A rarity among rare books: The New England Primer Enlarged with an engraved portrait of George Washington attributed to Paul Revere. Among Americana collectors, one of the most desirable class of books remains the 18th century New England Primer – 17th century examples being known, but entirely unavailable. The New England Primer was not only the first primary reader designed for use in the American Colonies – a cornerstone of early American education – but in the hundreds of editions that were produced, it was among the most successful educational texts ever published. In his 1934 check-list of New England Primers, bibliographer and bookseller extraordinaire Charles F. Heartman recorded more than 450 editions published between 1727 and 1830, many of these printed in editions of thousands of copies. According to Heartman, even before 1727 there were likely “many thousands” of New England Primers printed, none of which survive. The Primer, he writes, was “practically an institution. It was, next to the Bible, the 'stock book' in the bookshops of the towns and the general stores of the village.” Due to its small size, its relatively modest cost to contemporary buyers, and constant handling by “not too careful” children, few of these once very common volumes remained intact for even a generation. Though literally millions of copies were printed by the first decades of the 19th century, only a tiny fraction survive today. From the beginning, The New England Prim... [more The New England Primer]

Okay. Hang on to your hats. Here comes the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, presented by the ABAA. This is the Big Leagues, baby. The World Series of Book. From Thursday night through Sunday afternoon at the Park Avenue Armory, we'll be keeping company with some of the world's finest books and manuscripts – mindbogglingly rare and valuable items - sought by collectors of inestimable wealth (those unspeakably rich folks obvious to all but known by name only to Bill Reese, Don Heald, and their Continental cohorts); representatives of Institutions of Higher Learning whose annual budgets exceed those of many African nations; young men and women of good breeding who've attended the right schools and have decided to invest family millions in ruinous antiquarian ecstasy; smiling auctioneers and avaricious dealers cruising the floor like so many leopards, attended by their pimps and minions; suave counter monkeys contentedly grooming themselves, waiting for their chance; bloated industrialists, technocrats, and financial guys for whom “to want” = “to have,” and their pimps and minions. Yes, it's a jungle out there. A prize fight fought in silk gloves which, this year, has spawned two undercard events – satellite book fairs promoted by Impact Events Group and Flamingo Eventz, two promoters who are themselves engaged in a good old New York turf war. And somewhere down in the undergrowth lurks Ten Pound Island Book Co. and our several dozen peers. Creatures of ... [more That’s Why I Love My Job…]

Second Story Books in Washington, DC is looking for an experienced bookseller to fill a permanent full-time position in our Dupont Circle store. Shifts would be Sunday through Thursday, from 2-10pm. Compensation will depend upon qualifications and experience. Successful candidate will start right away. Please respond with an email and attached resume to dupontsecondstory@gmail.com. For further information, feel free to contact Eric Passaglia or Britt Law, Monday through Friday, at (202) 659-8884. [more Position Available at Second Story Books]

Three years ago, I took part in one of the ABA's Book Collecting Seminars at the University of London: Book Collecting and the Web. Now, there are many different views about what the internet has done for booksellers (watch a few of the earlier interviews conducted by Michael Ginsberg) and for collectors (a very recent view here). For my part, I like the internet: it has given me access to a wealth of information previously unavailable to me to help me research the books I have for sale, and given me access to a much wider audience than before it existed. But what about you, the collector? Certainly, any worries you may have about buying books on the internet are nothing new. In the late 1990s, when people first began to look for books online and booksellers began listing their stock, the exact same concerns were voiced then as they are now: is the person with a PO Box address in the middle of nowhere a real shop, or just someone with a few books in his garage? Can you trust his description? Does he know anything about condition? Or rarity? Or price? (Of course, you can buy with confidence from any ILAB-affiliated bookseller.) And the websites which allow you to look for books haven't really changed, either. Facilities to search only for first editions can still result in first American, first illustrated etc etc. A description for a particular copy may appear twice (or more) on the results page. Browsing is still very difficult. Some websites have tried to increase the chanc... [more The Show is My Shop]

The 55th annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair takes place in New York City from April 9 to 12, 2015. Many ABAA member dealers will be exhibiting. Here are a selection of their featured items that will be available at the fair. Urban, Sylvanus (ie. David, Henry), ed. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE: AND HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. FOR THE YEAR MDCCLXXIV MDCCLXXXIII . London: Printed at St. John's Gate for D. Henry, 1774-1783. 120 issues plus 8 supplements as issued (no supplements issued in 1774 and 1783). Illus. with 164 engraved portraits, figures, maps, and plans (75 folding, 1 facsimile) plus numerous in text drawings. 8vo. Full modern brown calf, five raised bands, red morocco spine labels, gilt titles and rules, in period style. ($14,500) Offered by Kaaterskill Books (Booth B6) --- Bartolo of Sassoferrato . . . Collation: a10, b-z8, A-C8, D-E6. 221 of 222 ff. Final leaf, a blank, lacking. Folio (16-1/2" x 11-1/4"). Contemporary quarter calf with blind tooling over wooden boards, raised bands and later hand-lettered title label to spine, clasps (and buckles) lacking. Several tiny wormholes, a few cracks to spine, chip to foot of spine, Signatures a and E6 partially detached, bookplate of Robert Proctor and bookseller description from the Rosenbach company to verso of front board, pastedowns lacking (or never present). Text printed in 60-line gothic type on wide-margined paper, initial spaces filled in alternate red and blue, most with flourishes, seven-line initial "Q" at beginning o... [more NY Antiquarian Book Fair: Featured Items]

