Collecting John Steinbeck Books

Born February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California, John Steinbeck truly made a mark on America as a writer. He won the Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath (1939), a novel that captured the daily struggles and strife of the Great Depression. Steinbeck wrote novels, travelogues, short story collections, and non-fiction, and his exceptional contributions to literature earned him the 1962 Nobel Prize. Steinbeck and his work have long fascinated collectors.

     
Read more...


Philip Roth in Photos

Born in Newark, New Jersey on March 19, 1933, Philip Roth began publishing short stories in 1956. His first book, Goodbye, Columbus (1959) won the National Book Award, and since then he has published more than 22 books. In the 1990s, Roth won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Patrimony (1991), the PEN/Faulkner Award for Operation Shylock (1993), and the National Book Award for Sabbath's Theater (1995). American Pastoral (1997) and I Married a Communist (1998), the first two volumes of Roth's trilogy, received the Pulitzer Prize and many others.

     
Read more...


Of John Updike and Vladimir Nabokov

By Kristin Masters. Mar 18, 2013. 2:24 PM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, American Literature

Today we celebrate the birthday of John Updike, whose uncanny ability to write beauty into the mundane earned him numerous literary accolades and a position as one of America's legendary authors. Updike drew influence from a wide variety of authors, but it is perhaps Vladimir Nabokov who most profoundly impacted Updike's work. Though the two authors never met, they openly admired one another's work.

     
Read more...


Star Crossed in American Literature: Tom Wolfe and John Irving

By Kristin Masters. Mar 2, 2013. 12:53 PM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, American Literature

Today is the birthday of both John Irving and Tom Wolfe. These two legendary authors have made incredible contributions to American literature. They also launched one of the best known feuds of modern times. 

     
Read more...


Meet Vic Zoschak, Charles Dickens Expert

By Kristin Masters. Feb 7, 2013. 5:27 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Rare Books, Book Collecting

Today we celebrate the birthday of Charles Dickens, a beloved author whose works defined the Victorian era. It's the perfect time to introduce our colleague and friend, the inimitable Vic Zoschak. Vic is the proprietor of Tavistock Books in Alameda, CA.

     
Read more...


Q & A with Pieter Collier, JRR Tolkien Expert

Today is the birthday of legendary author JRR Tolkien. To celebrate the day, we sat down to talk with Pieter Collier, leading Tolkien collector and scholar. Since 2002, Collier has maintained The Tolkien Library, a website dedicated to all things JRR Tolkien. Collier has been fascinated with Tolkien since childhood, and he's built an incredibly impressive collection around the author.

     
Read more...


Who's Who: Rare Book Collecting Edition

So Thomas Jefferson, Johnny Depp, and Yoko Ono walk into a book fair...

Have a punchline? Suggest it in the "Comments" section below. But what do all these people have in common? They're all noted rare book collectors. That's right: this pastime isn't just for bookworms and librarians! Here's a look at some of the most famous collectors of rare books.      
Read more...


Collecting Authors' First Books

By Kristin Masters. Dec 13, 2012. 5:05 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Book Collecting, Literature

In the world of rare books, we talk frequently about firsts. Indeed, the novice collector very quickly learns the terms “first edition” and “first printing.” These descriptors often significantly increase the value of a book. But another important, and quite interesting, concept of firsts is that of authors' first works.Often exceedingly rare, an author's first work may cost much more than the later works that actually catapulted the author to greatness.
     
Read more...


Alfred Nobel's Gift to the World

On this day in 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament. The four-page document contained less than a page explaining the prize that would bear his name. A scientist, writer, and political activist, Nobel sought to encourage exceptional work in several fields: physics, medicine, chemistry, peace, and literature.

     
Read more...


Philip Pullman in Pictures

By Kristin Masters. Oct 19, 2012. 4:12 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Rare Books, Book Collecting

Today we celebrate the birthday of Philip Pullman, whose children's stories and fantasy novels have enchanted readers of all ages. Born on this day in 1946, Pullman has distinguished himself as one of Britain's leading modern authors and illustrator. What better way to commemorate the anniversary of his birth than with a look at his pictures?

     
Read more...


  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

About this blog

How can I identify a first edition? Where do I learn about caring for books? How should I start collecting? Hear from librarians about amazing collections, learn about historic bindings or printing techniques, get to know other collectors. Whether you are just starting or looking for expert advice, chances are, you'll find something of interest on blogis librorum.

Get blog notifications per email:

Download the James Bond Dossier

Recent Posts

Book Glossary
Get your free Guide to Book Care

Blog Archive

> see older posts
A Guide to Historic Libraries Part I