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 Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University has recently acquired a collection of 280 rare books and manuscripts concerning scientific discoveries. Included in the collection are a 1495 edition of the works of Aristotle; a 1613 first edition of Galileo's illustrated treatise on the discovery of sunspots; a 1687 first edition of Newton's The Principia; and the first print appearance of Darwin's Theory of Evolution in 1858. There is a small slideshow of selected images here. Johns Hopkins library obtains rare editions [more Johns Hopkins Library Acquires Rare Scientific Works]
On October 28th, Ken Gloss will be giving a free lecture at the Hingham Public Library entitled, "Is There Value in Your Old and Used Books?". The link provides a profile of Ken as well as more information on the lecture. Ken Gloss coming to Hingham Public Library Brattle Book Shop [more Member in the News: Ken Gloss]
From Dragon Books: We recently discovered that our first edition in jacket of Fitzgerald's "Tender Is the Night" has been stolen from our shop in Los Angeles. The theft occurred sometime between the afternoon of Wednesday October 6th and this morning October 8th. If you have any information at all, or if someone offers you a copy in a nice jacket please contact us and the police. In addition, we are missing a signed first edition of William Carlos Williams' "The Wedge" , re-backed with the original spine laid-down. Front fly-leaf has inscription "Dexter Puritan /his book/ William Carlos Williams." If you have any information on these books, please contact Cassandra Joffre at Dragon Books by telephone, (310) 441-8545, or email, cassandra@dragonbooks.com. [more Dragon Books Reports Thefts]
Andrelini, Publio Fausto. DE SCIOLORUM ARROGANTIA PROVERBIALIS EPISTOLA. Paris: in Adibus Ascensianis. (1519). 4to. 8 leaves. The title leaf displays the woodcut printer's device for Badius. Bound in modern leather-backed marbled boards. Old faded number stamped on title and a small hole in a blank portion of the final leaf. If you have any information regarding this book, please contact ABAA Headquarters at hq@abaa.org or (212) 944-8291. [more Andrelini's 'De Sciolorum Arrogantia Proverbialis Epistola']
The Frankfurt Book Fair commenced yesterday, and with a special focus this year on technology. A new digital initiative, called Frankfurt SPARKS, was launched at the fair, and aims to "provide an initial 'spark' for for future publishing projects" and bring "together providers of innovative technology and those working with creative content- thus breaking traditional industry boundaries," according to Director Juergen Boos. Set apart from all the technological presentations and conferences is the rare and antique book pavilion, in its own separate space for the first time this year. Described as "an oasis of calm, with not an iPad in sight", the rare books dealers may be physically detached from the digital pandemonium, but the subject of digitalization and the possibility of how it may impact their business is still on their minds. ProQu... [more Even with a Focus on Digitalization, Rare Books Still Display at Frankfurt Book Fair]
UPDATE: Book was recovered. Missing while in transit in Atlanta area: The Pilgrims Progress, by Rev. John Bunyan, Very Early Edition. Approximately 4 in x 6 in. The front cover was restored Significant features: Inside front cover or first page had very light notes or inscriptions and signed by the Mrs. Rev. John Bunyan. Also there were blue ink blot stains on the upper first page that bled through the next few pages. Please contact ABAA Headquarters, hq@abaa.org or (212) 944-8291, if you know the whereabouts of this item. [more UPDATED: The Pilgrim's Progress, by Rev. John Bunyan, Very Early Edition]
As mentioned in a previous post, Heritage Auction Galleries' Rare Books Auction will take place on October 14th in Beverly Hills, and will offer a rare English copy of 'Russia's Treasure of Diamonds and Stones'. There are a number of other noteworthy items, however. Some highlights include: *First edition of Jane Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility, in three volumes *First printing of three of four of Einstein's Annus Mirabilis papers *First collected edition of the "Federalist Papers", originally owned by Jonathan Dayton, a Revolutionary War officer and the youngest signer of the Constitution *First printing of the complete score of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony *First edition, first printing of A Christmas Carol from Dickens' own library *First edition, first issue of For Whom the Bell Tolls with an inscription from Hemingway to hi... [more Highlights from Heritage Auction Galleries' Upcoming Sale]
As previously posted about, in early December Sotheby's will auction off a very valuable and very interesting collection of rare books, including a first edition of Audubon's The Birds of America, which is considered to be the "world's most expensive book". Prior to the auction, the collection will tour and be put on public display in Paris, New York and London. Included in the public viewing will be the letters written by Queen Elizabeth I to jailer Sir Ralph Sadler about the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots, Shakspeare's First Folio, and an illustrated copy of Plutarch's Lives of Romulus. The schedule for the public viewing tour: *October 7-11: Sotheby's Paris, Galerie Charpentier, 76 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré *October 30-November 5: Sotheby's New York, 1334 York Avenue at 72nd Street *December 3-5: Sotheby's London, 34-35 New Bo... [more Public Viewing of "World's Most Expensive Book"]
On Thursday, 16 September, 2010 a member of the Castle staff discovered that one of the bookcases in the Castle library had been forced. Subsequent enquiries of the Librarian to The Duke of Norfolk confirmed that the following volumes have been stolen: 1. Library Catalogue: MAGNA CHARTA, opposed to Assumed Privilege: being a complete View of the late Interesting Disputes between the House of Commons and the Magistrates of London, etc. London, 1771. Octavo. Sothebys: ‘ID.2539 EB 1764 Magna Carta, Good binding, contemporary red morocco gilt, Hollis binding, 8vo, 1771. 2. Library Catalogue: NICHOLAS, Sir N.H. The History of the Battle of Agincourt and of the Expedition of Henry V into France. London, 1832. Octavo. Sothebys: ID.2540 EB 1765 Among ‘Remainder’ in Case 30 Shelf B. Any information to: Bryan McDonald bryan.mcdonald@aru... [more Theft from Arundel Castle]