A New England Correspondence Archive: Descriptive Notes and Approach to Valuation Recently a Massachusetts antiques dealer sought me out to evaluate an archive of approximately 100 autograph letters received by one Edward B. Dearborn (1807-1886), including many related to teaching, mostly in rural New England schools in the late 1820s and early 1830s. What at first appeared to be a boring batch of correspondence written by a group of nobodies turned out to be a fascinating window into the culture and practice of teaching in early 19th Century New England, and also provided a case study of how an appraiser assesses a unique collection of material that doesn't include traditionally collectible famous personalities. Most people are familiar with Teach for America, the organization that recruits “high-achieving” recent college graduates and professionals for two years of teaching service. Yet the idea of reaching into colleges to employ students or fresh graduates to teach in communities that lack educational opportunity is hardly new. The arrangement goes back at least to early 19th Century America, when students at colleges such as Dartmouth, Bowdoin, and Wesleyan often taught for a few months each year to gain income needed to continue their studies. Dearborn, the recipient of the letters, taught school for decades before being appointed as Librarian of the New England Genealogical Society. A graduate of Hampton (NH) Academy, he prepared for college, but never attended. At... [more Dear Mr. Dearborn…]
Although created almost a century ago, the art and writing of the Roaring 20's still captivates us today. Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald left behind some of the most iconic stories of this fascinating time period. The radical social change he wrote about was also evident in the art that adorned his dust jackets, as the artists who designed them had an uncanny ability to capture the zeitgeist of the era. Art imitated life, and Fitzgerald and his publishers knew how to captivate the attention of a younger generation, the ones who were behind all this change, like never before. Fitzgerald's first three dust jackets were designed by artist William E. Hill. Hill had made a name for himself illustrating for Puck magazine and the Sunday New York Tribune. His ability to depict everyday people in natural settings was well-known, so when Scribner's editor Maxwell Perkins needed to choose an artist for Fitzgerald's upcoming publications, he looked to this established artist. This Side of Paradise (1920) depicts an elegantly dressed young man and woman, portraying all the decadence and extravagance of the era. The cover art for Flappers and Philosophers (1920) features an illustration for perhaps the best story in the collection, “Bernice Bobs Her Hair.” The choice of both title and art for this book did well to make it a best-seller: the word “flappers” and the art showing a young girl cropping her hair in the latest style are at once attractive and provocative, easily capturing the... [more The Artists Behind F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Dust Jackets: Part I (1920-1923)]
The 1960s was a decade of both discovery and protest, riots and revolutions, from anti-war marches, assassinations of world leaders, man's first landing on the moon, and the birth of a new brand of music led by The Beatles. Change was in the air and nowhere was it more obvious than in modern China with the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution in August 1966. But more than two years earlier, before Chairman Mao ordered his Red Guards to restructure Society and re-educate intellectuals, there was the "Little Red Book" – a series of useful quotations gathered from Mao's earlier lectures and writings that would help guide his countrymen and women to deal with problems covering all aspects of daily life. The size of the book was small enough to fit inside a shirt pocket so it could be flush against the heart. Its phenomenal popularity may be because the book was essentially an unofficial requirement for every Chinese citizen to own, to read, to memorize and to carry copies at all times during the last ten years of Mao's rule, which essentially comprised the Cultural Revolution. Studying the book was not only required in schools but it also became a standard practice in the workplace. All units, in the industrial, commercial, agricultural, civil service, and military sectors, organized group sessions for the entire workforce to study the book during business hours that often extended into evening discussion meetings. During the middle to late 1960s, the book became the single most... [more 1964: The Little Red Book]
Enter the Blogosphere I promised another Facebook related post this week, but instead I think it's time to switch gears and get acquainted with some other social media options out there before you start to think that I'm on Mark Zuckerberg's payroll. This week I will consider the pros and cons of blogging as well as some of the better sites out there that support the endeavor. The fact that anyone with an internet connection and an email address can start a blog means that there is a huge range out there in terms of content as well as quality. And indeed, it sometimes feels like everyone and their cat has a blog these days. But as you will see, although it's a fairly easy thing to set up, it takes more than good intentions to sustain a blog over time. Nevertheless, the idea of having your own virtual soap box makes blogging an attractive option – and then of course there's always the hope that your blog will go viral and land you a six figure publishing contract and movie deal. Unfortunately, more often than not it will go something like this: Mr. Whiskers gets a great idea for a blog, writes two posts, and then gets “too busy” to update it for a year or three. Needless to say, don't follow Mr. Whiskers's example (I hear he's kind of aloof anyway). Blogging, like the rest of social media, takes a commitment from you in order to be a useful tool for your business. It can be a tougher pursuit in terms of time management because most blog entries tend to be quite a bit lon... [more THE SAVVY BOOKSELLER: Social Media for the Antiquarian Book Trade, Post #5]
This item is still missing as of 5/29/2019. The following item was reported missing from an apartment in Brooklyn: Duchamp, Marcel; Cage, John; Kubota, Shigeko (photographer). Marcel Duchamp and John Cage / Reunion. : Takeyoshi Miyazawa, . Oblong octavo, original blue cloth lettered in silver, clear dust jacket, blue endpapers. lllustrated with black-and-white photographs by Shigeko Kubota on rectos, acrostics by John Cage on versos. Hand-numbered 3 of 500 copies, inscribed by Shigeko Kubota on verso of front free endpaper: "David / with love Shigeko / 18 June '71." 33 rpm recording of the 1968 Duchamp/Cage Reunion chess match laid in. Tiny chips to spine ends of clear jacket. Housed in faded and scuffed blue card slipcase. First edition of this tribute to the celebrated 1968 chess match between Marcel Duchamp and John Cage, hand-numbered 3 of 500, inscribed by photographer Shigeko Kubota. If you have an information regarding this item, please contact Heather at: Honey & Wax Booksellers 540 President Street, Third Floor Brooklyn NY 11215 917-974-2420 heather@honeyandwaxbooks.com honeyandwaxbooks.com [more Missing: Duchamp, Marcel; Cage, John; Kubota, Shigeko (photographer)]
