writing, some items listed on the new website are also listed on an eBay account previously associated with Caliban Book Shop, "rarebookstore."
- Many, many congratulations to Vic Zoschak, Jr., whose Tavistock Books celebrated thirty years in business last month. Vic answered some questions about his time in the trade for Bruce McKinney in a Rare Book Monthly piece.
- From Rebecca Laroche for The Collation, "One page, four inscriptions, three households."
- Also over on The Collation, Caroline Duroselle-Melish on "The Location of Plates in a Book."
- Stephen O. Saxe, printing historian and APHA founder, died on 27 April, according to a short APHA post. An obituary is forthcoming.
- There is an obituary for Yorkshire bookseller George Ramsden in the Telegraph.
- The University of South Carolina has acquired a collection of more than 180,000 comic books from a collector in Ohio.
Reviews
- Margaret Leslie Davis' The Lost Gutenberg; review by Meryl Gordon in the NYTimes.
- Michael Dirda revisits Robinson Crusoe on the 300th anniversary of its publication.
- Lucasta Miller's L.E.L.; review by Daisy Hay in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Prints & Multiples at Bonhams Los Angeles on 7 May.
- Fine Autographs and Artifacts at RR Auction, ending 8 May.
- Rare, Out-of-Print, and Used Books at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society on 10 May.
- A Geneva Bible stolen from the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh has been recovered; it had been purchased by the Leiden American Pilgrims Museum. More coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Smithsonian. In not-unrelated news, Emily Hetzel, the wife of John Schulman, has launched Common Crow Books, according to a report in the Post-Gazette. At least as of time of writing, some items listed on the new website are also listed on an eBay account previously associated with Caliban Book Shop, "rarebookstore."
- Many, many congratulations to Vic Zoschak, Jr., whose Tavistock Books celebrated thirty years in business last month. Vic answered some questions about his time in the trade for Bruce McKinney in a Rare Book Monthly piece.
- From Rebecca Laroche for The Collation, "One page, four inscriptions, three households."
- Also over on The Collation, Caroline Duroselle-Melish on "The Location of Plates in a Book."
- Stephen O. Saxe, printing historian and APHA founder, died on 27 April, according to a short APHA post. An obituary is forthcoming.
- There is an obituary for Yorkshire bookseller George Ramsden in the Telegraph.
- The University of South Carolina has acquired a collection of more than 180,000 comic books from a collector in Ohio.
Reviews
- Margaret Leslie Davis' The Lost Gutenberg; review by Meryl Gordon in the NYTimes.
- Michael Dirda revisits Robinson Crusoe on the 300th anniversary of its publication.
- Lucasta Miller's L.E.L.; review by Daisy Hay in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Prints & Multiples at Bonhams Los Angeles on 7 May.
- Fine Autographs and Artifacts at RR Auction, ending 8 May.
- Rare, Out-of-Print, and Used Books at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society on 10 May.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Links & Auctions
Coming up next weekend, it's the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in St. Petersburg. Very much worth visiting if you can!
- Over at Medieval Manuscripts Provenance, an examination of a fifteenth-century Sarum Breviary at Douai.
- Emily Wahl writes for The Collation about the Folger's British Book Illustrations project, which is funding the digitization and indexing of woodcut and engraved illustrations in seventeenth-century British and English-language books.
- Also for The Collation, Lauren Liebe on "The Evolution of Collection Practices: A Case Study."
- Barbara Basbanes Richter posts on literary forgeries over at the Fine Books Blog, noting the publication of the new collection Literary Forgery in Early Modern Europe (JHUP).
- The Library of Congress has announced a number of public events to mark the bicentennial of Walt Whitman's birth.
- Jake Gibbs has published his bibliography of the Little Blue Books, which will be an invaluable resource. See also Rebecca Rego Barry's post on the Fine Books Blog.
- Bryn Hoffman writes for the Book and Paper Fairs blog about recent trends in the rare book trade and the collecting world.
Review
- Leo Damrosch's The Club; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Bibliothèque Guy Bigorie at ALDE on 25 April.
- The Magic Collection of Ray Goulet at Potter & Potter on 27 April.
- Fine Books and Manuscripts at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on 1 May.
- Rare Americana, including California & the West at PBA Galleries on 2 May.
- Books and Works on Paper (online) at Forum Auctions on 2 May.
- Over at Medieval Manuscripts Provenance, an examination of a fifteenth-century Sarum Breviary at Douai.
- Emily Wahl writes for The Collation about the Folger's British Book Illustrations project, which is funding the digitization and indexing of woodcut and engraved illustrations in seventeenth-century British and English-language books.
- Also for The Collation, Lauren Liebe on "The Evolution of Collection Practices: A Case Study."
- Barbara Basbanes Richter posts on literary forgeries over at the Fine Books Blog, noting the publication of the new collection Literary Forgery in Early Modern Europe (JHUP).
- The Library of Congress has announced a number of public events to mark the bicentennial of Walt Whitman's birth.
- Jake Gibbs has published his bibliography of the Little Blue Books, which will be an invaluable resource. See also Rebecca Rego Barry's post on the Fine Books Blog.
- Bryn Hoffman writes for the Book and Paper Fairs blog about recent trends in the rare book trade and the collecting world.
Review
- Leo Damrosch's The Club; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Bibliothèque Guy Bigorie at ALDE on 25 April.
- The Magic Collection of Ray Goulet at Potter & Potter on 27 April.
- Fine Books and Manuscripts at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on 1 May.
- Rare Americana, including California & the West at PBA Galleries on 2 May.
- Books and Works on Paper (online) at Forum Auctions on 2 May.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Links & Auctions
- Alison Flood writes for the Guardian about the recent identification of a volume of the Libro de los EpÃtomes, containing summaries of volumes from the great library of Hernando Colón, in the Arnamagnæan Collection in Copenhagen. Another fourteen of the sixteen volumes are at the Biblioteca Colombiana in Seville - one remains missing. See also the announcement from the Arnamagnæan Institute, and the story from the Windsor Star featuring the history professor, Guy Lazare, who made the initial identification.
- Videos from the March ILAB/ABAA/Grolier Club symposium "Who Owned This?" are now available on Vimeo. Highly recommended.
- Also now available on YouTube, Will Noel's Sandars Lectures on "The Medieval Manuscript and its Digital Image."
- Lucas Baumann writes for Sotheby's about the recent repatriation of more than 600 volumes to the Universitäts und Landesbibliothek Bonn (ULB); the books had been offered for consignment from an individual in Belgium. See also Catherine Hickley's report for the Art Newspaper which goes into a bit more detail.
- Over on Past is Present, Lauren Hewes has a great post about AAS receptionist Sally Talbot's work on creating a name list for the Society's collection of loose American bookplates. After nearly five years at it, Sally recently completed her inventory of the personal bookplates, all 21,048 of them! The name list and an Excel file with more info are now available on the AAS website. Thank you, Sally!
- Two dozen EU countries signed a Declaration of Cooperation on 9 April relating to the digitization of cultural heritage materials.
- The HRC has acquired the archive of novelist Rachel Cusk.
- Quite a piece by Aaron Skirboll in the Daily Beast about the later exploits of the man who attempted to steal the Gutenberg Bible from Harvard's Widener Library in 1969.
