Literacy

Outlined in ink and filled with a deep crimson oil paint, the words “PAST STUFF” have been hand-painted on the front cover of the third volume of Ed Ruscha’s Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings by Ruscha. Underscoring this work’s unique quality, traces of the brushstroke are visible in the paint, and the hand-painted letters have wavering borders. A red censor-like block has also been painted over Ruscha’s name on the text’s spine. The goal of…

Adolf Hitler’s Personal Copy of Mein Kampf is up for auction October 27, 2014 – Posted in: Bookselling / Collecting, Content

Mein Kampf (My Struggle) is the autobiographical manifesto of King Nazi, Adolf Hitler. It is where he outlined his political ideology and future plans for Germany. It was written following the failed Munich Putsch in November 1923 and first published in July 1925. The book offered here is a later edition published in 1932. “It’s believed to be the only author-owned copy of the book known to exist” and if this auction is to be believed it is the biblio…

A Natural Selection July 17, 2012

This complete set of 108 British natural history books sold recently at Bonhams for over $8200. The New Naturalist, containing topics relevant to the British Isles, is arguably one of the most influential natural history series ever published and has been in continual publication by Collins since 1945. It was first published just after WWII ended and signaled a renewal for the beleaguered Brits at that time. In the editors’ words, it was intended to “recapture the inquiring spirit of the old naturalists” and to…

The Last Bookstore Show? Larry McMurtry downsizes April 25, 2012

Booked Up, the famed book city created by Larry McMurtry, is about to significantly decrease its footprint in Archer City, Texas. In August a public auction will be held on site to release 350,000 books into the wild. The announcement, which was posted on Booked Up’s website, makes it clear that this is less a negative event then an opportunity for many of the books McMurtry has acquired through his long bookselling career to…

An actor clears his bookshelves: The Michael Lerner Collection at Bonhams April 10, 2012

Michael Lerner as Jack Lipnick in Barton Fink He is best known for his Academy Award® Nominated performance as Jack Lipnick, the Louis B. Mayer infused character in the Coen Brothers film Barton Fink. But Michael Lerner has been entertaining us on stage and screen since the late 1960’s. He has made guest appearances on classic television shows like the Brady Brunch, The Odd Couple and M*A*S*H and has also appeared as a guest star…