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Articles - September - 2026 Issue

Why isn’t this book in Transactions+?

- by Bruce E. McKinney

Rare Book Hub recently was asked about a book that a recent correspondent felt it should logically be in our Transactions+ database of 16 million auction records.

 

The book? Americanism by Hubert Groves Beckwith, was registered at the Library of Congress in 1924. Mr. Beckwith wrote many books (6). None of them appear in Transactions+ on our site. Did we ignore him or systematically remove records relating to him? Nope.

 

Our database is built on auction records. Printed material posted at auction will be added to Transactions+. Did it have to sell?  No, because from our perspective, an unsold lot reflects a market’s judgement.

 

The absence of Mr. Beckwith’s records simply reflects that no auction house we have covered, have posted any of his 6 titles.

 

This said, we have scoured the market for this title, Americanism. There is a copy! It’s posted on eBay. It’s being offered by our correspondent.

 

Perhaps you’ll be the buyer!

 

It still won’t show up in our Transactions+ because this will be a negotiated transaction. We cover auctions.

 

Here's a link to it: https://www.ebay.com/itm/164649515128?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20250417133020%26meid%3D66cf3d140aea42a3acd4433cb70ddaf1%26pid%3D102726%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D164649515128%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2DWebWithPSItemDRV2_BP&_trksid=p4375194.c102726.m162918

 

Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby’s
    Original Film Posters
    10 September 2026
    Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: The Invisible Man (1933). Extremely Rare US Leader Press One Sheet. £20,000 to £26,000.
    Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: You Only Live Twice (1967). Italian Advance Quattro Fogli. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: A Dog's Life (1918). Extremely Rare US One Sheet. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: La Belle et la Bête/Beauty and the Beast (1946). French Style A Grande. £12,000 to £18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). US Lenticular Prototype One Sheet. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: Théâtre d’Ombres (1897). Exceptionally Rare French Poster. £8,000 to £12,000.

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