- The Washington Post has a report on the upcoming major renovations at the Folger Shakespeare Library. See also the Folger's webpage on the project.
- Michael Dirda has short reviews of several recent books about books in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Printed & Manuscript Americana at Swann Galleries on 16 April.
- Rare Books, Autographs & Maps at Doyle New York on 17 April.
- Travel & Exploration – World History – Cartography at PBA Galleries on 18 April.
- Videos from the March ILAB/ABAA/Grolier Club symposium "Who Owned This?" are now available on Vimeo. Highly recommended.
- Also now available on YouTube, Will Noel's Sandars Lectures on "The Medieval Manuscript and its Digital Image."
- Lucas Baumann writes for Sotheby's about the recent repatriation of more than 600 volumes to the Universitäts und Landesbibliothek Bonn (ULB); the books had been offered for consignment from an individual in Belgium. See also Catherine Hickley's report for the Art Newspaper which goes into a bit more detail.
- Over on Past is Present, Lauren Hewes has a great post about AAS receptionist Sally Talbot's work on creating a name list for the Society's collection of loose American bookplates. After nearly five years at it, Sally recently completed her inventory of the personal bookplates, all 21,048 of them! The name list and an Excel file with more info are now available on the AAS website. Thank you, Sally!
- Two dozen EU countries signed a Declaration of Cooperation on 9 April relating to the digitization of cultural heritage materials.
- The HRC has acquired the archive of novelist Rachel Cusk.
- Quite a piece by Aaron Skirboll in the Daily Beast about the later exploits of the man who attempted to steal the Gutenberg Bible from Harvard's Widener Library in 1969.
- The Washington Post has a report on the upcoming major renovations at the Folger Shakespeare Library. See also the Folger's webpage on the project.
- Michael Dirda has short reviews of several recent books about books in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- Printed & Manuscript Americana at Swann Galleries on 16 April.
- Rare Books, Autographs & Maps at Doyle New York on 17 April.
- Travel & Exploration – World History – Cartography at PBA Galleries on 18 April.
Sunday, April 07, 2019
Links & Reviews
- Over at Sammelband, Kate Ozment on "Why it Matters: Teaching Women Bibliographers," which includes the full texts of the excellent daily Women's History Month Profiles posted during March.
- From Heather Wolfe at The Collation, "Uncancelling the cancelled: recovering obliterated owners of old books."
- The Lilly Library will undergo a $10.9 million renovation thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
- The British Library has acquired a tenth-century Anglo-Saxon manuscript leaf, from the estate of Stephen Keynes.
- Terena Bell writes for the Guardian about Alan Gribben's study of Mark Twain's library and reading habits.
- Jim Dwyer wrote for the NYTimes about a recent last-minute rescue of some historical bank records in New York City.
- Jessica Leigh Hester has a piece in Atlas Obscura about miniature almanacs, based largely on the miniature books exhibition now on at the Grolier Club.
Reviews
- Stuart Kells' Shakespeare's Library and Margaret Leslie Davis' The Lost Gutenberg; review by Rebecca Rego Barry on the Fine Books Blog.
- Leo Damrosch's The Club; review by Lyndall Gordon in the NYTimes.
- David Blight's Frederick Douglass; review by Manisha Sinha in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Printed Books & Maps; Travel & Exploration; Geology & Charles Darwin at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 10 April.
- Vintage Cameras & Photographs; Autographs, Stamps & Ephemera; Bookbinding Equipment & Accessories at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 11 April.
- Atlas – Cartes – Livres de Voyages at ALDE on 12 April.
- From Heather Wolfe at The Collation, "Uncancelling the cancelled: recovering obliterated owners of old books."
- The Lilly Library will undergo a $10.9 million renovation thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
- The British Library has acquired a tenth-century Anglo-Saxon manuscript leaf, from the estate of Stephen Keynes.
- Terena Bell writes for the Guardian about Alan Gribben's study of Mark Twain's library and reading habits.
- Jim Dwyer wrote for the NYTimes about a recent last-minute rescue of some historical bank records in New York City.
- Jessica Leigh Hester has a piece in Atlas Obscura about miniature almanacs, based largely on the miniature books exhibition now on at the Grolier Club.
Reviews
- Stuart Kells' Shakespeare's Library and Margaret Leslie Davis' The Lost Gutenberg; review by Rebecca Rego Barry on the Fine Books Blog.
- Leo Damrosch's The Club; review by Lyndall Gordon in the NYTimes.
- David Blight's Frederick Douglass; review by Manisha Sinha in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Printed Books & Maps; Travel & Exploration; Geology & Charles Darwin at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 10 April.
- Vintage Cameras & Photographs; Autographs, Stamps & Ephemera; Bookbinding Equipment & Accessories at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 11 April.
- Atlas – Cartes – Livres de Voyages at ALDE on 12 April.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Links & Reviews
Coming up next weekend, the Virginia Antiquarian Book Fair. Not to be missed, if you're anywhere within striking distance!
- A new blog likely to be of interest to many: Listology.
- From last weekend's NYTimes magazine, "The Daily Miracle: Finding Magic Inside the Times's Printing Plant."
- A very nice new online exhibition from the University of Michigan: Marks in Books.
- Mark Pratt for the AP has a report on the new research effort led by a team from Merrimack College to find the burial place of Anne Bradstreet.
- Antiquarian bookseller John DeMarco of the wonderful Saratoga Springs bookshop Lyrical Ballad died this week at the age of 70. The ABAA has a memorial post on their blog.
- Over at Res Obscura, "The Most Wonderful Map in the World: Urbano Monte's Planisphere of 1587."
- A theft alert from the ABAA blog, a copy of Tractatus de Attentatis et Innovatis (Rome, 1576). See their post for photos and more info.
Review
- Eric Klinenberg's Palaces for the People and Susan Orlean's The Library Book; review by Sue Halpern in the NYRB.
Upcoming Auctions
- Beaux-Arts, Écrits & Correspondances de Peintres (Aristophil 15A) at Aguttes on 1 April.
- Écrits et Oeuvres d'Artistes du XVIe au XXe Siècle (Aristrophil 16) at Artcurial on 2 April.
- Poésie et littérature des XIXe et XXe Siècles (Aristophil 17) at Aguttes on 3 April.
- Feuillets d’Histoire (Aristophil 18) at Ader on 4 April.
- Grandes Figures Historiques (Aristophil 19) at Aguttes on 4 April.
- Art & Illustration – Prints & Graphics – Illustrated Books – Miscellanea at PBA Galleries on 4 April.
- Histoire Postale, Guerre de 1870–1871 (Aristophil 20) at Aguttes on 5 April.
- Spring Auction at Arader Galleries on 6 April.
- A new blog likely to be of interest to many: Listology.
- From last weekend's NYTimes magazine, "The Daily Miracle: Finding Magic Inside the Times's Printing Plant."
- A very nice new online exhibition from the University of Michigan: Marks in Books.
- Mark Pratt for the AP has a report on the new research effort led by a team from Merrimack College to find the burial place of Anne Bradstreet.
