Book collectors and fans of experimental musician and artist Bill Drummond (The KLF, The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu) are engaged in a fascinating scavenger hunt for 32 copies of a limited-edition book hidden around Ireland. Among Drummond's many, many projects is The Curfew Tower, a 19th-century tower originally built as a jail in the town of Cushendall in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland. Drummond owns the tower and has run it as an artist's residency since 1999. He originally purchased the tower intending to use it to house the one and only copy of his book Bad Wisdom; intending that would-be readers would need to travel to the tower in order to read the book as a sort of secular pilgrimage. That project was eventually published more traditionally by Penguin Putnam in the UK, so Drummond had to find another use for his tower. In 2015, Drummond published a book compiled from the work of the artists who lived in the Curfew Tower during 2014, The Curfew Tower is Many Things. It was published in a limited edition of 1000 copies by Drummond's press, The Penkiln Burn, most of which were distributed to the various stakeholders in the project, while 250 copies were sold to the public. Drummond initially reserved almost one third of the print run to be distributed anonymously by leaving the copies “randomly in bars and cafes across the island of Ireland” over a period of years. It's not known whether the 32 copies he hid around Ireland are the last available copies, but as the ... [more A National Scavenger Hunt for 32 Books]

Inaugural Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Lecture on the History of the Book Trade in California and the West Anton Roman: San Francisco's Pioneering Bookseller & Publisher by John Crichton, proprietor of the Brick Row Book Shop in San Francisco and twice past president of the Book Club of California. Monday, October 30, 2017, 6pm Please RSVP to programs@bccbooks.org The Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Lecture on the History of the Book Trade in California and the West was created in 2016 to focus on the book trade — printing, publishing, and bookselling — over the past two centuries. Kenneth Karmiole is a philantrophist and antiquaraian bookseller. He has been a member of the Book Club of California since 1976 and is currently serving on its board of directors. The Book Club of California said, “Mr. Karmiole's leadership and vision are inspiring. His initiative, and in particular his generous endowment — the first of its kind for this institution — will significantly bolster the Book Club of California's ongoing efforts to engage high-profile speakers and scholars whose research and writing enlarge our understanding of the history of the book and book culture in the West.” For more information please see the Book Club of California. [more John Crichton gives Inaugural Karmiole Lecture at Book Club of California Oct. 30, 2017]

The ABAA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 National Collegiate Book Collecting Competition. 1st Place Alexander M. Koch, The Breath and Breadth of the Maine Woods Unity College 2nd Place Mark Gallagher, A New Spirit of Truth: The Writings of the American Transcendentalists UCLA 3rd Place Xavier González, “Books That Count” Books and DVDs Calculated to Inspire Children and Young Adults to Explore the Wonderful World of Mathematics Harvard University Essay Winner Sarah Linton, “THE FICTION WE HAVE BECOME” William Gibson's Uncertain Future and the Cyberpunk Revolution Johns Hopkins University The judges were very impressed with the submitted collections and wish to thank all who participated. The Awards Ceremony will take place at the Library of Congress, James Madison Building, Montpelier Room on Friday, October 20th at 5:30pm. The event is free and open to public. The National Collegiate Book Collecting 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. The contest is now administered jointly by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), the Grolier Club, and the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division (the Library of Congress), with major support from the Jay I. Kis... [more 2017 NCBCC Winners]

Q: What stopped me in my tracks as I perused this week's batch of new catalogs? A: Everything from the national importance of a presidential inaugural address to the particulars of a menu from a dinner in 1959. Menu: A Dinner in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1959) Given that I am a sucker for The Crown, Downton Abbey, and most other British television shows, spotting a menu from a formal dinner with Queen Elizabeth II in Rabelais' Books latest e-catalog instantly evoked various celluloid memories. This would be an nice addition to any collection focused on the British monarchy or culinary pursuits. "This is an unforgettable day - a day I will never forget." ; Queen Elizabeth II; Mayor Richard J. Daley. A Dinner in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Given by the Honorable Richard J. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago. Chicago, Ill.: July 6, 1959. Menu and program (25 x 19 cm.), pages; in gilt-stamped white cardstock boards, with decorative gold elastic cord. A dinner to mark the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's first visit to Chicago. The visit was made while the Queen, along with President Eisenhower, attended the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, part of a larger 45-day trip to visit all Canadian Provinces, much of it made aboard the Royal Yacht, H.M.S. Britannia. While in Chicago, The Queen and Prince Philip visited the International Trade Exhibit at Navy Pier and later the Museum of Science an... [more Books of the Week]

