This week's news that President Obama will end the 54-year-old American trade embargo against Cuba and restore diplomatic relations marks a major change in Cuban-American relations. ABAA members have many fascinating items that chart the ebb and flow of American involvement in Cuba over the twentieth century, and a search for items relating to Cuba on our website can be a fascinating exercise. Members have documents signed by Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro, and Che Guevera, along with other participants on both sides of Cuban history. Letter signed by all Moncada prisoners, including Fidel Castro (1953) Archive of Documents relating to the Bay of Pigs invasion... Documents relating to Hemingway's time living in Cuba are enlightening, both for students of the great author's career and those interested in Cuban politics. Ernest Hemingway d... [more Cuba: Items of Historical Interest]

Update on Proposed Internet Sales Tax Legislation Internet Sales Tax—What is it? Presently, catalog and online sellers must collect sales and use taxes only in states where they have a physical presence. In states where sellers don't have a physical presence, the responsibility falls on consumers to pay a use tax directly to the states in which they reside. Since the vast majority of consumers don't do that, legislation called The Marketplace Fairness Act has been proposed to shift the responsibility from consumers to sellers by allowing states to collect taxes from out-of-state “remote sellers” that have no physical presence in their state. Where does the proposed law stand now? In May 2013 the Senate, but not the House, passed the Marketplace Fairness Act. The Act contains an exemption for small businesses and calls for states to ... [more Update on Proposed Internet Sales Tax Legislation]

The ABAA has recently admitted three new members, Don Myers, of Pacific Coast Books, Ezra Tishman of Aardvark Books, and Nicole Reiss of Brattle Book Shop. Full Members: Don Myers (Pacific Coast Books) Don Myers established Pacific Coast Books in 2000 and actively sells books at west coast book fairs. In 2009, after a 25 year career serving as Executive Director for national non- profit organizations, he opened a book store store three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Lincoln City, Oregon. Don's specialty is Pacific Voyages and Exploration, Zamorano 80 titles along with west coast history. He looks forward to participating in ABAA Book Fairs and issuing several catalogues in the near future when not chasing grandchildren down the beach with his wife Merilee. Ezra Tishman (Aardvark Books) Beset by chronic bibliophilia in his early twenties... [more New Members: December 2014]

ABAA member and children's book expert Chris Loker, owner of San Francisco's Children's Book Gallery, has curated a new exhibition opening on December 10th at the Grolier Club in New York City. One Hundred Books Famous in Children's Literature showcases seminal books that have proven to be landmarks in children's publishing. The exhibition includes such beloved books as Robinson Crusoe, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, Peter Rabbit, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Winnie-the-Pooh, Charlotte's Web, The Cat in the Hat, Where the Wild Things Are, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Curator and children's book authority Chris Loker has secured loans from major institutions throughout North America for this exhibition, including the American Antiquarian Society, Beinecke Rare ... [more Exhibition: 100 Famous Children’s Books]

ABAA members are not only experts in their fields, but also very involved in scholarship and philanthropy. Here are some of the many ways members have been in the headlines this past month. New Mark Twain Plagiarism Scandal Exposed Antiquarian bookseller and scholar Kevin Mac Donnell uncovered unacknowledged copying in a new book about Mark Twain from the Library of Congress. McDonnell identified numerous passages copied from another book on Twain, and other scholars following up on his work have identified further instances. Read more... What Makes Rare Books Rare? During the recent Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair, members Ken Gloss & Seth Kaller discussed rare books with WGBG. Listen to the interview... PEN America-Fundraising Auction ABAA members Between the Covers, Aleph-Bet Books, The Captain's Bookshelf, and Jo Ann Reisle... [more Members in the News]

The 2014 National Book Awards were presented last night at a gala event at Cipriani on Wall Street. Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) was the master of ceremonies, and let no opportunity to mock a certain massive online retailer pass -- nor indeed, did several of the other speakers. The winners of the 2014 National Book Awards were: YOUNG ADULT FICTION: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books) The third nomination for Jacqueline Woodson and her first win. POETRY: Faithful and Virtuous Night by Louise Glück (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Glück, a former Poet-Laureate, had been a finalist for the National Book Award three previous times without winning. NONFICTION: Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China by Evan Osnos (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Evan Osnos, who writes for the New Yo... [more 2014 National Book Award Winners]