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]
There have been many authors over the past century that have been considered forerunners in the art of the Modern Novel. As a matter of fact, we have written about quite a few of them in the past. Some tell-tale signs of modernist literature are a few literary techniques like a stream-of-consciousness voice or interior monologue, and even numerous points-of-view within one work. These techniques are used by a great deal of modernist authors, but perhaps none so pointedly as the creator of the complex Mrs. Dalloway, feminist thinker and free spirit Virginia Woolf. Virginia was born Adeline Virginia Stephen on January 25th, 1882 in Kensington, London. She was born into a mixed family – both of her parents having been married previously with sets of children on both sides. The family was extremely literate – both parents being well connected in the artistic and literary worlds. In 1895 when Virginia was only 13 years old her mother died, followed closely by her half-sister, Stella and brother Thoby. At this point Virginia began to suffer from the nervousness and had the first breakdown of many she would suffer from throughout her life. Despite her nervous nature and brief periods of institutionalization, Virginia began to spend a significant amount of time with a group of writers and artists that was known as the Bloomsbury Group. By 1910 they were thick as thieves, and Virginia and her sister Vanessa along with writers, editors, and artists Leonard Woolf, Lytton Strachey, C... [more An Introduction to Virginia Woolf]
ABAA-member Books of Wonder, which specializes in new, classic and collectible children's books, have announced they plan to open a second storefront later this summer in the Upper West Side. Owner Peter Glassman, told the New York Times that he'd been searching for a suitable space for years, but economic conditions had not been optimal for the project. "Now that the city is thriving again the time seemed right to finally expand to the Upper West Side.” The new store will be located on West 84th Street. Books of Wonder owner Peter Glassman at a recent event in the store. Books of Wonder first opened its doors in 1980. It has since outgrown the original "tiny, hole-in-the-wall" storefront in Greenwich Village -- through several bigger and better spaces -- to its current location on 18 West 18th Street. Longtime customer Nora Ephron used Books of Wonder as the inspiration for Meg Ryan's bookstore in the film You've Got Mail -- even to the point of having set designers measure the real store's fixtures and fittings to ensure accurate recreation on set. Unlike Meg Ryan's fictional store, Books of Wonder weathered the superstore explosion and arrival of the internet, and this year celebrates 37 years in business! Designer's mock-up of the new Books of Wonder storefront on West 84th Street. [more Books of Wonder to Open New Store]
The following item has been reported stolen: Title : The Confidence-Man: his masquerade. Authors : Herman Melville Date of publication : 1857. Publisher : Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts., London. Description : First English Edition. 354pp., original dark yellow ochre net grain cloth. Spine a little sunned and gilt lettering dull, otherwise flawless: an exceptional copy. If you have any information on this item, please Charles Cox at charlie@coxnbox.co.uk. [more Stolen: The Confidence Man, his masquerade]
Update: This item has been recovered! The following item has been reported missing: MERRILL, Dana B. (Photographer)w. . (ca 1909-1912). Small oblong 8vo. album. Black textured board, 5.5” x 8” approx. “Brazil” in white album pen to front cover. Photographic map mounted to front pastedown. With 61 vintage photographs glue-mounted recto and verso, plus one remarkable 5-panel, 2.5' fold-out panorama of Porto Velho. Most images 5.75” x 6.75”, some smaller. Eleven hand-colored. Most numbered in the negative. All clearly captioned in English. Rubbed at joints; some bumping, wear. Binding cocked. A few leaves tender at gutter. Apparently complete. Very good. If you have any information on this item, please contact Brian Cassidy at (301) 589-0789 or books@briancassidy.net. [more Missing: Original Photo Album of Madeira-Mamore Railroad Construction]