Over the past half century, Second Story Books has provided the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area access to an unlimited and rich reading experience. From their original small second floor location on Connecticut Avenue, Second Story Books, an ABAA/ILAB member since 1976, has evolved as an internationally respected bookseller dealing in antiquarian and out-of-print books, art, ephemera and general used books with two locations. In this interview, owner and founder Allan Stypeck discusses his long career in bookselling and appraising and his parallel career in television and documentary making. On the present: One of the traditional advantages of having a walk-in bookstore in Washington D.C. was the customer base, consisting of local residents, tourists, and the large federal government bureaucracy, which includes the collateral org... [more Allan Stypeck: 50 Years of Bookselling]

The National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest awards ceremony was held at the Library of Congress on September 13, 2024. The Contest was established in 2005 by Fine Books & Collections Magazine to recognize outstanding book collecting efforts by college and university students--the program aims to encourage young collectors to become accomplished bibliophiles. ABAA Member and collector Rebecca Romney was the featured speaker and made the winners and guests feel welcome. The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), and the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division (the Library of Congress) jointly assumed leadership of the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest in 2010. The Grolier Club, a noted book collectors organization, join... [more Meet the 2024 NCBCC Winners]

Edit: The recording of this event is now available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfeHt5PvU6U The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America was founded in 1949 to promote interest in rare and antiquarian books and book collecting, and to foster collegial relations. The association invites you to attend the September Brown Bag Lunch Series, a panel discussion: Meet the ABAA: Demystifying the Application Process. You'll gain insights into the present-day ABAA, membership benefits, and how to become a part of it. The panelists will include the president and the executive director of the ABAA, as well as ABAA members Robin Beck of Primary Sources and Sunday Steinkirchner of B & B Rare Books. The webinar is moderated by Lizzy Young, ABAA member and the Chair of the Gender Equity Initiative. September 24th @ 2 PM ... [more September Brown Bag]

Edit: The recording of this event is now available on our YouTube channel. The Brown Bag Lunch Series, presented by the ABAA Gender Equity Initiative, is a series of short virtual talks covering various topics, from crash courses in areas of expertise to best business practices. Please join the Gender Equity Initiative on Zoom on Tuesday, August 27th, 2024, at 2 PM ET for a Brown Bag Lunch Series with Alexander Akin. Alexander Akin, co-owner of Bolerium Books and current president of the ABAA, worked as a professional numismatist before becoming involved in the book trade. In this talk, he will explore an area of personal interest at the intersection of these worlds: poetic inscriptions on currency. We will see Persian couplets celebrating everything from territorial conquest to love for a beautiful partner, expressions of passionate reli... [more Brown Bag Series: August]

Meet the latest group of booksellers elected as members of the ABAA. Full Membership Obadiah Baird - The Book Bin For almost fifteen years Obadiah Baird has specialized in rare and collectible Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, while also running The Book Bin's two large general interest shops in Salem and Corvallis Oregon. A second-generation member of the ABAA, Obadiah has exhibited with his father, at book fairs up and down the west coast and as far away as York England. With an eye towards attracting a new generation of collectors, he has expanded the kind of genre material you can expect to see at an Antiquarian Book Fair, placing signed first editions of popular current authors alongside classic works in the field. Now a full member of the ABAA in his own right, Obadiah looks forward to connecting collectors to the perfect book (o... [more New ABAA Members]

Edit: the recording of this event is now available on our YouTube channel: The Brown Bag Lunch Series, presented by the ABAA Gender Equity Initiative, is a series of short virtual talks covering various topics, from crash courses in areas of expertise to best business practices. Please join the Gender Equity Initiative on Zoom on July 31st, 2024, at 2 PM ET for a Brown Bag Lunch Series with Jim Owens of Thorn Books. During the session, Jim will delve into a short overview of paper marbling, from the earliest known types in Japan ('suminagashi') through the rise and development of 'Turkish' marbling ('ebru'), and finally, a brief look at some modern work by noted marbling artists. Along the way, we will visit the marbling processes, speak to at least the more common patterns, and examine a few reference books. July 31st @ 2 PM ET Jim Owens... [more July Brown Bag: Marbled Paper]

What's better: a simple author signature, or an inscription? As a longtime bookseller -- a veteran of Borders, Waldenbooks, and independent bookstores -- I thought I knew the answer. But, once I began working for antiquarian booksellers, I discovered the question is much more complex. A comment on the ABAA Facebook page recently asked why some booksellers appear to prefer plain signed books, rather than inscribed ones? While trying to find the answer, I encountered an interesting tale of changing fashions and the dark side of book collecting. The prevailing wisdom in literary circles over the past decade or two has been to ask an author for a plain signature when getting a book autographed (some collectors even purchase two copies, asking the author to inscribe one to them for their 'permanent collection,' and to simply sign their name to... [more Signed Books Vs. Inscribed Books]

Edit: The recording of this event can be viewed on our YouTube channel or below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U43Q7qerAEI The Brown Bag Lunch Series, presented by the ABAA Gender Equity Initiative, is a series of short virtual talks covering various topics, from crash courses in areas of expertise to best business practices. Please join the Gender Equity Initiative on Zoom on June 19th, 2024, at 2 PM ET for a group panel with Zhenya Dzhavgova, Andy Nettell, and Lizzy Young on a discussion unveiling who they are and what they do aside from being a rare book dealer. June 19th, 2024, at 2 PM ET REGISTER HERE Zhenya Dzhavgova, ZH Books Zhenya was born and grew up in Bulgaria at the tail end of Communism, in the Valley of Roses, where the highest quality rose oil in the world is produced. Her hometown is also the geographical center of the ... [more June Brown Bag Lunch Series]

Edit: The recording of this event is now available on our YouTube channel... The Brown Bag Lunch Series, presented by the ABAA Gender Equity Initiative, is a series of short virtual talks covering various topics, from crash courses in areas of expertise to best business practices. Please join the Gender Equity Initiative on Zoom on May 29th, 2024, at 2 PM ET for a Brown Bag Lunch Series with Jim Owens of Thorn Books. During the session, Jim will delve into the historical significance of Victorian bookcloth, examining the factors that led to its emergence as a replacement for leather on books. He will explore the various types of Victorian bookcloths and provide insights into the reasons behind their usage. Additionally, Jim will shed light on the decline of Victorian bookcloth and its impact on bookbinding practices. May 29th @ 2 PM ET Ji... [more May Brown Bag: Victorian Bookcloth]

The Raab Collection this year marks its 35th anniversary in the business of discovering, buying, and selling important historical documents and autographs. Founded in 1989 by Steven S. Raab, an attorney and collector, the company has since grown into an international firm, serving both private collectors and major institutions around the world. To celebrate this milestone, Raab has updated and refreshed its notable website, and throughout this season will curate a collection and exhibition, “35 for 35,” that celebrates its role in uncovering pieces of history and unveils some documents never before offered for sale and others last on the market a century ago or more. It will also feature periodic articles on the history of the business written by Steven S. Raab. 35 for 35: Historical Discoveries Historical discovery is a key part of w... [more Raab Collection Celebrates 35 Years]