Faith Baldwin was once one of the bestselling authors in America, although she was never a lauded award-winner. Instead, Baldwin practiced what was variously called “light” or popular fiction, and today is generally called romance — usually with a touch of superiority. In her obituary, The New York Times declared her 'the doyenne of American light fiction writers.” Raised in relative wealth and comfort in Manhattan, Baldwin initially saw acting as a means for a single women to gain independence, but as her writing career took off, she embraced it. At the start, she wrote for the women's magazines, publishing poetry and prose -- whatever there was a market for. In 1921, she published her first novel, Mavis of Green Hill, and by 1927 she was able to regularly sell the serialization rights for many of her novels to mainstream magazines, assuring herself of a steady income. Critics have alternately praised Baldwin for being a proto-feminist and dismissed her for being too conservative, which is unsurprising as Baldwin generally wrote about the domestic concerns of love, marriage, and a woman's career, concerns which tend to be under-appreciated in any age. But, in novels like Private Duty (1935), Hotel Hostess (1938), and Career By Proxy (1939) she often returned to the question of whether a woman could be fulfilled through work and also find marital bliss — although her heroines often had to accept their fate of leaving their job after marriage — and she frequently f... [more Collecting Faith Baldwin]

In 1995, longtime ABAA-member Ben Kinmont started the Antinomian Press. His focus was (and has remained) on project art, both by others and himself. Sometimes, the Press has published exhibition catalogs on artist ephemera and alternative artistic practices; at other times, Kinmont has used it as a teaching tool in the classroom to publish his collaborative projects with students. The Antinomian Press is also an art project by Kinmont, the archive of which is in MoMA's Drawings & Prints Collection, and to which archive addenda are continually being added. “Ben Kinmont, Bookseller” was initially started as an art project in 1998, so all of Kinmont's bookseller catalogues have been issued by the Antinomian Press -- see the colophon page (below) of his catalogs for the title of the business as an art work. Although these catalogues have circulated within the antiquarian book world and, in some cases, have been retained and catalogued by research libraries, many of the other publications from the Antinomian Press are very difficult to find. This is because most of them were printed and distributed in unusual locations, such as out on the street, in a parked van, or in strangers' homes. In these cases, the publications were given away to anyone passing by or participating in a project. These publications usually spoke to the values (and complications) surrounding their specific making and what happens when you displace an art discourse into a non-art space. When an Antinomian ... [more The Antinomian Press]

The winners of the 2019 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest have been chosen. They are: First: Matthew Wills, University of California, San Diego: "The Largesse of the Propaganda State: Printing Anti-Confucian Vitriol in Mao's China." Second: Miriam-Helene Rudd, University of Delaware: "20th Century Mystery Adventure Series for Young Women." Third: Michael Dascal, University of Maryland: "Scientific Revolutions: Crises and Paradigm Shifts in the History of 20th Century Western Scientific Thought." The winners' collections ran the gamut from popular novels (Miriam Helene-Rudd asked "Is Nancy Drew dated or daring?") to the great scientific paradigm shifts of the twentieth century (which Michael Dascal defines as "the development of relativity theory and quantum mechanics"), and also explores "a modern state's power to commandeer vast quantities of paper and ink for its nefarious political ends" (in Matthew Wills' words). The winners demonstrate that this young generation of book collectors embrace a broad and diverse array of interests. The National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest is jointly administered by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), the Grolier Club, and the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division (the Library of Congress), with major and exclusive support for the Kislak Prize from the Jay I. Kislak Foundation. The award ceremony will take place... [more 2019 NCBCC Winners]

Meet the latest members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America. New Full Members Reagan Bisharat, Reagan's Rare Books (Midlothian, VA) Starting as a hobby collector nearly twenty years ago, Reagan Bisharat, of Reagan's Rare books, has built a business out of his passion. Reagan's Rare Books is a purveyor of antiquarian books and ephemera dating primarily from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century. Specializing in fine leather and decorative cloth bindings, Reagan has hand selected each piece in his inventory. Subject matter includes History, Literature, Theology, Biography, Travel and Exploration, as well as Americana. Timothy J. Stevenson, Carlson and Stevenson (Manchester Center, VT) As an antique dealer since 1976, Timothy Stevenson started out knocking on doors in Vermont and nearby New York State. All manner of interesting and saleable material was found almost everyday. A Vermont town turned up the Rev. Lemuel Haynes' library from a direct descendant -- the first Afro-American minister in the U.S, he held forth in Manchester, Vermont. He ministered to the Boorn Brothers in the famous murder case that ended requiring a body for a murder trail. The material was sold for the family to a historical society where Haynes also ministered. Stevenson's interest in antiques became centered on School Girl Art of the period 1780 to 1840. Stevenson and his wife were invited to shows in Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Houston, San Francisco, Nantucket,... [more New Members]

