At least one example of the printed word is in great demand even in the digital age: ancient Bibles. With a goal of establishing a national Bible museum of great depth and size, the evangelical Christian family behind the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores has been spending heavily to amass a collection that has set dealers buzzing in the staid world of rare books.
Continue Reading Add comment June 12th, 2010
Thousands of rare books and manuscripts at Camrbidge University Library – including handwritten notes by Sir Isaac Newton – are to be made available on line thanks to a £1.5m donation.
Continue Reading Add comment June 5th, 2010
A collection of rare books, described by experts as the most important of its kind in Ireland outside Dublin is being taken into State care by the Office of Public Works.
Continue Reading Add comment June 1st, 2010
An early copy of Paradise Lost could be paradise found for a John Milton enthusiast as the annual Calgary book sale has unearthed a rare copy of this epic poem. The early edition, from the 1700s, is expected to fetch several hundred dollars when it goes up for sale in a couple of weeks.
Continue Reading Add comment May 31st, 2010
Entering new territory. Amazing. Speechless. Puzzled. The following from the Blog of the Library of Congress, i.e., it must be true ?! As this posting is being twitterized too, Library of Congress, here we come:
How Tweet It Is!: Library Acquires Entire Twitter Archive
Continue Reading Add comment April 14th, 2010
A rare first edition of The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, with a poignant handwritten note by the author to his young daughter, has been discovered.
Continue Reading Add comment April 9th, 2010
A signed copy of a Jane Austen novel published in 1816 has been bought for £325,000.
The book is a first edition copy of Emma which Austen presented to her friend Anne Sharp, the inspiration for Mrs Weston in the novel. Jonkers Rare Books in Oxfordshire paid £180,000 for it at auction in 2008.
It is understood that a British collector bought the book, which is one of 12 special ‘presentation’ copies Austen gave to friends and family. The book has previously been exhibited in Hong Kong, New York and San Francisco. The rest of the presentation copies were donated to relatives.
Christian Jonkers, director of Jonkers Rare Books in Henley-on-Thames, said: “We had several clients around the world who were considering this book, but it is pleasing that the book will remain in this country. “It is unique, considering the whole historical context of the book – the fact that it was given by Austen to her best friend who was a model for one of the principal characters in the novel.”
Source: BBC News
Add comment April 1st, 2010
The comic debut of Superman has sold for an out-of-this-world price.
The copy of Action Comics No. 1 from 1938, which features the first appearance of the “Man of Steel” was bought by an undisclosed buyer for a record $1.5 million Monday on the online auction site ComicConnect.com. “This is the Holy Grail of Holy Grails,” said Vincent Zurzolo, co-owner of the Web site.
Continue Reading Add comment March 31st, 2010
Visit us this weekend in St. Petersburg at the 29th Florida Antiquarian Book Fair
March 12, 5:30-9pm, March 13, 10am -5pm, and March 14, 11am -4pm.
If you cannot be on site, please browse the selection of books at Books Tell You Why – Florida selection.
Presented items include collectible books in the following areas: Antiquarian Golf and Fishing Books, Awarded Children’s Books, Books To Film, Collectible Cookbooks (incl. signed items from Julia Child, Emeril, Thomas Keller, Paula Deen), Caroliniana and a couple of Charles van Sandwyk illustrated books incl. his new title, Canadian Content.
Add comment March 11th, 2010
A comic showing the debut of superhero Batman has been sold for more than $1m (£655,000) at an auction in Dallas. The rare 1939 copy of Detective Comic No 27 was bought by an anonymous bidder from a seller who also wished to keep their identity secret.
Continue Reading Add comment February 27th, 2010
