The Morgan Library & Museum is celebrating Dickens's upcoming 200th birthday with a wonderful exhibit entitled Dickens at 200. Drawing from their Dickens holdings, which are the largest in the United States, the exhibition is comprised of manuscripts of his novels and stories, letters, books, photographs, original illustrations, and caricatures. The exhibit was curated by Declan Kiely, the Robert H. Taylor Curator and Department Head of Literary and Historical Manuscripts at the Morgan, and focused on four distinctive areas of Dickens's life: literary, artistic, theatrical, and philanthropic. This was the most appealing aspect of the exhibit, in my eyes; it presented an extremely well- rounded portrayal of Charles Dickens the man, rather than confining its focus to Charles Dickens the writer. In this piece, I will mention just a few of features of the exhibit that I found of personal interest. I was previously unaware of Dickens's altruistic efforts alongside Angela Burdett Coutts, the wealthiest heiress in Victorian Britain. In 1847 they founded a home, Urania Cottage, as a shelter for destitute women who had fallen into prostitution or petty crime, and the letters on display show Dickens's devotion to and administrative involvement in this venture. He developed a mission for the house and laid out a detailed framework for daily operations, purchased dresses and linens for the residents, and conferred with personnel about residents' behavior and progress. All this, keep in m... [more 'Dickens at 200': A Brief Review]
The following items have been reported stolen: 1. Title : 'Hamborch' Authors : Hamburg Description : Handwritten map 312 x 403 mm, with ink and watercolour, drawn on paper. There are many details: ramparts, ditches, roads, rivers etc. Water stains, some tears (in the folding), all reinforced on the verso, browning. Hamburg is located on the southern point of the Jutland Peninsula in Germany. The city is located on the river Elbe at the confluence with the Alster and Bille. The ramparts of Hamburg were built as a city fortification between 1616 and 1625. 2. Title : "Bois de Soigne" Zoniënwoud Authors: Brussels and surroundings Date of publication : XVII-XVIII century Description: Map manuscript 445 x 550 mm, with pen, pencil and watercolor, drawn on paper. The planconsists of three parts glued together. The details are precise streams, access roads, forest areas, settlements, walls etc.. Margins slightly chipped, partial separation between two parties, some foxing. Map showing the walls of Brussels and Vilvoorde and many hamlets such asMelsbroek, Halle, Lembeek, Duisburg, Genval, Waterloo etc.. The upper right corner contains additional information added in pencil. 3. Title : Map of St Gillain Authors : Saint-Ghislain (Hainaut) Date of publication : ca. 1670 Description : Map manuscript 475 x 678 mm, with pen, pencil and watercolor drawing on paper, rim in brown ink. The map is captioned along the left margin. The details are precise walls, roads, rivers, water mill, powder m... [more 3 Maps Stolen from Antiquariaat Marc Van de Wiele]
The following item has been reported stolen: Title : In the Shadow of the Rose . Authors : Bukowski, Charles Date of publication : 1991 Publisher : Black Sparrow Press, Santa Barbara CA Description : First Edition. ISBN: 0876858590. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR ON COLOPHON, LIMITED EDITION, #630 OF 750 COPIES. Quarto, about 10.75 inches (27 cm) tall, in black cloth backed white paper covered boards decorated in black, red, gray and teal. Plain teal dustjacket. 33 poems on 85 pages. The book is clean, sound, unworn. The jacket has a half inch closed edge tear, but it is otherwise crisp and bright. Hardcover. Fine in Near Fine Dustjacket If you have any information regarding this book, please contact Don or Sue Gallagher at books@gcbooks.com or 303-756-5821 (US Toll Free 1-866-425-5225). [more Stolen: Signed, First Edition of 'In the Shadow of the Rose']
In the video below, ABAA member Dr. Sandra Hindman presents a brief overview of medieval manuscript illumination, focusing on their artistic value. [more Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts]
This book was still reported missing as of June 4, 2019. The following book was reported stolen: Surname: {DETMOLD Initial: E J} Title: THE ARABIAN NIGHTS Subtitle: Tales From The Thousand and One Nights Place Pub.: London Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Date Pub.: No date but 1924 Pages: 230 Size: 28 x 23 cms Binding: Original full vellum with a gold illustration and title to the spine and front cover Condition: The endpapers are foxed but otherwise this is a very good copy Illust: Contains 12 tipped in colour plates by Detmold Footnotes: This is number 22 in an edition of 100 copies signed by Detmold. If you have any information regarding this item, please contact Paul Feain of The Cornstalk Bookshop at books@cornstalk.com.au or 61 29 660 4889 [more Stolen: Detmold's Arabian Nights]
