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Articles - May - 2020 Issue

Bookselling In A Time Of Coronavirus

- by Susan Halas

Bookshops in the News - Pandemic Edition: 

 

Whether bricks and mortar shop or online operation, booksellers commanded their share of media attention recently as, like other small businesses, they struggled to stay afloat in difficult times. Many of these stories reflect a surprising level of optimism coupled with an urgent need for cash.

 

San Francisco: City Lights

City Lights, the iconic San Francisco North Beach landmark, long associated with the Beats and for many years publishers of a popular poetry series, is in need of instant cash infusion. 

 

Presto-Chango! An online fundraising campaign just raised over $400k to ward off closing, the bulk of that money received in contributions of under $100. (clapping emoji) 

https://deadline.com/2020/04/san-francisco-landmark-city-lights-bookstore-raises-400k-will-stay-in-business-1202906376/

 

Nashville 

The Guardian reports how Parnassus Books in Nashville run by novelist Ann Patchett is weathering the crisis.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/10/ann-patchett-nashville-bookshop-coronavirus-lockdown-publishing

 

Salt Lake City- Storytelling, discounts and curbside service

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/4/21/21222253/coronavirus-independent-bookstores-librarie

s-books-reading-quarantine-covid-19

 

www.ksl.com/article/46745563/independent-bookstores-have-been-hit-hard-by-covid-19-but-there-are-ways-to-help

 

Portland, Ore: 

Powell’s struggles to survive reported by PBS

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/landmark-oregon-bookstore-strains-to-survive-the-pandemi

 

Newark, NJ: 

Source of Knowledge in Newark was a vibrant part of the community before the coronavirus outbreak. It's one of two African American-owned bookstores left in the state. They got detailed coverage on NPR and they also have a GoFundMe page.

<https://www.npr.org/2020/04/24/843529622/covid-19-pandemic-could-be-the-last-chapter-for-n-j-bookstore>

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-source-of-knowledge

 

Colorado

 

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/boulder-book-delivery-coronavirus

 

 

BOOKSHOP.org launches as an aide to indies: Yet another player in the one stop shop for reading material. The launch of Bookshop.org covered by Time as a possible (distant) rival to Amazon and a new wrinkle in the strength in numbers concept.

https://time.com/5822767/coronavirus-bookstores-amazon/

 

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/83162-as-bookshop-booms-questions-arise.html

 

SUPPORTING INDIES: Overview from “Entertainment,”

Lots of good ideas from surprise package to mutual assistance deals

https://ew.com/books/supporting-indie-bookstores-coronavirus-quarantine/

 

Boston To Berlin: Indie Bookstores Weather Corona Crisis Closures, Creatively Forbes posts an overview

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarathiessen/2020/04/06/indie-booksellers-weather-corona-crisis-closures-creatively/#51681f0144ee

 

LA area Book Dealers Scrambling to Stay Afloat https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-03-17/across-la-booksellers-are-scrambling-to-stay-afloat-amid-coronavirus-concerns

 

BOOKSELLER BENEVOLENT FUND: any port in the storm, you don’t have to be an ABAA member to apply for help from the organizations benevolent fund. Contributions are also always welcome.

https://www.abaa.org/about-abaa/benevolent-fund

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Posted On: 2020-05-01 08:48
User Name: mbook

As a one old man bookseller in Norfolk UK, I feel guilty, as a hoarder i have lots of unsorted stock, I sell 99% online at abebooks, my sales have gone up, but again mostly the low end sales of £20- £30 each. As i deal mainly in old & rare books i now have lots of time to research a book, and check the pages to price it for abe, and happy if i have the time to average 5 - 10 a day., I have a backlog of at least 5 years unsorted books, not to mention my ephemera which i mainly sell at the two Ephemera Society fairs in London, though this years summer fair has sadly been cancelled. Malcolm Books.

