Attendees to the 2011 Awards Ceremony for the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest were lucky enough to hear Michael Dirda give a talk entitled "The Thrill of the Hunt: The Serendipitous Pleasures of Book Collecting". You may now view the lecture below, on the Library of Congress's website, or on the ABAA's website . Michael Dirda is senior editor for "The Washington Post Book World", and a noted bibliophile. Michael's talk is preceded by the NCBCC awards presentation; his lecture begins at 29:30. [more Michael Dirda: "The Thrill of the Hunt: The Serendipitous Pleasures of Book Collecting"]

This item was still reported missing as of June 10, 2019. The following item has been reported stolen: Title : Foxes Book of Martyrs Authors : Foxes Description : Description from a recent NADFAS inventory as follows: "Foxes Book of Martyrs. Very poor condition. Faded brown leather cover. Gothic printing with black & white woodcut illustrations throughout. Entries date from 1555 to 1558, but the first ten pages & the last unknown number of pages are either missing or very badly damaged." If you have any information on this item, please contact Patrick McCanlis at patmac778@hotmail.com or +44 (0)20 7439 3118 [more Stolen: Foxes Book of Martyrs]

Here's the equally hysterical second part of Stephen Colbert's interview with Maurice Sendak: The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive The Colbert Report [more Maurice Sendak on Colbert Report Part 2]

Last night The Colbert Report aired part one of a two part interview with renowned author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, and it was hilarious. For your viewing pleasure, Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Part 1enjoy! The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive [more Maurice Sendak on the Colbert Report]

The following items have been reported missing: 1. Aesop Naturaliz'd; in a collection of fables and stories from Aesop, Lochman, Pilpay, and others. London: printed for D. Midwinter, 1711. Third edition, "with the addition of above 50 fables." Octavo. Contemporary sheep, rebacked, reddish-brown morocco spine label. With ink annotation on front free endpaper with the dates 1723 and 1726. Seven copies worldwide on ESTC. 2. Cebes. . Cebetis Tebani Tabula, Graece & Latine, multis in locis restiuta ex MSS. codicibus...Amsterdam: apud Henricum Westenium 1689. First edition as edited by the Dutch scholar Jakob Gronovius. Small octavo. Contemporary cloth, paneled in blind, brown morocco label. Joints a bit rubbed. Ink signature on the front flyleaf of Robert Raymond, dated 1692. 3. Tasso. L'Aminte du Tasse. Edition nouvelle, revue & enrichie des ... [more Several Books Missing from Michael R. Thompson Rare Books]

Today would be the 150th birthday of famed American author Edith Wharton, who is probably most widely known for her examination of New York society in the early twentieth century (The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth were both centered around this theme). Wharton was a very successful writer in her time, receiving both popular and critical acclaim in addition to good compensation for her works (any writer's dream!). She composed travel essays, short stories, novels, and, later in life, short autobiographical essays. Wharton was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. In 1902, Wharton designed and built The Mount based on the principles she outlined in her 1897 book, The Decoration of Houses. Today, The Mount is "an autobiographical house", "both a historic site and a center for culture inspired by the passions... [more Happy 150th Birthday, Edith Wharton!]

The Chicago-based Churchill Centre has donated $8 million to establish the first U.S. research center and library devoted to the legacy of Winston Churchill. The National Churchill Center and Library will be located on the campus of George Washington University and is slated to open between 2013 and 2015. Members of the Churchill Centre will collaborate on the collection that will be housed in the new center and accompanying library. The group's Executive Director, Lee Pollock, says that many members are eager to donate their own personal collections, and that the Washington collection could amass over 1,000 volumes. Part of the funds gifted to the new National Churchill Center and Library will also create endowments for a professor and a curator position, and $1 million is reserved to fund exhibits and special programs. University Presid... [more Churchill Research Center and Library to Open in D.C.]

Our friend and former ABAA President Stuart Bennett recently published a novel encompassing genres including historical fiction (think Jane Austen and the Regency Period, Shakespeare's London), romance, and time travel. The Perfect Visit "tells the story of two bibliophiles who go back in time to rescue lost books and manuscripts." I couldn't put it down! A must read for any rare bookie. Check it out here. [more Stuart Bennett publishes The Perfect Visit]

ABAA Members Anne and David Bromer have very generously donated two million dollars to the Boston Athenaeum in support of the institution and the Bromer Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Athenaeum. Read more about it here! [more Bromer Booksellers give $2M Gift to Boston Athenaeum]

The Journal of the Book Club of Washington published a talk that Santa Monica based ABAA member Ken Karmiole gave at the California Rare Book School last year, and it's quite an interesting read. Ken addresses the pertinent theme of 'Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age' from a rare book dealer's perspective, outlining how the rise of the Internet has affected the trade and offering some interesting anecdotes and insights. It's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the rare book world. Please click the following link to read the article: Ken Karmiole: Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age [more Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age]