I met Helen in 1998, while I was still an undergrad living in Washington, DC. I was dating her son and invited to New York to meet the family during a Passover seder, a holiday I had never observed. David warned me that his mother could be opinionated, was intelligent, and very well read. We immediately bonded over our mutual enjoyment of a made-for-TV movie starring Lynda Carter we had both just seen. This movie was so bad, we were probably its only two viewers. Through dayenus and certainly more than four questions, we became friends. Her vast knowledge of the realm of children's and illustrated books was enthralling. As an introverted child, I enjoyed visiting the used book stores around Maryland, but I had never been exposed to fine, collectible material. It wasn't until I began working for her a few years later that I fully grasped her position and knowledge in the trade. Helen's own entrée into the trade was by circumstance. She was born Helen Batkin in Brooklyn in 1949, and made the exodus to suburbia in a new development in New Rochelle a few years later. The last home in the development to be completed belonged to Paul and Gloria Younger. The Batkins and Youngers became friends. Helen graduated high school early and attended Washington University in St. Louis. After graduating, she backpacked throughout Europe and spent several months on a kibbutz in Israel. She once told me she became lost while walking through the groves of avocado trees. She was so scarred by the... [more In Memoriam: Helen Younger]
The 2018 New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is behind us, and the reviews have been very positive. Several magazines ran previews focusing on dealer's highlights in the weeks before the fair, and many carried enthusiastic reports after the fact. Here are a few highlights of the media coverage for the fair: The Paris Review focused on some "unexpected highlights" from the fair... (But, if they didn't expect to find rare books at the fair, just what were they expecting?) ABAA-member Jonathan A. Hill was interviewed by Bloomberg (audio)... Barron's (naturally) focused on the most-expensive item exhibited at the fair: "Rare Book By Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus Being Sold for $2M" Atlas Obscura covered the other end of the spectrum, interviewing ABAA-member Sunday Steinkirchner (B&B Rare Books) about appraising books during "Discovery Day": "How a Rare Book Appraiser Passes Judgment in 30 Seconds or Less" Hyperallergic: Culinary Delights and Other Fine Finds at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair New York was not the only place that rare books were in the news, on the West Coast, the recent California International Antiquarian Book Fair and the ILAB Congress have also been making headlines. ilab.org: "Looking back at the 43rd ILAB Congress" Fine Books & Collections: "Frankstein Fanfare at the CA Antiquarian Book Fair" Video: Antiquariat Botanicum at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair Not all the recent news of rare books was good, however, with news brea... [more Rare Book News]
These items are still missing as of 6/13/2019. A box of books went missing during load-out for the recent New York Antiquarian Book Fair. In addition to other material, the box contained: Sanders, Knave of Hearts Raoul Whitfield, Danger Zone Anonymous, Smiling Corpse Bronwell, Indian Raid 1861 If you have any information on the box or the items listed above please contact Jeff Bergman at (201) 647-1055 or Bookguy2@aol.com. [more Missing Box of Books from NY Book Fair]
This item is still missing as of 6/12/2019. Please contact us if you are offered the following item which is missing in transit to a Seattle-area customer: FORTY YEARS A FUR TRADER ON THE UPPER MISSOURI. The Personal Narrative of Charles Larpenteur 1833-1872. Edited, with many critical notes, by Elliott Coues. Two volume set. Limited edition. Larpenteur, Charles; Elliott Coues New York: Francis P. Harper, 1898. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo (8vo). Very good condition. Original blue cloth bindings with minor shelfwear and rubbing. Number 625 of 900 copies. About 15 pages of the first volume have minor staining to the edges. [more Missing in Transit to Seattle: Forty Years a Fur Trader on the Upper Missouri]
These items are still missing as of 6/13/2019. The family of Darlene Cates, who played the mother in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" had a bunch of her movie related material stolen from her by a care giver. This theft occurred more than two years ago. Please contact Adam Schachter at Langdon Manor Books for more information. 713-443-4697 [more Reported Stolen: Movie related material for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”]
Detectives from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, located in Pittsburgh PA, are currently investigating the theft of multiple rare books, folios, maps, plates, etc., which occurred over an extended period of time. Many of these items may have stamps or other markings reflecting ownership by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and would also not likely be marked for deaccession. A number of these items may have also been sold by or through Pittsburgh area booksellers. Detectives are requesting the assistance of ABAA and its members by posting for review the attached list of items identified through their criminal investigation as having been stolen. Should any ABAA member identify having purchased or otherwise having knowledge of the disposition or current location of any of the listed items, detectives request one of the following Allegheny County District Attorney's Office detectives be contacted: · Det. Fran Laquatra (412) 388-5305 flaquatra@alleghenycountyda.us · Det. Perann Tansmore (412) 388-5307 ptansmore@alleghenycountyda.us ` · Det. Lyle Graber (412) 388-5316 lgraber@alleghenycountyda.us Detectives do not have reason to believe that anyone who might have purchased any of these items was aware that these items had been reported stolen. Click here to view a PDF list of stolen items, reflecting descriptive information,. i.e., author, title and description. A smaller number of the listed items are portions of items, such as maps, plates or drawings, remo... [more Pittsburgh Area Thefts]
