Rare Book Monthly Articles - July - 2014 Issue

The Bookseller's Dilemma:  the world is changing

The Bookseller's Dilemma: the world is changing

The Bookseller’s dilemma: the world is changing   Problems in bookselling have long been understood.  Shops closing, books going online, loss of face-to-face contact, rising quantities, aging dealers, fewer new dealers and changing collecting perspectives are all factors in a once sedentary field that now evolves in real time.  In effect, the old world has become old hat and a disappearing hat at that.   Some fifteen years ago, a few dealers, sensing that the long-term impact of exponentially rising online book listings would eventually alter valuations negatively, began to adjust and r...

Remnants of One of the Wealthiest Estates Ever Formed Has Been Sold

Remnants of One of the Wealthiest Estates Ever Formed Has Been Sold

An auction at Christie's last month brought to a conclusion a story very long in the making. The collection was remarkable, though not as remarkable as the history behind it. This was a story of su...

39th Annual Newtown Book Sale July 12-16

39th Annual Newtown Book Sale July 12-16

If it is July it is time for the annual Newtown, Connecticut book fair organized by the Friends of the C. H. Booth Library.  This event, which begins on Saturday July 12th, runs through the followi...

How was your first time? (Online bidding)

How was your first time? (Online bidding)

Yesterday was my first time—and it was great!   It all started at 2 p.m., when my computer screen suddenly broadcast the images of some red-carpeted walls, and the confused sounds of an auction s...

Book Repair for Booksellers

Book Repair for Booksellers

Veteran Massachusetts bookseller Joyce Godsey has written a short and useful guide to basic book repairs. Her advice is: “If the book is worth more than $250, send it to a professional or sell it A...

A Second Bookseller Goes “Public”

A Second Bookseller Goes “Public”

Turning to the public markets for funding of businesses in the selling of old books seems to be gaining some steam, at least in England. In May, Scholium Group, whose main business is Shapero Rare ...

It's not easy being green

It's not easy being green

Alice Springer at the Friends of the Seattle Public Library spoke with me last week as 21 items the Friends had posted on eBay were grinding toward their conclusion.  The sale had come to my attent...

Books In The News

Books In The News

Old books regularly show up in the news. Something old, something new. A few such stories caught my eye this past month.   The first story involves the all too common subject of book theft. Usual...

Profiles in History:  Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector IV on July 11th

Profiles in History: Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector IV on July 11th

On July 11th Profiles in History continues the series “Property of a Distinguished Collector” with Part Four.  Parts 1 to 3 raised $11.5 million.  One hundred and twelve lots are offered in Part IV...

Apple Settles Its eBook Case Before Its Time

Apple Settles Its eBook Case Before Its Time

In a bizarre twist of events in the Apple eBooks case, Apple has negotiated a payment settlement with those harmed by its alleged price fixing, even as it continues to contest the claim they ever f...

A Sale to be Seen, Not Read About

A Sale to be Seen, Not Read About

I'm going to keep this article brief because Dreweatts Bloomsbury Auctions' sale of Modern and Contemporary Prints is one that words can only do so much for. Featuring prints from well-known and i...

Did the Police Chief Just Put Down Books?

Did the Police Chief Just Put Down Books?

Did San Francisco's Police Chief just “diss” books? We aren't sure what to make of a comment he recently made. Surely, there's another explanation. From everything we know, Chief Greg Suhr is a fin...

Ten Catalogues Reviewed This Month

Ten Catalogues Reviewed This Month

This month we have 10 new catalogues up for review. Whitmore Rare Books presents a catalogue of exceptional literature. Antiquates Fine Rare Books offers works from British authors and collectors....

Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Ian Fleming. Casino Royale, London, 1953. First edition, first printing. $58,610.
    Sotheby’s: A.A. Milne, Ernest Howard Shepard. Winnie The Pooh, United Kingdom, 1926. First UK edition. $17,580.
    Sotheby’s: Ernest Hemingway. Three Stories And Ten Poems, [Paris], (1923). First edition of Hemingway’s first published book. $75,000.
    Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: L. Frank Baum. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, 1900. First edition. $27,500.
    Sotheby’s: Man Ray. Photographs By Man Ray 1920 Paris 1934, Hartford, 1934. $7,860.
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Pennant. Zoologia Britannica, Augsburg, 1771. $49,125.
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