Please click here to view a list of stolen books that was recently brought to our attention. If you have any information regarding any of these titles, please contact LaTonya C. Gibbs at lgibbs@chubb.com or (800) 252-4670 [more Stolen Collection]

In 1863, Union Army Captain William A. Treadwill of the 4th New York Regiment took a book of court records from a Virginia county courthouse and shipped it north to Boston, presumably to keep the book as a relic. The book made its way from Boston to Jersey City, where it remained in the Jersey City Free Public Library for the past 150 years. The book was recently unearthed while librarians were parsing through the library's holdings in order to prepare for an upcoming exhibit to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. It contains transcribed summaries of court records from 1749 to 1755. Carl Childs, the director of Local Record Services at the Library of Virginia, was thrilled to hear of the book's discovery. The vast majority of pre-Civil War records from the Stafford County Court were destroyed, so this book helps shed some light on that period. Some interesting entries in the book include: A judge's order that a man is paid 50 pounds of tobacco for serving as a witness for two days. A lawsuit of an unhappy widow who challenged the decision that she be awarded a dowry of just one-third of her late husband's estate. Details of a case in which someone being fined for cursing in church. The book was given to Childs, and back to Virginia, last week. It will be copied for the public, and then bound and restored to be kept in the Library of Virginia. Jersey City library returns spoils of Civil War, a 220-year-old book of court records, to Virginia county [more 220-year-old Book of Court Records Returned to Virginia]

I found a great post about Books of Hours on a French blog about medieval manuscripts, and it provided several videos on various Books of Hours. Below I have included a short informational video on the structure of a medieval manuscript, as well as the link to the blog. Enjoy! The Structure of a Medieval Manuscript Videos: Books of Hours [more Videos: Medieval Manuscripts and Books of Hours]

These items were still reported missing as of June 6, 2019. The following items were stolen: Title : Dramatic Dialogues for the Use of Young Persons. By the Author of the Blind Child Authors : Date of publication : 1792 Publisher : E. Newbery, London Description : Three engraved plates. First Edition. Two volumes bound in one. Small 8vo. . , 196 pp; f, 163pp. Contemporary binding by R. King of Hythe (with his printed yellow label) of tree calf, the covers with a thin gilt roll border. Smooth spine divided into six panels by a gilt pallet, lettered in the second panel on a red goatkskin label, the edges of the boards tooled with a blind roll, plain endleaves, lightly sprinkled edges. (A little worn). A few spots and a little light soiling, but a good copy. With the printed yellow label of R. King of Hythe and a recent bookplate of a sailing ship. Title : Toxophilus, the Schole, or Partitions, of Shooting. Contayned in II Bookes. Written by Roger Ascham. 1544. And now newlye perused. .... To which is Added, a Dedication and Preface, by the Reverend John Walters, M.A. Authors : ASCHAM (Roger) Date of publication : 1788 Publisher : reprinted by R. Marsh, Wrexham Description : Engraved frontispiece by Darling with contemporary hand-colouring, woodcut head and tail-pieces. 12mo. . xxi, (i), 230, pp. Newly bound in old style calf, the spine lettered on a green label, plain endleaves, uncut edges. A few trivial spots but a very good, uncut, copy. There are some neat ink annotations,... [more Additional Stolen Items from George Bayntun]

