Rare Book Monthly

Articles - January - 2011 Issue

John Bale Purchases Zobel's Better Books: Some Books are Sold, the Story Continues

Some of the Zobel books.

Some of the Zobel books.

Dan Gaeta of John Bale Book Company of Waterbury, Connecticut has purchased the remaining higher value inventory of Miriam Zobel of Clintondale, New York  for an undisclosed sum.  Mrs. Zobel and her husband David, who died in 1990, ran the Zobel Book Service, specialized in academic material and at one time had several hundred thousand items.  Mrs. Zobel has been the subject of three previous articles in AEM, detailing the issues associated with concluding a life with books.  The Zobels moved up from New York City in the late 1950's.  Mrs. Zobel, now 81, in speaking of the transaction said, "I'm cutting back but not dropping out.  Years ago I built a collection of children's books for my son.  I'll now focus on selling them for him."  At the gates of heaven Mrs. Zobel no doubt will be offering God something to read at a very good price.  Once a bookseller always...

 

Here on earth Dan Gaeta of John Bale Books recently expressed satisfaction with the purchase.  "I buy the remains of dealer inventories and with a partner, post them on line on Abe, Amazon and Alibris."  The purchase was made through Palmer Bale LLC, a partnership with Greg Palmer.  "In a sense it is an experiment, a test of the internet marketplace's ability to find customers for obscure titles.  There is little doubt the cost will come back, after all, Mrs. Zobel has described and priced many of the better books, totaling a multiple of what we paid.  It's more a question of how long it will take."

 

Link to John Bale Books: http://www.johnbalebooks.com/

 

Links to three prior articles on the Zobel saga:

October 2007

November 2007

September 2008

Rare Book Monthly

  • Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
    DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
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    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
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    DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
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    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
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    DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
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    DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
  • Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
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    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
  • Gros & Delettrez
    Livres & Manuscrits Arméniens
    Jeudi 12 juin 2025
    Paris, Francis
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: BIBLE, Venise 1733, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit daté 1606, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit début XVIIIe siècle, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, Amsterdam 1664
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, Amsterdam 1702, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: DICTIONNAIRE arménien, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle.
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: EVANGILE, manuscrit 1735-1737, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LIVRE DE PRIERES, Grégoire de Narek, manuscrit
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    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MASHTOTS, manuscrit XVIIIe-XIXe siècle, reliure arménienne
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    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne

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