If you are already here reading this blog, then you are most likely aware that the ABAA is not a misspelled fanclub for disco era superstar group ABBA, but rather a trade association of the best rare booksellers in the US. You may not, however, be familiar with the application process and the benefits of membership in the ABAA. If you are an antiquarian bookseller and fall into this category, then our upcoming informational webinar is just for you! Geared toward prospective members and those otherwise interested in learning more about the Association, the approximate one hour session will begin with an overview of the Association, its history, goals and membership requirements, followed by a question and answer session between the webinar 'attendees' and a panel of ABAA members. The webinar will take place on March 7 at 2pm ET. If you ar... [more ABAA Informational Webinar]

Today marked the public opening of Torn in Two: the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, a new exhibit at the Grolier Club that presents a history of the U.S. Civil War through historical maps and other rare items. The exhibition was organized by The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center of the Boston Public Library, and revolves around the monumental role geography played as a cause of the Civil War. Grolier Club Director Eric Holzenberg observed that "Torn in Two is the first large-scale public show in the Grolier Club's 128-year history to tell a story exclusively in maps." This cartographic narrative is supplemented by other rare historical items, however, and photographs, prints, letters, political cartoons, and press clippings are on display as well. Included in these additional items are photographic images of 19th-century slave life, the ... [more Rare Maps the Focus of Civil War Exhibit at The Grolier Club]

On Tuesday the Morgan Library & Museum opened an exhibit that will display nearly thirty rare works taken from its extensive holdings. The following items provide a taste of the exhibit, and I'm sure they will entice you to plan a visit. The only surviving portion of The Scarlet Letter manuscript, a single sheet containing the title and table of contents. A letter from Madame Roland to Jacques-Bernard-Marie Montané, written while she was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror (only two months before she met her fate at the guillotine) The typescript of two chapters from Henry James's novel What Maisie Knew Paul Revere's first bound printing of a compilation of Handel's music, which is though to be the first American publication of the composer's work A first edition of Faulkner's only pulp novel, Sanctuary The first edition of Edmund Spen... [more Rare Works of Americana, Literature, and Music on Display at The Morgan Library & Museum]

This past weekend's 45th California International Book Fair in Pasadena was an overwhelming success! It was our first year holding our biannual LA Book Fair in Pasadena (every other year it is held in San Francisco) and we couldn't have been happier with the location. The venue, the Pasadena Civic Center, was a beautiful space, equipped with wide aisles and excellent lighting (an exhibitor's dream!), and Pasadena was a lovely destination, with plenty of great restaurants and things to do. We had record attendance and our exhibitors' offerings made it well worth the visit (as did the various seminars and special exhibits). Thank you so much to all our exhibitors and to Winslow & Associates for putting together an amazing show. Lastly, a big thank you to all who attendedyour energy and enthusiasm truly made the fair! Please click here to r... [more LA Book Fair a Great Success!]

That's what we will be doing, as will many ABAA members, ILAB dealers, and book lovers, because tomorrow is the start of the 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena! I know I can't stop talking about it, as you've probably noticed from previous blog entries, Facebook postings, etc., but it's all with good reasonthe exhibitors'material looks amazing and fairs are a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues in the rare book world. Visitors to the fair should feel equally enthusiastic; obviously an ABAA fair is a book collector's dream come true, but they provide all book lovers with a wonderful opportunity to see incredible materials up close, to learn about the trade, collecting, and appraisals, and the chance to have their own materials appraised for free. Here's a full list of events at the fa... [more Go West, Young Bibliophile!]

The following items have been reported stolen: Title : Manière de bien bastir pour toutes sortes de personnes Augmentations de nouveaux bastimens faits en France. Authors : LE MUET Pierre. Date of publication : 1647 Publisher : François Langlois dict Chartres, Paris Description : Part I: -113 pages of text with a title, an allegorical engraved title to the address of PierreMariette, an Epistle and a foreword. 53 engraved figures in full page, with reported 2 and 1double page. Part Two: title followed by 31 engravings by Jean Marot, including 22 doublepage and folding 9. Second edition of the first part (the boards are the same as in the first edition of 1623) and the first edition of the second party submitting the plans and elevations of buildings constructed by ¸ The Mute: Tubeuf and Davaux hotel in Paris and the castles ofChampagne ... [more Two Items Stolen from Librairie Picard]

Today marks the bicentennial of Charles Dickens's birth and there are some notable festivities occurring! I've previously posted about the wonderful exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum in NYC, which I highly recommend visiting if you're in the area. In case you need additional incentive, the Morgan is offering free admission today to anyone who mentions Dickens's birthday. The exhibit is only open until the 12th, so get there soon! Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, joined a host of dignitaries, actors, and Dickens's descendants today to hold a special memorial service held in London's Westminster Abbey. Prince Charles laid a wreath of white flowers on Dickens's grave in Poet's Corner, actor Ralph Fiennes read from Bleak House, and prayers were said for the poor as well as writers chronicling modern society. Of ... [more Happy 200th Birthday, Charles Dickens!]

The following item has been reported stolen: Title : Sertum Palmarum Brasiliensium Authors : Joao Barbosa Rodrigues Date of publication : 1903 Description : 2 volumes If you have any information on this item, please contact Tony Fothergill at Ken Spelman Booksellers at either tony@kenspelman.com or +44 (0)1904 624414 [more Stolen: Sertum Palmarum Brasiliensium]

We can help you out! In addition to having a number of ABAA members in Southern California who perform qualified appraisals, there will be two events at the 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena next weekend that are perfect for anyone looking to learn more about appraisals and/or to have their own books appraised. On Sunday at 12:15pm, ABAA members Sam Hessel and Sheryl Jaeger will be presenting a seminar entitled, Do You Need An Appraisal? It is aimed at book collectors or others with books of value and will answer the following questions: What is a formal appraisal? Who should get one for his/her collection? How do I go about the process? Following the seminar is Discovery Day, which is a feature of every ABAA fair and offers attendees the opportunity to receive free mini-appraisals on up to three books. This ... [more In SoCal and need an appraisal?]

The Center for Jewish History in New York, which houses the collections of the American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, announced earlier this month that it will establish a rare books room with the $2.5M gift from the David Berg Foundation. The new rare books room will "provide the center's partners with a state-of-the-art facility in which to showcase some of their most important printed materials, including seminal first editions and a cross-section of rabbinical literature, Jewish philosophy and intellectual history that dates back hundreds of years." It will be open to the public, and the grand opening is slated for the fall. N.Y. center gets $2.5 million gift for new rare books room [more Rare Book Room to be established at the Center for Jewish History]