Have you chosen a costume? Stocked up on candy? Planned that trick-or-treating route? That’s right…Halloween is almost here. The myths and tales of Halloween have long captured our imagination, making the holiday a perfect match for book collectors. Classic spine tingling reads are consistent book collecting favorites.
Chilling Tales of Horror
For the Halloween enthusiast, the traditional horror story may be the best fit for this spooky season. Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley set the precedent for tales of the supernatural, and modern authors have followed their lead.
Anne Rice’s legendary Vampire series arrested our attention long before Twilight ever did. These novels weave history with the epic tale of vampires.
Stephen King never fails to delight—and frighten—his readers. From Carrie and Christine to The Shining and Misery, King’s novels invoke fear on both the page and the big screen.
Dean Koontz has delivered countless frightening tales of the supernatural and horrifying. His thrillers include a series based on the classic tale of Frankenstein.
No list of modern horror writers would be complete without Thomas Harris, mastermind behind The Silence of the Lambs series and others. Harris has become an icon among modern authors.
For the Younger Crowd
Halloween isn’t only about ghosts, monsters, and murder. The holiday is also about imagination, magic, and fantastic creatures. If you love the more whimsical side of Halloween, consider these favorites.
The Harry Potter series brings us to a fanciful world of a young wizard. These novels, by JK Rowling, are sure to remain favorites for generations to come.
Cornelia Funke’s Inkworld trilogy transports us to a land of dragons and magic. The award-winning author masterfully captivates young audiences
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaimans, earned the author both a Newbery Medal and a Hugo Award. The novel tells the story of Nobody Owens, a boy raised in a graveyard….by ghosts!
Which books top your must-have list for Halloween?
This week the 2011 winners of the Nobel Prize are unveiled. Alfred Nobel, for whom the Prize is named, specified that prizes be awarded in several different disciplines: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Peace, Economics, and of course Literature. Nobel’s own interest in literature began in childhood, and the contents of his personal library are quite impressive.
While the other Nobel Prizes are announced every year in early October, the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded later. The first prize was awarded in 1901, and since then 107 people have earned the award. And you’re right; those numbers don’t add up! That’s because in some years, the prize has been shared, while in others no Nobel Prize was awarded for Literature. Nobel stipulated that if no nominated works fit the criteria for the prize, then no prize should be awarded.
Nobel Trivia
The Nobel Prize in Literature has an incredibly rich history. A few interesting facts about the prize:
The prize has been shared four times:
1904 – Frédéric Mistral, José Echegaray
1917 – Karl Gjellerup, Henrik Pontoppidan
1966 – Shmuel Agnon, Nelly Sachs
1974 – Eyvind Johnson, Harry Martinson
The youngest Nobel laureate in Literature was Rudyard Kipling, who was only 42 years old when he earned the prize in 1907.
Doris Lessing was the oldest winner. She was 88 years old when she won the prize.
The first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Selma Lagerlöf. She was later nominated to the Swedish Academy to select Nobel Prize winners.
Only two people have ever declined the award. Boris Pasternak accepted the prize in 1958, but was “later caused by the authorities of his country (Soviet Union) to decline the Prize.” Jeal Paul Sartre also declined in 1964 because he declined all official recognition.
The prize has been awarded posthumously twice: first to Erick Axel Karlfeldt in 1931, and to Dag Hammarskjöld in 1961, The Nobel Foundation stipulated in 1974 that prizes not be awarded posthumously, unless the winner dies after the winner has been selected.
Want to watch the Nobel Prize announcements unfold? Watch them live right here! Then take a moment to browse our selection of literature by Nobel laureates.
Saturday started Banned Books Week, a time to celebrate the First Amendment and our freedom to read. Throughout history, people have recognized the transformative power of literature; governments, religious institutions, and even school districts have sought to contain that power by banning controversial books—in some cases even ordering the destruction of books.
Yet banning a book often has the opposite effect: making a book all the more sought after. This happens for two reasons. First, many banned books are truly exceptional works of literature and have become part of the literary canon. They are perennial favorites in consistent demand from collectors. Meanwhile, some modern books—such as James Joyce’sUlysses (burned in the US, England, Canada, and Ireland)—were actually destroyed, limiting the number of first editions and printings.
Here’s a look at some of the most frequently challenged books in the United States, and sometimes even around the world:
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby was challenged for language and sexual references. It remains a staple of high-school and college classrooms around the country.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, has long been a favorite target for censorship. In 1960, a teacher was even fired for assigning the book. The novel was most recently challenged in 2009 in Missouri.
