The third installment of Kaitlin Manning's series on taking better pictures of rare books and ephemera. After buying a camera, learning how to use it, and setting up your home studio, the natural next step is to actually start taking photos, right? Ah, would that it were! One very important and often overlooked step for those new to digital photography is to consider how you will process and store your images, otherwise known as creating a “workflow.” This is a crucial step. Your workflow will encompass the entire lifecycle of your images, from calibrating your camera to archiving your files, and therefore must be considered carefully. You will want to commit your workflow to paper, listing out each step of your process so that you can refer back to it, maintain consistency, and ensure fast and easy image retrieval later on. Ideally, you would carefully plan out your workflow before you even take your first image; in reality, you probably already have a bunch of images on your computer organized in a (more or less) logical way, but which probably do not follow a rigid set of rules. For the moment, don't worry about the images that you already have – focus on a fresh start. Later on, once you have a solid system in place and as time allows, you may want to consider updating your old files to match your new, gloriously organized ones. Below is a very brief overview of the basic questions you must consider for a robust and efficient workflow. This is by no means an exhaust... [more The Savvy Bookseller: Establishing a Photography Workflow]
Much has been written in the wake of Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister's passing. But lost amidst all the accolades and remembrances of the Motorhead frontman who married the sounds of heavy metal and punk and almost single-handedly invented thrash is the fact that he was the son of a librarian and an avid reader throughout his life (one assumes this was by virtue of nurture, rather than nature, as his father was a minister in the Royal Air Force). One might not expect the artist who wrote “Killed by Death” and “The Game,” the entrance theme song for WWE wrestler Triple H, to be particularly bookish. But as his friend and sometime collaborator Ozzy Osbourne recalled, there was much more to the man than his legendary appetite for booze and speed: “To look at Lemmy, you'd never think he was as educated as he was. People look at the music we do and the way we look, and they go, 'Oh, this bunch is a bunch of yobbos. They don't know what they're doing. They're bad people.' But it's not true. Lemmy looks like an old biker, but he was so well read. He was very up on a lot of things. He was a very clever guy. On his bus on the first tour, he had a plaid suitcase and all he had in there was a pair of knickers and a pair of socks, and the rest was books. When he stayed with us, he'd stay in the library for three days, reading f—ing books.” Though the imagery of most Motorhead songs tended towards the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll lifestyle Lemmy embodied, literature would from... [more Lemmy: A Real Son of a… Librarian]
It's a town well-known for the Silver Screen—a place where dreamers flock in search of stardom, celebrity, fame, and fortune. But beyond the glitz and glam of Hollywood Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, and movie studio backlots, the City of Angels possesses a rich, complex literary history that transcends genres, styles, and aesthetics. While perhaps not quite the powerhouse of arts and letters as some of the city's East Coast rivals, L.A. has been home to some of the most creative, interesting, and influential writers of the last century. But much like the city itself—a burgeoning, diverse metropolis of different cultures, traditions, and enclaves—discovering L.A.'s fertile literary history requires a little digging, and to truly appreciate the city's place in the American literary cannon, one must be willing to steer clear of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and stroll down some side streets and alleyways. As you'll see, what you find there is well worth the trouble. Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) Often associated with the tail-end of the Beat Generation, Charles Bukowski was born in Germany and emigrated to Los Angeles in 1930. Brought up in a lower-middle class household, Bukowski's stories, novels, and poems reflect his working-class background and address the day-to-day drudgery of dead-end jobs, familial discontent, and struggles with drugs and alcohol. While honing his craft in some of L.A.'s most trouble neighborhoods—he was a regular as the famous King Eddy Saloon in the cit... [more Five Los Angeles Writers]
Dr. Samuel J. Hessel died last September of pancreatic cancer. A radiologist by training, he gradually turned an interest in rare books into a second career as an antiquarian book dealer after his retirement from the medical profession in the mid-1990s. He later served on the ABAA board of directors as treasurer. Several ABAA members offered remembrances of Samuel Hessel: Michael Thompson writes: Dear fellow booksellers and all friends of Sam Hessel, I feel that I must write a letter, but it is too hard. I still hurt too much. I am envious of the ability of the writers of so many letters; They describe Sam so perfectly and give him so much praise and tribute that I can't imagine doing better. I too knew Sam for many years, practically from the beginning of his partnership with Jim Manwarren. Not traveling to Phoenix all that much, most of my experiences were at book fairs and over the phone. He was truly a very warm, giving man who seemed to have unlimited interest and compassion for other people. I never called him where he didn't inquire very genuinely, very seriously about my wife Kathleen and our partner, Carol. He truly cared. I am jealous of those who knew him more and had the pleasure of traveling with him. Our experiences were always shorter. I first nominated Sam for membership on the Board and encouraged him when he doubted his right to be there. Of course he was perfect for any such position, and I know he served the ABAA very well, although I understand that he wa... [more In Memoriam: Dr. Samuel J. Hessel, 1945-2015]
All book collectors have stories of exceptional books found in unpromising circumstances -- we recently reviewed Rebecca Rego Barry's book on the topic, Rare Books Uncovered -- but perhaps few can top Pia Oliver's story of discovering two unknown manuscripts by Charlotte Brontë at a remore California ranch. One weekday morning a few years ago, the phone rang in the bookstore and I answered: “Randall House, Good Morning.” A woman's voice at the other end said “I need some help. We have inherited a lot of valuable and rare books and need help us to evaluate them and dispose of them.” I said, as I usually do “Tell me about the books,” while thinking “Oh yeah, sure, you have rare and valuable books …” We get many phone calls where people tell us that they have a first edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, or Jane Austen's Emma or any number of other books. It's not that people try to deceive or inflate their books, they simply don't know how to tell a used book from a collectible or rare book. And, let's face it, age impresses people. But I digress – back to my story. The lady at the other end of the telephone said “you probably get lots of calls like this but we really do have first editions and valuable books, let me tell you a little about them.” And I said, “please, go ahead.” What she told me peaked my interest, the provenance of the books were intriguing and decidedly “literate” and the way she spoke, very matter of fact, and when as... [more The Thrill of Discovery]
