William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, Los AngelesMichael Suarez, S.J., new Director of the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, presented the Fifth Annual Kenneth Karmiole Lecture on the History of the Book Trade at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 7th to an enraptured audience.One of the Reading Rooms at the Clark LibraryHis subject, Learned Book Illustrations, their Patrons, and the Vagaries of the Trade in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century England, might, in the wrong hands, have held the potential to desiccate cortexes. But Michael Suarez, a Jesuit priest who received his doctorate...
Ohio Library Uncovers "The Secret At Shadow Ranch"
KEENE, Carolyn [Mildred Wirt Benson]. The Secret At Shadow Ranch.NY: Grosset & Dunlap, 1931.The staff of the Toledo Lucas County Library is shedding some light on the shadowy side of super sleuth Nancy Drew. The library has purchased the painting created as cover art for the first edition of Carolyn Keene's The Secret At Shadow Ranch. Paintings used for the early Nancy Drew Mystery Stories book covers, by Russell H. Tandy, are exceedingly scarce. The vast majority of Tandy's original artwork was destroyed in a 1962 fire at his home.Tandy's painting will be added to the library's Robert L. and...
ABC’s of Book Collecting: Auctions
AUCTIONSSales of books by auction go back to the middle ages, although their enhancement by printed catalogues dates from the second half of the 17th century. Traditionally, auctioneers undertake to conduct the sale, charging consigners a percentage of the prices realised for their pains.In the 1980s British and American houses began to follow European practice by levying a premium (a percentage of the prices realised) from the purchaser, as well as the consigner. Auctions conducted on the internet, notably on eBay, have their own conventions and risks.The subject may conveniently be divided into four sections; (1) Catalogues, (2) Bidding, (3)...
Seattle Hotel Adds Books to Room Service
Photo: John Lok/Seattle TimesThe Sorrento Hotel is celebrating it's 100th birthday. This Seattle landmark opened its doors in 1909, just in time for the 4 million or so visitors who descended on Seattle for the storied Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Their first registered guest was President William Taft. In the early years the hotel also hosted numerous readings and literary events.As part of the anniversary festivities the hotel has created a series of events called "Night School at the Sorrento." One of the events is '12 Books.' Here's the deal:In partnership with Elliot Bay Book Company and University Book Store, the Sorrento...
World Record Price For 1477 Printing of Ptolemy’s Map of the World
A copy of the extremely scarce and considered unobtainable 1477 Bologna printing of Ptolemy’s world map fetched a record price of 210,000 Euros ($312,000) plus premium at Reiss & Sohn auctions in Konigstein, Germany last week.The map shows the whole hitherto known part of the world and is the first copperplate engraved map of the world. Its estimated price was 25,000 Euros.The map is from the 1477 first printed edition of the Ptolemy Geographia with maps (and the first printed book to employ copperplate engravings) and the rarest of the incunabula atlases. Only twenty-six copies from the original printing of...