- Antiquarian bookseller John DeMarco of the wonderful Saratoga Springs bookshop Lyrical Ballad died this week at the age of 70. The ABAA has a memorial post on their blog.
- Over at Res Obscura, "The Most Wonderful Map in the World: Urbano Monte's Planisphere of 1587."
- A theft alert from the ABAA blog, a copy of Tractatus de Attentatis et Innovatis (Rome, 1576). See their post for photos and more info.
Review
- Eric Klinenberg's Palaces for the People and Susan Orlean's The Library Book; review by Sue Halpern in the NYRB.
Upcoming Auctions
- Beaux-Arts, Écrits & Correspondances de Peintres (Aristophil 15A) at Aguttes on 1 April.
- Écrits et Oeuvres d'Artistes du XVIe au XXe Siècle (Aristrophil 16) at Artcurial on 2 April.
- Poésie et littérature des XIXe et XXe Siècles (Aristophil 17) at Aguttes on 3 April.
- Feuillets d’Histoire (Aristophil 18) at Ader on 4 April.
- Grandes Figures Historiques (Aristophil 19) at Aguttes on 4 April.
- Art & Illustration – Prints & Graphics – Illustrated Books – Miscellanea at PBA Galleries on 4 April.
- Histoire Postale, Guerre de 1870–1871 (Aristophil 20) at Aguttes on 5 April.
- Spring Auction at Arader Galleries on 6 April.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Links & Auctions
- Barbara Basbanes Richter highlights the current exhibition of items from Lisa Baskin's collection at Duke for the Fine Books Blog: see also the excellent online version of the exhibition.
- Over at Echoes from the Vault, Leah Humenuck reports on a brief conservation survey of books in the St. Andrews collections.
- There's a new post on the BL's Endangered Archives blog about the recent digitization of the Barbados Mercury.
- Julie Fisher writes for the Omohundro Institute blog on "Accessing the Past: Why Paleography Skills Still Matter."
- Christoph Irmscher has a new essay for Public Domain Review: "Audubon's Haiti."
- John Williams wrote a short "tour" of the recent New York Antiquarian Book Fair for the NYTimes, which is accompanied by some very nice photographs.
- The Grolier Club has acquired an important collection related to the later (and projected) editions of Jacques-Charles Brunet's Manuel de libraire.
Review
- Margaret Leslie Davis' The Lost Gutenberg; review by Gabino Iglesias for NPR.
Auctions
- Books and Manuscripts & Autographs at Koller Auctions (Zurich) on 26 March.
- Fine Books, Manuscripts, Atlases & Historical Photographs at Bonhams London on 27 March.
- Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Photos, Books & Relics at University Archives on 27 March.
- Printed & Manuscript African-Americana at Swann Galleries on 28 March.
- Books & Illustrated Art, including Cartoons at Chiswick Auctions on 28 March.
- Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 28 March.
- Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts & Maps at Kestenbaum & Company on 28 March.
- Rare Books and Manuscripts at Addison & Sarova on 30 March.
- Over at Echoes from the Vault, Leah Humenuck reports on a brief conservation survey of books in the St. Andrews collections.
- There's a new post on the BL's Endangered Archives blog about the recent digitization of the Barbados Mercury.
- Julie Fisher writes for the Omohundro Institute blog on "Accessing the Past: Why Paleography Skills Still Matter."
- Christoph Irmscher has a new essay for Public Domain Review: "Audubon's Haiti."
- John Williams wrote a short "tour" of the recent New York Antiquarian Book Fair for the NYTimes, which is accompanied by some very nice photographs.
- The Grolier Club has acquired an important collection related to the later (and projected) editions of Jacques-Charles Brunet's Manuel de libraire.
Review
- Margaret Leslie Davis' The Lost Gutenberg; review by Gabino Iglesias for NPR.
Auctions
- Books and Manuscripts & Autographs at Koller Auctions (Zurich) on 26 March.
- Fine Books, Manuscripts, Atlases & Historical Photographs at Bonhams London on 27 March.
- Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Photos, Books & Relics at University Archives on 27 March.
- Printed & Manuscript African-Americana at Swann Galleries on 28 March.
- Books & Illustrated Art, including Cartoons at Chiswick Auctions on 28 March.
- Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 28 March.
- Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts & Maps at Kestenbaum & Company on 28 March.
- Rare Books and Manuscripts at Addison & Sarova on 30 March.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Links & Auctions
Home after a great trip to Eugene for the Society of Early Americanists conference and then to New York for various bookish things, including the three book fairs last weekend. The ILAB symposium on provenance, theft, and forgery was excellent, and I will be sure to share the videos as soon as they are posted. I also had the great pleasure of seeing the exhibition of miniature books at the Grolier Club, curated by my friends Pat Pistner and Jan Storm van Leeuwen. If you can get to New York before 19 May, do be sure and visit the Grolier Club and see their show. But don't take my word for it: Sarah Lyall covered the exhibition for the NYTimes on 7 March.
Next up, the Virginia Antiquarian Book Fair in Richmond, 5–7 April.
- An interesting pair of articles in the spring issue of the UVA magazine, both by S. Richard Gard, Jr.: one on the upcoming renovation of Alderman Library, and one on the still-unsolved 1970s thefts of rare books, manuscripts, and a Poe daguerreotype.
- Over at Sammelband, from Kate Ozment, "What does it mean to teach a feminist book history?" And I highly recommend the @GrubStreetWomen Twitter feed: they're tweeting historical profiles of women working in biblio-areas each day in March.
- Adam Hooks and Zach Lesser have launched their Shakespeare Census, to track individual copies of Shakespeare's works printed through 1700 (excluding the folios). Censuses are vital: please help if you can.
- Peggy McGlone writes for the WaPo about planned renovations to the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress.
- Oak Knoll Press and the British Library have published a major new edition of David Pearson's Provenance Research in Book History; orders are now being accepted. Also available via Oak Knoll, the catalogues of both the miniature books exhibition noted above and of Five Hundred Years of Women's Work, the exhibition of Lisa Baskin's collection at Duke. I got a look at all three last weekend, and can confirm you'll want to add this trio to your bookshelves.
- Several theft/missing reports: sacramental records from Saint Dominic's Church in San Francisco (stolen from the parish offices); a William Osler letter (see photo); and Walter Crane's copy of an 1894 edition of Canterbury Tales with sixteen painted miniatures (missing in transit from New York to Maryland).
- "CBS Sunday Morning" highlighted Kentucky's Larkspur Press and the American Academy of Bookbinding last weekend.
- USTC is preparing to relaunch on a new platform shortly: check out the beta version.
- Entries for the 2019 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest are now being accepted.
- In the Concord Monitor, "Archivist warns state records at risk in digital age."
- Over at Manuscript Road Trip, "A Little Bit of Voynich on the Side."
- Daniel Greene has been named the new President and Librarian of the Newberry Library.
- Alison Flood for the Guardian reports on the recent identification of a 15th-century Irish manuscript translation of Avicenna, used as a binding on a 1530s book (see images).
- Caroline Duroselle-Melish writes for The Collation on the scope of the STC.
- Over on Steamboats are Ruining Everything, "On disappearing bookstores" (see also, J Oliver Conroy's Guardian piece "Why are New York's bookstore disappearing?").
