A rare copy of the United State's first census will be offered in Bonhams Rare Books and Fine Manuscripts Auction on October 4th. The census was conducted under the direction of Thomas Jefferson, who at the time was serving as Secretary of State under Washington, and was therefore also the nominal director of the census (a title held by the Secretary of State for the first five censuses). This particular copy is one of the few signed by Jefferson himself. It is annotated with numerous calculations, and believed to originally have been Gideon Granger's personal copy; Granger was Postmaster General during Jefferson's time in office (1801-1814). This rare copy's value is estimated between $80,000 and $120,000. The sale also includes historical photographs, maps, and atlases, among them a 1816 John Melish's Map of the United States with the C... [more 1790 Census Up For Auction]

Seven Stories children's book museum, based in Newcastle, England, has recently acquired a number of rare original typescripts by celebrated English author Enid Blyton. The manuscripts were put up for auction two weeks ago as part of the estate of Blyton's late daughter, Gillian Baverstock. Although Blyton had an extensive bibliography and a career that spanned over five decades, few of her original manuscripts have survived, a fact Seven Stories was aware of and jumped at the chance to preserve them. The museum obtained nine original typescripts of Blyton's best known novels, including three from her Famous Five series and an undated, unpublished Famous Five Adventure A Play for Older Children in Three Acts. Five Have Plenty of Fun, published in 1954, is accompanied by a handwritten note from Blyton which reads, "I do not write my books... [more Seven Stories Acquires Rare Enid Blyton Manuscripts]

Today in Marin County, an alleged book thief is scheduled to be arraigned on charges of Grand Theft, after he stole a rare book by ingesting it (yes- he ate it). Three weeks ago, the Heldfond Book Gallery contacted authorities to report the theft of a first edition of H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man. The staff was able to give a detailed description of the suspected culprit, who was behaving in a strange manner and had handled the book shortly before it disappeared. Police apprehended the suspect at the Eco Green Zen Calm cafe, where he was curled up in a booth and complaining of severe stomach cramps. The suspect was take to Marin County Hospital, where an x-ray was administered in an attempt to find the root of his pain. This is what they found:ER physician Dr. Leo McCoy said of the discovery, "We've seen many different and weird things w... [more Unique Theft of a Rare Book from an ABAA Member]

Check out this profile of William Reese in the Yale Daily News: One man, 65,000 Manuscripts William Reese [more Member in the News: William Reese in the Yale Daily News]

The University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute will be the new home for the Mackie Family History of Neuroscience Collection, and students and faculty alike are thrilled. The collection was started forty years ago by Dr. Robert Gordon, a now-retired neurologist, when he acquired the medical library of a distinguished physician. It is comprised of rare neurology books, some over 500 years old, and includes an original copy of Watson and Crick's Nature paper, in which the Nobel winners first describe the double helix structure of DNA, and the first neurological text, which was written in the 1600s by Thomas Willis, who is considered to be the 'father of neurology'. The University Library was able to purchase the collection after matching a gift given by Jamie and Brenda Mackie. The director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Dr. Samue... [more The Mackie Family History of Neuroscience Collection to be Housed at the University of Calgary]

A rare English language copy of Russia's Treasure of Diamonds and Stones is set to be auctioned off on October 14th at Heritage Auction Galleries' Signature Rare Books Auction in Beverly Hills. The volume was edited by Aleksander Evgenevitch Fersman and published in 1925, and is the result of the substantial effort to list and photograph the Russian crown jewels, a task that began in 1922. It was compiled by S.N. Troinitsky, who was the director of the Hermitage at the time, with the help of a committee of expert jewelers, including A. Fabergé, son of renowned court jeweler Carl Fabregé. The book was originally published in Russian, French and English, but today there are less than a dozen copies known of, and only a few in English, one aspect that makes this copy extremely rare. Russia's Treasure of Diamonds and Stones is also the sing... [more Rare English Copy of 'Russia's Treasure of Diamonds and Stones' to be Auctioned Off]

This December 7th in London, Sotheby's will auction off a number of rare books from the late Baron Frederick Hesketh's expansive collection, including a rare first edition of Audubon's The Birds of America. Due to the rarity and size of the book, which Audubon described as a "'double elephant' folio" and measures 90 by 60 cms, coupled with the quality of the hand-colored prints, experts estimate that it will bring in more than $6 million. This seems a fair if not low-ball estimate considering that a copy of The Birds of America brought in $8.8 million at Christie's in 2000, which set the record for a printed book at auction. The edition up for auction is No. 11 of 119 remaining copies, and was originally owned by paleontologist Henry Witham, who purchased the book in 1826 after a personal meeting with Audubon. The other highlight from th... [more "World's Most Expensive Book" Up For Auction]

The Chapin Library at Williams College has recently acquired a 19th-century Qur'an manuscript from the Ottoman Empire. It measures six and one eighth inches long and four inches wide, and has a wallet style binding. Assistant Librarian Wayne G. Hammond describes the manuscript's condition as "superb", the result of the binding style, which protected the pages, and he surmises that, given its size, the manuscript was originally a personal volume. This Qur'an is handwritten in Arabic calligraphy and decorated with gold and other metallic illuminations. It was obtained from a local bookseller. Williams College added Arabic Studies as a major this year, which Hammond says helped influence the acquisition, as part of the Chapin Library's mission to "support all aspects of the Williams curriculum". In light of recent anti-Muslim sentiment, sens... [more Williams College’s Chapin Library Aquires Rare Qur’an]

These items were still reported missing as of May 29, 2019. Two maps are missing, presumed stolen from the stock of Jonathan Potter Ltd: 1. (34468) "Cornwall" By John Speed. Published London, 1612-1627. Later hand colour. 2. (34964) "Carte De La Californie ..." By D.Robert De Vaugondy. Published Paris, 1770. Later hand colour. Any information, please contact: Jonathan Potter Limited 125 New Bond Street London, W1S 1DY Tel: +44 (0)20 7491 3520 Email: info@jpmaps.co.uk [more Two Maps Stolen from Jonathan Potter Ltd.]

This item was still reported missing as of May 29, 2019. Felice Feliciano: Alphabetum Romanum; 25 hand-coloured letters; publisher's full brown morocco, patterned slipcase. no. 96 of 400 copies. Officinae Bodoni 1960. If you have any information, please contact: Martin Steenson tel: +44 (0)20 7370 5593 email: martin@booksandthings.co.uk [more Felice Feliciano: Alphabetum Romanum]