From the ACRL Insider: "Complete backfiles of Rare Books & Manuscripts Librarianship (RBML), the predecessor of RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage, are now available on the publication Web site. ACRL received a grant from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation to assist in making volumes 1-12 of the publication discoverable and available online through the HighWire Press platform, completing the publication's online archive. The 24 back issues will join volumes 13 and 14 of RBML and the full run of RBM online. Access to all content, with the exception of the two most current issues, is freely available to all. Online access to the current two issues is available only to RBM subscribers." RBML Online Archives Now Available [more Rare Books & Manuscripts Librarianship (RBML) Online Archives Now Available]

The ABAA was delighted to have Professor Adrian Johns of the University of Chicago lecture at the 2011 California International Antiquarian Book Fair. His talk was entitled The Promise and Peril of Universal Libraries, and Professor Johns is kind enough to let us republish the text on our blog and website. Enjoy! ******************************* The Promise and Peril of Universal Libraries Adrian Johns University of Chicago Since it was originally announced some five years ago, the Google book project has provoked a rich variety of responses. The intensity of the debate is understandable, because the implications of the project are indeed as broad as they seem to be. This really is the rare enterprise that has implications for everyone who works in academia and, in all likelihood, everyone who does not. The future of knowledge itself is a... [more 'The Promise and Peril of Universal Libraries']

The following books have been reported missing from the Reston Regional Library in Reston, VA. RECOVERED: Nouveau Dictionnaire Allemand-Francois et Francois-Allemand a l'Usage des Deux Nations: Tome I: contenant l'Allemand Explique par le Francois: Nouvelle Edition, Corrigee et Augmente. Publ Chez Jean-Thomas Noble de Trattnern, Imprimeur et Libraire de la Cour / publ Vienne, Prague et Brunn / publ in 1790 / volume 1 only (German explained in French, while volume 2 is French explained in German) / hardcover bound entirely in brown leather / hubbed spine with gilt decoration shows wear from age and from frequent use, paste-on title in place / binding tight / pencil markings of owner(s), names not legible / frontispiece / Jean-Thomas Trattner or Johann Thomas von Trattner was a famous 18th century printer, bookseller and publisher of court ... [more UPDATED: Missing Books from the Reston Regional Library]

The Raab Collection is currently offering a three page letter penned by William H. Herndon, one of Abraham Lincoln's closest friends, that offers unique insight into Lincoln's religious beliefs. Historians have had little substantiation on this topic since Lincoln refused to discuss religion and did not belong to a church. In his 1866 letter, which was written to the current clerk of the House of Representatives, Edward McPherson, Herndon writes that "Mr. Lincoln's religion is too well known to me to allow of even a shadow of a doubt; he is or was a Theist - a Rationalist, denying all extraordinary -– supernatural inspiration or revelation". Please click here to read the full article on CNN. Congratulations to The Raab Collection on acquiring such an important historical documnet! Letter from close friend offers rare glimpse into Presid... [more Member in the News: The Raab Collection]

Today the book world lost a giant: Peter B. Howard of Serendipity Books in Berkeley, CA has passed away. Peter was interviewed in February at the San Francisco Fair. You can view the interview in its entirety here. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family. [more Sad News: Peter B. Howard]

Read this excellent piece about ABAA member Elmar W. Seibel and his firm, Ars Libri. Congratulations, Elmar! Turning the Page [more Member in the News: Ars Libri]

Here is a prospectus to Jeff Weber's latest book, An Annotated Dictionary of Fore-edge Painting Artists & Binders (Mostly English & American). Part II: The Fore-edge Paintings of Miss C. B. Currie; with a Catalogue Raisonné, which was previously posted about in this blog. [more Prospectus for Jeff Weber's Latest Book on Fore-edge Painting]

On Tuesday, a New York federal judge rejected Google's settlement with authors and publishers to digitize books and make them freely available. Judge David Chin said that the agreement would have "granted Google a 'de facto monopoly' and the right to profit from books without the permission of copyright owners". Legally, it seems the largest factor for rejection of the settlement is its inclusion of orphan works, which are books whose rights holders are unknown. Judge Chin implied that if the settlement was amended and limited only to books that authors or publishers opted in, then the majority of legal obstacles would be removed. Google argues that leaving orphan works out of the agreement would significantly diminish the value of their digital library, both to the company and the public. Pamela Samuelson, a copyright expert at UC Berkel... [more NY Times: "Judge Rejects Google's Deal to Digitize Books"]

From Michaan's Auctions in Alameda, CA: During our March 6-8 annex preview, a copy of  "Atlas de l"Histoire des Voyages", published in Paris c.1788 with 71 maps engraved by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin was stolen from our preview.  The leather bound edition was fully intact with the exception of the missing title page. If you have any information on or are offered this book, please contact Chris Gallo at chris@michaans.com, or ABAA Headquarters at hq@abaa.org. [more Missing from Bay Area: "Atlas de l'Histoire des Voyages"]

An article in last weeks NY Times speaks with Irvin Ungar about his most recent Szyk projects (which were previously mentioned).  Click here to read the Times article. Congratulations Irvin! Arthur Szyks Haggadah and Singapores Sunken Arab Treasure [more Member in the News: Irvin Ungar]