- Winnie Hu writes for the NYTimes about "how the NYPL fills its shelves."
- New from IFLA, the results of a survey about using RDA for cataloging rare materials.
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem has displayed a number of Einstein manuscripts, most of which are previously unpublished.
Upcoming Auctions
- Photographica at Chiswick Auctions on 19 March.
- Éditions Originales du XIXe au XXie Siècle at ALDE on 20 March.
- Autographs at Swann Galleries on 21 March.
- Fine Literature at PBA Galleries on 21 March.
Next up, the Virginia Antiquarian Book Fair in Richmond, 5–7 April.
- An interesting pair of articles in the spring issue of the UVA magazine, both by S. Richard Gard, Jr.: one on the upcoming renovation of Alderman Library, and one on the still-unsolved 1970s thefts of rare books, manuscripts, and a Poe daguerreotype.
- Over at Sammelband, from Kate Ozment, "What does it mean to teach a feminist book history?" And I highly recommend the @GrubStreetWomen Twitter feed: they're tweeting historical profiles of women working in biblio-areas each day in March.
- Adam Hooks and Zach Lesser have launched their Shakespeare Census, to track individual copies of Shakespeare's works printed through 1700 (excluding the folios). Censuses are vital: please help if you can.
- Peggy McGlone writes for the WaPo about planned renovations to the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress.
- Oak Knoll Press and the British Library have published a major new edition of David Pearson's Provenance Research in Book History; orders are now being accepted. Also available via Oak Knoll, the catalogues of both the miniature books exhibition noted above and of Five Hundred Years of Women's Work, the exhibition of Lisa Baskin's collection at Duke. I got a look at all three last weekend, and can confirm you'll want to add this trio to your bookshelves.
- Several theft/missing reports: sacramental records from Saint Dominic's Church in San Francisco (stolen from the parish offices); a William Osler letter (see photo); and Walter Crane's copy of an 1894 edition of Canterbury Tales with sixteen painted miniatures (missing in transit from New York to Maryland).
- "CBS Sunday Morning" highlighted Kentucky's Larkspur Press and the American Academy of Bookbinding last weekend.
- USTC is preparing to relaunch on a new platform shortly: check out the beta version.
- Entries for the 2019 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest are now being accepted.
- In the Concord Monitor, "Archivist warns state records at risk in digital age."
- Over at Manuscript Road Trip, "A Little Bit of Voynich on the Side."
- Daniel Greene has been named the new President and Librarian of the Newberry Library.
- Alison Flood for the Guardian reports on the recent identification of a 15th-century Irish manuscript translation of Avicenna, used as a binding on a 1530s book (see images).
- Caroline Duroselle-Melish writes for The Collation on the scope of the STC.
- Over on Steamboats are Ruining Everything, "On disappearing bookstores" (see also, J Oliver Conroy's Guardian piece "Why are New York's bookstore disappearing?").
- Winnie Hu writes for the NYTimes about "how the NYPL fills its shelves."
- New from IFLA, the results of a survey about using RDA for cataloging rare materials.
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem has displayed a number of Einstein manuscripts, most of which are previously unpublished.
Upcoming Auctions
- Photographica at Chiswick Auctions on 19 March.
- Éditions Originales du XIXe au XXie Siècle at ALDE on 20 March.
- Autographs at Swann Galleries on 21 March.
- Fine Literature at PBA Galleries on 21 March.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Links & Auctions
- There's a preview of the New York Antiquarian Book Fair over on the ABAA blog. On the same weekend, don't miss the New York City Book and Ephemera Fair (Saturday and Sunday), and the Manhattan Vintage Book & Ephemera Fair/Fine Press Book Fair (Saturday). Plus there are lots of auctions and exhibition talks and other things going on around New York during the week. I'm looking forward to the fairs and to the ILAB symposium earlier in the week. Before that, though, I'm off to Eugene, OR for the biennial meeting of the Society of Early Americanists, where I'll be giving a short talk on one of my old favorites, William Jenks' Memoir of the Northern Kingdom. I'll post a version of that talk here once I get home.
- Now online, the "Legally Binding" exhibition from the Yale Law Library.
- The Boston Athenaeum has announced an expansion into an adjoining building; this follows hot on the heels of the announcement that Elizabeth Barker will leave as director at the end of March.
- From Sarah Zhang in the Atlantic, "The Lab Discovering DNA in Old Books."
- Sarah Werner's Lieberman Lecture, "Working Towards a Feminist History of Printing" is now available on YouTube.
- The third Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize is now open for entries, which will be due before 1 June 2019.
- Gabrielle Dudley is in the "Bright Young Librarians" spotlight this week.
- The B.H. Breslauer Foundation has announced a $25,000 investment in the ILAB Breslauer Foundation Prize fund.
- A unique Caxton fragment from the Sarum Ordinal has been identified at the University of Reading.
- In Apollo, Melanie Gerlis asks "Have printed auction catalogues had their day?"
Upcoming Auctions
- Ornithology, Zoology & Voyages at Chiswick Auctions on 27 February.
- Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Books & Relics at University Archives on 27 February.
- Autographs & Memorabilia at Chiswick Auctions on 28 February.
- La Collection de M. Gaulard, Première Partie at Rossini on 5 March.
- Rare Books, Featuring the Otto Penzler Collection of Mystery Fiction, Part I at Heritage Auctions on 6 March.
- Printed Books, Maps & Documents at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 6 March.
- Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books at Swann Galleries on 7 March.
- Fine Books: A Biblio-Medley for All Tastes at PBA Galleries on 7 March.
- Now online, the "Legally Binding" exhibition from the Yale Law Library.
- The Boston Athenaeum has announced an expansion into an adjoining building; this follows hot on the heels of the announcement that Elizabeth Barker will leave as director at the end of March.
- From Sarah Zhang in the Atlantic, "The Lab Discovering DNA in Old Books."
- Sarah Werner's Lieberman Lecture, "Working Towards a Feminist History of Printing" is now available on YouTube.
- The third Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize is now open for entries, which will be due before 1 June 2019.
- Gabrielle Dudley is in the "Bright Young Librarians" spotlight this week.
- The B.H. Breslauer Foundation has announced a $25,000 investment in the ILAB Breslauer Foundation Prize fund.
- A unique Caxton fragment from the Sarum Ordinal has been identified at the University of Reading.
- In Apollo, Melanie Gerlis asks "Have printed auction catalogues had their day?"
Upcoming Auctions
- Ornithology, Zoology & Voyages at Chiswick Auctions on 27 February.
- Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Books & Relics at University Archives on 27 February.
- Autographs & Memorabilia at Chiswick Auctions on 28 February.
- La Collection de M. Gaulard, Première Partie at Rossini on 5 March.
- Rare Books, Featuring the Otto Penzler Collection of Mystery Fiction, Part I at Heritage Auctions on 6 March.
- Printed Books, Maps & Documents at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 6 March.
- Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books at Swann Galleries on 7 March.
- Fine Books: A Biblio-Medley for All Tastes at PBA Galleries on 7 March.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Links & Reviews
Aside from the ensuing jet-lag, it was lovely to be out in Oakland again for the California International Antiquarian Book Fair last weekend.