Longtime ABAA member Elizabeth Phillips passed away on December 14, 2015, after a short illness. She was born on November 5, 1958 in Philadelphia and grew up in Paris, France; Dutchess County, New York; and Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. Ms. Phillips studied book arts at Mills College, received a BA in English Literature and Art History from Oberlin College in 1980 and was subsequently awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship in 1980-81 to study the livre de peintre in Europe. Her business, Elizabeth Phillips Rare Books, was created shortly after her return to the United States in 1982. She has been a member of the ABAA since 1983. With a tremendous passion for fine art and literature and her ability to share her expertise with clients, business associates and institutions, Ms. Phillips has been a highly respected private dealer in rare livres d'artistes, specializing in Russian and European avant-garde for the past thirty years. She built museum-quality collections for individuals and institutions, including, the Museum of Modern Art, The Beinecke Library, The New York Public Library, The Library of Congress, The Getty Center, and the Bibliothèque Nationale. In 1993, she co-curated the exhibition "The American Livre de Peintre" at the Grolier Club in New York with colleague Tony Zwicker, co-authoring an illustrated exhibition catalogue of the same title. In 1996, Ms. Phillips was featured in New York Magazine's, “The Best of New York", as one of the premier dealers in ... [more Elizabeth Phillips, 1958-2015]
On Black Friday, I got an email from Barnes & Noble trumpeting their (discounted) signed books! The most notable thing about the email -- besides their rather dubious claim to have the greatest selection of signed books “in the world” 1 -- was that this was their primary marketing message, the pitch they were pinning their financial hopes on: signed books were going to make their Black Friday a success. This email highlighted for me something that I've noticed growing over the past few years: a new emphasis on signed books, a new belief in the value of an author's signature. To put this in context, six years ago I worked for a small publisher and spent my time calling on bookstores trying to get them excited about our books. Occasionally, we would have a novel with breakout potential, and an additional challenge would then be to get it picked by a store's first edition club. At the time, you could count the bookstores with first edition clubs on one hand, and have fingers left over. Today, independent bookstores in the US are starting first edition clubs with gusto, and any store worth its salt appears to have at least one and sometimes several focusing on different genres. Why this sudden burst of interest in encouraging book collecting at trade bookstores? Why organize your holiday marketing around your selection of signed books? Quite simply, it's an opportunity to provide something that big internet retailers cannot. First edition clubs typically emphasize literary qu... [more First Edition Clubs]
Two ABAA members have received presigious awards recently. At the 73rd World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention during the Hugo Awards Ceremony, David Aronovitz of The Fine Books Company was awarded the very prestigious "San Moskowitz Archive Award.” It is a Lifetime Achievement Award given to excellence in amassing a world class collection and publishing books which emanate from the collection. Arongvitz has published 19 books to date and is the 14th person to be given this award. For an example of his collection, see this hand-corrected manuscript of Robert Heinlein's novel Friday, which he recently listed. Bob Fleck of Oak Knoll Books was awarded the ILAB Medal during the 2015 October Seville Presidents' Meeting “in recognition of services rendered to the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers” over several decades of service. For full details, read this appreciation... [more Members Receiving Awards]
Since 1975 the William Reese Company has served a large international clientele of collectors and private and public institutions in the acquisition of rare books and manuscripts and in collection development. With a catalogue inventory of over forty thousand items and a general inventory of over sixty-five thousand items, we are among the leading specialists in the fields of Americana and world travel, and maintain a large and eclectic inventory of literary first editions and antiquarian books of the 18th through 21st centuries. Our offices are located in downtown New Haven, Connecticut and are open by appointment only. The William Reese Company is seeking to add a new team member to its Americana Department. This person needs to be detail oriented, personable and outgoing, and willing and able to lift reasonably large boxes of books. A foundational knowledge of American history is a must, as is a basic grounding in bibliographical knowledge. Previous experience in antiquarian book selling or library work is preferred but not essential. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, are necessary, as is proficiency in the use of databases. The job description includes a range of the many tasks required in running a large rare book business, but primary duties are cataloguing and researching new inventory; working with customers and selling books in person, on the phone, and by catalogue or internet listing; maintaining inventory control; and possible travel to attend... [more Job Posting: William Reese Co. Seeks Rare Book Cataloguer in Americana Department]
Although we are unable to hold our in-person California Book Fair, the ABAA will host a virtual book fair on the dates previously reserved for this year's Pasadena fair! ABAA Virtual Book Fair: California Edition February 6-8, 2025 abaa.org/vbf Collectors and librarians can shop the inventory of prestigious domestic and international sellers specializing in rare and antique books, maps, prints, ephemera, and much more. Explore exhibitors here... Preview some featured items: This virtual fair will remain open continuously from 12pm EST on Thursday, February 6 until 7pm EST on Saturday, February 8, 2025. More details: abaa.org/vbf [more Virtual Book Fair: California Edition]