This item is still missing as of 6/12/2019. The following Dard Hunter titles (all oversize books) have been reported stolen from the University of New Mexico's Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections; the barcode may have been on either an acid-free slip or on the outside of the box. Japanese hand-made paper :Japanese paper and paper-making, 1958 includes customs declaration dated May 24, 1961; sent to George A. Nelson, Nelson-Whitehead Paper Corp Ocl # 6639179 The handmade papers of Japan (foreword by Dard Hunter) all volumes together in one box; v. 4 has 17 samples; 5 small envelopes with plant samples in larger envelope oclc # 2651770 Primitive papermaking; an account of a Mexican sojourn and of a voyage to the Pacific islands in search of information, implements, and specimens relating to the making & decorating of bark-paper, Includes letter from Dard Hunter to Lester Douglas (1 sheet); statement about Dard Hunter (1 sheet folded twice) with wood engraving of Hunter; publisher's/printer's announcement (1 sheet, folded); no. 64; signed by Hunter Oclc # 494265 If you have any information on these items please contact Tomas Jaehn at (505) 277-7107. [more Dard Hunter Books Stolen from the University of New Mexico]

Over the course of my week, I read through most of the new catalogs published by ABAA member and survey items newly listed on abaa.org. The books detailed below are the ones that caught my eye this week for various reasons. Le Temple de Jérusalem et la Maison du Bois-liban : Restitués d'Après Ézéchiel et le Livre des Rois Chipiez, Charles; Georges Perrot Paris: Librairie Hachette, 1889. First edition. Hardcover. Elephant folio (28 1/4" x 23"). , 86, p., leaves of plates. Contemporary 3/4 calf over marbled paper covered boards, with gold lettering on spine. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Ribbon marker. Original wrappers bound in. Decorative head- and tailpiece. Remarkable work by architect and architectural historian Charles Chipiez and archaeologist georges Perrot which shows a theoretical reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. The authors present their imagery as a restitution of Ezechiel's vision. This book contains 38 b/w in-text illustrations and 10 leaves of plates (plates measuring 28" x 22 1/2", with illustrations in various sizes.) The plates are engraved after Charles Chipiez's designs by Guillaumot père (i.e. Auguste Alexandre Guillaumot) and Auguste Hibon. Plate X is a line photogravure, signed "Heliog. Dujardin" (Louis Dujardin). Plate no. XI is a hand-colored lithograph by Joseph Isnard Louis Desjardins and was displayed as the final work of the 2008/2009 "Reflections of the Temple" exhibit (Israel Museum, Jerusalem). This exceptional work is a Delux... [more Books of the Week]

ABAA members will be exhibiting at the upcoming Brooklyn Book Fair in Greenpoint, September 8-10, 2017. Although not sponsored by the ABAA, this is a fast-growing book fair which attracts an eclectic range of active collectors. This year, ABAA associate member Rebecca Romney (you might know her from the History Channel's “Pawn Stars”) will give a talk on “The ABC's of Starting a Rare Book Collection," and will sign copies of her newly published book, Printer's Error: Irreverent Stories from Book History. Some of the highlights ABAA members are bringing** to the fair include: One of the Largest Private Collections of Vintage Luggage Labels Sheryl Jaeger (Eclectibles) will be showcasing labels from the private collection of Jane Goodrich, world traveler and co-founder of Spectrum Publishing. This collection of 3,550 labels, dating from the 1920s to World War II, includes colorful labels from such wonderful old hotels as the Luna House in Venice, the Grand Continental Hotel in Cairo, the Mayfair Hotel in London, and many, many more. “The Black Album” — Powerful and evocative postcard images of Nazi war crimes “The Black Album” is a very rare booklet, published in Tel Aviv by the Anti-Nazi League of Palestine in April, 1940, six months after the Nazi invasion of Poland. Its goal was to make public the already great extent of Nazi crimes in Europe -- particularly in Poland, only a few months after the country's brutal and total conquest. Taken by anonymous individu... [more Featured Items: What ABAA Members are Taking to Brooklyn]