In anticipation of the 75th anniversary of the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Harper Collins has announced that it will be releasing 110 of Tolkien's original illustrations for the book, twenty of which are previously unpublished. The illustrations were compiled into a book entitled The Art of The Hobbit, which will be released on October 27. The drawings have been in Tolkien's archive at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, but were only recently 'discovered' by Harper Collins after the images were digitized. captionThe illustrations include line drawings in ink, watercolors and sketches, and contain "his conceptual sketches for the cover design, a couple of early versions of the maps and pages where he's experimenting with the runic forms, as well as a couple of manuscript pages", notes David Brawn, publisher of the new collection. Brawn hopes that The Art of The Hobbit coupled with the upcoming anniversary will allow the spotlight to shine on "the book which started it all", as well as give novel insight into Tolkien and The Hobbit, his first book. Of the The Art of The Hobbit, Brawn says, "It shows that Tolkien's creativity went beyond the writing, that it was a fully thought out conception. When he writes about the hobbit hole , he's designed it as well. And by doing that, it makes his description more vivid ... Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist. He was a great admirer of Arthur Rackham and you can see a little bit of that style coming through." Also sla... [more Original Tolkien Illustrations for 'The Hobbit' to be Released]

These items were still reported missing as of June 6, 2019. The following items were reported stolen: Title : The Genuine Book. An Inquiry, or, Delicate Investigation, into the Conduct of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales... Authors : Date of publication : 1813 Publisher : Longman, Hurst, Orme, and Brown, London Description : . iv, 100, 55 pp. Bound c.1900 by Zaehnsdorf in half burgundy goatskin, marbled paper sides. The spine divided into six panels with gilt compartments, lettered in the second and numbered at the foot, marbled endleaves, top edge gilt, the others untrimmed. (the paper sides a little rubbed). Title : Circe, Translated from the Italian of John Baptist Gelli, of the Academy of Florence Authors : LAYNG (Henry) Date of publication : 1744 Publisher : James Bettenham, London Description : Engraved frontispiece by Parr after Gravelot, engraved portrait and vignette at the head of the dedication. . xxii, , 256 pp. Bound in contemporary red goatskin, the covers with a gilt border composed of a dog-tooth roll, a roll of semi-circles and dots, together with a wave roll with birds and flowers. The spine divided into seven panels, lettered in the second on a dark green label, the others tooled in gilt, the edges of the boards and turn-ins tooled with a gilt roll, marbled endleaves, gilt edges. (Rebacked preserving original panels of the spine, corners strengthened, a few dark marks on the covers). Title : Common Chords Authors : SASSOON (Siegfried) Date of public... [more Three Items Stolen from George Bayntun]

This item was still reported missing as of June 3, 2019. The following item has been reported stolen: Title: Hispania Damiani a Goes Equitis Lusitani Authors: GOES (GÓIS), Damiao de Date of publication: 1542 Publisher: Rescius, Leuven Description: 30 leaves. First edition of a description of Spain and Portugal by Damião de Goes (1502-1574), an important figure in the Portuguese humanist movement, written to correct errors made by other writers, particularly Sebastian Münster. If you have any information about this book, please contact Julius W. Steiner / ASHER Rare Books, E-mail : jwsteiner@asherbooks.com, Phone : +31 620303886 [more Stolen: Hispania Damiani a Goes Equitis Lusitani]

It has just been announced that ABAA member Larry McMurtry of Booked Up in Archer City, TX will be stepping in as the "New Books" columnist for Harper's Magazine. He will be filling in for Zadie Smith, who is on temporary leave. Congrats, Larry, we can't wait to read the column! 'Lonesome Dove' author Larry McMurtry writing books column for Harper's Magazine [more Member in the News: Larry McMurtry]

Please click here to read an article about ABAA member John W. Freas of Tamerlane Books. Nice article, John! John Freas' library is his portrait [more Member in the News: John W. Freas of Tamerlane Books]

This book was still reported missing as of May 30, 2019. A copy of Mountain Interval by Robert Frost was stolen. The book was either a first or second edition. It had a dark blue cover and the gold gilt on the lettering had faded. The most distinguishable trait about it was that it had a bookplate on the inside front cover with a black and white silhouette of a woman and the words "Jessamine's Book" written beneath it. This book is a family heirloom and of great sentimental value to the original owner. If you have any information on this item, please contact Sarah King Bartell at (405) 650-0866 or s.fenner.king@gmail.com. [more Stolen: 'Mountain Interval' by Robert Frost]