The ABAA was delighted to have Professor Adrian Johns of the University of Chicago lecture at the 2011 California International Antiquarian Book Fair. His talk was entitled The Promise and Peril of Universal Libraries, and Professor Johns is kind enough to let us republish the text on our blog and website. Enjoy! ******************************* The Promise and Peril of Universal Libraries Adrian Johns University of Chicago Since it was originally announced some five years ago, the Google book project has provoked a rich variety of responses. The intensity of the debate is understandable, because the implications of the project are indeed as broad as they seem to be. This really is the rare enterprise that has implications for everyone who works in academia and, in all likelihood, everyone who does not. The future of knowledge itself is at stake. So too is its past. Many of the debates that Google's venture has ignited have taken place on the relatively familiar, if sometimes very technical, terrain of law and economics. The problems evoked have been those of copyright infringement and monopoly. The debate has also been infused with a strong dose of publishing industry jeremiad, and more recently experts in the bibliographical world have voiced disquieting revelations regarding Google's devotion to outmoded classification criteria and surprisingly poor metadata standards. When addressing what is trumpeted as the project's real purpose, however – to transform how knowledge i... [more 'The Promise and Peril of Universal Libraries']
The following books have been reported missing from the Reston Regional Library in Reston, VA. RECOVERED: Nouveau Dictionnaire Allemand-Francois et Francois-Allemand a l'Usage des Deux Nations: Tome I: contenant l'Allemand Explique par le Francois: Nouvelle Edition, Corrigee et Augmente. Publ Chez Jean-Thomas Noble de Trattnern, Imprimeur et Libraire de la Cour / publ Vienne, Prague et Brunn / publ in 1790 / volume 1 only (German explained in French, while volume 2 is French explained in German) / hardcover bound entirely in brown leather / hubbed spine with gilt decoration shows wear from age and from frequent use, paste-on title in place / binding tight / pencil markings of owner(s), names not legible / frontispiece / Jean-Thomas Trattner or Johann Thomas von Trattner was a famous 18th century printer, bookseller and publisher of court Essais sur L'etat Actuel de La France: 1er Mai 1796 . by B F A Fonvielle / publ 1796 in Paris / "Prix Quatre livres pour Paris" / Chez Desenne, Brigitte-Mattey, Palais Egalite; Chez Maret, Cour des Fontaines; Chez Tous les Marchands de Nouveautes / re-bound in textured green leather w/dark green leather at the spine, gilt titling on spine is bright / marbled endpapers, ribbon marker / sunfade to top portion of front cover / 416 pgs plus appendix dated Dec 1, 1796 / signed by the owner "Pe Dietrichstein" / in French. Dei Re D'Italia Inaugurati o no con la Corona Ferrea da Odoacre Fino al Regnante Augusto Imperatore Ferdinando I: Opera Tratta... [more UPDATED: Missing Books from the Reston Regional Library]
The Raab Collection is currently offering a three page letter penned by William H. Herndon, one of Abraham Lincoln's closest friends, that offers unique insight into Lincoln's religious beliefs. Historians have had little substantiation on this topic since Lincoln refused to discuss religion and did not belong to a church. In his 1866 letter, which was written to the current clerk of the House of Representatives, Edward McPherson, Herndon writes that "Mr. Lincoln's religion is too well known to me to allow of even a shadow of a doubt; he is or was a Theist - a Rationalist, denying all extraordinary -– supernatural inspiration or revelation". Please click here to read the full article on CNN. Congratulations to The Raab Collection on acquiring such an important historical documnet! Letter from close friend offers rare glimpse into President Lincoln's 'theist' beliefs The Raab Collection [more Member in the News: The Raab Collection]
Today the book world lost a giant: Peter B. Howard of Serendipity Books in Berkeley, CA has passed away. Peter was interviewed in February at the San Francisco Fair. You can view the interview in its entirety here. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family. [more Sad News: Peter B. Howard]
Read this excellent piece about ABAA member Elmar W. Seibel and his firm, Ars Libri. Congratulations, Elmar! Turning the Page [more Member in the News: Ars Libri]
Here is a prospectus to Jeff Weber's latest book, An Annotated Dictionary of Fore-edge Painting Artists & Binders (Mostly English & American). Part II: The Fore-edge Paintings of Miss C. B. Currie; with a Catalogue Raisonné, which was previously posted about in this blog. [more Prospectus for Jeff Weber's Latest Book on Fore-edge Painting]
On Tuesday, a New York federal judge rejected Google's settlement with authors and publishers to digitize books and make them freely available. Judge David Chin said that the agreement would have "granted Google a 'de facto monopoly' and the right to profit from books without the permission of copyright owners". Legally, it seems the largest factor for rejection of the settlement is its inclusion of orphan works, which are books whose rights holders are unknown. Judge Chin implied that if the settlement was amended and limited only to books that authors or publishers opted in, then the majority of legal obstacles would be removed. Google argues that leaving orphan works out of the agreement would significantly diminish the value of their digital library, both to the company and the public. Pamela Samuelson, a copyright expert at UC Berkeley who has worked to prevent the settlement, commented that “even though it is efficient for Google to make all the books available, the orphan works and unclaimed books problem should be addressed by Congress, not by the private settlement of a lawsuit.” I have absolutely no familiarity with copyright law but, in my inexperienced opinion, Ms. Samuelson's statement sounds spot on. What do you think? Clearly, this ruling can also open a discussion on rare books and the trade in general; please post any ideas, opinions, etc. Judge Rejects Google's Deal to Digitize Books [more NY Times: "Judge Rejects Google's Deal to Digitize Books"]
From Michaan's Auctions in Alameda, CA: During our March 6-8 annex preview, a copy of "Atlas de l"Histoire des Voyages", published in Paris c.1788 with 71 maps engraved by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin was stolen from our preview. The leather bound edition was fully intact with the exception of the missing title page. If you have any information on or are offered this book, please contact Chris Gallo at chris@michaans.com, or ABAA Headquarters at hq@abaa.org. [more Missing from Bay Area: "Atlas de l'Histoire des Voyages"]
An article in last weeks NY Times speaks with Irvin Ungar about his most recent Szyk projects (which were previously mentioned). Click here to read the Times article. Congratulations Irvin! Arthur Szyks Haggadah and Singapores Sunken Arab Treasure [more Member in the News: Irvin Ungar]
ABAA Member Jeff Weber has recently published a new book on the artists and binders of fore-edge paintings. This reference work is entitled, An Annotated Dictionary of Fore-edge Painting Artists & Binders (Mostly English & American). Part II: The Fore-edge Paintings of Miss C. B. Currie; with a Catalogue Raisonné and has been 27 years in the making. In the authors own words: This book, for example, will correct a lot of misinformation, it seeks to define the role of each binder or artist individually, so that you cannot mix up the contributions of one or another painter/binder. There is a lot of specificity to allow the reader to identify their own fore-edge paintings, if possible. There is a good deal of time given to learning about how to find the history of a fore-edge. I am very interested in, for example, the 19th century - and earlier - terms used for fore-edge painting - a 20th century term! Many times I am looking only for contemporary evidence of someones work. I also dont only deal with the obvious and famous binders that are well documented, but also those little own pieces that seem obscure& Fellow member Vic Zoschak brought the publication to our attention, remarking that the book is quite impressive, to say the least. Congratulations, Jeff! If you are interested in purchasing this book, please click here.* Jeff Weber Rare Books *A trade discount applies with purchases from colleagues. [more Jeff Weber's New Book on Artists and Binders of Fore-Edge Paintings]