This item was sold using a presumably stolen cc number and likely will be attempted to be resold on the market. Please contact ABAA HQ if offered. ALISON, Archibald (1792-1867). The Principles of Population, and their Connection with Human Happiness. 2 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons: and Thomas Cadell, London, 1840. First edition. Original quarter cloth and boards, uncut, with paper spine labels; spines faded and damaged at heads, labels worn. Provenance: armorial bookplates of Robert Crewe-Milnes, Marquess of Crewe. Kress C.5068; Goldsmiths' Library 31439; Schumpeter, p. 584. 212.944.8291 hq@abaa.org [more Missing: Principles of Population]
Many ABAA members are exhibiting at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair (March 8-11, 2018) -- after all, it is the largest rare-book fair in the US! -- and are publishing catalogs of the fantastic items they will be bringing. We shall list these catalogs below as they are announced. (Please note, several members are publishing multiple catalogs and lists for the event!) Athena Rare Books Booth D-19 Boreas Fine Art Booth A-11 David Brass Rare Books Booth E-28 Bromer Booksellers Booth E-33 Buddenbrooks (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8) (Part 9) (Part 10) (Part 11) (Part 12) (Part 13) (Part 14) Booth C-20 James Cummins Booksellers Booth A-3 Eclectibles Booth B-8 Donald A. Heald Booth C-1 Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller (Western List) (Asian List) Booth B-15 Kaaterskill Books Booth D-6 The Lawbook Exchange (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) Booth B-12 Michael Laird Rare Books Booth C-30 Liber Antiquus Early Books & Manuscripts Booth E-7 Ken Lopez Bokseller Booth C-13 Jeffrey D. Mancevice, Inc. Booth E-22 Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books & Manuscripts Booth E-1 B & L Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts Booth D-13 Sanctuary Books Booth B-2 Abby Schoolman Books Booth A-32 Triolet Rare Books Booth D-31 [more 2018 New York Book Fair: Catalogs]
The New York Antiquarian Book Fair celebrates its 58th year in 2018. From March 8-11, 2018 book lovers will find a fascinating treasure trove at the Park Avenue Armory. Over 200 American and international dealers will exhibit at The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, bringing a vast selection of rare books, maps, manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts and ephemera. The diversity of specialties includes art, medicine, literature, photography, autographs, first editions, Americana, and much more. “The best book fair in the world.” – Andy Rooney This book fair is officially sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This means that the consumer can rely upon the experience and professionalism of participating dealers and the authenticity of the items available for purchase. Simply stated, all books, manuscripts and related material have been carefully examined for completeness and bibliographic accuracy. New York Antiquarian Book Fair When: Thursday, March 8 (5-9pm) — Preview Night! Friday, March 9 (noon-8pm) Saturday, March 10 (noon-7pm) Sunday, March 11 (noon-5pm) Events: Discovery Day, Sunday (1pm-3pm) Bring a treasure to be evaluated by our experts! Free with paid admission to the Fair. Tickets: Preview Pass (Good for the weekend) — $60 (includes one re-admission daily) Daily Admission: $25 Students: $10 (with valid ID) Run of Show: $45 (Student and Run of Show tickets onl... [more New York Antiquarian Book Fair 2018]
On February 8th, at the Book Fair Exhibitor Reception in Pasadena, the ABAA Women's Initiative sponsored the first in a series of tributes to women booksellers who have left a lasting impression on the American trade. Our first honoree was Carol Sandberg, an accomplished career bookseller whose contributions extend beyond the great businesses she helped to build. Carol started bookselling in 1974, when Ken Karmiole hired her fresh out of UCLA library school to join Ben and Lou Weinstein at Heritage Book Shop. In 1985, Carol went into partnership with Michael and Kathleen Thompson at Michael R. Thompson Rare Books, working for more than three decades to make that firm a mainstay of the trade in Los Angeles. At the Pasadena event, Carol's longtime friend and colleague John Windle toasted her as “one of the finest individuals our trade has ever employed,” and shared Chris Loker's tribute to Carol as “a quiet powerhouse in our trade, and a jewel in our crown . . . with the warmest heart and kindest way I know.” Carol's long-standing commitment to California Rare Book School and the Southern California Chapter, organizing events from small seminars to international book fairs, helped create a vibrant community of booksellers and collectors on the West Coast. To her junior colleagues, she has been a generous and inspiring role model. One of those booksellers, Chris Lowenstein, contributed the following memory, read at the reception by ABAA Executive Director Susan Benne: �... [more A Toast to Carol Sandberg]