The publication of John Steinbeck’sThe Grapes of Wrath drew international attention. The book was burned by a library in Illinois and banned in Canada. Eleven Turkish booksellers faced a military tribunal for publishing, possessing, and selling the book. Of Mice and Men was equally controversial.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, was denounced as a “filthy, trashy novel.” Despite the novel’s having won a Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a Mockingbird continues to be challenged almost yearly.
George Orwell also earned attention for both 1984 and Animal Farm. The latter was even suppressed from appearing at the 1977 Russian International Book Fair.
Burned in Nazi bonfires in Germany, The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway was also banned in Ireland and multiple US cities. A Farewell to Arms received similar response, and For Whom the Bell Tolls was deemed “unmailable” by the US Post Office.
When you think of conservation and preservation, you may think of the environment. But for rare book collectors, conservation and preservation are the key to maintaining—and sometimes even increasing—the value of your prized investments.
Preservation Prevents Further Damage
Although conservation and preservation may sound like they refer to the same thing, the two terms differ significantly. When a book is preserved, it is simply protected from further damage. When someone wants a book preserved, I’ll often build a box to protect the book from the sun, air, and other environmental factors that can cause deterioration. A preservationist’s priority is the same as a doctor’s: do no harm. Preservation alone doesn’t alter the book in any way.
Conservation, however, requires a little more on chemistry to stabilize a book’s condition. A conservationist might, for instance, work on deacidifying a rare book, or use pigment dyes instead of chemical dyes to color materials used in repair. Conservationists may also alter the structure of the book to protect it from further damage over the long term.
What about Restoration?
Now if you want to return a book to its former glory, you want restoration. Restoring a book means using original materials and historic techniques to make the book look like it did when it was new—even if that was 200 years ago. Not all restorationists are familiar with conservation or preservation, so it’s important to choose someone who is not only familiar with period binding methods, but also understands how to protect your investment in the future.
A period binding should preserve the bibliographical value and integrity of the book.
Does restoring, preserving, or conserving a book improve its value? That all depends on the book, and the kind of work you have done. Regardless of whether you’re looking for conservation or restoration, you’ll want to choose a book binder who is proficient in both modern techniques and those that were used during the time period and in the geographical provenance of your book. The methods used to create, say, a 15th-century exposed board binding are very different from the ones used to create an ornate Victorian binding.
Factors to Consider
Any changes to the condition of an antiquarian book can significantly impact its value. That’s why it’s critical to consider all your options before commissioning preservation, conservation, or restoration work. Before you do either, think about these factors:
What is the book’s value as-is?
How will the book be used?
Will you resell the book?
Once you’ve invested in conserving and restoring your collection, it makes sense to preserve them as well. Many collectors opt for a multi-pronged approach to maintaining their collection; they may ask me to restore or rebind a book—and to create a box to protect it.
If you have questions about preserving, restoring, or conserving your rare book collection, feel free to contact me via byzantium@sbcglobal.net or 405-329-6947.
“A novel is balanced between a few true impressions and the multitude of false ones that make up most of what we call life.” So spoke Saul Bellow, one of the greatest American authors of the twentieth century. Rare book collectors have consistently been interested in Bellow’s works, and that interest will only grow as his books get more scarce over time.
Bellow entered the American literature scene in 1947 with Dangling Man. Though reviewers criticized the novel’s lack of definitive plot, they also noted that the book wonderfully captured the character and challenges of the American intellectual during the Great Depression.
Bellow published his second novel, The Victim, later that same year. These two first novels are considered Bellow’s “apprentice works.” First editions tend to be more scarce not only because fewer copies were printed in the first place. Dangling Man’s wartime printing meant cheaper materials that have not withstood the test of time very well.
Bellow established his literary prowess with The Adventures of Augie March (1954), which later won the National Book Award. Bellow won the award twice more, with Herzog (1965) and with Mr. Sammler’s Planet (1971). He went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Humboldt’s Gift (1976). These award-winning novels are easier for collectors to find. They fetch a premium if they’re in exceptional condition or are inscribed by Bellow.
Meanwhile Bellow also ventured into play writing. His 1965 Last Analysis is considered an excellent addition to any Bellow collection, although it can be difficult to find. He also penned numerous short stories. By his death in 2005, Bellow had published 14 novels and novellas; four short-story collections; a memoir (To Jerusalem and Back, 1976); and an essay collection (It All Adds Up, 1994).
Following Bellow’s death, executors of his estate collaborated with Evelyn Stefannson Nef to establish the PEN/Saul Bellow Award. The award is granted to a “distinguished living American author of fiction whose body of work in English possesses the qualities of excellence, ambition, and scale of achievement over a sustained career which place him or her in the highest rank of American literature.” In 2007, Bellow’s colleague Philip Roth was named the first winner.
