The World's Most Beloved (and Criticized) Family of Bears! If you are a '90s child like myself (or a '70s child, or an '80s child, or a 2000s child… or even a 2010s child), I can guarantee that you know a family of bears… that live in (pretty much) the coolest treehouse ever… and whose sister and brother magically (almost) always get along. I grew up envying this small family and their adventures in pumpkin patches and at school. (So get to the point, you say?) Well today we thought we'd do a short feature on our favorite (fictional) family of bears… the Berenstain Bears. The Berenstain Bear family and franchise was created by Janice and Stanley Berenstain in 1962, and has since become a series of over 300 titles. Since his mother's death in 2012 (Stan Berenstain died in 2005), the couple's youngest son, Mike Berenstain, has continued the family tradition by authoring the titles. A full family project, in a sense! Let's see how it all came about… In 1941, Janice Grant and Stanley Berenstain met on their first day at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art and became close very quickly. At the onset of World War II, they took up different war effort posts (as a medical illustrator and riveter), but were eventually reunited and married in 1946. They found work as art teachers, then eventually became co-illustrators, publishing works like the Berenstain's Baby Book in 1951 followed by many more (including, but not limited to Marital Blitz, How To Teach Your Ch... [more Children’s Books: The Berenstain Bears]
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, lifelong supporters of American history education, with a goal of becoming the leading American nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education. The Institute's mission is nothing less than to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources, which it does through creating curriculums for schools to use when teaching different periods of American history. At the Institute's core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives of American history. Drawing on the 65,000+ documents in the Gilder Lehrman Collection and an extensive network of eminent historians, the Institute provides teachers, students, and the general public with direct access to unique primary source materials. Over the last two years, the institute has gained some fame for its partnership with the musical Hamilton, creating the Hamilton Education Program (“EduHam”) with support from the Rockefeller Foundation to bring economically disadvantaged students to see the musical and integrate the lyrics and performances into a study guide exploring the Revolutionary War and Founding Fathers. The program has been extended to Chicago, where Hamilton is also playing, and is being extended to other cities as the traveling Hamilton show moves around the country. The core of the Foundation is the 65,000+ items in the Gilder Lehrman C... [more Building the Gilder Lehrman Collection]
Every week, ABAA members issue new catalogs of rare books and ephemera. Most of the items featured therein are not-yet listed on abaa.org (but there are exceptions, as you'll see below). We scoured the most-recent batch of catalog to bring you a few highlights from within their pages... A HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED REAL GRIMOIRE FOR FANS OF HARRY POTTER FAUST, Johann; SCHEIBLE, Johann. Doktor Johannes Faust's Magia naturalis et innaturalis, oder, driefacher Höllenzwang, letztes Testament und Siegelkunst. Nach einer kostbar ausgestatteten Handschrift in der Herzogl. Bibliothek zu Koburg vollständig und wortgetreu; herausgegeben in fünf Abtheilungen, mit einter Menge illuminirter Abbildungen auf 146 Tafeln. Stuttgart: Verlag von J. Scheible (Druck von Fr. Henne), 1849. 8vo, 5 parts in 1 volume. 263, , pp. (last 7 pages bookseller's ads). With 146 numbered plates (with illustration no. 19 appearing later in volume on same plate as illustration no. 71) also with plates numbered 109 I, & 109 II (so the total does come to 146 as noted in title) lithograph plates (9 folding, 145 in 2 or more colors). Few minor marginal smudges at beginning of volume and some faint foxing. Very nice copy. Original cloth. FIRST EDITION of this rare and beautifully illustrated grimoire or Faustbook titled: "Dr. Johannes Faust's Magia naturalis et innaturalis or the Threefold Coercion of Hell, his last testament and the art of the occult sigil (symbol)" which the publisher states was copied from a manusc... [more Gems from the Latest Catalogs]
This morning, the ABAA leadership learned that Greg Priore, former Carnegie Library Archivist, and former ABAA member John Schulman of Caliban Books, have been charged with theft from the library. This is a truly regrettable situation for the larger book community, and one in which the Association shares the public's dismay that such a theft took place. At this point in time, to comment further would be premature, as we support the legal process currently being pursued and will await its outcome. During this period we will continue to closely monitor the developments concerning this serious matter. Sincerely, Vic Zoschak President, ABAA [more ABAA Statement regarding Carnegie Library Thefts]
The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America is pleased to announce the 2018 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest! Established in 2005 by Fine Books & Collections Magazine to recognize outstanding book collecting efforts by college and university students, the contest aims to encourage young collectors to become accomplished bibliophiles. The magazine conducted the annual competition program for three years before turning over leadership to a collaboration of institutional partners (The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), and the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress, with the Kislak Prize underwritten by the Jay I. Kislak Foundation. Competitions are held at more than three dozen colleges and universities across the United States. Some contests have been conducted for decades, dating back to Swarthmore College's first competition in the 1920s. All college or university prizewinners are encouraged to enter. Student collectors whose institutions do not offer a book collecting contest also may enter. All entries for the 2018 competition must be submitted by June 15, 2018. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.abaa.org/ncbcc/the-national-collegiate-book-collecting-contest... Meet the 2017 NCBCC Winners! Enter the 2018 Competition.... [more 2018 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest]
