Rare Book Monthly

Articles - January - 2018 Issue

8 Topics from the world of books you might have missed in 2017

The original Amazon Kindle, an electronic book reading device, turned 10 in 2017 (Popular Science photo).

The original Amazon Kindle, an electronic book reading device, turned 10 in 2017 (Popular Science photo).

1) KINDLE TURNS 10 - SALE OF e-BOOKS PLATEAU

Kindle, Amazon’s e-reader first introduced in 2007 turned ten in 2017. Though Kindle is credited with bringing portability and broad based popularity to a single function electronic device, the history of e-Books really stretches back to the 1930s. An informative article on that subject by the Government Printing Office blog can be found at:

govbooktalk.gpo.gov/2014/03/10/the-history-of-ebooks-from-1930s-readies-to-todays-gpo-ebook-services/

 

 

A detailed recap of the place of Kindle in the digital revolution just appeared in Wired: www.wired.com/story/can-amazon-change-books/

 



A decade ago the Kindle was the latest and the greatest in the world of book technology, but in March 2017 the Guardian reported sales of e-Books shrinking by 4% in the UK while sales of physical paperbacks rose by a similar amount. The site said, “The e-reader itself has also turned out to have the shelf life of a two-star murder mystery.” Smart phones and tablets last year (2016) overtook dedicated reading devices to become the most popular way to read an e-Book, according to the research group Nielsen. The Guardian attributed the shift in part to pricing strategies which had made e-Books comparatively more expensive and their opinion that “some things like humor and cooking are “simply better in print.” … “Despite the digital market’s rapid wax and wane, the industry does not expect e-readers to join MP3 and MiniDisc players in the tech dustbin." The devices,” the article said, “are still prized by prolific readers – a group that is predominantly female and over 45, and devours romance and crime novels.”

www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/17/paperback-books-sales-outperform-digital-titles-amazon-ebooks



The following month the Guardian took another swing at the Kindle, pronouncing the object itself “Clunky and unhip,” while at the same time commenting that while e-Book sales may have leveled off, traditional publishers were using the format as a marketing tool and a way to provide snippets of new books.



On this side of the pond Forbes noted an even more dramatic dip reporting the sale of e-Books down 17% in the first three quarters of 2016 according to data released by the American Publishers Association in Feb. 2017. Forbes and other sources attributed the decline to the shift to the mobile phone and tablet as preferred devices and to a lesser extent the rise audio and an increasing interest in podcasts and other platforms.



Real Books are Back

Real books are back crowed MONEY in April. The site reported that according to the Pew Research Center, 65% of Americans said that they read a printed book in the past year, compared to only 28% who read an e-book. They neglected to mention that comparatively few Americans read any books last year.

money.cnn.com/2017/04/27/media/ebooks-sales-real-books/index.html



By May the LA Times did a more nuts and bolts analysis of the status of the e-Book and reading devices, also noting substantial declines.

www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-ebooks-20170501-story.html



2) THE LIST OF LISTS - LITHUB AGGREGATES BEST NEW BOOKS OF 2017

Drowning in lists of the best books of the year? Don’t have time to read them all or know where to start? Fear not! In December Lithub put out what they called their “Ultimate List," going through 22 Best Books lists and coming up with the names of books that appeared most frequently and on the greatest number of lists.



The 2017 titles with the most overlapping recommendations were:

On 22 lists: Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders

On 19 lists: Exit West, Mohsin Hamid; Sing, Unburied, Sing, Jesmyn Ward

On 14 lists: Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann

On 13 lists: Pachinko, Min Jin Lee; Priestdaddy, Patricia Lockwood;Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng



To see their complete Ultimate 2017 Reading List see:

lithub.com/the-ultimate-best-books-of-2017-list/



Lithub also consulted a wide spectrum of bookish types to ask for more subjective preferences. That list appears as Favorite books of 2017:

lithub.com/literary-hubs-favorite-books-of-2017/



3) The !!!YUUUUGE!!!!! FACTOR:

BIG Sales, BIG thefts, BIG paychecks, BIG shows



Big Sales

In the age of Trump how could we fail to mention the truly YUUUUGE!!! events of the year gone by?



Leading the pack in cultural artifacts, but unfortunately not a book, was the much remarked sale of a Leonardo da Vinci painting for $450 million at Christie's in November.

www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/arts/design/leonardo-da-vinci-salvator-mundi-christies-auction.html?_r=0

Far behind, but still notable an original manuscript copy of the Book of Mormon set a record price of $35 million:

www.theguardian.com/books/2017/sep/26/book-of-mormon-sets-new-record-for-most-expensive-manuscript-ever-sold



And Harry Potter (of whom there is more to be said) stayed in the news when a first edition brought a remarkable price of $81,250 in a September Dallas auction: www.finebooksmagazine.com/press/2017/09/harry-potter-first-edition-sets-world-records-at-heritage-auctions.phtml



More Big Sales in 2017:

ABE listed three quarters of titles that brought top prices on their site:

Abebooks: Jan, Feb, March

www.abebooks.com/rare-books/most-expensive-sales/jan-feb-mar-2017.shtml



Abebooks:  April May, June



lisaandherworld-lisah.blogspot.com/2017/07/abebooks-most-expensive-sales-of-april.html



Abebooks: July, Aug., Sept 2017

www.abebooks.com/collectibles/most-expensive-sales/july-august-september-2017/index.shtml