We're debuting a new recurring feature this week, in which I detail the top items that caught my eye as I perused new listings on the website and new catalogs announced by members. This is no more than a reflection of my idiosyncrasies, interests, and unfailing ability to be distracted by colorful photos and vintage adverts, but hopefully they will highlight the range of amazing books and other items you will find when you examine our members' listings carefully. Let's lead off with something I think is utterly spectacular: an original copy of Alexander Hamilton's infamous “Reynolds Pamphlet” (featured in the latest catalog from Nick Aretakis). From the catalog copy: The Infamous “Reynolds Pamphlet,” in Which Alexander Hamilton Admitted to Adultery in Order to Preserve His Public Virtue Hamilton, Alexander: OBSERVATIONS ON CERTAIN DOCUMENTS CONTAINED IN NO. V & VI OF "THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE YEAR 1796," IN WHICH THE CHARGE OF SPECULATION AGAINST ALEXANDER HAMILTON, LATE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, IS FULLY REFUTED. Philadelphia: Printed for John Fenno, by John Bioren, 1797. 37,,lviii pp. Gathered signatures, string-tied as issued. Early ink ownership signature on titlepage. A few small closed tears in the foredge of the titlepage, old stains along the gutter. Light, even tanning, occasional foxing. Two and a half-inch closed tear in the first text leaf, intruding into the text but with no loss. Final four leaves with an old stain. A good copy, in origi... [more Books of the Week]

We first learned that Jack Hanrahan died from his friends Rusty and Veta Mott, who wrote to us, "It is with sadness that we yet again pass along the news of the death of a wonderful friend and colleague. Jack Hanrahan, of Wells, Maine, died at 7:30 last night, age 85. Jack, a long time member of ABAA, was a man who contributed to the world not only as an antiquarian bookseller, but as a Milton scholar, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, and as restaurateur in Brussels and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was a scholar, a bon vivant, and a delightful companion. Our sympathies and best wishes go out to Joyce, his wife and friend." The entire ABAA echoes the words of the Motts. Jack was a very New-England bookseller, slightly crusty but full of humor and a genuine raconteur. He started selling books soon after getting out of the Navy in 1954, and had a shop in Portsmouth, NH and also a by-appointment business in Short Hills, NJ (at one point, he and Joyce attempted to open a "fancy restaurant" in Portsmouth, but this was not successful). The two of them moved around quite a bit, spending a number of years in Brussels, Belgium, Pittsburgh, and finally back to the North East. In Brussels, Jack would buy bindings for $2, send them back to the States for $1 postage, and sell them for $6. In time, he began to specialize in early American imprints. In the old days, he says in his interview with Mike Ginsberg, people didn't pay much attention to that kind of material. He reme... [more In Memoriam: Jack Hanrahan]

This item was still reported missing as of June 17, 2019. The following item was reported stolen: Pater, Walter (Translation). Song of Demeter and her Daughter Persephone. Chicago: Ralph Fletcher Seymour, 1902. 32mo. Full brown leather. Book Condition: Very good with edges lightly rubbed. The spine is rubbed and very subtly rolled. Front hinge is slightly weak. Gilt top edge. Rare. One of 10 copies on Japan vellum in leather. Designed and lettered by Ralph Fletcher Seymour, including elaborately decorative gilt stamped corn and floral designs and titles on covers. Pages contain decorative designs (two are gilded) and Old English lettering in red and black. If you have any information on this item, please contact Tony Weller at (801) 328-2586. [more Stolen: Song of Demeter and her Daughter Persephone (1902)]