The ABAA has received a preliminary report of a theft of French literature from a private residence in Hamden, CT within the last two weeks. Here are the details of the missing materials thus far: Finely bound sets of Victor Hugo, Jules Verne, other authors include Gide, Camus, Baudelaire, Balzac. Most in fine bindings, or illustrated and fine press editions. Books were originally purchased in France, some would have prices pencilled in Euros or Francs. Approximately 300-500 volumes missing, presumably stolen, sometime in the last 2 weeks. If you have any information about this or have been offered these books, please contact: Detective Don Remillard Major Crimes Unit Hamden Police Department 203-230-4052 dremillard@hamdenpd.com [more Missing from Hamden, CT: French Literature]
The following modern first editions have been reported missing from the Portland Oregon area as of May 20, 2018. It is believed that these books have been offered for sale to several dealers in the U.S. and in Europe. 1. A first edition of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest," Viking, 1962. The book has a PON on the FFE, but is otherwise about fine. The jacket is very good, with the customary fading to the spine. 2. A first edition of "Andy Warhol," by Rainer Crone, Praeger, 1970. The book is in very good condition. It has been signed by Andy Warhol and includes his original sketch of a Campbell's soup can. The jacket is good only, with significant wear. 3. A first edition of "The Shining," by Stephen King, Doubleday, 1977. NF/NF. 4. "Thirtyfour Parking Lots," by Ed Ruscha. 1967. VG. 5. A first American edition of "Four Quartets," by T.S. Eliot, Harcourt, 1943. One of 788 copies. PON on FPE, otherwise VG in G+ second state jacket. 6. A first edition of "Tender Is The Night," by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Scribner's, 1934. VG, no jacket. 7. A first edition of "Homage to Catalonia," by George Orwell, Harcourt, 1952. NF/NF. 8. A signed, limited edition of "Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison, Franklin Library, 1980. Fine. Dealers having information about these books, or dealers who have been offered books for sale by Ainsley Powell, are urged to contact Deputy Cody Ringheim of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office regarding Incident No. 18-014469 at (503) 557-5800, ext. 1271 or cringheim@cl... [more Modern Firsts missing from the Portland, OR area]
The Queens' Bowne House Museum has reported it is missing approximately 50 historical documents ranging from the 1600s through the 1800s, which are believed to have been removed in the 1980s or 1990s. The Bowne House, is a historic house museum in Flushing Queens, New York. The house was built in 1661 by early settler John Bowne, a Quaker convert known for his successful defense of religious freedom in the face of persecution from New Netherlands Governor Peter Stuyvesant. The home was continually inhabited by nine generations of his descendants, many of whom were also Quaker reformers and prominent New Yorkers, and their personal papers and effects have been preserved onsite. Please note that the original Colonial documents will probably use Quaker dating conventions- i.e., they did not use the names of the months or days, only numbers, and mostly adhered to the Julian calendar. The documents reported missing are: EARLY BOWNE LETTERS: Documents relating to the arrest and trial of John Bowne: August 14, 1662: Complaint by Magistrates of Flushing re: Quakers; the condemnation and banishment of John Bowne. Jan. 1663: Letter to Dutch West India Co. from Governor & Council of New Netherlands ordering transport of John Bowne into exile. April, 1663: Letter to Governor Stuyvesant and Council of New Netherlands rebuking them for persecution of John Bowne. 1663: Letter/Address from John Bowne to Dutch West India Co., declining to do as asked Note: The above documents are presumed to ... [more Missing from Queens’ Bowne House Museum since the 1980s or 90s]
The following item has been reported missing: JOYCE, JAMES. FINNEGANS WAKE. (London; Faber & Faber; New York: Viking Press, 1939) 260 x 171 mm. (10 1/4 x 6 3/4"). 4 p.l., (first blank), 628 pp. FIRST EDITION. No. 206 OF 425 COPIES, SIGNED BY JOYCE. Original brick red buckram, gilt titling on spine, edges untrimmed and MOSTLY UNOPENED. In the original (very slightly soiled) yellow cloth slipcase, and housed in an extremely attractive modern dark red morocco-backed folding box. Remnants of bookplate glue on front pastedown. If you have any information on the aforementioned item, please contact Cokie Anderson at cokie@pirages.com or (503) 472-0476. [more Missing: First Edition of Finnegans Wake]
Lost in the USPS system somewhere between Allen Park, Michigan and Fernandina Beach, Florida within the last 45 days. Please contact the us at (212) 944-8291 or hq@abaa.org if offered. Rowling, J. K. & Grandpre, Mary HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, Arthur A. Levine / Scholastic Press, 1999, first American edition (first printing), insignificant and quite small grayish mark to a tiny section of the b.p.e.'s, else fine in like pictorial dw. Signed by both the author and the illustrator. Quite scarce thus. HARRY POTTER #2. [more Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Missing in Transit from Michigan to Florida]