These items were still reported missing as of June 3, 2019. The following items have been reported stolen: 1. Title: Kim. Authors: Kipling. Rudyard. Publication date: 1901 Description: FIRST EDITION. 8vo.(7.8 x 5.2 inches). Ten full page mono plates by J. Lockwood Kipling. A Very good copy bound in early craft binding of full brown Niger morocco, raised bands, gilt. Initials AH on front board in gilt. Inner boards with gilt rule and Thistle corner pieces. All edges stained dark green. A very good copy in an early craft leather binding. Identifying characteristics: Initials AH on front board in gilt. Date of theft: late August/early September 2011. Location of theft: Liberty's department store. London. Circumstances of theft: Stolen from Liberty's summer exhibition. 2. Title: The novels. Authors: Austen Jane. Publication date: 1901-1909. Description: FIVE VOLUMES. ILLUSTRATED EDITIONS. 8vo. All reprints of editions originally published between 1895 and 1897. Pride and prejudice Illustrated with 40 full page mono plates by Charles E. Brock. The other 4 volumes each illustrated with 40 full page mono plates by Hugh Thomson. 200 fine line engravings by two of the best book illustrators of the day. Publishers salmon coloured cloth with elaborate decoration to front boards and spines in dark red. All spines and front boards with gilt lettering. All edges gilt. Some minor fading of the spines but overall a very good, bright set.: Date of theft: End of August, beginning of September ... [more Two Books Stolen in London]
Bon Appetit recently named the "7 Best Culinary Bookstores in America" and ABAA firms Rabelais (Portland, ME) and Amber Unicorn (Las Vegas, NV) made the list! (If you've browsed either shop's inventory, this is no surprise!) Congratulations! The 7 Best Culinary Bookstores in America [more Members in the News: Rabelais and Amber Unicorn]
UPDATE: These items were recovered. The following items were stolen during the BuchWien last weekend: Schindelmayer, C.R.: Taschen-Atlas in XXXXV Karten. Wien, Schraembl, 1807. With engraved title and 45 engraved and partly coloured maps. Oblong 8°. Half-calf (around 1900). Hofmannsthal, Hugo v.: Die Frau ohne Schatten. Berlin, Fischer 1920. With engraved title by Hans Meid. Original red calf with gilt edges. Number 160 (of 160) numbered copies, signed by the author. Franck, Sebastian: Sprichworter, Schöne, Weise Klugreden, Darinnen Teutscher und anderer Spraachen Höflichkeit Frankfurt, Egenolff, 1575. Small 8°. Contemporary full calf over wooden boards. If you are offered one of these items or have any information on their whereabouts, please contact Andreas MOSER at office@antiquariat-moser.at [more UPDATE: Three Items Stolen During the BuchWien Last Weekend]
The following items have been reported stolen: Title : THE F.B. NIGHTINGALE ARCHIVE PRIVATE STEREO PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHINA : 1920-1921 Authors : Frederick B. Nightingale (1885-195?) Date of publication : 1920-21 Publisher : Frederick B. Nightingale, China Description : OVERVIEW OF THE ARCHIVE These one hundred thirty one stereo photographs, all black and white and all 3 1/2” x 7”, were taken by F.B. Nightingale in 1920 and 1921 in China. He took photographs in Changan (2), Hangchow (45), Harmen (3), Ningpo (1), Palawoo (1), Pu-Tu (14), Shanghai (12), and Soochow (53). Thus he was probably based in Soochow. As far as we are aware these photographs were made for Mr. Nightingale`s private use-they were not published.He identified the subject, noted the location, and made lengthy comments in manuscript on the verso of every stereo photograph. He signed his manuscript comments with his initials (FBN) and dated them as to year. There is some internal evidence which suggests that Mr. Nightingale was an American. There is, however, a reference in the King's College Archives, Cambridge University, to an F.B. Nightingale who did a specifications document. Consequently Mr. Nightingale may be a British subject. Research on the names of the people named on the verso of some photographs may help to clarify his nationality. Further research is needed also to determine Mr. Nightingale`s background.The condition is fine unless otherwise noted, with images crisp and clear. Mr. Nightingale was... [more Stolen: Photo Archive and Two Original Images Transmitted by 'Radiovision']
The awards ceremony for the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest was held last month in the Library of Congress and included a special presentation by Mark Dimunation, in which he showed off some of the Library's treasures. As one would imagine, the excitement was palpable during Mark's presentation. Winners and attendees were also treated to a lecture by noted bibliophile and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Dirda. The talk was entitled The Thrill of the Hunt: The Serendipitous Pleasures of Book Collecting. You can view the awards ceremony and Michael's lecture, which begins at the 29 minute mark, in the video below. [more NCBCC Awards Ceremony]