From the first Congress, Article III, which became the First Amendment, guarantees freedom of speech and the press. Courtesy of L. of C.
By Karen Wright
There aren’t many Indiana Joneses or Wonder Woman-type heroes in the book selling business, but there are still heroes. One of mine is Joyce Meskis of the Tattered Cover in Denver, Colorado, and a Wonder Woman she is, but in a different way. The Tattered Cover is a great big beautiful bookstore with more than a half million new books in stock and two stores, one in the Old Town part of Denver and another in the upscale Cherry Creek area.
One of the constitutional rights that Joyce Meskis and a huge majority of we booksellers and librarians value more than any other, is the First Amendment to our Constitution. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
There is endless debate about exactly what was intended with the establishment of this amendment; the result of too many lawyers with too much time on their hands, perhaps. However, it seems to be pretty much agreed that publications are definitely covered under freedom of speech. Thus, it would seem that the searching of records to see what people read should be covered as well. But of course, not everyone agrees, that’s why there are more flavors than chocolate.
Joyce Meskis has been concerned with censorship and First Amendment rights since she was a teenager. As she said in an interview with Shirley Bryant, former IOBA Standard Editor and current IOBA President, “I could never imagine why people would want to censor material, because I felt strongly then (as I do now) that our governmental system is based on the access to and debate of ideas of all kinds. In order to have an informed citizenry, they need the freedom to read. People don't just need to have access to the ideas with which they agree, but also those with which they might disagree. Don't we want to know what the other side is thinking? (IOBA Standard – Vol. III, No. 2).
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24, 2024 to January 9, 2025
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24, 2024 to January 9, 2025
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24, 2024 to January 9, 2025
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24, 2024 to January 9, 2025
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
