Rare Book Monthly Articles - March - 2014 Issue

Book Prices Rose 7% in 2013

Prices in the books and paper field at auction jumped over 7% in 2013. It was the biggest gain in prices since 2007, the year before the financial swoon that left the economy grasping for the nearest lifeboat. Indeed, the book field seems to be following the same path as the economy. After years of struggle, we are finally seeing some modest gains. Happy days may not be here again quite yet, but at least we are finally seeing some signs of progress.   The year 2008 was the toughest for the book trade. A look at the 5 million records in the Americana Exchange Database shows it was the wors...

Recent Book and Paper Fairs in California

Book Fairs on the West Coast   Recently, on February 1st and 2nd there was a book and ephemera fair in San Francisco at Fort Mason, on the water on the north side of the city.  The weather was co...

Copy of Second Highest Priced Book at Auction Goes Up for Sale

On April 1, there will be an auction at Sotheby's in New York for a copy of what was, for years, the most expensive printed book ever sold at auction. Offered is a rare first edition, double elepha...

When Life Intervenes – a bookseller’s stock to be sold

Anyone involved with books knows that they have babies at a rate that puts rabbits to shame.  Many people don’t want them and others can’t live without them.  In a town just north of Columbus, Ohio...

Sharp Eyes Discover Hidden Library Theft

A Colchester, Vermont, man has been charged in a case of library theft, and it is an example of just how difficult this crime can be to detect if patrons aren't being watched all of the time. Patri...

The Gordon Waldorf Collection of Modern Literary High Spots at Sotheby's on April 1st

On April 1st Sotheby’s in New York will conduct two sales, both single owner and one a two-item offering.  The Gordon Waldorf Collection of modern literary high spots includes ”truly fine [and thus...

Master Adam, Craftsman-Poet: If I had a hammer...

If I had a hammer, or rather a brace, I would write verses to add my humble kingpin to the magnificent work of poetry—just like Master Adam Billaut did. In the 17th century, this carpenter-poet fro...

Adm. Nimitz’s WWII Diary Released in Searchable Digital Format

A digitized version of the wartime diary of Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz went online Feb. 24. The event coincided with Nimitz’s 129th birthday and included a live stream of the occasion. The U.S. Nava...

Archives International: Collectible Paper at Auction on March 11th

Come March 11, collectors of banknotes, scripophily (the study and collection of stock and bond certificates), and security printing ephemera may be hoping they’ve saved enough of their own contemp...

Arader Galleries Auction on April 5th

Come April 5th, Arader Galleries in conjunction with Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries will be offering a sale of prints, paintings, books, and maps concerning Natural History and Americana. The auction...

Making Translations Easier

The Americana Exchange is the world's greatest source for listings and results from auctions in the field of books, ephemera, and works on paper. This site tracks over 150 auction houses, posts lis...

Auctions in March

Auctions in March For the month of March 89 auctions in the books, manuscripts, maps and ephemera category are scheduled.  The pace of sales is brisk, the year over year comparison suggests we’ll...

19 New Catalogues Reviewed

Nineteen new booksellers catalogues are up for review this month. Naturally, there is a great variety this time. Bauman Rare Books features “85 Great Books,” and these are great books indeed. Shape...

Rare Book Monthly

  • Fonsie Mealy’s
    Summer Rare Book
    & Collectors’ Sale
    July 30-31, 2024
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: U.S. / European Shipping Archive 1800-1814. The Widow Bermingham & Sons Collection. €7,000 to €10,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Bunreacht na hÉireann. Constitution of Ireland. An important copy of the First Printing of De Valera’s new Constitution, approved in 1938. Signed by the Constitution Cabinet. €7,000 to €9,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: A Rare Complete Run of the Cuala Press Broadsides. €7,000 to €9,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Summer Rare Book
    & Collectors’ Sale
    July 30-31, 2024
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Grose (Francis). The Antiquities of Ireland, 2vols. folio London (for S. Hooper) 1791. Magnificent Hand-Coloured Copy - Only 25 Copies. €3,000 to €5,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Cantillon (Richard). Essai sur la Nature du Commerce en General, Traduit de l'Anglois, Sm. 8vo London (Fletcher Gyles) 1756. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Gregory, (Lady Augusta). Spreading the News: The Rising of the Moon: The Poorhouse (with Douglas Hyde). Being Vol. IX of the Abbey Theatre Series. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Summer Rare Book
    & Collectors’ Sale
    July 30-31, 2024
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Lavery (Lady Hazel). A moving series of three A.L.S. and a Telegram to Gen. Eoin O'Duffy, July-August 1927, expressing her grief at the death of Kevin O'Higgins. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Dampier (Wm.) Nouveau Voyage Autour du Monde, ou l'on descrit en particulier l'Isthme de l'Amerique…, 2 vols. in one, Amsterdam, 1698. €800 to €1,200.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Howell (James). Instructions for Forreine Travel Shewing by what Cours, and in what Compasse of Time…, London, 1642. €800 to €1,200.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Summer Rare Book
    & Collectors’ Sale
    July 30-31, 2024
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 8vo, L. (Bloomsbury) 1999, First Edn., First Printing of Deluxe Collectors Edn. Signed. €800 to €1,200.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: James (Wm.) A Full and Correct Account of the Military Occurrences of The Late War Between Great Britain and The United States of America. 2 vols. Lond. 1818. €650 to €900.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: The Laws of the United States, Published by Authority, 3 vols. Philadelphia (Richard Folwell) 1796. €600 to €800.

Article Search

Archived Articles

Ask Questions