Capote's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Manuscript Sells Big

By Susan Benne

Capote's edits on the manuscript (image via Toronto Star) Truman Capote's typed Breakfast at Tiffany's manuscript was sold at auction late last month for a whopping $306,000. The 1958 manuscript contains Capote's handwritten edits, which number up to a dozen changes per page. Perhaps the most significant change is the heroine's name: originally Connie Gustafson, Capote crossed out every mention of the name and replaced it with Holly Golightly. (Good call, Capote!) More than a hundred different names were used in various drafts before Capote settled on Golightly. The character, of course, was immortalized in popular culture by Audrey Hepburn's portrayal in the 1961 film adaptation. The story was originally commissioned for Harper's Bazaar magazine but was pulled at the last minute because of the sexual nature of Golightly's lifestyle. It was published in the November 1958 issue of Esquire magazine and shortly thereafter was published by Random House along with three other short stories by Capote. The manuscript was sold to a Russian billionaire, Igor Sosin, by RR Auction. The auction house reports that Socin plans to display it in Moscow and Monaco. The movie is great, but if you haven't read the novella do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. It's a wonderful story and beautifully written. Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's manuscript goes to auction Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's manuscript sells for $306K at auction to Russian billionaire [more Capote's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Manuscript Sells Big]



Willa Cather Letters Published

By Susan Benne

Willa Cather was a famously private writer. She destroyed many literary manuscripts, personal papers, and letters, and her will forbade the adaptation of her works into plays or movies and the publication of her personal letters. Cather's will expired two years ago, however, after the death of her nephew and the will's executor. This left her remaining personal letters up for grabs, so to speak, and a new book publishes over 500 of Cather's letters. Released last month, The Selected Letters of Willa Cather is co-edited by Andrew Jewell, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraires and the editor of the Willa Cather Archive, and Janis Stout, the author of nine scholarly books and editor of two other books on Cather. Jewell and Stout acknowledge that they have gone against Cather's will and personal wishes, but justify doing so with the best intentions for the public good, so that everyone can "read and interpret her letters" for themselves. Their introduction states that: "Cather is now a part of our cultural history. Her works belong to something greater than herself. It is time to let the letters speak for themselves." Tom Perrotta, who reviewed the book for the NY Times, said that he didn't disagree with the editors, but that he " the reading experience uncomfortable, especially when bumped up against one of Cather's frequent declarations that she considers her letters 'entirely personal and confidential.'" Although I am intrigued to have a glimpse... [more Willa Cather Letters Published]



Duke University Receives Collection of Extremist Literature

By Susan Benne

The Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project, which monitors and reports hate and extremist groups in the U.S., has donated its 30 year collection of extremist materials to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Duke University. The 90 boxes of periodicals, pamphlets, flyers, and other documents will be added to the Library's Human Rights Archive. The mission of the Human Rights Archive is to "identify, collect, and provide access to materials generated by organizations and individuals working within and having significant social impact on the field of human rights." This donation will be a significant addition to the Library's already extensive collection of American social movements and its collection on Ku Klux Klan materials that documents the group from the 1860s to the present day. The SPLC's collection extends beyond the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis, including materials on a variety of other hate groups such as border vigilantes, black separatists, and white nationalists. Once the library prepares the documents for use they will be available to researchers and scholars to examine the histories of extremist organizations and the efforts to monitor them. "We are especially pleased that these relatively rare materials will finally be made available to scholars who research America's radical right. We look forward to learning from their scholarship," said Heidi Beirich, Director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project. Southern Poverty Law Center Dona... [more Duke University Receives Collection of Extremist Literature]



Greg Gibson Raises Over $1,000 for the Benevolent Fund

By Susan Benne

ABAA member Greg Gibson (Ten Pound Island Book Company) recently released his latest book, a noir crime novel called The Old Turk's Load (you can read more about it here). Greg offered copies for sale at the recent NY Antiquarian Book Fair and kindly donated the proceeds to the ABAA's Benevolent Fund, a charitable fund that offers assistance to booksellers in need. He sold 117 copies of the novel and raised over $1,000 for the Fund. Many thanks to Greg for his generosity! The Benevolent Fund provides financial aid to booksellers in need, whether or not they are members of the ABAA. It is administered by three Trustees and chaired by the immediate Past President of the ABAA, and the Benevolent Fund is separate from all other Association funds. All applications and disbursements from this fund are held in strictest confidence. The ABAA actively solicits tax-deductible contributions to help the effort. If you would like to learn more about the Benevolent Fund or make a contribution, please visit the following link. [more Greg Gibson Raises Over $1,000 for the Benevolent Fund]



There's Nothing Like Books & Springtime in New York

By Susan Benne

The 2013 New York Antiquarian Book Fair was a great success: 200 ABAA and ILAB exhibitors brought the best material they had to offer, attendance was bustling, and everyone enjoyed the post-fair hours with colleagues and friends. Festivities kicked off Wednesday night at the grand opening of B & B Rare Books, Ltd.'s new gallery. The space, located in a historic building on East 20th Street, was lovely and filled to the brim with excited booksellers, which made for a delightful party. I even managed to take a few moments to look at the books and was especially impressed with the inscribed copies B & B had to offer. Attendees queued up early for the Thursday night preview and with good reason. There was quite a buzz about the quality of material []exhibitors had on display and there were some truly remarkable items, like the life size papier-mâché ape. Not to mention that there were four Kelmscott Chaucers on the floor (!). A rainy and cold day made the Park Avenue Armory the perfect place to be on Friday. Magician and author Ricky Jay visited and examined a deck of cards from the 1700s in Donald Heald's booth. I got the chance to take a break from the ABAA booth and walk the floor on Friday, and was seriously impressed by what I saw. I am always a sucker for prints and hand-colored books and illustrations, and there was no shortage of them at this fair. I was especially taken with a number of watercolors of 1920s fashion designs and boldly colored French cover art. After din... [more There's Nothing Like Books & Springtime in New York]



Stolen: 'A View of the Harbour' (1947)

By Susan Benne

The following item has been reported stolen: Title : A View of the Harbour Authors : Taylor (Elizabeth) Date of publication : 1947 Publisher : Davies, London Description : Original dark blue cloth, lightly faded backstrip lettered in white, free endpapers browned, crease to rear pastedown. The front free endpaper is inscribed by the author ‘To my old enemy, Norman, with love from Elizabeth Taylor 1947. “I strove with none, for none was worthy of my strife; Reason I loved, and, next to Reason, Doubt; I warmed both hands before the fire of life; and put it out.” E.M.Forster after Landor’ If you have any information on this item, please contact Blackwell's Rare Books at rarebooks@blackwell.co.uk or 01865333555. [more Stolen: 'A View of the Harbour' (1947)]



Jeremy Norman's Exhibition on Count Guglielmo Libri at the Grolier Club

By Susan Benne

If you're in town for the NY Book Fair, ABAA member Jeremy Norman currently has an exhibition on display at the Grolier Club. "A Count With Taste, and Sticky Fingers" surveys the life and infamous career of Count Guglielmo Libri, "one of the most audacious book thieves in history." (You can read a NY Times review of the exhibition at the link.) It will be on display until May 25 in the second floor gallery. [more Jeremy Norman's Exhibition on Count Guglielmo Libri at the Grolier Club]