Rare Book Monthly

Articles - February - 2023 Issue

Spencer W. Stuart, his recent book endorsed

Spencer W. Stuart

Spencer W. Stuart

Mr. Stuart, author of Contemporary Issues in Rare Book & Manuscript Collecting:  A Handbook for Collectors and the Trade has been widely endorsed.

 

Book collectors are known to read books and a few write them.  Spencer Stuart is one of the writers and enjoys a wide following among both experienced collectors as well as the nascent generation that is skateboarding into their collecting futures.

 

What they say:

 

Educators, Appraisers, Librarians and Collectors agree

 

Once in a long while a book comes along that causes all parts of the bibliophilic worlds to agree on its value and impact. In fact, they see it to be so useful and informative that they wished they could have had it at their disposal years before.  Contemporary Issues in Rare Book and Manuscript Collecting (Contemporary Issues) may be one of these books: https://spencerwstuart.myshopify.com/products/contemporary-issues-in-rare-book-manuscript-collection-a-handbook-for-collectors-and-the-trade

 

Below, four early readers of Contemporary Issues share their views on this first book by Collections Advisor, Author and Public Speaker Spencer W Stuart. www.spencerwstuart.ca

 

A Bookseller

 

Johan Kugelberg, Owner & Curator of Boo-Hooray, and a Rare Book School Faculty said,  “This is an excellent and most useful book: in my capacity as faculty at Rare Book School, I find the work of Spencer Stuart a dream: a student that takes the content of our course and expands on it in a manner perpetually useful: student outdoes teacher and all that.”

 

An Appraiser

 

From the Appraisal Business Courtney Ahlstrom Christy, Ahlstrom Appraisals LLC had this to say:  "Contemporary Issues is thought-provoking and should be read by those in the book trade who wish to adapt to ongoing changes in the industry deftly." Courtney is a Valuer of Fine Art, Rare Books & Material Culture Certified Member, International Society of Appraisers and Accredited Member, Appraisers Association of America.

 

A Librarian

 

Gary E. Strong, UCLA University Librarian Emeritus and collector commented as follows, "Contemporary Issues in Rare Book & Manuscript Collecting is a welcome read.  While I have been collecting for many years, I wish this handbook had been available when I started to build my collections. I particularly like the down-to-earth writing style and clear and reasoned approach to the issues. I continue to learn about aspects of the book trade that are relevant to my own situation."

 

A Collector

 

Larry Rafferty, 1st edition book collector and founder of hit & run press summed up wide spread feelings about the just released book extremely well:  "As I read Contemporary Issues, every few pages I came across some information or an insight that I had spent years sorting out.  How I wish I had this book fifty years ago when I was starting out as a collector!"

 

To order Contemporary Issues for you or a collecting friend go to https://spencerwstuart.myshopify.com/products/contemporary-issues-in-rare-book-manuscript-collection-a-handbook-for-collectors-and-the-trade or contact Spencer: spencerwstuart@gmail.com

 

Spencer will be delivering an in-person talk Thursday, February 16th at 6pm hosted by Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum

 

https://www.folioseattle.org/event-details/book-launch-contemporary-issues-in-rare-book-and-manuscript-collecting-by-spencer-w-stuart

 

If unable to attend, another talk for the Manuscript Society is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0O1adhsjCI

Rare Book Monthly

  • SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.
    SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.

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