Big Demand

Both BookFinder and Finebooks put out lists of the most frequently searched out of print books. Though both of these lists are slightly out of date and reference 2016, they still provide an indication of what is generally popular with prospective buyers



The Bookfinder list of most searched for 2016 came out in first quarter 2017:

www.bookfinder.com/books/bookfinder_report/BookFinder_Report_2016.html



Similar data reported in March of 2017 by Fine Books Magazine:

www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine_books_blog/2017/03/bookfinders-most-sought-books-in-2016.phtml



Big Theft

What year would be complete without a daring heist of rare and valuable books? This years bookish biggie came during February with a warehouse break-in near London’s Heathrow where a gang made off with 160 items valued at over 2 million pounds in a daring “Mission Impossible” type caper.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/12/thieves-steal-2m-of-rare-books-by-abseiling-into-warehouse



Big Writer's Paychecks

Highest paid authors  2017: No surprise JK Rowling leads the pack with a whopping $95M. Forbes lists many others with seven figure incomes at:

www.forbes.com/sites/hayleycuccinello/2017/08/03/worlds-highest-paid-authors-2017-j-k-rowling-leads-with-95-million/#12ba00702669



Big Show

Still haven’t had enough Harry Potter? The British Library marks the 20th anniversary of the first publication of the boy wizard with a blockbuster show on the history of MAGIC that runs through Feb 28, 2018.

www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2017-10-18/harry-potter-exhibit-marks-20th-anniversary-of-first-book



5) Two timely Issues to keep in mind in 2018



Net Neutrality much in the news in late 2017 looks to carryover into 2018. This article ponders how it will affect public libraries.

www.theverge.com/2017/12/13/16771626/new-york-public-library-net-neutrality-brooklyn-queens



Consolidation and closing of special collections as digital libraries accelerate

Reports continue of downsizing the actual physical facilities and collections in favor of their digital cousins. Traditional book people view this trend with alarm. See what the Chronicle of Higher Education had to say just a few weeks ago in December about University of Wisconsin at Madison plans to close 22 libraries and create six “hubs”.

www.chronicle.com/article/Why-One-University-Wants-to/242019



6)  Coming up in 2018

So far there hasn't been much forecasting. What we did find was scant:

Trends in current publishing

Those who did care to speculate included Scholastic's forecast in book trends for kids .

publishingperspectives.com/2017/12/trends-childrens-books-2018-predictions-scholastic/

Industry projections on a subjective basis

Here are a few thoughts  by individual agents and publishers’ representatives in Kirkus Review.

www.kirkusreviews.com/proconnect/word-on-the-street/



Now for something entirely different



Flipping: If you’re giving up on all previous traditional models for the ancient and honorable tradition of book selling you might want to try the 21st century techniques of the bookflipper (who does it with FAB - Fulfillment by Amazon) and aps. Consider the current business model that reduces everything to spreadsheets and math formulae. This method is hawked by a dude who calls himself the “Book Flipper.” (Writer's note: It’s come to that ... picture older lady dealer wringing her hands and weeping over the keyboard):

thebookflipper.com/2017/01/30/the-book-market-monitor-2

There’s also a blog: thebookflipper-dev.jtfarrell.com/

And a Facebook page

www.facebook.com/TheBookFlipper/

And a Youtube video -- long and one of many. Just think you can wear a handheld scanner on your wrist (My mother is turning in her grave): www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6BEUx3vPUE



Instagram

On a more creative and hopeful note here’s one dealer’s plug for Instagram as a profitable and direct platform of the future. This commentary puts forward a more imaginative and creative use of the new technology and a good reason to give Instagram a try.

themillions.com/2017/10/the-steady-irresistible-call-of-instagrams-rare-book-dealers.html



7) Purported Trade Secrets: Just on the off chance you didn’t know..............

Mental floss did a listicle in November on “13 secrets of Rare Book Book Dealers.” Take a look - who knows, you might learn something.

mentalfloss.com/article/507306/13-secrets-rare-book-dealers



8) A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US at RBH

Are we rich yet? Well probably not. That said, a Happy and Profitable New Year from all of us at Rare Book Hub where we’re looking forward to another fast paced and interesting year in the world that is still mostly paper though the vehicle may be digital.

-------------------

RBH writer Susan Halas is based in Wailuku, Maui (wailukusue@gmail.com). She welcomes your comments and actual in person visits (with advance notice please).

 

Rare Book Monthly

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  • Sotheby'sSell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts Sotheby'sSell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
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    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
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    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
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    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
  • Fonsie Mealy’sRare Books & Collectors’ SaleApril 30th & May 1st Fonsie Mealy’sRare Books & Collectors’ SaleApril 30th & May 1st
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale
    April 30th & May 1st
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    Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale
    April 30th & May 1st
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) Maps of the Roads of Ireland, Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Messingham (Thos.) Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, Paris 1624. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus). The Haw Lantern, L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Powerscourt (Viscount). A Description and History of Powerscourt, Lond. 1903. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Moryson (Fynes). An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…, Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: After Buffon, Birds of Europe, c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Dunlevy (Andrew). An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer, Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin, 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Scale (Bernard). An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland, L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. An Almanac of Twelve Sports, Lond. 1898. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) trans. The Light of the Leaves, 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Fleming (Ian). Moonraker, L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) & Egan (Felim) artist. Squarings, Twelve Poems, D. (Hieroglyph Editions Ltd.) 1991. €1,750 to €2,250.
  • Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur."
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "Die Schneekönigin," 1910.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. Wonderful Stories for Children. London, 1846.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke. 1861.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.

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