UPDATE: These items were recovered and are no longer missing! The following items were stolen in Baltimore, MD (Federal Hill area) sometime between Dec. 23-28, 2014: Signed letters, some with gold leaf on the letterhead, from various people in the government all pertaining to the Statue of Liberty and the work that was done; Onion skin paper of carbon copies identifying every item used and the price per unit (e.g., x number of screws at x cents/screw, x feet of x wire at x cents/foot, etc.); A bill introduced to Congress to pay Joseph Sanbach or Joseph Schoenbach the $20,000 that was withheld because the work was completed 24 hours past the contract deadline; Pictures of Joseph Sanbach or Joseph Schoenbach with drawings of the Statue of Liberty; Newspaper articles about the work; Newspaper clipping about Joseph Sanbach or Joseph Schoenbach approaching President Hoover at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC to address his not having been paid. If you have any information about these items, please contact Helene Goldberg. [more Items Stolen in Baltimore]

What could be more fun than spending two days pouring over old magazines, pamphlets, prints, letters, diaries, photos, advertising, account books, political fliers and broadsides, trade cards, baseball cards, posters, menus, valentines, historical documents, song sheets and songsters, alphabets, juveniles and primers, post cards, labels, stock certificates, passports and old newspapers – to name only a few? If your answer is “Nothing!” you needed to be at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenwich, CT this weekend, for the 35th annual Conference and Paper Show of the Ephemera Society of America. The theme this year was “The Sporting Life” and conference organizers provided a full slate of sports oriented lectures, presentations, book signings, social events, an auction and, oh yes, a paper and ephemera show. Of course, since we are still in the grips of the memorable “Winter it Snowed,” it snowed. Over six inches in as many hours – just like a Viagra ad! The white stuff brought its usual quotient of misery during load in but, interestingly, had little effect on attendance. Most of the attendees were there for the other Conference events, and were already ensconced in the comfortable Hyatt Regency hotel. For this reason, and because of continuity of venue and promoters, AND (big “and” here) because of the credibility provided by the Ephemera Society, this is the most stable of all provincial fairs. The benefits of stability are many – there are no unpleasant s... [more What Could be More Fun?]

The following items were reported missing in San Francisco: A set of Pound's “Inquest” series, published by William Bird, at Three Mountains Press, Paris, 1924 (170 copies of each edition), including, 1. Hemingway, IN OUR TIME 2. Windeler, ELIMUS 3. Ford Madox Ford, WOMEN & MEN 4. Pound, INDISCRETIONS 5. BMG Adams, ENGLAND 6. WC Williams, GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL* * At one time, the first 5 titles were together in a custom slipcase, while #6, Williams' GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL, was kept separately. Seeing the titles in a slipcase (whether 5 or 6) may be an indication that these are the missing books in question. Pound, HOW TO READ. TO Publishers, . Pound's copy, with his penciled corrections. Later ownership signature of poet Ronald Duncan, to whom EP gave it. Poor condition. If you have any information about these items, please contact ABAA Security Chair Garrett Scott at garrett@bibliophagist.com or (734) 741-8605. [more Missing: In Our Time, Inquest Series, Pound]

The following item was reported missing, possibly stolen from the Washington Antiquarian Book Fair held Friday March 6 and Saturday March 7, 2015: DAILY FLIGHT INSPECTION FORM, dated September 5, 1944, from Roi Island -- SIGNED by Charles Lindbergh. Partially printed "NAVAER-3119 Daily Flight Inspection Form" on yellow paper, 14" x 8". Pilot Lindbergh has placed check marks on the form to verify that the craft (a Vought F4U-1D Corsair) is airworthy, e.g. engine, landing gear, wings, etc. At the end of the form where the pilot is to note any defects, Lindbergh has written "Tower advises 'check radio.' Otherwise OK." and signed. Document creased from folding, and shows some oil stains, but is very legible. If you have any information regarding this item, please contact Allan Stypeck at (301) 770-0477, ext. 13 or research@secondstorybooks.com. [more Missing: Signed Lindbergh Flight Inspection Form]

The New York Antiquarian Book Fair will enthrall bibliophiles at the Park Avenue Armory from April 9 through 12, 2015. “The Best Book Fair in the World” This three-day event is one of the largest antiquarian book fairs in the United States, and draws over 200 rare book dealers from across the country and around the world. Sponsored by the Antiquarian Bookseller's Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, the event is the centerpiece of Rare Book Week, a “coordinated effort to focus attention on the antiquarian book fairs, book & manuscript auctions, rare book & fine art exhibits, and bookish browsing available in New York City from April 7-15,” according to Fine Books Magazine. Where: Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10065 When: April 9 - 12, 2015 Friday: Noon-8pm Saturday: Noon-7pm Sunday: Noon-5pm Rare Book Week's events include two shadow shows, and numerous exhibitions and auctions of rare books and ephemera around New York City. Featured item: Allen, John Fisk. VICTORIA REGIA; OR THE GREAT WATER LILY OF AMERICA. With a brief account of its Discovery and Introduction into Cultivation: with Illustrations by William Sharp, from Specimens Grown at Salem, Massachusetts, USA. Boston: Printed and published for the author, 1854. A cornerstone of American color printing. These images were drawn on stone and printed by Sharp, America's first chromolithographic printer. This was the earliest example of large scale color print... [more New York Antiquarian Book Fair 2015]