J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians LLC, established in 1977 and long-time members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, the Professional Autograph Dealers' Association, the Music Library Association, the American Musicological Society, &c., are internationally recognized dealers in rare printed and manuscript music, rare books on music, autograph letters of composers, and music-related iconography, 15th - 21st centuries. We pay special attention to the particular collecting interests of our clientele and over the last 46 years have helped to develop some of the most important antiquarian music collections, both institutional and private, in the U.S. and abroad. We aim to provide accurate and informed descriptions of material offered to best enable our customers to make the wisest decisions regarding their acquisitions. We ... [more J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians LLC Seeks Cataloguer]
Blog posts by Susan Benne
Susan is the Executive Director of the ABAA. She collects material on Brooklyn as well as ephemera and vernacular photography. Susan is focused on making the book trade diverse and equitable.
Job Posting: Donald A. Heald Rare Books is Hiring a Rare Book and Manuscript Cataloguer
By Susan BenneRare Book and Manuscript Cataloguer In our fifty years in business, Donald Heald Rare Books has established itself as one of the leading authorities on fine antiquarian books, manuscripts, prints, drawings and maps. From Donald Heald Rare Books' beginnings in London in the early 1970s, to our present location on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, we have honed our specialized knowledge of Americana and Canadiana, voyages and travels, illustrated books, prints, maps and atlases. We have also been fortunate to have contributed to some of the most important public collections worldwide and built some of the finest private collections. Our inventory is unrivalled in content and quality, our client service is of the very highest standard, and our genuine enthusiasm for our remarkable material is unmatched. Rare Book and Manuscript Cataloguer re... [more Job Posting: Donald A. Heald Rare Books is Hiring a Rare Book and Manuscript Cataloguer]
UPDATE: The items below have been recovered. ________________ The following has been reported missing in transit from New York City to San Diego, CA, shipped via UPS: John Gould's Birds of Europe Three Volumes (of Five) green leather bindings with gold tooling (see attached images) Please contact the firm directly if you know the whereabouts of this material: Harry S. Newman The Old Print Shop, Inc. 49 West 24th St., 2nd Floor New York, NY 10010 (212) 683-3950. Ext 109 hnewman@oldprintshop.net [more UPDATE: Missing in Transit: John Gould’s Birds of Europe]
The following has been reported missing, possibly stolen from Amatoria Fine Art Books in Sacramento: LOT OF THREE BOOKS, published by D. Appleton, 1896, two-volume Origin of the Species, one-vol Descent of Man. Quarterbound in oxblood, red, blue and yellow marbled boards. Very Good condition overall. 8" x 5 1/2" half leather over marbled paper over boards, gilt lettering to spines and TEG, darkened spines, some shelf wear to edges, rubbed tips exposing boards, The Origin of Species Vol I and II have chips to top of spine exposing the headband affecting 1" of spine lettering on Vol II, rubbing to hinges of Origin of Species Vol I. Descent of Man has chips to top of spine not affecting lettering. Ink stain to bottom edge of some pages in Descent of Man, ink stain to bottom margin on pages 30-31 and 52, not affecting text. Previous owner boo... [more Missing in Sacramento, CA: Three-Volume set of Darwin’s Works]
Associate Bookseller Position Based in the historic Union Building in Old Pasadena, Whitmore Rare Books has been serving a range of collectors for over a decade, placing rare book and manuscript materials at some of the most influential private collections and institutional libraries around the globe. In 2023, our shop seeks to recruit an Associate Bookseller to assist us in expanding our operations. This is a full-time salaried position based in our Pasadena shop that includes a set in-shop schedule with potential travel to and from book fairs. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes health insurance and paid time off (range $65,000 - $85,000). Interested parties should email a resume and cover letter to info@whitmorerarebooks.com. What the position entails: Research and Writing: • Cataloguing o Assisting with backlog and o... [more Associate Bookseller Position at Whitmore Rare Books in Pasadena, CA]
