The ABAA is accepting entries for the 2019 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest, once again supported by the Jay I. Kislak Foundation, the generous underwriter of prizes for this contest. The National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest is open to all prizewinners of college book-collecting contests, whether or not first prize, as well as to interested students whose institutions do not offer formal contests. (More information can be found here.) All entries should be submitted at apply.abaa.org. All entries for the 2019 competition must be submitted by June 13, 2019. For more information on the contest, please visit contest.abaa.org. The National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest is jointly administered by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), the Grolier Club, and the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division (the Library of Congress), with major and exclusive support for the Kislak Prize from the Jay I. Kislak Foundation. Meet the 2018 NCBCC winners... Don't miss any articles on The New Antiquarian blog! Subscribe to the ABAA email newsletter! * indicates required Email Address * Email Format html text #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:420px;} /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HE... [more National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest 2019]

OSLER, William. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS). Oxford, 28 December 1918. A brief but fine single-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED as "Wm. Osler" written about a year before his death and addressed to a frequent correspondent, a Miss Proctor. In part: "I hope you are keeping well. It is many years now since your old trouble. What an encouragement your case has been!" Single center fold, tiny edge nick, Near Fine. Osler created the first residency program for specialty training of physicians, and he was the first to bring medical students out of the lecture hall for bedside clinical training. He has frequently been described as the "Father of Modern Medicine." Osler's greatest influence on medicine was to insist that students learn from seeing and talking to patients and the establishment of the medical residency. The latter idea spread across the English-speaking world and remains in place today in most teaching hospitals. (#018641) If offered, please contact bookseller Charles Agvent: chagvent@ptd.net or 484.575.8825 [more Missing: ALS William Osler Letter]

The 59th annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair takes places at the Park Avenue Armory, Marcy 7-10, 2019. Over 200 American and International dealers will be exhibiting. Below we present a preview of the fabulous books and related material our members will be bringing to the show. Special Collection Revolving Around Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are" A collection including a fine 1st edition of "Where The Wild Things Are" -- inscribed by Maurice Sendak to Suzanne Glazer, formerly of Random House. Along with Sendak's book is a collection of original art, poems and letters to Suzanne Glazer by authors, illustrators and co-workers in response to Random House firing her. Offered by Enchanted Books, booth E11. Nineteenth Century Louis Vuitton Trade Card Paris: A. Alexandre , . Color lithograph printed on thin card in the shape of a travelling trunk, 3.5" x 5" (irregular) approx. Verso printed in black on white, repeating the address information in English for Louis Vuitton's Paris and London stores which are given in French on front. Recto with a bit of surface rubbing and some very faint crease lines; verso with scattered adhesions and very minor surface loss (likely from removal from album), unobtrusive. Overall, very good or better. Very good. The birth of an iconic brand. Founded in 1854, Louis Vuitton was a trailblazer from the start, designing his trianon canvas trunks to be not only lightweight and waterproof, but stackable. These innovations, however, led - ... [more NY Book Fair Preview]

In memory of long-time member George Robert Kane (Oct. 6, 1913–Nov. 28, 2009), the Northern California Chapter of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America announces the availability of an Educational Scholarship. In the interest of promoting professionalism and education relevant to the antiquarian book trade, persons currently working in or actively pursuing a career in the book trade are especially encouraged to apply. The Scholarship will pay tuition cost (to $1,500) for participation in a course of study offered by the following programs in the Summer/Fall of 2019: California Rare Book School (Los Angeles); Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar (Colorado Springs); Rare Book School (Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as several other locations). To apply for the NCC/ABAA Educational Scholarship, please provide the following: 1) A completed copy of the application form. 2) A personal statement or essay (no longer than two pages) in which you describe your past or current experience in the world of rare books, your goals for the future, and what you hope to gain from the studies afforded by this scholarship. 3) Letter of support written by a professional bookseller or rare book librarian. Please email the NCC Secretary, Alexander Akin, to obtain an application: akin.alex@gmail.com. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2019. The NCC/ABAA will notify scholarship applicants of its award decision via email by May 10, 2019. Each application must... [more 2019 George Robert Kane Memorial Scholarship]

Please contact Heather O'Donnell at Honey & Wax Booksellers if offered: 917-974-2420; heather@honeyandwaxbooks.com. Chaucer, Geoffrey; Saunders, John (editor); (artist); . Chaucer's Canterbury Tales; WITH: sixteen original painted miniatures after figures in the book. London: J.M. Dent & Co., 1894. Octavo, measuring 7 x 4.75 inches: xiv, , 487, ; 15 postcards measuring 5.5 x 3.5 each and an additional sheet of thick paper cut to the same size (16 total). Book: original full green cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Wood-engraved frontispiece and 22 full-page wood engravings of Chaucer's pilgrims, most graphed or annotated in pencil by Sandys, many hand-colored; woodcut headpieces and initials throughout text. Pencil notations regarding Chaucer manuscripts on front free endpaper; ink presentation inscription by the editor's son to Walter Crane, father-in-law of Winifred Sandys. Some rolling to spine, front hinge split, minor spotting to boards. Cards: original miniature paintings of Chaucer and his pilgrims on rectos; printed postcard instructions on versos of all items but one. Chaucer portrait labeled by the artist in black ink, Miller and Monk portraits labeled by the artist in pencil. Walter Crane's copy of The Canterbury Tales, inscribed to him by the son of the late editor, with annotations and hand-coloring by Crane's daughter-in-law, the miniaturist Winifred Sandys, accompanied by sixteen of her original miniatures in imitation of the Harleian and Ellesmere manuscripts of t... [more Missing in Transit from Brooklyn, NY to MD: Walter Crane’s copy of The Canterbury Tales]

