Rare Book Monthly

Articles - December - 2009 Issue

A Fair Duet - Sacramento and Seattle Book Fairs 2009

Rob Roulon-Miller came all the way from St. Paul.

Rob Roulon-Miller came all the way from St. Paul.


At the end of the day, I was thoroughly sated with looking at books and suffering from a huge case of "I wants". We bid the fair adieu, picked up Sassi at doggie day care, and headed out for dinner. You all know, if you've read my articles before, that we love to talk about and eat good food! We didn't find any spectacular restaurants in Seattle, we ran out of time, though I know there are lots of them. We were only there one night, so we went to a fun bar that advertised the "Second Best Martinis in Seattle" called Tini Bigs and then walked across the street to a bistro recommended by the bartender at Tini's called The Boat House. When you first walk in there is a wonderful, large charcoal drawing of "Jeffrey", the owner's dog, so I was endeared to the place immediately. The waitress said, "Did I know you were coming?" which I think is much classier than looking down one's nose and asking if we had reservations. We said, no, and were seated at the bar for a cocktail. We decided to stay there and have dinner. They had good wine and some really nice food including some sort of gratin thing made with kale and gruyere cheese that was to die for.

The next day we were off to Vashon Island to visit friends and then down to Portland, where I learned, much to my disgruntlement, that their Friends of the Library had just had their annual big sale the day we were at the fair. Oh well! The best thing that happened, bookwise, was in Newburg, Oregon when I found a seller of Western Americana books who wanted to sell his rather incredible collection of books on the California Trail and Donner Party, two subjects that sell very well in my area. He gave me a whopping discount and I may be in debt for a while until I get the books sold! All in all, I came home with only four boxes of books, but they were all good ones. Ta, ta until next time.

Rare Book Monthly

  • High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    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 to January 9
    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 to January 9
    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 to January 9
    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

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