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b><center>Fonsie Mealy’s<br>Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale<br>April 30th & May 1st</center></b> <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) <i>Maps of the Roads of Ireland,</i> Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Messingham (Thos.) <i>Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia,</i> Paris 1624. €350 to €500. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Heaney (Seamus). <i>The Haw Lantern,</i> L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) <i>Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis,</i> Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Powerscourt (Viscount). <i>A Description and History of Powerscourt,</i> Lond. 1903. €350 to €500. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Moryson (Fynes). <i>An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…,</i> Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> After Buffon, <i>Birds of Europe,</i> c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Dunlevy (Andrew). <i>An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer,</i> Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> <i>The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin,</i> 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Scale (Bernard). <i>An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland,</i> L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. <i>Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,</i>L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. <i>An Almanac of Twelve Sports,</i> Lond. 1898. €300 to €400. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Heaney (Seamus) trans. <i>The Light of the Leaves,</i> 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Fleming (Ian). <i>Moonraker,</i> L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000. <b>Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:</b> Heaney (Seamus) & Egan (Felim) artist. <i>Squarings, Twelve Poems,</i> D. (Hieroglyph Editions Ltd.) 1991. €1,750 to €2,250.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale
    April 30th & May 1st
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) Maps of the Roads of Ireland, Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Messingham (Thos.) Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, Paris 1624. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus). The Haw Lantern, L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Powerscourt (Viscount). A Description and History of Powerscourt, Lond. 1903. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Moryson (Fynes). An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…, Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: After Buffon, Birds of Europe, c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Dunlevy (Andrew). An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer, Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin, 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Scale (Bernard). An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland, L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. An Almanac of Twelve Sports, Lond. 1898. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) trans. The Light of the Leaves, 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Fleming (Ian). Moonraker, L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) & Egan (Felim) artist. Squarings, Twelve Poems, D. (Hieroglyph Editions Ltd.) 1991. €1,750 to €2,250.
  • <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur." <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "<i>Die Schneekönigin,</i>" 1910. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. <i>Wonderful Stories for Children.</i> London, 1846. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. <i>Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke.</i> 1861. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren. <b>Bonhams, Apr. 21-29:</b> PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur."
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "Die Schneekönigin," 1910.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. Wonderful Stories for Children. London, 1846.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke. 1861.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.
  • <center><b>Jeschke Jádi<br>Rare Book Auction 155<br>Saturday April 26, 2025</b></center> <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 962. Baird. United States Exploring Expedition. Philadelphia 1858. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 772. Edith Holland Norton. Brazilian Flowers. Coombe Croft 1893. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 49. Petrarca. Das Gluecksbuch, Augsburg 1536. <center><b>Jeschke Jádi<br>Rare Book Auction 155<br>Saturday April 26, 2025</b></center> <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 1496. Jacob / Picasso. Chronique des Temps, 1956. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 8. Augustinus. De moribus ecclesie. Cologne 1480. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 17. Heures a lusaige de Noyon. Paris 1504. <center><b>Jeschke Jádi<br>Rare Book Auction 155<br>Saturday April 26, 2025</b></center> <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 13. Schedel. Buch der Chronicken. Nürnberg 1493. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 957. Donovan. Insects of China. London 1798. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 123. A holy martyr. Tuscany, Florence, mid-14th century. <center><b>Jeschke Jádi<br>Rare Book Auction 155<br>Saturday April 26, 2025</b></center> <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 438. Dante. La Divine Comédie. Paris 1963. <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 602. Firdausi. Histoire de Minoutchehr. Paris 1919 <b>Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26:</b> Lot 994. Westwood. Oriental Entomology. London 1848.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 962. Baird. United States Exploring Expedition. Philadelphia 1858.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 772. Edith Holland Norton. Brazilian Flowers. Coombe Croft 1893.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 49. Petrarca. Das Gluecksbuch, Augsburg 1536.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 1496. Jacob / Picasso. Chronique des Temps, 1956.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 8. Augustinus. De moribus ecclesie. Cologne 1480.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 17. Heures a lusaige de Noyon. Paris 1504.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 13. Schedel. Buch der Chronicken. Nürnberg 1493.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 957. Donovan. Insects of China. London 1798.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 123. A holy martyr. Tuscany, Florence, mid-14th century.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 438. Dante. La Divine Comédie. Paris 1963.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 602. Firdausi. Histoire de Minoutchehr. Paris 1919
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 994. Westwood. Oriental Entomology. London 1848.
  • <b><center>Sotheby's<BR>Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s:</b> The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> William Blake | <i>Songs of Innocence and of Experience.</i> Sold: 4,320,000 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD <b><center>Sotheby's<BR>Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for <i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.</i> Sold: 1,920,000 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Machiavelli | <i>Il Principe,</i> a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Leonardo da Vinci | <i>Trattato della pittura,</i> ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Henri Matisse | <i>Jazz,</i> Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR

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