- There's a good look-back at the fair over on the Tavistock Books blog.
- At least twenty rare books were stolen from Baldwin's Book Barn in Chester County, Pennsylvania last weekend.
- Dave Gary has an excellent piece on the APS blog about what we can learn from the early circulation records of the Society.
- Oliver Stead writes for the National Library of New Zealand's blog about the recent digitization of an album of watercolors by George Raper (1769–1797) in the Alexander Turnbull Library.
- Ben Schmidt has a useful caution to anyone still trying to use Google Books as a research tool in "How badly is Google Books Search broken, and why?"
- John Mark Tillman, who was sentenced in 2013 to nine years in prison for various thefts from Canadian libraries, archives, and museums, has died. He was granted parole in 2016.
- Peter Libbey writes for the NYTimes about the grand Tolkien exhibition now on display at the Morgan (very much looking forward to seeing this show in March).
- A wonderful rubricator's complaint over at Notabilia.
- Over on the N-YHS blog, a really great photograph of the 1925 solar eclipse.
- The BL's Medieval Manuscripts blog explores the different writing systems found in early Anglo-Saxon England.
- Michael Dirda looks through a few of the works released into the public domain this year.
Review
- Susan Orlean's The Library Book; review by Kathryn Hughes in the Guardian.
Upcoming Auctions
- Winter Auction at Alexander Historical Auctions on 18 February.
- Antiquarian and Collectors' Books at Toovey's on 19 February.
- Bibliothèque d'un Amateur at Pierre Bergé & Associés on 19 February.
- Prints and Maps at Toovey's on 20 February.
- Bibliothèque Marc Litzler at Christie's Paris on 20 February.
- Americana – Travel & Exploration – Hawaii – World History – Cartography at PBA Galleries on 21 February.
- Livres Anciens & Modernes – Manuscrits & Autographes at Aguttes on 22 February.
- There's a good look-back at the fair over on the Tavistock Books blog.
- At least twenty rare books were stolen from Baldwin's Book Barn in Chester County, Pennsylvania last weekend.
- Dave Gary has an excellent piece on the APS blog about what we can learn from the early circulation records of the Society.
- Oliver Stead writes for the National Library of New Zealand's blog about the recent digitization of an album of watercolors by George Raper (1769–1797) in the Alexander Turnbull Library.
- Ben Schmidt has a useful caution to anyone still trying to use Google Books as a research tool in "How badly is Google Books Search broken, and why?"
- John Mark Tillman, who was sentenced in 2013 to nine years in prison for various thefts from Canadian libraries, archives, and museums, has died. He was granted parole in 2016.
- Peter Libbey writes for the NYTimes about the grand Tolkien exhibition now on display at the Morgan (very much looking forward to seeing this show in March).
- A wonderful rubricator's complaint over at Notabilia.
- Over on the N-YHS blog, a really great photograph of the 1925 solar eclipse.
- The BL's Medieval Manuscripts blog explores the different writing systems found in early Anglo-Saxon England.
- Michael Dirda looks through a few of the works released into the public domain this year.
Review
- Susan Orlean's The Library Book; review by Kathryn Hughes in the Guardian.
Upcoming Auctions
- Winter Auction at Alexander Historical Auctions on 18 February.
- Antiquarian and Collectors' Books at Toovey's on 19 February.
- Bibliothèque d'un Amateur at Pierre Bergé & Associés on 19 February.
- Prints and Maps at Toovey's on 20 February.
- Bibliothèque Marc Litzler at Christie's Paris on 20 February.
- Americana – Travel & Exploration – Hawaii – World History – Cartography at PBA Galleries on 21 February.
- Livres Anciens & Modernes – Manuscrits & Autographes at Aguttes on 22 February.
Saturday, February 02, 2019
Links & Reviews
Bibliography Week last week, the California International Antiquarian Book Fair next weekend. There's a preview over on the ABAA blog. Hope to see some of you there!
- Shelly Bradbury reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that defense attorneys for the librarian and bookseller charged with thefts from Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library are asking prosecutors to specify the date on which each of the 321 books was stolen, reportedly to "allow them to consider statute of limitations and alibi defenses."
- A great find at Bristol Central Library: manuscript waste from a copy of the Vulgate Cycle with mentions of Merlin and other Arthurian characters, used in bindings. More from the Guardian.
- Sarah Werner will be speaking at the Columbia Book History Colloquium on 13 February on "Old Books as Digital Objects."
- Kate Ozment has a new Sammelband post, "Roundup of Materials: Teaching Book History."
- Alison Flood for the Guardian: "Hold the front pages: meet the endpaper enthusiasts."
- The Bodleian Library has acquired a fifteenth-century French Gothic book coffer.
- Among February's Rare Book Monthly articles, Michael Stillman analyzes the 2018 auction prices, and Bruce McKinney reports on Christina Geiger's appointment as head of rare books and manuscripts at Christie's New York and on Richard Ramer's fiftieth-anniversary catalog.
- Over on the Library of Congress blog, Carla Hayden talked to Mark Dimunation and John Hessler about the LC's copy of Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius.
- Harvard's Houghton Library has acquired the remainder of John Ashbery's papers, as well as his 5,000-volume library. More in the NYTimes.
- Geraldine Fabrikant profiles Bauman Rare Books for the NYTimes.
- Don Skemer on the Princeton RBSC blog, "Recovering Lost Manuscript Evidence."
- "Errors in Bookplate Design" at Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie.
- From Aaron Pratt over on the HRC blog, "Collated & Perfect," on the publication and program series being organized jointly by HRC and the Beinecke.
- The Boston Globe highlights the recent expansion of the Massachusetts State Archives.
- Over on the BBC, "The Library of Forbidden Books."
- At medievalbooks, Erik Kwakkel on "The Oldest Surviving Printed Advertisement in English."
- Miriam Intrator was featured in "Bright Young Librarians."
- The Irish Times reports on the recent digitization by Trinity College Dublin of the fourteenth-century Dublin Apocalypse.
- Pyewacket Books on selling books, but not at book fairs.
- Over on the Penn Special Collections Processing blog, Liz Broadwell on "An Uncommon Proof."
Reviews
- Diane Setterfield's Once Upon a River; review by Laura Miller in the Guardian.
- John Martin Robinson's The Travellers Club; review by A. N. Wilson in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Travel and Exploration at Bonhams London on 6 February.
- Modern Literature & Illustrated Books (online) at Forum Auctions on 7 February.
- The Book Fair Century: One Hundred Fine Books, Plus Books Sold to Benefit the ABAA Benevolent Fund at PBA Galleries on 7 February.
- Printed Books & Ephemera at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 13 February.
- Shelly Bradbury reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that defense attorneys for the librarian and bookseller charged with thefts from Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library are asking prosecutors to specify the date on which each of the 321 books was stolen, reportedly to "allow them to consider statute of limitations and alibi defenses."
- A great find at Bristol Central Library: manuscript waste from a copy of the Vulgate Cycle with mentions of Merlin and other Arthurian characters, used in bindings. More from the Guardian.
- Sarah Werner will be speaking at the Columbia Book History Colloquium on 13 February on "Old Books as Digital Objects."
