Rare Book Monthly
<i>In The News</i>: An eBay Boycott, Mold in the Library
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In other news, the scourge of libraries has hit the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois – mold. The Library noted that it will be shut down from February 25 until May 5 while the books are cleaned up and an upgrade is performed on the HVAC system. The problem resulted from inadequate control of humidity in the storage area. Mold in the library is no unimportant item as the value of the collection is said to be in the billion dollar range. Fortunately, the library reported, the mold has not yet caused any irreparable damage.
The University of Illinois will undoubtedly be able to do whatever is necessary to protect its important and valuable collection. However, it does point to an issue many smaller libraries have had to face, and will continue to confront in the future. Many such libraries, perhaps attached to small colleges or religious organizations, were given rare books as gifts or bequests years ago. In time, these books have become extremely valuable. However, these libraries have limited budgets and may lack the funds necessary to maintain the ideal climate control necessary to best preserve these antiquarian works. Both installing the ideal climate systems, and paying the ongoing costs of maintaining perfect humidity levels and cool temperatures, can be prohibitive, especially now with skyrocketing energy costs. Such libraries in the past have, and in the future surely will be forced to sell part of their collections out of financial necessity.
AbeBooks released its list of the ten most expensive sales on its website for January. The prices ranged from $3,602 to $12,874. Wouldn't you know Harry Potter would be at the top, a blow to antiquarians. This was a first edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Meanwhile, a 1928 first edition, first impression of another children's classic, The House at Pooh Corner, brought in a more modest $3,924. One wonders whether years from now Harry will still be that much more desirable than Winnie. A close second in value was Specimens of British minerals selected from the cabinet of Philip Rashleigh by Philip Rashleigh, the early mineral collector - $12,754. Next came another recent item, Collector's Edition by Peter Beard, a 2006 signed limited edition by the photographer for $10,808. After that it was Sexual Inversion by John Addington and Havelock Ellis Symonds, an early (1897) study of homosexuality that considered it a way of being as opposed to a disease - $7,500. The best deal must be Recueil général des anciennes lois françaises by Jourdan, Decrusy & Isambert. This set of ancient French and German laws was published from 1821-1833. It cost $4,664, but for that the buyer got 29 volumes.
