Book Collecting Conference March 26-27 at Brigham Young University
- by Michael Stillman
The A. Dean Larson Book Collecting Conference at Brigham Young University.
By Michael Stillman
The sixth annual A. Dean Larson Book Collecting Conference will be held on March 26 and 27 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This edition includes three pre-conference workshops to be held on Thursday, March 26, followed by eight seminars the following day. Attendees will be able to go to as many as two of the pre-conference workshops and four of the seminars.
The seminars are divided into specific subjects, while the pre-conference workshops are a bit broader in scope. The seminars, not unexpectedly, include several on collecting within the field of Mormonism, but also offer a full complement of topics not related to the faith. Among the topics covered by the Friday seminars are collecting Intermountain West postcards from 1900-1950; "Scots Wha Hae," the collecting of Scottish literature from Robert Burns through the mid-20th century; and the collecting of sports cards and memorabilia. Another seminar looks at the "overlooked" poetry and prose of World War I, often penned and published in private editions by those who participated in this long and grueling conflict. There is a seminar devoted to "ancillaries," those items related to a famous title one might collect, such as criticisms or responses to the book, reference works, or biographies of the author. Among the Mormon related seminars are one on Thomas L Kane (and his wife, Elizabeth), perhaps the greatest non-Mormon defender of the LDS Church in the 19th century, and one on Crawford Gates, the LDS musical composer who has donated, and continues to donate, many of his papers to Brigham Young University. A final seminar asks the question "Are there any Mormon Books Left to Collect?" The answer is a resounding "yes."
Those who sign up for the Friday seminars are also eligible to register for the Thursday workshops. The topics of these are "Book Collecting Forensics," a hands-on workshop on how to identify alterations and repairs previously made on rare books; "Illumination," a look at both old and modern illuminating of initial letters in books; and "Japanese Stab Bookbinding," which will teach participants how to bind books. Thursday evening, a presentation and reception will be held with book artist and calligrapher Rosie Kelly.
For those who (wrongly) do not believe there are still bargains in this world, participation in four seminars costs just $35. Those who register for the seminars may also register for the pre-conference workshops at $35 each. The conference is sponsored by the L. Tom Perry Special Collections of the Harold B. Lee Library on the Brigham Young University campus. For full details on the conference, including forms and instructions for applying, you may call 801-422-2927 or visit the website at lib.byu.edu/adl.
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.
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.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
