Tomorrow, October 2nd, Adams Amsterdam will hold its rare books, print and art auction, which will feature live internet bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. Included in over the 800 rare books, manuscripts, maps, prints, paintings, photographs and other art pieces being offered is the original 1964 manuscript for Ik Jan Cremer. The manuscript is part of a portfolio that includes original cover designs, collages and cover art, and Cremer's own strategy of a publicity campaign for the book. It is expected to bring in between $275,000-$340,000. For more information on the complete catalogue and bidding, visit LiveAuctioneers.com. Orig. manuscript for classic '60s novel at Adams Amsterdam, Oct. 2 [more Adams Amsterdam's Rare Books, Print & Art Auction- Oct 2]
After undergoing extensive renovations, the McKim Building at the Morgan Library and Museum is set to reopen to the public on October 30th. Originally, the building was the private study and library of Pierpont Morgan, and was designed in the style of the High Renaissance. The $4.5 million renovation is truly a gift to the public, as it has greatly enhanced the exhibition space, allowing for more of the broad and remarkable permanent collection to be displayed. The Library, also known as the East Room, is now equipped with a state of the art lighting system, a newly installed 19th century Persian rug that is reminiscent of the rug that originally lay in the room, and newly designed display cases. The inlaid bookshelves that house Morgan's rare book collection have been fitted with non-reflective Plexiglas, allowing visitors a pristine view of the books. There are more than one hundred works that are exhibited on rotation in the Library, and the additional display cases will greatly increase the works on regular view. These works include: "a letter from fifteen-year-old Queen Elizabeth I purchased by Pierpont Morgan in 1900; the manuscript for Balzac's Eugenie Grandet (1833) with a torturous mass of revisions, corrections, and additions demonstrating the writer's complex creative process; illustrated notes by Alexander Calder regarding the installation of his "stabiles" from 1941; the Reims Gospel Book, the Morgan's finest Carolingian manuscript, written in gold at the Abbey o... [more Morgan Library and Museum to Reopen McKim Building]
The Phoenix New Times has named Charles Parkhurst Rare Books as the Best Collectible Bookstore of 2010. Congrats! [more Best of Phoenix 2010: Charles Parkhurst Rare Books]
Short post about Alexandre Joseph L’Héritier and his illuminated work; includes interesting photographs. Read here. [more "Before Blake there was L'Héritier"]
Apparently the Pentagon decided to commemorate Banned Books Week early, and last Monday burned 9,500 copies of Operation Dark Heart: Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistan by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer. The Pentagon spent $47,000 buying every copy of the first printing directly from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and then destroyed all the books because "they contained information which could cause damage to national security", according to Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. April Cunningham. The memoir details Lt. Col. Shaffer's time as leader of a black-ops unit in Afghanistan during the Bush administration. In the book, Shaffer is said to detail intelligence operations against the Taliban, and critique the Bush administration for it's lack of understanding of Afghan culture as well as "bureaucratic bungling." In a Defense Intelligence Agency memo from August 6, Lt. Gen. Robert Burgess claims that the DIA had been trying to get its hands on the manuscript for two months because the department determined that it contained classified information. It was at this point that the Pentagon contacted St. Martin's Press and made an agreement about the first and subsequent printings. A second printing of the book has been released and incorporates changes the government requested, including redacting information the Pentagon considered classified. Shaffer had submitted the book to the Army Reserve Command before it went to the press, and it was given the green light.... [more Pentagon 'Celebrates' Banned Books Week]
It's the 27th Annual Banned Books Week, and librarians, teachers and book lovers throughout the country are commemorating with various activities and protests against censorship. The ALA is one of several sponsors of the week, which the organization sees as an opportunity to "educate librarians and the general public about the importance of intellectual freedom," says Jim Rettig, ALA president. "Individuals must have the freedom to choose what materials are suitable for themselves and their families." According to the ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), "book banning is alive and well", with 460 complaints filed in 2009 attempting to have a book removed from a library or classroom. The majority of challenges to books, 71%, come from schools, with parents lodging 61% of these complaints. (A challenge is defined as "a formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.") The proliferation of the Young Adult genre in recent years may correlate to the large number of challenges, as these novels often tackle subject matter that some may deem 'inappropriate'. The traditional mode of protest during Banned Books Week is to read a banned book, and there are several creative variations scheduled to take place this year. Many bookstores, libraries and schools will have special displays dedicated to banned books, readings of those books, and some will host the authors of censored works. In Arizona, v... [more Banned Books Week]
A brief blog post about recent acquisitions by the Wolfsonian-FIU Rare Books and Special Collections Library, can be read here. Some interesting photos of WWII propaganda leaflets, especially in light of our recent NCBCC winning bibliography, submitted by Andrew Fink and entitled An Interdisciplinary Survey of 20th Century Propaganda. To read more about and see additional examples of Psychological Warfare, visit Retired Major Edward Rouse's website. Major Rouse had a 20 year career in the US Military as a specialist in Psychological Operations, and participated in the psychological campaign in the Gulf War. [more Wolfsonian-FIU Receives Donation of WWII Propaganda]
An interesting article that focuses on another hat author Graham Greene wore- that of an avid collector of rare books. Read the article here. [more Graham Greene, Book Collector]
Received from a shop owner in Phoenix: A man brought some books to sell in each of our stores last Thursday(Sept. 23, 2010). He then attempted to steal two of our books by putting them in his bag of books. At our other location he attempted to take an Andrew Loomis book by putting in a pile of his own books. His description is: Caucasian, 50-55 yrs old, 200+ lbs. Dark hair. Wearing a dark suit, somewhat disheveled. Dark colored Honda with Maryland tags FILLED WITH BOOKS. His focus was Photography. He claimed he was traveling across the country and had stopped at several bookstores along the way. He actually gave us several booksellers' names as references before he arrived at our store. This man attempted to steal books from both of our stores and was smooth at stealing and presented himself as a somewhat knowledgeable but aloof book person. He tried to steal amidst three employees and made his moves quickly after entering the store. He was allegedly heading toward SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA from Phoenix as of Friday, September 24. Those who have open shops and specialize in Photography should be especially aware. Please contact ABAA HQ for further details. [more Book Thief Headed Toward Southern California]
A rare copy of the United State's first census will be offered in Bonhams Rare Books and Fine Manuscripts Auction on October 4th. The census was conducted under the direction of Thomas Jefferson, who at the time was serving as Secretary of State under Washington, and was therefore also the nominal director of the census (a title held by the Secretary of State for the first five censuses). This particular copy is one of the few signed by Jefferson himself. It is annotated with numerous calculations, and believed to originally have been Gideon Granger's personal copy; Granger was Postmaster General during Jefferson's time in office (1801-1814). This rare copy's value is estimated between $80,000 and $120,000. The sale also includes historical photographs, maps, and atlases, among them a 1816 John Melish's Map of the United States with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions; a signed 1922 first edition, first printing of The Beautiful and Damned; an original 4-panel strip of Peanuts; and a single typed page report of a blood test taken by Gandhi ten days prior to his assassination (which indicated a high white blood cell count). The auction will be simulcast to New York. Rare 1790 Census Up For Auction History:Directors 1790-1810 [more 1790 Census Up For Auction]