Rare Book Monthly

Articles - February - 2023 Issue

Spencer W. Stuart, his recent book endorsed

Spencer W. Stuart

Spencer W. Stuart

Mr. Stuart, author of Contemporary Issues in Rare Book & Manuscript Collecting:  A Handbook for Collectors and the Trade has been widely endorsed.

 

Book collectors are known to read books and a few write them.  Spencer Stuart is one of the writers and enjoys a wide following among both experienced collectors as well as the nascent generation that is skateboarding into their collecting futures.

 

What they say:

 

Educators, Appraisers, Librarians and Collectors agree

 

Once in a long while a book comes along that causes all parts of the bibliophilic worlds to agree on its value and impact. In fact, they see it to be so useful and informative that they wished they could have had it at their disposal years before.  Contemporary Issues in Rare Book and Manuscript Collecting (Contemporary Issues) may be one of these books: https://spencerwstuart.myshopify.com/products/contemporary-issues-in-rare-book-manuscript-collection-a-handbook-for-collectors-and-the-trade

 

Below, four early readers of Contemporary Issues share their views on this first book by Collections Advisor, Author and Public Speaker Spencer W Stuart. www.spencerwstuart.ca

 

A Bookseller

 

Johan Kugelberg, Owner & Curator of Boo-Hooray, and a Rare Book School Faculty said,  “This is an excellent and most useful book: in my capacity as faculty at Rare Book School, I find the work of Spencer Stuart a dream: a student that takes the content of our course and expands on it in a manner perpetually useful: student outdoes teacher and all that.”

 

An Appraiser

 

From the Appraisal Business Courtney Ahlstrom Christy, Ahlstrom Appraisals LLC had this to say:  "Contemporary Issues is thought-provoking and should be read by those in the book trade who wish to adapt to ongoing changes in the industry deftly." Courtney is a Valuer of Fine Art, Rare Books & Material Culture Certified Member, International Society of Appraisers and Accredited Member, Appraisers Association of America.

 

A Librarian

 

Gary E. Strong, UCLA University Librarian Emeritus and collector commented as follows, "Contemporary Issues in Rare Book & Manuscript Collecting is a welcome read.  While I have been collecting for many years, I wish this handbook had been available when I started to build my collections. I particularly like the down-to-earth writing style and clear and reasoned approach to the issues. I continue to learn about aspects of the book trade that are relevant to my own situation."

 

A Collector

 

Larry Rafferty, 1st edition book collector and founder of hit & run press summed up wide spread feelings about the just released book extremely well:  "As I read Contemporary Issues, every few pages I came across some information or an insight that I had spent years sorting out.  How I wish I had this book fifty years ago when I was starting out as a collector!"

 

To order Contemporary Issues for you or a collecting friend go to https://spencerwstuart.myshopify.com/products/contemporary-issues-in-rare-book-manuscript-collection-a-handbook-for-collectors-and-the-trade or contact Spencer: spencerwstuart@gmail.com

 

Spencer will be delivering an in-person talk Thursday, February 16th at 6pm hosted by Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum

 

https://www.folioseattle.org/event-details/book-launch-contemporary-issues-in-rare-book-and-manuscript-collecting-by-spencer-w-stuart

 

If unable to attend, another talk for the Manuscript Society is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0O1adhsjCI

Rare Book Monthly

  • 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
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: GEOGRAPHIE, Ghoukas INDJIDJIAN, Venise 1802-1806
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MANUSCRIT THEOLOGIQUE, XVIe-XVIIe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MASHTOTS, manuscrit XVIIIe-XIXe siècle, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE, manuscrit XIXe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne
  • 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
    DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
    DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
    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
    Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    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

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