Rare Book Monthly

Articles - October - 2008 Issue

November Comet Announced: Local History


By Bruce McKinney

We live in the era of "it's all about me" and the proof is in the explosive growth of genealogy on the web. No subject so captivates us as ourselves and it is transforming the material we read and acquire. For November we'll focus on Genealogy and Local History.

For many prowling genealogists local history is just a short step removed from "Grand Dad used to live in Uma." Google is increasingly making it possible to find family connections in all kinds of material that long ago disappeared from view and now miraculously return through the miracle of extraordinary databases and search engines that rewrite the laws of speed and search breadth every year or so. We are all learning to look back. For many, this awakening knowledge brings an interest to gather some of the books, pamphlets, letters and photographs of our own family histories. Such information is often most thoroughly expressed through local history and historical material. For November the theme is local history, genealogies and all the many ties that bind.

For dealers who list material on the Americana Exchange a fresh screen will be posted on home pages by October 10th. The new catalogue will be released on November 1st and be searchable for one year. An essay will introduce the catalogue.

Per usual all premium services members are eligible to list up to seven items. There are no commissions. Images are always important. We will email eligible members on October 10th and close the catalogue on October 28th. Links to upload are provided on Member Control Panels via "Contribute Material to the Next Issue of the Comet."

New listing members become eligible for participation as soon as accounts are established. If you have questions contact bmckinney@americanaexchange.com or call 415.823.6678. If we are not available we will reply promptly.

Bruce McKinney
For AE

Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby’s
    10 September 2024
    The Shem Tov Bible
  • Koller Auctions
    Books & Autographs
    18 September 2024
    Koller, Sep. 18: Cowper, William. Anatomia corporum humanorum ab excellentissimis… Utrecht, 1750. CHF 25,000 to 40,000
    Koller, Sep. 18: Bell, Thomas. A Monograph of the Testudinata. London [1836-1842]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds [and] Supplement completed after the authors death…, London [1849-]1861 and [1880-]1887. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    Koller Auctions
    Books & Autographs
    18 September 2024
    Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. The birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Levaillant, François. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus. Paris [1801-]1806. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Pfinzing, Melchior. Die geverlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen…, Nürnberg, 1517. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
  • Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HAMILTON, Sir William - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: 1779. € 50,000 - 80,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KIRCHER, Athanasius - Turris Babel. Amsterdam: 1679. € 3,000 - 5,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: EDWARDS, George.London - Gleanings of Natural History. Londra: 1758-1764. € 7,000 - 10,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HEVELIUS, Johannes - Cometographia. Danzica: 1668. € 20,000 - 30,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KUPKA, Frantisek - Quatre histoires de blanc et noir. Parigi: 1926. € 10,000 - 15,000

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