In an effort to assist in the recovery of materials missing as a result of the Carnegie Library theft, the ABAA would like to bring to the public's attention the list of items believed stolen. Click this link to view the list. Update 8/20/18: The following list includes more details. Should any member of the public identify having purchased or otherwise having knowledge of the disposition or current location of any items from the Carnegie Library—whether on this list or not—please contact one of the following detectives from Allegheny County District Attorney's Office: · Det. Fran Laquatra (412) 388-5305 flaquatra@alleghenycountyda.us · Det. Perann Tansmore (412) 388-5307 ptansmore@alleghenycountyda.us ` · Det. Lyle Graber (412) 388-5316 lgraber@alleghenycountyda.us Please note, the detectives do not have reason to believe that anyone who may have purchased any of these items was necessarily aware that the material had been reported stolen. The ABAA appreciates your attention and assistance with respect to this grave matter. Please check our post from March for further details, including additional information on collection markings. Sincerely, Vic Zoschak President, ABAA Brad Johnson Chair, ABAA Security Committee Susan Benne Executive Director, ABAA [more Carnegie Library Theft]

The following items were stolen last weekend during a robbery in Roanoke, Virginia: Three volume Lord of the Rings, 1st edition in jackets. George Allen & Unwin, fourth, sixth and eighth impressions. Majesty of the Law, Easton Press. Signed by Sandra Day O'Connor. If you are offered or have any information on these items, please contact Linda Steadman at 540-985-6469. [more Stolen Books from Virginia]

A book sent from London to the William Reese Company in New Haven, CT has gone missing in shipment. It was sent in July, and almost certainly addressed to the wrong recipient (likely a bookseller in the United States). The book is Henri Joutel's JOURNAL HISTORIQUE DU DERNIER VOYAGE....Paris. 1713. It is 12mo., bound in contemporary French speckled calf, gilt arms of Louis-Francois-Armand, Duc de la Rochefoucauld stamped on front board, spine richly gilt, raised bands, gilt label. Inkstamp of the Bibliotheque de la Roche-Guyon on titlepage. If anyone has received this book by mistake, or has been offered this copy for purchase, please contact the Americana Department at the William Reese Company, at amorder@reeseco.com. [more Missing in Transit: Henri Joutel’s JOURNAL HISTORIQUE DU DERNIER VOYAGE]

UPDATE: These items have been recovered. If you know the whereabouts of these items, please contact Larry O'Shaughnessy, Larry@franklinbooks.com, 800-627-3890 or 908-323-3686. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by John Tenniel, Signed Full Leather Bayntun Binding Binding Details: A beautiful signed Bayntun binding featuring full leather polished calf boards with elaborate gilt decorations and titling in compartments on the spine that has five raised spine hubs. The front and rear covers contain gold gilt characters from the book, double gilt ruling to the boards with floral stops, inner and outer dentelles, marbled endpapers, and gold gilted page ends. The Bayntun Binders stamp appears on the top of the first free endpaper. Book Details: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was originally published in 1865 by Macmillan and Company and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There in 1872 by the same publisher. This is a later reprint (1953 for Alice in Wonderland and 1955 for Through the Looking Glass) by Macmillan and Company that contains the original text of both volumes as well as all of the original wood engraved illustrations by John Tenniel that were contained in the original editions. Measures approximately 7” x 5” with both books bound into this one volume. Condition Report: The binding is in FINE condition with very superficial surface wear. Internally, the book is very clean wit... [more Missing: Disney Gremlins and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland [and] Through the Looking Glass…]

The following book is missing after having been marked as delivered to Marc Kuritz of Churchill Book Collector in San Diego on July 22nd: Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence, copy #313/750 of the limited issue of the first British trade edition, published by Jonathan Cape in 1935. Two images are attached; please contact the firm if you know the whereabouts of this item: Churchill Book Collector, ABAA | ILAB | IOBA San Diego, California, U.S.A. / 619.384.7992 churchillbookcollector@gmail.com [more Missing in Transit to San Diego: Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence]

ABAA-member Weller Book Works turns 90! Anniversary celebration for the Salt Lake institution, Saturday, August 17, from 4 - 6 PM! Who'd have thought a small used bookstore founded two months before the 1929 stock market crash would grow into one of the West's premier bookstores? Weller Book Works survived the Great Depression, World War II, a catastrophic fire (1971), big box chain stores, and the disruption of the internet. Founded in August, 1929, in Salt Lake City by Gustav Weller, the store began as Zion's Bookstore. It has gone through many changes and four generations of Wellers over the years, and it continues today as Weller Book Works. (Read the complete history...) Weller Book Works is the oldest bookstore in Utah, and one of the oldest in the country. For 90 years, Weller's has been cultivating ideas, challenging thoughts, and encouraging a little bit of anarchy. As part of their 90th-anniversary celebrations, they are going to look back on that history, and discuss what the next 90 years may hold in store. A celebration will be held on Saturday, August 17, from 4- 6pm. Remarks by Tony Weller, Rocky Anderson, and Brooke and Terry Tempest Williams begin at 4:30pm; music will be provided by Philip Miller; and, there will be cake -- and hors d'oeuvres, too! Weller Book Works have also created an exclusive reusable tote bag featuring a one-of-a-kind design by Pat Bagley made especially for this occasion! You'll get a chance to meet up with old friends, and hopefully m... [more Weller Book Works Turns 90]