Rare Book Monthly « August

It sometimes comes to this

A bookshop is the outcome of a million decisions. To open a shop and then what to sell are the early decisions that seamlessly lead to the turning on of the electricity, to the buying of shelves and a cash register. Signs are then posted or painted onto the windows, and if the zoning permits, perhaps something larger and possibly gaudier appended on the outside to attract the passersby. And then there are the decisions that will regulate and determine the everyday throb of the business. Will we be open from 10 am to 10 pm 7 days or perhaps 9 am to 5 pm 5 days? And what books will we p...

Head of German Auction House Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison in Girolamini Library Theft Case

An Italian court has handed down a conviction and five-year prison sentence to the Executive Director of German auction house Zisska Schauer. Herbert Schauer was convicted of embezzlement in relat...

A Diamond in the Coal Mine

Recently, on eBay an item was offered that looked interesting. The title, Guide Book to Lake Mohonk – New Paltz, Ulster Co., N. Y., and the date, 1875, marked it as very early in the history of th...

Fall Art Auctions Could Provide Over $100 Million to Botanical Library

A privately owned botanical library is about to get a massive donation, thanks to the will of its extraordinarily wealthy founder. Sotheby's recently announced that it will be offering over 2,000 p...

Patricia Ahearn: 1937-2014

Patricia Ahearn, wife of Allen and partner with him in Quill Brush and in their well regarded guides to book collecting and book values, passed away at the end of May. The details of her and A...

Out with a Whimper – the All Hallows Sale

The All Hallows library sale appears to have ended in a whimper. It's most notable item was earlier withdrawn, and what remained had little magic when it went up for auction. The amount received wi...

Anecdotal Information on the State of the Market

Recently the news from the hustings is suggesting the summer is a bit soft in the collectible paper field. An article in the New York Times suggested that “Large Crowds Spend Little at Comic-Con,”...

The History of Paraguay, The Lying Fury of the Jesuits

My good friend the Lying Fury is an old dignified lady with many untold prophets. I unexpectedly came across one of them the other day, while reading Histoire du Paraguay; the author wrote extensiv...

Opportunities in Chicago: August 6th at Leslie Hindman

As you read this article the clock is clicking down for Leslie Hindman’s annual August auction of books, manuscripts and cartography. The 406 lot sale is on the 6th, online viewing now ongoing and...

Major Poster Sale at Swann Galleries

Wars have been going on as long as there have been humans; tennis not quite so long. However, they have one thing in common. Each is a featured topic in Swann Galleries' auction of Vintage Posters ...

Books in the News: The First Million Dollar Sports Contract, Bookseller Reports Results, Apple “Agrees” to $450 Million Settlement

This is not the typical “work on paper.” Then again, the “Babe” was not an ordinary man. The most expensive sports contract ever sold hit the block at Goldin Auctions last month. It was the first t...

Auctions in August

August is the doldrums of the book, manuscript, map and ephemera field, or so it used to be. But not so much anymore. This August 51 sales are scheduled, up from 46 in 2013. Less than 10 year...

10 New Catalogues Reviewed This Month

This month we review ten new bookseller catalogues. Several are designed for travelers. The George S. MacManus Company and the William Reese Company offer catalogues that feature travel and explora...