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Today is Friday the 13th, a day long help to be inauspicious. The superstition began with a fear of the number 13 and is ages old; even the ancient Babylonian Code of Hammurabi (1700 BC) omits 13 in its list of numbered laws.However, we can thank a book for the association with Friday.
Happy Independence Day! In the United States, today marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The event precipitated the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Here's a look at some little-known facts about America's founding fathers:
We rare book collectors have all seen it: a dealer, librarian, or other expert dons a spotless pair of white gloves before laying a single finger on some priceless volume. The practice is especially common in special collections libraries, where white gloves are considered an integral part of protecting antiquarian books. Should collectors follow suit and use the gloves for handling antiquarian books in their personal libraries?
If youve found rare books in unlikely places, such as garage sales or in long forgotten boxes, youve probably also encountered books that are in less than pristine condition. These books may be valuableand downright dirty. But should you clean these rare books, or leave the dirt as part of the books patina?
Many of our favorite legendary authors built their reputation around writing serious literature for adults. But that doesnt mean that these authors dont have a more playful sideyoud be surprised at which of your favorite authors have also written books for children.
Today is the birthday of Salman Rushdie, the controversial author whose works explore the connectionsand dissonancesbetween East and West. Rushdies novels, essays, and other works have set him apart as one of the greatest authors of our time.
If youve built your rare book collection tightly around one author, or if you enjoy seeing the evolution of your favorite titles, you may be interested in collecting pre-first editions. These include advance reading copies (ARCs), galleys, and uncorrected proofs, items that certainly bring new interest and dimension to your rare book collection.
Bellow was the only to win the National Book Award three times, and one of few to win the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize for Literature, and the National Medal of Arts. A quick look at some of Bellows best known works:
