Today would be the 150th birthday of famed American author Edith Wharton, who is probably most widely known for her examination of New York society in the early twentieth century (The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth were both centered around this theme). Wharton was a very successful writer in her time, receiving both popular and critical acclaim in addition to good compensation for her works (any writer's dream!). She composed travel essays, short stories, novels, and, later in life, short autobiographical essays. Wharton was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. In 1902, Wharton designed and built The Mount based on the principles she outlined in her 1897 book, The Decoration of Houses. Today, The Mount is "an autobiographical house", "both a historic site and a center for culture inspired by the passions and achievements of Edith Wharton." To commemorate what would have been Wharton's 150th birthday, The Mount is kicking off a year of special events. Please click here to view a list of special events at The Mount and other locations throughout the country. Wharton has recently had an impact on popular culture with the popularity of the PBS series Downton Abbey (a great show if you're unfamiliar!). The New York Times had a piece on the connection last week, with Downton's creator, Julian Fellowes, citing Wharton's novels as a major influence. It's a great article worth a read. If you're in New York and looking to get your Wharton fix, there w... [more Happy 150th Birthday, Edith Wharton!]
The Chicago-based Churchill Centre has donated $8 million to establish the first U.S. research center and library devoted to the legacy of Winston Churchill. The National Churchill Center and Library will be located on the campus of George Washington University and is slated to open between 2013 and 2015. Members of the Churchill Centre will collaborate on the collection that will be housed in the new center and accompanying library. The group's Executive Director, Lee Pollock, says that many members are eager to donate their own personal collections, and that the Washington collection could amass over 1,000 volumes. Part of the funds gifted to the new National Churchill Center and Library will also create endowments for a professor and a curator position, and $1 million is reserved to fund exhibits and special programs. University President Steven Knapp commented that the "idea here is to look at him not just in isolation but also setting him in his life and times", and the Center will place a strong emphasis on 20th century British history in addition to Churchill himself. Completion is a few years away, but I can't wait to visit! If you are interested in Winston Churchill, please check out the inventory of ABAA member The Churchill Book Specialist, who specializes in books by and about Churchill. Churchill library to be created [more Churchill Research Center and Library to Open in D.C.]
Our friend and former ABAA President Stuart Bennett recently published a novel encompassing genres including historical fiction (think Jane Austen and the Regency Period, Shakespeare's London), romance, and time travel. The Perfect Visit "tells the story of two bibliophiles who go back in time to rescue lost books and manuscripts." I couldn't put it down! A must read for any rare bookie. Check it out here. [more Stuart Bennett publishes The Perfect Visit]
ABAA Members Anne and David Bromer have very generously donated two million dollars to the Boston Athenaeum in support of the institution and the Bromer Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Athenaeum. Read more about it here! [more Bromer Booksellers give $2M Gift to Boston Athenaeum]
The Journal of the Book Club of Washington published a talk that Santa Monica based ABAA member Ken Karmiole gave at the California Rare Book School last year, and it's quite an interesting read. Ken addresses the pertinent theme of 'Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age' from a rare book dealer's perspective, outlining how the rise of the Internet has affected the trade and offering some interesting anecdotes and insights. It's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the rare book world. Please click the following link to read the article: Ken Karmiole: Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age [more Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age]
Happy New Year! We are just three weeks away from the 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair and our office is buzzing with excitement! The California Fair is one of the three major fairs the ABAA sponsors- we also sponsor fairs in Boston every November and in New York every April- and the location alternates between San Francisco and Los Angeles biannually. This year, the fair will be held in Pasadena at the Pasadena Convention Center from February 10-12. It will be our first fair in this location and we couldn't be more thrilled, as the pre- and post-Fair hours will be easy to fill with activities and great dining. There will be more than 200 members of the ABAA and ILAB exhibiting a wide selection of books, maps, and ephemera from all different fields and disciplines. Click here to view a list of exhibitors and their specialties. In addition to the incredible offerings at the fair, there will also be a number of book-related seminars and a very special exhibit entitled "A Love Affair with Books: Personal Stories of Noted Collectors" and will explore the pursuits of collectors past and present, including some notable Southern California figures. Of course, there will also be a Discovery Day on Sunday, a feature of every ABAA fair, where you can have one of our rare book specialists appraise up to three items. Please click here for more information about fair events and exhibits. For information on hours and tickets, please click here. If you are in Southern Cal... [more 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair]
The following item has been reported stolen: Title : Tabula Nautica. Authors : Tabula Nautica. Date of publication : 1612 Description : Tabula Nautica. Copper engraving, by Hessel Gerritsz, 1612. 24 x 52 cm. If you have any information on this item, please contact Robert Braeken at rbraeken@gmail.com. [more Stolen: Tabula Nautica (1612)]
This item was still reported missing as of June 4, 2019. The following item has been reported stolen: Title : Gone With The Wind Authors : Margaret Mitchell Date of publication : 1936 Description : Second edition, 1936, with one-off dust jacket - same colour as the curtain used to make the dress If you have any information on this item, please contact Ian Roelofsz at roelofsz@hotmail.com or 020 7439 3118. [more Stolen: Second Edition of 'Gone With The Wind']
The following items have been reported missing: 1. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books. London, Printed by S. Simmons, next door to the Golden lion, in Aldersgate-Street, 1678, The Third Edition Revised and Augmented by the same Author. 8vo. , 331 pp. Portrait frontispiece by William Dolle. New full leather binding blind tooled in the 17th century manner. Gilt lettering on spine all by master binder Pat Bruno. Some toning to the printed pages, otherwise very good +. 2. Cableways, Tramways, Suspension Bridges, Inclined Planes and Cable Railways. Built by John A. Roebling's Sons Co., Trenton, New Jersey, John A. Roebling's Sons Co, 1905, 8vo. 110 pp. Profusely illus. in b/w. Pictorial Arts and Crafts wrappers. Fine. 3. Dolce, Ludovico. I quattro Libri Delle Osservationo Di Lodovico Dolce. Di Nuovo Da Lui Medisimo Ricorrette & Ampliate & Con Le Postille. In Vinegia, Appresso Gabriel Giolito De'Ferrari, 1562, Settima editione. Revised and corrected edition of the first edition of 1561. 12mo. 240 pp. Lovely woodcut initials throughout. Splendid printer's device on title page. Leather & boards, some scattered foxing. Very good +. 4. Hinds, John. Conversations On Conditioning. The Groom's Oracle, And Pocket Stable-Directory; In Which The Management Of Horses Generally, As To Health, Dieting, And Exercise, Are Considered, In A Series Of Familiar Dialogues, Between Two Grooms Engaged In Training Horses to their Work. With Notes And An Appendix Including Extracts From T... [more Missing Books from Richard L. Press Fine and Scholarly Books]
This item was still reported missing as of June 3, 2019. Title : De Necrosi Ossium. Authors : WEIDMANN, Johann Peter Date of publication : 1793 Publisher : Andreaeis, Francofurti ad Moenum Description : Folio, pp. (vi), 60, 15 fine engraved plates by Cöntgen, “Graveur de la Cour et de l'Université de Mayence”. Engraved vignette on title. Some minor foxing, and creasing in the fore-edge margins. Early 19th century cloth-backed boards, spine neatly repaired, edges of boards rubbed, original paper label, very good copy. If you have any information on this item, please contact Nigel Phillips at nigel@nigelphillips.com or 01264 861186 [more Stolen: De Necrosi Ossium]