- Kate Ozment has a new Sammelband post, "Roundup of Materials: Teaching Book History."
- Alison Flood for the Guardian: "Hold the front pages: meet the endpaper enthusiasts."
- The Bodleian Library has acquired a fifteenth-century French Gothic book coffer.
- Among February's Rare Book Monthly articles, Michael Stillman analyzes the 2018 auction prices, and Bruce McKinney reports on Christina Geiger's appointment as head of rare books and manuscripts at Christie's New York and on Richard Ramer's fiftieth-anniversary catalog.
- Over on the Library of Congress blog, Carla Hayden talked to Mark Dimunation and John Hessler about the LC's copy of Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius.
- Harvard's Houghton Library has acquired the remainder of John Ashbery's papers, as well as his 5,000-volume library. More in the NYTimes.
- Geraldine Fabrikant profiles Bauman Rare Books for the NYTimes.
- Don Skemer on the Princeton RBSC blog, "Recovering Lost Manuscript Evidence."
- "Errors in Bookplate Design" at Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie.
- From Aaron Pratt over on the HRC blog, "Collated & Perfect," on the publication and program series being organized jointly by HRC and the Beinecke.
- The Boston Globe highlights the recent expansion of the Massachusetts State Archives.
- Over on the BBC, "The Library of Forbidden Books."
- At medievalbooks, Erik Kwakkel on "The Oldest Surviving Printed Advertisement in English."
- Miriam Intrator was featured in "Bright Young Librarians."
- The Irish Times reports on the recent digitization by Trinity College Dublin of the fourteenth-century Dublin Apocalypse.
- Pyewacket Books on selling books, but not at book fairs.
- Over on the Penn Special Collections Processing blog, Liz Broadwell on "An Uncommon Proof."
Reviews
- Diane Setterfield's Once Upon a River; review by Laura Miller in the Guardian.
- John Martin Robinson's The Travellers Club; review by A. N. Wilson in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Travel and Exploration at Bonhams London on 6 February.
- Modern Literature & Illustrated Books (online) at Forum Auctions on 7 February.
- The Book Fair Century: One Hundred Fine Books, Plus Books Sold to Benefit the ABAA Benevolent Fund at PBA Galleries on 7 February.
- Printed Books & Ephemera at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 13 February.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Links & Reviews
Here comes Bibliography Week! See the schedule of events.
- Coming up on 1–2 February, Rare Books Los Angeles, a new book fair organized by Brad & Jen Johnson. They were featured on the AbeBooks "Behind the Bookshelves" podcast this week.
- The BL's medieval manuscripts blog announces the library's acquisition of the Southwark Hours, now digitized and on display. The manuscript was formerly on loan from the Archdiocese of Southwark.
- A current exhibition at Les Enluminures in New York showcases the forgery collection of William Voelkle. A short Q&A between Sandra Hindman and Voelkle is up at Art and Object.
- Newly digitized from the Royal Society, five volumes of draft meeting minutes from 1686 to 1711.
- Over on the ABAA blog, some updates about the future of the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar.
- From Milton Esterow in the NYTimes, "The Hunt for the Nazi Loot Still Sitting on Library Shelves" (which partially highlights Anders Rydell's The Book Thieves).
- The Harvard Gazette has a look at the upcoming Houghton Library renovations.
- Jennifer Schuessler visited the Grolier Club for the NYTimes.
- Elizabeth Lisa Cruces is featured in the "Bright Young Librarians" column in FB&C.
- Jay Moschella has a post on the BPL blog about the library's recent digitization of two 15th-century Italian choirbooks.
- Rebecca Romney writes for LitHub about linguist Suzette Haden Elgin's 1984 novel Native Tongue.
Reviews
- Susan Orleans' The Library Book; review by Alexander Larman in the Guardian.
- Lee Israel's Can You Ever Forgive Me? (and the recent movie starring Melissa McCarthy); review by Kathryn Hughes in the Guardian.
Upcoming Auctions
- Rare Books & Fine Prints at William Bunch Auctions on 22 January.
- Books and Manuscripts at Il Ponte (Milan) on 22 January.
- Mexican Historical Books and Documents at Morton Subastas on 22 January.
- Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Photos & Books at University Archives on 23 January.
- Rare Books & Works on Paper at Chiswick Auctions on 23 January.
- Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana at Sotheby's New York on 24 January.
- Mid-Winter Miscellany Part II, with Illustrated & Children's Books at PBA Galleries on 24 January.
- Coming up on 1–2 February, Rare Books Los Angeles, a new book fair organized by Brad & Jen Johnson. They were featured on the AbeBooks "Behind the Bookshelves" podcast this week.
- The BL's medieval manuscripts blog announces the library's acquisition of the Southwark Hours, now digitized and on display. The manuscript was formerly on loan from the Archdiocese of Southwark.
- A current exhibition at Les Enluminures in New York showcases the forgery collection of William Voelkle. A short Q&A between Sandra Hindman and Voelkle is up at Art and Object.
- Newly digitized from the Royal Society, five volumes of draft meeting minutes from 1686 to 1711.
- Over on the ABAA blog, some updates about the future of the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar.
- From Milton Esterow in the NYTimes, "The Hunt for the Nazi Loot Still Sitting on Library Shelves" (which partially highlights Anders Rydell's The Book Thieves).
- The Harvard Gazette has a look at the upcoming Houghton Library renovations.
- Jennifer Schuessler visited the Grolier Club for the NYTimes.
- Elizabeth Lisa Cruces is featured in the "Bright Young Librarians" column in FB&C.
- Jay Moschella has a post on the BPL blog about the library's recent digitization of two 15th-century Italian choirbooks.
- Rebecca Romney writes for LitHub about linguist Suzette Haden Elgin's 1984 novel Native Tongue.
Reviews
- Susan Orleans' The Library Book; review by Alexander Larman in the Guardian.
- Lee Israel's Can You Ever Forgive Me? (and the recent movie starring Melissa McCarthy); review by Kathryn Hughes in the Guardian.
Upcoming Auctions
- Rare Books & Fine Prints at William Bunch Auctions on 22 January.
- Books and Manuscripts at Il Ponte (Milan) on 22 January.
- Mexican Historical Books and Documents at Morton Subastas on 22 January.
- Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Photos & Books at University Archives on 23 January.
- Rare Books & Works on Paper at Chiswick Auctions on 23 January.
- Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana at Sotheby's New York on 24 January.
- Mid-Winter Miscellany Part II, with Illustrated & Children's Books at PBA Galleries on 24 January.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Links & Reviews
- From the "headlines that made me smile" department, in the Indy Star, "'The opposite of lost': IU Library claps back at The New Yorker over Sylvia Plath story." Unpublished, yes. Lost, no.
- Over at The Collation, Elizabeth DeBold on "Folger collections in times of war."
- From Leo Robson in the New Statesman, a piece on the "contested world of literary estates."
- Lindsay McKenzie reports for Inside Higher Ed on recent paper shortages and other issues that have bedeviled the production of many university press books and journals.
- Will Noel will give the 2019 Sandars Lectures in Bibliography at Cambridge in March, on "The Medieval Manuscript and Its Digital Image."
