ABAA Member Jeff Weber has recently published a new book on the artists and binders of fore-edge paintings.  This reference work is entitled, 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 and has been 27 years in the making.  In the authors own words: This book, for example, will correct a lot of misinformation, it seeks to define the role of each binder or artist individually, so that you cannot mix up the contributions of one or another painter/binder.  There is a lot of specificity to allow the reader to identify their own fore-edge paintings, if possible.  There is a good deal of time given to learning about how to find the history of a fore-edge.  I am very interested in, for example, the 19th cent... [more Jeff Weber's New Book on Artists and Binders of Fore-Edge Paintings]

UPDATE: This item was recovered. Llamosas, José de las; & Martín Tovar Point. Broadside, begins: "Manifiesto. La Provincia de Venezuela ha logrado por el ardiente patriotismo de los vecinos de la Capital la dignidad politica que debia tener entre los Pueblos cultos de la America ... ". Caracas: En la imprenta de Gallagher y Lamb, 1810. Folio (43.4 cm; 17"). 1 p. It is the announcement of the overthrow of the Spanish government in Venezuela and one of the first things printed there. Please contact David Szewczyk @ Philadelphia Rare Books if offered. David Szewczyk & Cynthia Davis Buffington, Proprietors * 215.744.6734 (tel) & 215.744.6137 (fax) * Email rarebks@prbm.com [more UPDATED: Missing Announcement of the overthrow of the Spanish government in Venezuela]

UPDATE: The item has been located by the dealer. The following book was packed and inadvertently left at the San Francisco Fair: Bible in Spanish. Pentateuch. Los Cinco Libros de la ley divina. Amsterdam, 1718. Bound in two volumes, small 8vo, each in crimson lea w/new ep. If you have any information regarding this book, please contact Jim Presgraves, (276) 686-5813 or bookworm@naxs.com. [more UPDATED: Missing Book from SF Fair]

On Monday, March 7th at the Salmagundi Club in Manhattan, James Cummins will be giving a lecture entitled, “Points of Issue: Appraising Rare Editions of 19th Century Literature”. This lecture is part of the Freeman's Lecture Series, and the Appraisers Association of America has graciously offered ABAA members free admission to the event. More details are below. Please attend if you are able and support a fellow ABAA member! Freeman's & the Appraisers Association of America cordially invite you to a presentation of “Points of Issue: Appraising Rare Editions of 19th Century Literature” Presented by James Cummins James Cummins Bookseller, New York Monday, March 7, 2011 6:00pm, Reception to follow at 7:00pm Lecture will be held at the Salmagundi Club 47 Fifth Avenue at 12th Street, NYC Free for AAA/ISA/ASA/RICS/ABAA/Salmagundi Members... [more James Cummins Lecture]

Last weekend at the 44th California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco, the ABAA held a raffle in support of the Elisabeth Woodburn Fund. For those who are unfamiliar, the Elisabeth Woodburn Fund is non-profit charitable fund established by former ABAA President Elisabeth Woodburn in 1990. It is overseen by the Trustees of the Benevolent Fund and the Executive Director of the ABAA, and gives financial assistance for scholarly research and education relevant to the antiquarian book trade, such as scholarships to the Colorado Antiquarian Bookselling Seminar and the California Rare Book School, contributions to the ILAB Bibliographical Prize, and support of the Bibliographical Society of American and the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia. The Elisabeth Woodburn Fund also houses the National Collegiate Book Coll... [more San Francisco Raffle Photos]

Eight years ago, Paul Ryall and Ed Smith made this documentary for the ABAA. It was shot at the 36th Annual California International Book Fair held in San Francisco. Here is the link. Enjoy! [more 'Bibliomania' Now on YouTube In Its Entirety]

Strayed away from Booth 614-- I am missing a signed photograph of Ruth St. Denis which I had in my glass case, as part of a collection. The photograph is approx 11 x 14-- a studio portrait of the dancer, inscribed by her to "Lady Stern" and dated, 1924. It may have been mistakenly picked up with some other papers when someone was looking at said collection atop the case. If you have any information regarding this item, please contact Marc Selvaggio at (510) 548-8009 or dsbooks@comcast.net. [more Missing Photograph from SF Fair]

A book was purchased at the Pier show in NYC this past January (22nd-23rd), and was subsequently lost. Leather spine marked "Winchendon, Central Stations" (or possibly Winchenden) Likely a unique copy, with typewritten pages of a course taught by Winchendon at MIT in the 1890-1910 time frame about power stations and engineering approaches.  Would appreciate leads from anyone who might see it in the marketplace. If you have any information regarding this book, please contact John Kuenzig, (978-887-4053) or orders@kuenzigbooks.com [more Book Lost at the NYC Pier Show in January]

ABAA members James Bryan and Mary Hill, proprietors of Carpe Diem Fine Books, were featured in an article in the Monterey County Herald this past weekend. The link to the article appears to be broken, so I have posted it below. Congrats, James and Mary! ******************************************** First editions seize the day at downtown bookstore By DAVE DE GIVE Special to The Herald Posted: 02/06/2011 01:38:57 AM PST; Updated: 02/06/2011 01:38:57 AM PST Sixteen years ago, James Bryant and Mary Hill were living in Utah when they had the idea for selling books. Hill, previously from Monterey, followed a job that had moved to Utah, but Bryant, who was in the wine business, found that sales were slow in Salt Lake City. Eager for something new, "we took the opportunity to seize the day and start a book business," said Bryant. The couple even... [more Members in the News: Carpe Diem Fine Books]

The 44th California International Antiquarian Book Fair will be held this weekend, February 11th-13th, in San Francisco at the Concourse Exhibition Center. Over 200 members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) will be exhibiting their diverse inventories, providing a rich selection of books, manuscripts, maps and other printed materials. The theme of this year's fair is music, and there will be a special exhibit of rare musical books and manuscripts from the Jean Gray Hargrove Music Library of the University of California at Berkeley. Additionally, there will be several lecture and seminars taking place during the fair; a schedule of events can be found here. If you are attending the fair, please drop by the ABAA booth! The 44th California Internationa... [more This Weekend: 44th California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco]