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, sensationalized by the media's coverage of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero and a plan by a Florida church to burn copies of the Qur'an (which, thankfully, did not take place), the acquisition of a rare Qur'an manuscript by a collegial institution brings hope for proper knowledge and understanding of a religion and people that have been unfairly stereotyped in America. Hammond commented, "I would hope we would always educate and help people understand and get along together. There is nothing worse than ignorance causing all the problems in the world." College gets rare Quran [more Williams College’s Chapin Library Aquires Rare Qur’an]

Andalouse This past Tuesday, our friend L.D. Mitchell at The Private Library, discussed Hand-Colored Plates, paying particular attention to the assembly-line process required to manually color engravings or lithographs. The workers were, more often than not, anonymous women or children. The designers and engraver/lithographers did not color the plates themselves. But these anonymous colorists were not left alone to improvise a palette, each of their own creation; they required a color scheme for reference. And these were not Venus Paradise Coloring Sets with numbers on the plate corresponding to a specific colored pencil. It was left to the original artist/designer or a primary colorist to create models for the workers to use as guides. One such colorist/modeler was Edouard Bouvenne, an artist in his own right yet of whom little is known; he is not found in Benezit (now, thankfully, available in an English edition). But he often provided models for colorists employed by Chez Aubert and Chez Bauger, two of the leading publisher-printmakers in France, 1820-1845. Bouvenne was a "figure of considerable talent who was able to give strong coloration to certain of Daumier's prints" (Fogle, Sabina. Daumier. L'écriture du lithographe. In Nineteenth Century Art Worldwide, Volume 7, Issue 2, Autumn 2008). Pétrin Original models for hand-colored plates rarely survived their function; they were heavily used. From time to time, however, vintage hand-coloring models do surface and two ye... [more How Did Hand-Colorists in the Past Know What Colors To Use?]

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]

These items were still missing as of May 29, 2019. AUDSLEY, W. & G. Handbook of Christian Symbolism London, Day & Son +145 pp. b&w ill. throughout, with 8 col. plates (most chromo-lithographs). All gilt edges. Slight foxing on Plate 2, else vg copy. Highly decorated cloth, Pencil signature on title page/half title. PUTNAM, J. Pickering (1847-1917) The Open Fire-place in All Ages Boston, James E Osgood and Company Ist edition. 202pp, 35 plates and 223 text figures. Illustrated in black and white with line illustrations. Decorated cloth with paste down illustration on front board. Very good indeed. Ist edition. 202pp, 35 plates and 223 text figures. Illustrated in black and white with line illustrations. Decorated cloth with paste down illustration on front board. Very good indeed. If you have any information about either of these books, please contact Janette Ray Booksellers immediately: tel: 01904 62088 email: books@janetteray.co.uk [more Two Missing Titles from Janette Ray Booksellers]

Vic of Tavistock Books recently acquired a John Steinbeck manuscript. Read more here. [more ABAA Member Vic Zoschak gets a shout-out]

These items were still missing as of May 29, 2019. 1. LAVEDAN, Don Antonio. Tratado de los Usos, Abusos, Propiedades y Virtudes del Tabaco, Cafe, Te y Chocolate: Extractado de los Mejores autores Que Han Tratado de esta Materia, A fin de Que su Uso No Perjudique a la Salud, Antes Bien Pueda Servir de Alivio y Curacion de Muchos Males. Madrid: En la Imprenta Rea, 1796l. Octavo, full treecalf over boards, red morocco gilt lettered label on spine, marbled endpapers. Front board a little bowed, faint stamps on front and rear cover "Withdrawn State College of Washington Library", edges a little rubbed, library label tipped to front pastedown, rubberstamp from "Early Birds Club, Mexico" on verso of title page, library number at bottom margin of ff "A", terminal free endpaper with two small holes at bottom, light occasional foxing; albeit a nice tight copy. Second edition with an errata leaf. A history of the uses, abuses and the properties and virtues of tobacco, coffee, tea and chocolate. The first part deals with tobacco, its history, its preparation by the Indians, its uses including its medicinal uses and the favourable conditions for its use. It also talks about climate and conditions for growing tobacco, as well as the beneficial uses of dry and pulverized tobacco. The other parts deal with coffee, tea and chocolate in a similar manner. . Book id# 19835. Missing since June 2007 2. BLANCKLEY, Thomas Riley. A Naval Expolitor, Shewing and Explaining the Words and Terms of Art Be... [more Randall House Reports Two Missing Books]

This item was still missing as of May 29, 2019. FEUILLET, Octave. Le Sphinx. Drame en Quatre Actes. Paris: Michel Levy Freres. Illustrated. Octavo, full green morocco with blue and red morocco inlays, all decorated with gilt, heavy gilt spine with raised bands, inner gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, by Vermorel, with original wrappers bound in. Fine. First edition with ALs by the author and a “carte de visite” from the play tipped in. Bound in is a two page ALs from Feuillet as well as the original drawing of the Sphinx used for the binding. Original wrappers bound in. The play itself premiered at the Theatre François in Paris March 23, 1874. Book id# 683. Missing/Stolen since March 2008. Any information, please contact: Randall House Rare Books Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-963-1909 Missing/stolen since March 2008 Randall House Rare Books Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-963-1909 [more Feuillet's 'Le Sphinx']

ABBOTT, Jack. A Treatise on Jack Pot Poker. New Orleans, 1881. 12mo. Original black pebbled cloth, black glazed paper side-label, printed in gold. One tiny nick in the upper joint, else a very fine copy in original state. Housed in a smart black half morocco slipcase. Any information, please, contact: Natalie Galustian 22 Cecil Court London WC2N 4HE, UK tel: +44 207 240 6822 books@nataliegalustian.com [more Theft of 'A Treatise on Jack Pot Poker']

A box of Michener books was stolen this past weekend.  Volumes included: MICHENER, James. ALASKA. Random, First Edition. Hardcover. Signed. Fine FIRST EDITION SIGNED LIMITED. Number 716 of 1000. Fine in fine slipcase. MICHENER, James. CENTENNIAL. Random, 1974. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed. Fine FIRST EDITION SIGNED LIMITED. Number 266 of 500. Fine in fine slipcase. MICHENER, James. LEGACY. Random, . First Edition. Hardcover. Signed. Fine FIRST EDITION SIGNED LIMITED. Number 427 of 500. Fine in fine slipcase. MICHENER, James. LITERARY REFLECTIONS. State House Press, First Edition. Hardcover. Signed. Fine FIRST EDITION SIGNED LIMITED. First edition. Quarter morocco and cloth in cloth slipcase. Fine. One of 200 specially bound & numbered copies Signed by Michener. MICHENER, James A.. RECESSIONAL. Random, FIRST. FIRST EDITION signed limited fine in fine slipcase. Number 167 of 500. MICHENER, James A.. THE COVENANT. Random, 1980. FIRST. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Dust Jacket Included. FIRST EDITION signed limited fine in fine slipcase. Number 306 of 500. Slightly sunned spine. MICHENER, James. THE DRIFTERS. Random, 1971. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed. Fine FIRST EDITION SIGNED LIMITED. Number 314 of 500. Fine in fine slipcase. MICHENER, James. THE EAGLE AND THE RAVEN. State House Press, First Edition. Hardcover. Fine FIRST EDITION SIGNED LIMITED. Quarter morocco and cloth in cloth slipcase. Fine. One of 350 specially bound & numbered copies signed by Michener. MICHENER, ... [more Stolen Box of Michener Books]