Back in the 1990s event promoter Bernice Bornstein saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. Her husband Marvin owned a parking lot directly across the street from the Hynes Auditorium, where the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair was being held. “Why not have a smaller show for non-ABAA dealers that same weekend?” she asked. “We could use the basement of Marvin's garage.” Thus the first “Shadow Show” was born. The idea met intense resistance at first. Old-line ABAA dealers were concerned that another show would steal customers and dilute earnings. They feared the public would confuse the ABAA show, where rigid standards for dealers were enforced, with the non-ABAA show, where the only requirement was the ability to pay booth rent. They feared competition from dealers with lower overheads. They feared their stable price structures would be challenged by dealers out to make a quick buck. They feared a lot of things that never came to pass. Bernice's Shadow Show was a great success, and the old guard quickly realized that the existence of a second show benefited everyone. It wasn't long before promoters Garry Austin and Bruce Gventer transferred the Shadow Show model to the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. This is the pre-eminent book fair in the country; one of the greatest in the world. By this time there was no doubt in anyone's mind that a second show would provide a tremendous opportunity for ABAA dealers to buy and for non-ABAA dealers ... [more Book Show Wars]
The following item was reported stolen from Monsey, NY on 10/10/14: (Bible in Hebrew) Vocalized text. Integral blanks present. This is 17 parts in 8 volumes. Samll format; 113 x 68mm. 16th century calf with gilt arabesque centerpiece on covers, vellum pastedowns from medieval Latin manuscript (of an abridgment?) of the Sentences of Peter Lombard. From the collection of the Scottish politician bibliophile Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653-1716) with his signature on the title pages. If you have any information regarding this item, please contact Gene Albert at 301-988-6700 (daytime) or 301-331-5060 (evenings). [more Stolen: 8 Volume Hebrew Bible - Second Estienne Hebrew Bible]
The Lawbook Exchange just issued an E-List: Blackstone: 30 Items, inspired by the recent publication of Ann J. Laeuchli's Bibliographical Catalog of William Blackstone. Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books announced the publication of Catalogue Number Ten: Charles Livingston Bull. Joslin Hall Rare Books released Catalog #351: A Selection of Jane Yolen's Signed Poetry Broadsides and Catalog 352 - A Selection of Books & Ephemera for October. Margolis & Moss offers a list of 48 Portfolios of Prints, Photographs, Private Press Books, and Multiples. Rulon-Miller Books has a short list of recent acquisitions. Quill & Brush is offering a comprehensive collection of Eudora Welty material. Jeff Maser's latest arrivals include a collection of works by Simon Cutts among other interesting material. Kaaterskill Books published Catalogue 19: Latin Americana, which features works dating from the early 18th century to the end of the last century. Walkabout Books' latest Catalogue 3: An American Miscellany is available in digital and print formats. J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians published their latest catalogue, The Collection of Jacob Lateiner Part 1: Beethoven First and Early Editions, and announced the availability of The Robert H. and Jaqueline M. Cowden Collection of Books Relating to Concert and Opera Singers. Thorn Books issued their Fall List of over 60 new items. Bolerium Books has a new catalogue out on Indigenous Activism and History in North America. James S. Jaffe Rare Books' new ca... [more October Catalogue and List Announcements]
ILAB is coordinating a series of Pop-Up Book Fairs across the world for UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day on April 23, 2015. The two organizations have created an offiial partnership for the event and ILAB is asking as many members as possible to organize and attend as many pop-up fairs as possible. Former President of the ABA Laurence Worms describes the envisioned pop-ups: “Some booksellers, some books, some tables and a big sign. Just liaise with ILAB on the publicity. No-one has to travel far or be away from base for too long. They can last all day or just an hour or two. Imagination and invention are the only limitations.” For more information, contact ILAB Committee Member Sally Burdon. Bridwell Library is pleased to announce the opening of two exhibitions on site and online this fall. "Welcome Additions" highlights fifty rare books, manuscripts, broadsides, prints, and letters that were acquired by Bridwell Library Special Collections between 2008 and 2014. It is open through December 12th. "Missionary Presses" highlights Bibles and other religious texts in indigenous languages published by missionary presses in the nineteenth century. It is open through December 5th. The digital exhibitions will continue to remain accessible after the exhibitions in the library have closed. Bernard Quaritch Ltd recently published a new book by Arthur Freeman entitled Bibliotheca Fictiva. It is an inventory of books and manuscripts relating to literary forgery. Click here for mor... [more Endnotes: Rare Books News & Events]
Rock Toews (Back Creek Books LLC) is a key player in determining whether a Maryland area slated for development was the site of a Civil War parole camp. Priscilla Juvelis contributed a chapter to an upcoming book on William T. Vollmann entitled William T. Volmann: A Critical Companion. Don Lindgren of Rabelais Inc. is interviewed for Eater's piece on 72 Ways Food Can Change the World. He is in good company with Alice Waters, Jose Andres, and Danny Meyer, to name a few of the other interviewees. An interview with Leonard Fox on fashion illustration appeared in the September issue of Traditional Home magazine. Kevin Mac Donnell contributed the third chapter to the recently published Collecting, Curating and Researching Writer's Libraries, A Handbook edited by Richard Oram and Joseph Nicholson (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014). An excerpt was posted on The New Antiquarian and you can read the article in its entirety in our Member Articles section. If you are interested in purchasing the book, please note the promotional code. [more New Antiquarians in the News]