Books Tell You Why. All About Collecting Rare Books

Katharina Koch

A Collector's Guide to The Night Before Christmas

By Katharina Koch. Dec 3, 2022. 9:25 AM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Christmas Books

With my favorite holiday approaching, there is no better way to get in the Christmas spirit than reading and collecting The Night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. This essential children’s book has long been one of my favorites. When I first began collecting, I knew I wanted to focus on something that I had cherished as a child; so naturally I chose The Night before Christmas books, among a few others. Still a classic to this day, The Night before Christmas encompasses the magic of Christmas that is treasured by children and so often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the season.

Legendary Illustrators: Charles van Sandwyk

By Katharina Koch. May 12, 2020. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Illustrators, Children's Books

Award-winning children's illustrator Charles van Sandwyk has developed a reputation for drawings and watercolors that look like they hark from ages—and places—past. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1966, van Sandwyk grew up surrounded by art. His father was a graphic designer, and their home was filled with a wealth of antique prints and paintings.

Childhood Classics: The Night Before Christmas

By Katharina Koch. Dec 24, 2018. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Children's Books, Christmas Books

It's Christmas Eve! As adults, sometimes we can lose sight of the joy, wonder, and magic of this season. But one book that has always encapsulated those emotions is The Night Before Christmas. This childhood classic has enraptured generations, so much so that some rare book collectors even focus all their efforts on this single title.

Happy Birthday, Larry McMurtry!

By Katharina Koch. Jun 3, 2016. 9:00 AM.

Topics: Pulitzer Prize, Literature, Movie Tie-Ins

June 3 is a great opportunity to celebrate Larry McMurtry and to tell a story about our visit to his hometown of Archer City late last year. Born on this day in 1936, McMurtry is the author of thirty-two novels and just as many screenplays, in addition to a handful of memoirs and essay collections. McMurtry is most known for his novel Lonesome Dove, which won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was adapted into a television series that won seven Emmy Awards. Many of his novels—including The Evening Star, The Last Picture Show, Texasville, Terms of Endearment, and Horseman, Pass By— were adapted into films that won a total of ten Academy Awards. Notably, McMurtry also co-wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain .

A Collector's Guide to The Night Before Christmas

By Katharina Koch. Dec 14, 2014. 10:05 AM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Christmas Books

How to use a rare book blog?

By Katharina Koch. Dec 6, 2013. 12:32 AM.

We've recently had a tremendous number of individuals, collectors, readers, librarians, and teachers subscribe to our blog.. Thanks so much! We appreciate your interest and your vote of confidence that we'll continue to deliver exceptional content. But what the heck does one do with a rare books blog, anyway? You'll find it's a terrific "jumping off point" into the world of rare and antiquarian books. To that end, here's some brief thoughts on getting the most out of the blog, along with our other online resources and communications.

The Reiner Script at Heavenly Monkey

By Katharina Koch. Mar 21, 2013. 4:30 PM.

Topics: Fine Press, Learn About Books

From the Blog of Heavenly Monkey in 2011. A new arrival in our store.

Heavenly Monkey? Heavenly Monkey is the imprint of publisher Rollin Milroy, dedicated to creating books for people interested in contemporary applications of traditional book crafts: handmade papers, letterpress printing, and bindings that emphasize both aesthetic and structural integrity.