- Much news this week about a recent finding of lapis lazuli fragments in the tartar of a 10th-century German nun, most likely as the result of her working with the pigment while she was illuminating texts. See Steph Yin's NYTimes report or Sarah Zhang's Atlantic piece.
- Lloyd (Meadhbh) Houston writes for the TLS on the Bodleian Library's Phi Collection (of books deemed obscene or otherwise inappropriate).
- Cheap books were the order of the day for the Princeton Rare Book Working Group.
- From R. B. Bartgis at Sammelband, "Building and Displaying a Teaching Collection."
- The Bibliographical Society of Canada and Concordia University Press have announced a new book series: "Authors, Publishers, Readers, Texts: Studies in Book History and Print Culture."
Reviews
- Jill Lepore's These Truths; review by Christine DeLucia in the LARB.
- David Blight's Frederick Douglass; review by Adam Goodheart in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- "Say it Loud": The John Silverstein Collection of African American Social History at Heritage Auctions on 15 January.
- Printed Books, Holy Land Maps, Posters & Jewish Graphic Art at Kestenbaum & Company on 17 January (online).
- Over at The Collation, Elizabeth DeBold on "Folger collections in times of war."
- From Leo Robson in the New Statesman, a piece on the "contested world of literary estates."
- Lindsay McKenzie reports for Inside Higher Ed on recent paper shortages and other issues that have bedeviled the production of many university press books and journals.
- Will Noel will give the 2019 Sandars Lectures in Bibliography at Cambridge in March, on "The Medieval Manuscript and Its Digital Image."
- Much news this week about a recent finding of lapis lazuli fragments in the tartar of a 10th-century German nun, most likely as the result of her working with the pigment while she was illuminating texts. See Steph Yin's NYTimes report or Sarah Zhang's Atlantic piece.
- Lloyd (Meadhbh) Houston writes for the TLS on the Bodleian Library's Phi Collection (of books deemed obscene or otherwise inappropriate).
- Cheap books were the order of the day for the Princeton Rare Book Working Group.
- From R. B. Bartgis at Sammelband, "Building and Displaying a Teaching Collection."
- The Bibliographical Society of Canada and Concordia University Press have announced a new book series: "Authors, Publishers, Readers, Texts: Studies in Book History and Print Culture."
Reviews
- Jill Lepore's These Truths; review by Christine DeLucia in the LARB.
- David Blight's Frederick Douglass; review by Adam Goodheart in the WaPo.
Upcoming Auctions
- "Say it Loud": The John Silverstein Collection of African American Social History at Heritage Auctions on 15 January.
- Printed Books, Holy Land Maps, Posters & Jewish Graphic Art at Kestenbaum & Company on 17 January (online).
Sunday, January 06, 2019
Links & Reviews
Happy New Year! I've been using the first week of 2019 to read through a backlog of biblio-periodicals and articles, in preparation for work on various projects over the next couple months. It's been very pleasant to get (at least mostly) caught up - I recommend it!
- From Kurt Zimmerman, "Untrodden Paths in Book Collecting" (republishing his classic 1997 Firsts piece).
- Rare Book Monthly's January articles include Michael Stillman's look back at the top 500 book auction sales of 2018, Susan Howard reflecting on forty years of independent bookselling, and Michael Stillman on the case of Kevin Schuwer, charged with thefts of Mormon material from several Utah institutions.
- Over on the BL blog, a roundup of their recent Manuscripts in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms conference.
- London's Feminist Library has been saved from closure thanks to a major fundraising drive.
Reviews
- Bridget Collins' The Binding; review by Sandra Newman in the Guardian.
- Mark Dery's Born to be Posthumous; review by Robert Gottlieb in the NYTimes.
- Patt Morrison's Don't Stop the Presses!; review by Liz Ohanesian in the LATimes.
Upcoming Auctions
- Books and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 10 January (online sale).
- Literature of the 19th & 20th Centuries, with the Glenn Todd Collection of Arion Press at PBA Galleries on 10 January.
- From Kurt Zimmerman, "Untrodden Paths in Book Collecting" (republishing his classic 1997 Firsts piece).
- Rare Book Monthly's January articles include Michael Stillman's look back at the top 500 book auction sales of 2018, Susan Howard reflecting on forty years of independent bookselling, and Michael Stillman on the case of Kevin Schuwer, charged with thefts of Mormon material from several Utah institutions.
- Over on the BL blog, a roundup of their recent Manuscripts in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms conference.
- London's Feminist Library has been saved from closure thanks to a major fundraising drive.
Reviews
- Bridget Collins' The Binding; review by Sandra Newman in the Guardian.
- Mark Dery's Born to be Posthumous; review by Robert Gottlieb in the NYTimes.
- Patt Morrison's Don't Stop the Presses!; review by Liz Ohanesian in the LATimes.
Upcoming Auctions
- Books and Works on Paper at Forum Auctions on 10 January (online sale).
- Literature of the 19th & 20th Centuries, with the Glenn Todd Collection of Arion Press at PBA Galleries on 10 January.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Links & Reviews
Here's a last roundup of bookish things for 2018:
- A trove of books and other works will actually enter the public domain on 1 January(!). See the Center for the Public Domain's post, Alexandra Alter's NYT piece, as well as the Public Domain Review's "Class of 2019."
- Penn Libraries have acquired the Geoffrey Day collection of Sterneiana. Rebecca Rego Barry has a bit more on why bibliophiles love Tristram Shandy, too.
- Over on the APHA blog, a recap of one of the panel discussions at their conference this fall, on reconsidering the definitions of "watermark" and "paper."
- Just a couple "year in review" posts: Peter Steinberg recaps his Year of Plath, and Sarah Werner writes about her year in "reading when you are crumbling."
- Beth Jarret from AAS is highlighted in the FB&C "Bright Young Librarians" series.
Review
- Victorian Fairy Tales, edited by Michael Newton; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
Quiet on the auction front this week.
Happy New Year, all!
- A trove of books and other works will actually enter the public domain on 1 January(!). See the Center for the Public Domain's post, Alexandra Alter's NYT piece, as well as the Public Domain Review's "Class of 2019."
- Penn Libraries have acquired the Geoffrey Day collection of Sterneiana. Rebecca Rego Barry has a bit more on why bibliophiles love Tristram Shandy, too.
- Over on the APHA blog, a recap of one of the panel discussions at their conference this fall, on reconsidering the definitions of "watermark" and "paper."
- Just a couple "year in review" posts: Peter Steinberg recaps his Year of Plath, and Sarah Werner writes about her year in "reading when you are crumbling."
- Beth Jarret from AAS is highlighted in the FB&C "Bright Young Librarians" series.
Review
- Victorian Fairy Tales, edited by Michael Newton; review by Michael Dirda in the WaPo.
Quiet on the auction front this week.
Happy New Year, all!
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Links & Reviews
- Rebecca Romney highlights a few of the favorite books sold through Honey & Wax this year.
- The debut issue of a new open-access journal, Fragmentology, is out.
- Yale's Beinecke Library has acquired the archive of David Sedaris.
- Penn will return two ninth-century manuscripts from the Schoenberg Collection to the Badia di Cava, a Benedictine abbey near Salerno from which the two documents were stolen, apparently at some point in the 1990s.