Many people now collect J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. In fact, the major book collectors of tomorrow will likely bond over their memories of midnight-release parties and argue the merits of Mary GrandPré versus Thomas Taylor's cover illustrations. My own book shelves host two complete sets (so far), one American (hardcover) and one British (paperback), and one set-in-progress (the illustrated editions). My children are lobbying for the addition of a set of the American paperbacks illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, because the spines of each form an image of Hogwarts Castle when displayed in sequence (known as a "linked-spine binding" in the trade). Naturally, the hardcovers are no longer in great shape, having been read by every family member multiple times, but replacing them with pristine copies is stangely unappealing. It's in-part their hard-earned imperfections that make these books so beloved by us. 20th Anniversary Covers by Brian Selznick To mark the end of Harry Potter's 20th-anniversary celebrations, Scholastic released new paperback editions with covers by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) on June 26, 2018. Unlike the previous edition, which featured the linked-spine binding by Kazu Kibuishi, the Selznick covers form a mural when shelved in order face-out (see animation below). Another exciting aspect of this edition is the addition of a map of Hogwarts at the beginning of each book! The Harry Potter phenomen is cred... [more Collecting Harry Potter]

It is January 4, 2019. Payroll Friday. This morning I stopped into my accountant's office to pick up the checks. I signed a number of forms and checks for the various taxes and fees and other government necessities that were due. I've been going in to that building almost every other Friday for 35 years. Before that I calculated the taxes for the few employees I had myself. That would be impossible today. The complexity has become legend. I can't imagine starting a business from scratch today—with no experience. In the last couple of weeks, we've been setting up sale tax accounts in over 30 states. Insanity. Payroll Fridays: 35 x 26 weeks per year = 910 visits. Occasionally I've asked someone else to pick up the payroll. But I'm sure with my other visits for various reasons, I have crossed that threshold over a thousand times. I love the people there. They are old friends. But each time I go, it's like a dentist visit. It will be expensive and it will hurt. They connected two neighboring two-story bungalows and made them one building just as I began my relationship with them all those years ago. Otherwise, the building and routine has been virtually unchanged. They mail the forms and the government checks for me. I can't be trusted to do that myself. My life is a paper life. There are so many papers in this place it is easy to lose things. I've dissociated myself from external and internal accounting. There are people there and here that are much better at it than I. The th... [more Dandelion Wine]

From March 7-10, 2019 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. This book fair is officially sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This means that collectors can rely upon the experience and professionalism of participating dealers and the authenticity of the items available for purchase. Hours Thursday, March 7 5-9pm -- Preview Night Friday, March 8, noon-8pm Saturday, March 9, noon-7pm Sunday, March 10, noon-5pm  Discovery Day (Sunday, 1pm-3pm) Bring a treasure to be evaluated by our experts! Free with paid admission to the Fair. Tickets Preview Pass: $60 (Includes one daily re-admission) Daily Admission: $25 Students: $10 (with valid ID) Run of Show: $45 (Student and Run of Show tickets are only available at the door.) Buy tickets... Venue: Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue, New York). Preview items: Miniature Octagonal Koran (Turkey, c. 1875). 200ff. Complete, single column, with between thirty-eight and forty-one lines of miniature gold gubari per page. Surah headings in black against gold ribbon banners. The o... [more New York Book Fair 2019]

The ABAA Women's Initiative organized a panel at the 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair to discuss the publication "Zamorano Celebrates 90", which highlights important women collectors from Southern California. Project coordinator and editor Jean Gillingwators and first woman president of the Zamorano Club Judy Sahak spoke about how the project came to fruition. Designer and printer Norman Clayton explained the significance of design choices such as the purple Japanese silk and 1/4 leather cover as well as the challenges of replicating old and sometimes deteriorated photographs in print. ABAA members Jen and Brad Johnson were contributing essayists and spoke on fine press printer Lillian Marks of the Plantin Press and bookseller Peggy Christian. Librarian and educator Gary Kurutz discussed Alice Millard. ABAA member Kait Manning moderated the panel and asked questions which elicited insightful answers and convivial banter between the panelists. The Panelists (left to right): Brad Johnson, Gary Kurutz, Kait Manning, Jen Johnson, Jean Gillingwators, Judy Sahak, and Norman Clayton. The Zamorano Club is Southern California's oldest organization of bibliophiles and manuscript collectors. Founded in 1928, it sponsors lectures and publications on bookish topics. Most noteworthy is the Zamorano 80 (1945)—a member-selected and -written catalogue of the most significant books in California history. "Zamorano Celebrates 90: Honoring the Contributions of Women in Books... [more Women’s Initiative Hosts “Zamorano Celebrates 90” Panel in Oakland]

The 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, California, over the weekend of February 8-10, 2019. Recognized as one of the world's largest and most prestigious exhibitions of antiquarian books, the 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to Northern California, Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Oakland Marriott City Center. Sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and featuring the collections and rare treasures of nearly 200 booksellers from over 20 countries around the world, the three-day book fair offers a rich selection of manuscripts, early American and European literature, modern first editions, children's books, maps and autographs, as well as antiquarian books on history, science, law, architecture, cooking, wine, and a wide range of other topics. This year's Book Fair will include a special exhibit by the Book Club of California, an active association of over 800 major California collectors with interests in rare books and manuscripts of all types. Founded in 1912, the Club's library is dedicated to collecting and sharing works of California fine printers; resources on book making, book design, and book history; and books of historical significance. One side of this bi-faceted exhibit will display a selection of materials by California women printers and book artis... [more 2019 California Book Fair]