In 2010 Bellow’s friend and fellow author Benjamin Taylor published Saul Bellow: Letters. The anthology of Bellow’s correspondence earned widespread acclaim for capturing Bellow’s life so beautifully.
The University of Illinois has an outstanding Bellow collection of over 900 volumes. Dr. Joe Walker Kraus curates the collection. Dr. Kraus’ dedication to Bellow illustrates the devotion so common among Bellow enthusiasts and collectors. Interest in his work has grown over time, and his books promise to remain popular among rare book collectors in the future.
Saul Bellow’s status as a Nobel laureate also places him in the illustrious company of other renowned authors like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Doris Lessing. We offer one of the most extensive collections of rare books by Nobel Prize-winning authors. How do these legendary authors figure into your collection?
It’s that time of year! Kids have headed back to school, and for students of all ages that means required reading is right around the corner. Perhaps you only vaguely remember The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and Lord of the Flies. But those classroom staples offer inspiration for enhancing your rare book collection.
Collecting first edition books from your school days recaptures moments from your childhood and learning history. These classic books are always in high demand from collectors, and their value has risen accordingly over time.
Rediscover Classroom Favorites
Some literary works have simply become institutions in education—and among lovers of literature. If you’ve built your collection around legendary authors and titles, consider looking past the classroom canon and adding some lesser-known works to your library. You’ll find them not only a joy to read, but also an excellent means of rounding out a collection.
Instead of A Tale of Two Cities, check out something else by Charles Dickens. His comic novels, like Oliver Twist and Pickwick Papers are a lovely foil to the more serious works so often assigned to students.
School only teaches you so much. Now that you’re out of the classroom, take some time to dive deeper into some of those lessons. Focus your collection around a specific time period, a hobby, or a favorite author.
Sure, you once memorized the presidents’ names and the years of all the major wars. Now get the real story behind historical events and figures with a biography or two.
Move beyond your own high-school reading lists. Look to the libraries of presidents and other world leaders. Imagine replicating George Washington’s or Abraham Lincoln’s library in your own home.
Golf: we like to think of it as gym class for grown-ups. Get insider tips and details from the pros, whose iconic voices add depth and interest to your collection.
As a rare book collector, you’ll need to know more about your favorite authors and genres. Peruse a great bibliography to get an in-depth look at ways to expand your collection.
How have the experiences and lessons of your youth shaped your choices as a rare book collector?
As the Northeast dries out after Hurricane Irene, now’s a good time to think about the effects of moisture and humidity on rare books. Just as too much sun can damage your rare books, so can too much moisture.
And we’re not just talking about direct moisture, such as liquid spills. The relative humidity of the air is also a concern. Excess humidity (usually relative humidity above 75%) can encourage the growth of fungi and mildew, which can lead to foxing.
Foxing is the name for the splotches, spots and specks you often see on older books. It’s rare to find a book from the eighteenth or nineteenth century that doesn’t show signs of foxing, and some modern books may also be foxed.
Tips to Prevent Foxing
The best way to prevent initial or further foxing on your rare books is to store them properly. Books should be kept in a cool, dry place. Libraries and museums maintain a relative humidity of 50%, which halts foxing altogether. At home, use the following techniques:
Store your books thoughtfully. Keep them in a room that has central air conditioning and heat.
Outfit your library with a humidity meter. Digital versions are reliable and affordable.
If you live in a relatively humid area, consider using a dehumidifier.
Always use acid-free paper if wrapping, packing, or mounting rare books and ephemera. Foxing changes the pH of the paper, and additional acid can cause further degradation.
Strategies to Remove Foxing
Removing the marks of foxing should generally be left to a skilled book conservator or preservationist. Experts may choose one of two approaches to reverse foxing:
Using a reducing agent, such as sodium borohydride, on the paper. These agents are mild enough that they don’t have to be rinsed from the paper after treatment, but they may not remove the marks completely.
Treating the paper with an oxidizing agent like sodium tetraborate. Slightly stronger than reducing agents, oxidizing agents must be washed out of the paper after treatment.
The strength of the agent used depends on the weight of the book’s paper, so the chemicals must be mixed and applied properly. You’ll find that most rare booksellers opt to leave foxing along and simply strive to prevent further damage.
It’s also important to look for signs that foxing has been removed with bleach, which will cause the paper to degrade more quickly over time. Bleach treatment may cause page wrinkling and ink bleeding.
Many collectors see foxing as a lovely, desirable part of a rare book’s patina. What’s your take?
Julian Sands’ one-man show recently closed in Edinburgh, and in September it will head on national tour. Directed by none other than John Malkovich, the play’s subject may surprise you: poet and playwright Harold Pinter.