- Jen & Brad Johnson's work with the Thomas Mann House to recreate Mann's library is featured on the ABAA blog.
- Erika Jenns is in the Bright Young Librarians spotlight this week over at FB&C.
- At The Junto, a Q&A with Nick Bunker about his new book Young Ben Franklin.
- The Eastern Orthodox Church is suing Princeton University over several manuscripts they argue were looted from a Bulgarian monastery in 1917.
- From the Salt Lake Tribune, "Stolen Mormon memorabilia spotlight Latter-day Saint devotion to church artifacts."
Reviews
- Diarmaid MacCulloch's Thomas Cromwell; review by Rory Rapple in the WaPo.
- Margaret Willes' The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn and John Dixon Hunt's John Evelyn; review by Ruth Scurr in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Prints and Multiples at Bonhams London on 18 December.
- Important Judaica, including a Distinguished Private Collection at Sotheby's New York on 19 December.
- Mid-Winter Miscellany at PBA Galleries on 20 December.
- The debut issue of a new open-access journal, Fragmentology, is out.
- Yale's Beinecke Library has acquired the archive of David Sedaris.
- Penn will return two ninth-century manuscripts from the Schoenberg Collection to the Badia di Cava, a Benedictine abbey near Salerno from which the two documents were stolen, apparently at some point in the 1990s.
- Jen & Brad Johnson's work with the Thomas Mann House to recreate Mann's library is featured on the ABAA blog.
- Erika Jenns is in the Bright Young Librarians spotlight this week over at FB&C.
- At The Junto, a Q&A with Nick Bunker about his new book Young Ben Franklin.
- The Eastern Orthodox Church is suing Princeton University over several manuscripts they argue were looted from a Bulgarian monastery in 1917.
- From the Salt Lake Tribune, "Stolen Mormon memorabilia spotlight Latter-day Saint devotion to church artifacts."
Reviews
- Diarmaid MacCulloch's Thomas Cromwell; review by Rory Rapple in the WaPo.
- Margaret Willes' The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn and John Dixon Hunt's John Evelyn; review by Ruth Scurr in the TLS.
Upcoming Auctions
- Prints and Multiples at Bonhams London on 18 December.
- Important Judaica, including a Distinguished Private Collection at Sotheby's New York on 19 December.
- Mid-Winter Miscellany at PBA Galleries on 20 December.
Sunday, December 09, 2018
Links & Reviews
- Interesting new blog to watch: Early Modern Female Book Ownership.
- From Louis Menand in the New Yorker, "Literary Hoaxes and the Ethics of Authorship."
- Also from the New Yorker, Sam Knight asks "Do Proteins Hold the Key to the Past?"
- Edward O'Reilly has an excellent post on the N-YHS blog, "John Winthrop's Sermon and an 'Erasure of Collective Memory.'"
- Heather O'Donnell and Rebecca Romney of Honey & Wax are featured on the Curious Objects podcast.
- From Alison Hudson on the BL's medieval manuscripts blog, "Women and books in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms."
- On the 175th anniversary of the publication of A Christmas Carol, Tina Jordan looks back at the NYTimes' coverage of the story over the years.
- Not to be missed: Erin Blake on "The key to removing a card catalog rod (literally)."
- John Paul Floyd talked to Rebecca Rego Barry for the Fine Books Blog about his new book A Sorry Saga: Theft, Forgery, Scholarship, and the Vinland Map.
- In the Columbia Journalism Review, "What's behind a recent rise in books coverage?"
- From Michael Dirda in the WaPo, "The '90s are having a literary moment. That is, the 1890s ..."
- New York's Strand Bookstore is asking that the city not assign landmark status to its building.
- Einstein's "God Letter" sold at Christie's this week for $2,892,500, and a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone set a new auction record at $162,500.
Reviews
- Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Hurricane's Eye; review by Carol Berkin in the WaPo.
- Thomas Reinerstsen Berg's Theater of the World: The Maps that Made History; review by Lorraine Berry in the WaPo.
- Diane Setterfield's Once Upon a River; review by Ellen Morton in the WaPo.
Auctions
- Lettres & Manuscrits Autographes at Ader on 10–11 December.
- Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams London on 11 December.
- Books & Manuscripts at Artcurial on 11 December.
- Printed Books & Maps; Children's & Illustrated Books; 20th Century Literature at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 12–13 December.
- Valuable Books and Manuscripts at Christie's London on 12 December.
- Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books at Swann Galleries on 13 December.
- Americana – Travel & Exploration – Hunting & Sporting – World History – Cartography at PBA Galleries on 13 December.
- Fine Autograph Letters and Manuscripts from a Distinguished Private Collection: Part II | Music, Americana, English and Continental Literature at Sotheby's New York on 13 December.
- La bibliothèque de Pierre Bergé at Sotheby's Paris on 14 December.
- From Louis Menand in the New Yorker, "Literary Hoaxes and the Ethics of Authorship."
- Also from the New Yorker, Sam Knight asks "Do Proteins Hold the Key to the Past?"
- Edward O'Reilly has an excellent post on the N-YHS blog, "John Winthrop's Sermon and an 'Erasure of Collective Memory.'"
- Heather O'Donnell and Rebecca Romney of Honey & Wax are featured on the Curious Objects podcast.
- From Alison Hudson on the BL's medieval manuscripts blog, "Women and books in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms."
- On the 175th anniversary of the publication of A Christmas Carol, Tina Jordan looks back at the NYTimes' coverage of the story over the years.
- Not to be missed: Erin Blake on "The key to removing a card catalog rod (literally)."
- John Paul Floyd talked to Rebecca Rego Barry for the Fine Books Blog about his new book A Sorry Saga: Theft, Forgery, Scholarship, and the Vinland Map.
- In the Columbia Journalism Review, "What's behind a recent rise in books coverage?"
- From Michael Dirda in the WaPo, "The '90s are having a literary moment. That is, the 1890s ..."
- New York's Strand Bookstore is asking that the city not assign landmark status to its building.
- Einstein's "God Letter" sold at Christie's this week for $2,892,500, and a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone set a new auction record at $162,500.
Reviews
- Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Hurricane's Eye; review by Carol Berkin in the WaPo.
- Thomas Reinerstsen Berg's Theater of the World: The Maps that Made History; review by Lorraine Berry in the WaPo.
- Diane Setterfield's Once Upon a River; review by Ellen Morton in the WaPo.
Auctions
- Lettres & Manuscrits Autographes at Ader on 10–11 December.
- Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams London on 11 December.
- Books & Manuscripts at Artcurial on 11 December.
- Printed Books & Maps; Children's & Illustrated Books; 20th Century Literature at Dominic Winter Auctioneers on 12–13 December.
- Valuable Books and Manuscripts at Christie's London on 12 December.
- Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books at Swann Galleries on 13 December.
- Americana – Travel & Exploration – Hunting & Sporting – World History – Cartography at PBA Galleries on 13 December.
- Fine Autograph Letters and Manuscripts from a Distinguished Private Collection: Part II | Music, Americana, English and Continental Literature at Sotheby's New York on 13 December.
- La bibliothèque de Pierre Bergé at Sotheby's Paris on 14 December.
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