May is a month for new beginnings, as countless graduates begin a new journey in life. This important milestone requires special recognition. The best graduation gifts are those that the graduate can appreciate for years to comeitems whose value increases over time and that the graduate can come to appreciate in new ways. Rare books often make ideal gifts for high-school and university graduates. A few tips for choosing exactly the right title:
Its that time of year when many of us begin to get that itch to get away. Summer is right around the corner, and with it the mystical promise of summer travel. If youre stuck at home this holiday season, or looking for a little inspiration for this years travels, you may find help from a seemingly unlikely source: Mark Twain. Thats right: this titan of American literature got his start as a travel writer.
One of the joys of collecting rare books is that you can focus your collection around just about any theme youd like: a specific author, a certain time period, or a favorite hobby. One popular way to build a collection is to focus on a single title. This approach can be a great way for novice collectors to begin, since they can choose a favorite title and work around that. Its also an excellent strategy for more experienced collectors who may want to add greater depth to their rare book collections.
Tomorrow is the birthday of Pulitzer Prize winning author Harper Lee. The reclusive author of To Kill a Mockingbird will be 86 years old. Though Lee published only one novel, this single book proved one of the seminal works of the twentieth centuryand one of the most controversial.
You may have noted quite a bit of chatter about the Bard this week, and with good reason. Shakespeare died on April 24, and his birthday is traditionally celebrated the same week. In Shakespeare's 52 years, he authored some 38 plays, over 150 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and many other shorter pieces. He is often lauded as the worlds preeminent writer in the English language.
Its about that time: Tax day has arrived, and US citizens owe the Internal Revenue Service an account of all their assets and income. What better day to explore how we assess the value of our rare books? If youve recently purchased a book, you may have a pretty firm grasp of what its worth. But several factors can impact your books value.
Today marks the 65th birthday of Tom Clancy! The author of countless action novels has inspired movies, video games, and even other writers. Best known for his tales of scientific thrillers, military science, and espionage, Clancy has gained significant recognition both in the US and abroad.
We're excited to take Books Tell You Why on the road this week! We're heading to the 52nd Annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair at the Park Avenue Armory, April 12 - 15. Stop by Booth #A-22 to peruse our offerings.