An ABAA Member reports the following item as lost in transit (FedEx) from Chevy Chase, MD to Chicago. The buyer received an empty box upon delivery. Bressani, Francesco Giuseppe (1612-1672) Breve Relatione d'Alcune Missioni de' PP. della Compagnia di Giesù nella Nuova Francia. Macerata: Heirs of Agostino Grisei, 1653. Quarto: 21.5 x 15.5 cm. , 8 pp., 9-10 ll., 11-127, pp. Collation: π2 A4 B4 (±B1.2) C-Q4 FIRST EDITION. Bound in 17th c. limp sheepskin parchment. With a large woodcut Jesuit device on the title page, woodcut initial, and a factotum built up from fleurons. There is a neatly written contemporary inscription of a Roman Jesuit library on the title page; some leaves foxed or lightly browned; there is a minor ink stain on two leaves. In all, a nice, genuine copy with generous margins. A full description of the item can be found... [more Missing in Transit to Chicago]
UPDATE: Melville Recovered; Missing in Transit from Philadelphia: Father Hidalgo & Lettsom
By Susan BenneUPDATE: The following item has been recovered. The two below are still missing after being placed in a UPS deposit box at The Arsenal in Philadelphia. The First American Edition Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick: or the whale. New York, Harper & Brothers/ London, Richard Bentley, 1851. 8vo (19.3 cm). xxiii, , 654, pp., ff. BAL 13664; Wright, II, 1701; Tanselle 2; Grolier, American, 60. Publisher's purple/brown cloth with company's device stamped in center both covers; orange endpapers; ads at rear. Foxing, top of spine pulled; board edges show wear; spine sunned. In a quarter green Morocco open-back slipcase with a chemise. Spine of slipcase sunned as are part of the sides. The following significant items went missing after being placed in a UPS deposit box at The Arsenal in Philadelphia. The Inquisition & Father Hidalgo's "Manifiesto" Mexico. ... [more UPDATE: Melville Recovered; Missing in Transit from Philadelphia: Father Hidalgo & Lettsom]
The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) is pleased to announce that Susan Jaffe Tane will fund the prizes for the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest. The prize is now known as The Susan Tane Prize for Student Book Collectors. Established in 2005 by Fine Books & Collections Magazine, the ABAA, along with the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), the Grolier Club, and the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress jointly assumed leadership of the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest in 2010. The program aims to recognize outstanding book collecting efforts by college and university students, and to encourage young collectors to become accomplished bibliophiles. Ms. Tane has been listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American... [more Susan Tane Funds National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest Prize]
On the 100th anniversary of her birth, an exhibition, entitled GET HAPPY! celebrates the life and artistic contribution of actress, singer and cultural icon Judy Garland. Garland's expansive career hit nearly every popular genre of entertainment during her lifetime, including Vaudeville, blockbuster Hollywood films, sold-out concerts, best-selling records and a television variety show in her name. After 50 plus years since her passing, Garland continues to capture new fans and remains one of the most beloved cultural icons of all time. The exhibit will be situated on the 3rd Floor in the President's Tea Room. Most of the costumes and memorabilia have never been seen by the public, and they include highlights spanning from her most beloved role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, to what many historians consider her pinnacle performance in A S... [more Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles Hosts Judy Garland Exhibit in June]
Book Fairs are back! After two years without an in-person fair, the ABAA has been able to safely hold two so far this year with Boston coming up this fall. California and New York by all accounts were a success for exhibitors and customers alike, with New York particularly robust for sales and visitors, and exuberant crowds and attendance at record levels. At the height of the pandemic, some feared that Virtual Book Fairs would overtake in-person fairs in popularity. VBF's have been complementary, especially for those sellers and customers who are unable to travel, but are not replacements for in-person fairs as is apparent in these photos from the two events. Profile photo: Sunday Steinkirchner at the New York Book Fair, photo by Meredith Nierman. NCC Book Fair Committee triumphantly opens the Oakland Book Fair! L to R: Alexander Akin, J... [more Notes from the Field: Book Fairs are Back]