ABAA members James Bryan and Mary Hill, proprietors of Carpe Diem Fine Books, were featured in an article in the Monterey County Herald this past weekend. The link to the article appears to be broken, so I have posted it below. Congrats, James and Mary! ******************************************** First editions seize the day at downtown bookstore By DAVE DE GIVE Special to The Herald Posted: 02/06/2011 01:38:57 AM PST; Updated: 02/06/2011 01:38:57 AM PST Sixteen years ago, James Bryant and Mary Hill were living in Utah when they had the idea for selling books. Hill, previously from Monterey, followed a job that had moved to Utah, but Bryant, who was in the wine business, found that sales were slow in Salt Lake City. Eager for something new, "we took the opportunity to seize the day and start a book business," said Bryant. The couple even... [more Members in the News: Carpe Diem Fine Books]
Blog posts by Susan Benne
Susan is the Executive Director of the ABAA. She collects material on Brooklyn as well as ephemera and vernacular photography. Susan is focused on making the book trade diverse and equitable.
The 44th California International Antiquarian Book Fair will be held this weekend, February 11th-13th, in San Francisco at the Concourse Exhibition Center. Over 200 members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) will be exhibiting their diverse inventories, providing a rich selection of books, manuscripts, maps and other printed materials. The theme of this year's fair is music, and there will be a special exhibit of rare musical books and manuscripts from the Jean Gray Hargrove Music Library of the University of California at Berkeley. Additionally, there will be several lecture and seminars taking place during the fair; a schedule of events can be found here. If you are attending the fair, please drop by the ABAA booth! The 44th California Internationa... [more This Weekend: 44th California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco]
Last May, the Brooklyn Historical Society discovered a rare 1770 Ratzer map in its possession. The map was delivered to the society's office in May along with a shipment of other maps and prints from their warehouse in Connecticut. There was no catalog listing the map or any record of how the map was acquired, but the society was thrilled with the discovery nonetheless. Prior to this finding, it was widely believed that only three copies of this exact map, Bernard Ratzer's 1770 "Plan of the City of New York", were in existence. The map was in dismal condition, as it had been heavily shellacked, mounted onto linen and cut into strips so it could be easily stored. Jonathan P. Derow, a paper conversationalist, was commissioned with the monumental task of restoring the famous map. The map was so fragile that Mr. Derow was unable to move it to... [more Rare Ratzer Map Discovered and Restored]
Please contact Susan Benne at ABAA Headquarters (212-944-8291 or hq@abaa.org) if you are offered or know the whereabouts of the following: The Hobbit, first impression with first state jacket. George Allen & Unwin 1937 Book is VF+ / F- Distinction of the jacket is a small chip approximately 1/8 inch deep that runs across the top spine. The jacket is otherwise complete with a few small nicks and the folds and a closed tear below Tolkien's name on the front side of the jacket. The Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Very personal inscription to the author of "Murder in Cowetta County" Johnny Cash signed it as myself and Sheriff Lamar Potts (the role he played in the movie) When We Were Very Young first impression. Book VG+ Distinction of the jacket is scotch tape affixed to the spine that reaches over the pooh bear illustration. The House ... [more Missing: High spots (Children's, Science Fiction, American Literature)]
UPDATE: Book has been recovered Missing book, San Francisco-Berkeley and Bay area: Missing in transit, following an appraisal at the Turtle Island Book Shop. It left the shop on December 4th, and was discovered missing on January 4th. Description: Kubota, Shigekuo. MARCEL DUCHAMP AND JOHN CAGE. : published by Takeyoshi Miyazawa, 1988. Black cloth, oblong 8vo. in a slipcase, with reproduced photographs of Duchamp, Teeny Duchamp, John Cage, David Tudor, Gordon Momma, David Behrman and Lowell Cross. Includes a miniature l.p. recording in a paper sleeve. One of 500 copies, numbered and signed, and a presentation copy from Kubota. This is copy no. 482. If you have any information regarding this book, please contact: Roger A. Wicker at the Turtle Island Book Shop, (510) 655-3413 or RWturtleisland@aol.com [more UPDATED: Missing Book from San Francisco Bay Area]
These items were still reported missing as of May 29, 2019. The books listed below have gone missing from Randall House. All the books should have price and notes penciled in the back, with id numbers. BLANCKLEY, Thomas Riley. A Naval Expolitor, Shewing and Explaining the Words and Terms of Art Belonging to the Parts, Qualities, and Proportions of Building, Rigging, Furnishings, Fitting a Ship for Sea. Also All Species that are Received into the Magazines and on What Services They are Used and Issued. Together With The Titles of all the Inferior Officers Belonging to a Ship; with an Abridgment of Their Respective Duties. London: Printed by E. Owen in Warwick Lane, and Engraved by Paul Fourdinier at Charing Cross, 1750. 191 pp. Illustrated with engraved title and 330 marginal engravings, three larger engravings in text. Quarto, later full ... [more Randall House Missing Books]
Check out this article, Glorious Patriotism: The Britain in Pictures Series, written by ABAA member Priscilla Lowry-Gregor and published in Firsts Magazine in December 2009. [more 'Glorious Patriotism: The Britain in Pictures Series']
An article from the online version of the Wall Street Journal about collecting. Collecting Literary Treasures [more WSJ Article: 'Collecting Literary Treasures']
An interesting New York Times article on Litquake and the literary scene in San Francisco; several ABAA firms are mentioned- Bolerium, Libros Latinos, Meyer Boswell- and there's a nice paragraph on John Durham, proprietor of Bolerium. Thanks to Joe Luttrell from Meyer Boswell for bringing this to our attention! San Francisco's Bookstores and Readings reflect a Lively Literary Scene [more San Francisco’s Bookstores and Readings reflect a Lively Literary Scene]
This article from the International Herald Tribune is about Gyorgy Kepes, a designer and design theorist. His archive was recently sold by an ABAA firm, Ars Libri. Congratulations on the sale and the mention, Ars Libri! A Master of Image and Information [more Article: 'A Master of Image and Information']