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)]

We mourn the passing of Ed Glaser, who died on July 31, 2017 at 88 years old. He was universally cherished for his humor, wisdom, ethics and generosity, and he was part of the book trade and its culture until his dying days. Ed started out in business in the mid 1960s, quoting books found in thrift shops to want lists in AB-Bookman's Weekly. By 1969 he had quit his full time job and opened up a large used bookstore in New Rochelle, NY. In 1970 he joined the ABAA. After some time as a shop owner — as he relates in his video interview with Mike Ginsberg — he got bored with that aspect of the business, and fortuitously, a world class collection of science, medicine and psychiatry was offered to him. After buying the collection and spending some time researching it, he realized he had a "bonanza," and set about issuing a catalog, which was "well received because of the quality of the material." He closed his shop and began to specialize in the history of science and medicine. In 1979, with changing circumstances in his personal life, he moved to Sausalito, CA, and was immediately accepted with warm graciousness and friendship into the community of west coast antiquarians. He continued to live in Northern California the rest of his life, eventually moving to Napa. He was one of the founders of the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar, the first such annual seminar devoted to arranging colloquia, seminars, classes, lectures, etc., that enabled booksellers and librarians to learn f... [more In Memoriam: Edwin V. Glaser]

The idea of the beach read encapsulates how most people seem to regard reading in the 21st century: a solitary activity, preferably performed in a comfortable place, and accompanied by an alcoholic beverage. Modern readers display their bona fides on Instagram with stylish photos of reading nooks and “still life”-type imagery featuring books (or, I'm sad to note, Kindles and iPads) and beverages of choice (most often, cups of coffee or glasses of wine). There's even a curious trend of people posting pictures of themselves reading alone in bars, sending a slightly odd mixed-message: are they in search of company, or advertising the fact that they are above the need for company? Whatever the motivation for sharing these photos, they all reflect the dominant view of reading as a virtuous, solitary, and slightly hedonistic act. However, this was not always the case. Rare bookseller Ernest Hilbert (of Bauman Rare Books) recently reviewed The Social Life of Books: Reading Together in the 18th Century Home by Abigail Williams for the Washington Post. Williams explores the “heyday of communal reading,” 18th-Century England, and details how rising literacy gave birth to a trend for reading aloud as a social activity. In fact, social commentators like Joseph Addison campaigned that reading should move from the private to the public sphere to improve education. Other factors like poor light and failing eyesight created a need for books for be read aloud — witness Jo reading to... [more Reading: Solitary or Social?]

As a child, I was required to listen to many different things. Classical music, for one. Teachers getting annoyed with me for asking too many questions, for another. And… The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy quotes, for a third. For that last particular factor I have my father to thank. (Though actually, now that I think about it, he seems to have had a major hand in all three of those particular life events… but I digress.) Douglas Adams may be best remembered for his humorous saga The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a “trilogy” of five books which sold over 15 million copies during the author's lifetime, but he was much more than a simple humorist (or was he?). He was a script writer, a lover of Doctor Who (he wrote and edited for the show on more than one occasion), and a self-proclaimed radical atheist (as in… if you asked him if he meant agnostic he may have attacked you with a wet towel). By adulthood Adams stood at 6'5″- but his stature was far from the only thing that set him apart from the crowd! Adams was born in March of 1952 in Cambridge, England. Though his family only lived there a few short months after his birth, where he then moved a couple times throughout his childhood – first to East London and then, once his parents divorced, to Brentwood – a small city in Essex. By the time the young Adams reached age 12 he already stood at (nearly) his full height – his early growth spurt only rivaled by his short stories, poems & essays as for what ... [more The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Douglas Adams]

The following books were reported stolen: Zone, by Guillaume Apollinaire, translated by Samuel Beckett, published by the Dolmen Press, in an edition numbered and signed by Samuel Beckett, with a short haiku by Alan Ginsberg written on the front endpaper, and signed by Ginsberg; in navy blue boards in a blue slipcase, about 10 inches high North, by Seamus Heaney, paperback, signed by Heaney on the title page Field Work, by Seamus Heaney, signed by Heaney on the title page. 2 small volumes of printed correspondence between designer Bruce Rogers and T. E. Lawrence, concerning Rogers's design and typesetting of Lawrence's translation of the Odyssey, privately printed by Rogers in plain red covers Butcher's Dozen, by Thomas Kinsella (Peppercanister Press), signed by Kinsella on the title page Please contact John McGuigan at Caveat Emptor Used and Rare Books (812-332-9995) and Detective Jacob Hunter at the Bloomington Police Department (812-349-3374) with any information. [more Stolen: Books Stolen from Bloomington, Indiana]

The ABAA co-sponsors the three largest annual antiquarian book fairs in North America, the Boston, California, and New York Antiquarian Book Fairs. Antiquarian book fairs are the high points of the book collector's year, representing an unmissable chance to connect with other collectors and rare book experts from top libraries, universities, and other institutions, expand your knowledge of both your chosen areas of interest and rare books in general, as well as an opportunity to get to know the booksellers personally, and insure they know your interests and what items are top of your wish list! Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair November 10-12, 2017 Boston, MA In November, the first fair of the season takes place in Boston, MA. Dealers from all over the world will rendezvous at the Hynes Convention Center for three days to display the best the rare book market has to offer. From early manuscripts and rare print ephemera to association copies inscribed by famous modern authors, the Boston exhibitors will have something for every taste and pocket book. More details about exhibits, lectures, and discovery day will be announced closer to the date. Bookmark http://bostonbookfair.com/ for future reference. California International Antiquarian Book Fair February 9-11, 2018 Pasadena, CA Recognized as one of the world's largest and most prestigious exhibitions of antiquarian books, the California International Antiquarian Book Fair is co-sponsored by the ABAA and the Internati... [more Biggest Book Fairs of the Year]

The following item has been reported missing: Barry, T.A.; and Patten, B.A. Men and Memories of San Francisco in the "Spring of '50". San Francisco: A.L. Bancroft, 1873. First edition. Original green cloth, edges rubbed, a very good copy, internally clean. Kurutz 38a; Rocq 8248 If you have any information, please contact Tom Goldwasser at tom@goldwasserbooks.com. [more Missing in San Francisco]