Pinter asserted himself not only as an author, but also as an actor and political activist. The recipient of 18 honorary degrees, Pinter won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005. Horace Engdahl, Chairman of the Swedish Academy, described Pinter as an artist “who in his plays uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression’s closed rooms.”
Long before his literary career began in 1957 with The Room, Pinter had stood out as an exemplary student of English and literature—and as an actor. He played both Romeo and Macbeth in the late 1940’s. In 1950, his first poem was published outside of school magazines.
Despite favorable reviews Pinter’s second play, The Birthday Party, was performed only eight times. However he later adapted the play for the screen, as he later did with The Homecoming and Betrayal. It was not until 1960, with The Caretaker, that Pinter found commercial success.
Why Collectors Love Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter’s wide variety of literary interests affords collectors the same wide variety of collecting opportunities.
Pinter’s beautiful poetry lends itself well to fine press editions. The 2002 Enitharmon edition of The Disappeared and Other Poems features particularly lovely illustrations by Tony Bevan.
Pinter frequently teamed up with other directors and screenwriters. For example, he famously worked with both film director Joseph Losey and Proust scholar Barbara Bray to write The Proust Screenplay: À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu. These collaborations make Pinter’s work relevant to a diverse group of enthusiasts.
Pinter’s relationship with his second wife, Lady Antonia Fraser, inspired sweet, gentle poetry. The books he gave her also make for lovely association copies.
Karnac issued wonderful limited first editions of many of Pinter’s works. The red and black cloth editions feature gold embossed lettering
Last week Frida Kahlo’s copy of Edgar Allan Poe sold at auction for $24,000. Why was the rather tattered copy so valuable? Kahlo filled the book with artistic marginalia. The price of this book reflects the value of association copies, that is, books that are affiliated with a famous person or someone close to the author.
Frida Kahlo's doodles vastly increased the value of her copy of The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe.
So why all this fuss over association copies? Collectors value association copies for a variety of reasons. Association copies are more personal than signed or anonymously inscribed copies, providing a glimpse into the author or owner’s life and environment. They can also illustrate relationships between the author and the author’s family, friends, and colleagues. Here’s a look at some of the notable association copies from our collection:
Umberto Eco inscribed a limited edition of Filosofi In Libertà for his bibliographer, James Contursi. This is one of many different books Eco inscribed for Contursi.
Both Cornelia Funke and her translator Anthea Bell inscribed an advance reader’s edition of Inkspell for award-winning author Shar Levine.
Budd Schulberg inscribed a first edition of What Makes Sammy Run? “to two of his dearest friends in all this world,” Joaquin and Karin Godoy.
Thomas Harris inscribed first editions of both Black Sunday and Red Dragon for the mother of a childhood friend.
During my tenure at the Harry Ransom Humanities Center (HRHC), I encountered countless texts from all over the world. Despite the variety of printed texts, most books are built with relatively standard techniques. That’s why I was surprised to uncover an unusual technique when I restored a two-volume set of Speculum Naturale, by Vincent de Beauvaise.
Printed around 1481 and bound in approximately 1493, these two volumes came from an anonymous bindery, which has been designated K-118. Books are matched to the bindery based on the particular tools used. In this case, the structure of the books was just as unique as the tools used to make them.
A cutaway model illustrates the structure of a book with a K-118 binding
Even though the covers of the books were very deteriorated, the book’s binding remained relatively sound. The books opened all the way to the spine, from the first to the last pages. They were rounded, unbacked, and swell-less. The binding style struck me as an excellent choice for both conservation rebinding and restoration of original bindings.
In these books, the vellum spine lining was extended and flaps attached to the board to strengthen the board-to-text attachment. The flaps were cut into three tabs. The outer two attached to the outside of the board, but the middle one passed inside and attached to the inner board surface.
Meanwhile, the books had no shoulder or any of the usual page flexion you’d find with a traditional rounded and backed structure, or even with the minimally shouldered hard board structure.
So what does all this mean for a collector of rare books? You may want to consider a K-118 style binding, rather than a traditional binding structure under certain cicumstances. I built a few book models with K-118 bindings, and found them particularly advantageous for a few different kinds of books:
A volume, that due to large size and weight, puts undue stress on the text block and binding upon opening
Illuminated and decorated manuscripts (particularly on vellum/parchment)
Modern fine press books that require visualization of the entire spread of pages, down to the gutter edges.
Volumes with stiff or brittle pages, like those made of card stock
Older books that are frequently used, such as reference books
Books of photographs that, due to original intent, should remain in bound format
Even modern fine bindings can be done using the K-118 technique. To learn more about the structure, read the entire article from the HRHC or contact me at levybooks@gmail.com
Bruce Levy, owner of Levy Books, has been a book conservator since 1980. He joins us as a guest blogger every few months.
