Rare Book Monthly Articles - November - 2025 Issue

eCatalogues: they have arrived

eCatalogues: they have arrived

The Internet made it possible for auction houses to attract bids worldwide. With that ability, they invested in cataloging, photography and promotion, expecting they could encourage bidding interest. And they have. Auction sales in the collectible paper category reached $1.371 billion dollars last year.  They have been extraordinarily successful.   The dealer model, composed of printed and eCatalogues, listing sites, and shows has also been effective to connect with their audience but has been losing market share to auctions. With our eCatalogues platform visible on our pages under News ...

Children's Author's Website Leads to Pornographic Site

Children's Author's Website Leads to Pornographic Site

This is one of those nightmare stories brought to us courtesy of the internet. Technology is wonderful, but...   Andrew Cope is a highly respected British children's book author. His most popular...

Are you reading the long form?

Are you reading the long form?   We are in the middle of an undeclared war.   We know that print was financially unhealthy. The Internet has been killing off newspapers. Books are resisting the...

Rookie on the Auction Beat

Rookie on the Auction Beat

If you are a regular reader of RBH Monthly you’ve noticed we have been expanding our services. We’ve increased our auction coverage both for free readers and paid subscribers. Every Sunday we send ...

New Certification Assures Your Book Was Written by a Human

New Certification Assures Your Book Was Written by a Human

Books have never had a rating system like movies, but a new certification process has recently been developed to combat an issue Shakespeare never faced. Actually, no publisher or author has been q...

Boston ABAA Book Fair: Nov. 7-9

Boston ABAA Book Fair: Nov. 7-9

There are book fairs both large and small. Many annual book related events have storied histories, storied participating dealers and occasionally famous collectors. The Boston book fairs have all o...

Boston “Shadow Fair” Has Come Full Circle and Reports Full House

Boston “Shadow Fair” Has Come Full Circle and Reports Full House The annual Boston “shadow show”, now promoted by MW Book Fairs, has come full circle since its beginnings almost 30 years ago at th...

Dr. Guillotin’s Savage Daughter

Dr. Guillotin’s Savage Daughter

When Robert Badinter (1928-2024) had the death penalty abolished in France in 1981, he didn’t destroy the last guillotine, but stored it instead. He wanted it to be later exhibited in a museum. Lat...

Swann: Americana November 20th

Swann: Americana November 20th

Recently I noticed that Swann Galleries of New York was preparing an appealing sale of book and manuscript material. I asked them to send me their news release about it because I’ve bought many lot...

The 2025 Northampton Antiquarian Book, Ephemera, and Book Arts Fair: Nov. 21-22

The 2025 Northampton Antiquarian Book, Ephemera, and Book Arts Fair: Nov. 21-22

17 October, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The 2025 Northampton Book Antiquarian Book, Ephemera, and Book Arts Fair, the ninth edition, will be Friday, November 21st from 5 – 8pm and Saturday, Novemb...

The 24th Paris Antique Map, Atlas & Globe Fair: November 22nd

The 24th Paris Antique Map, Atlas & Globe Fair: November 22nd

  On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the 24th Annual Antique Map, Atlas Globe Fair is to be held at Hotel Ambassador, 16 Boulevard Haussman, 75009, Paris, France. While it is a single day event, it ...

Doyle: An appealing sale on November 25th

Doyle: An appealing sale on November 25th

Doyle‘s November 25 auction of rare books includes a diverse and inviting array of material in many subject areas. As is usual with our sales, there is a strong component of Americana. This include...

Rare & Important Travel Posters at Swann Galleries November 25

Rare & Important Travel Posters at Swann Galleries November 25

  New York—Rare Important Travel Posters at Swann Galleries continues to live up to its name, offering many of the world's most prominent travel poster designers. This season’s sale on Tuesday, N...

News You May Have Missed: Recent media coverage of news related to libraries, museums and archives 

News You May Have Missed: Recent media coverage of news related to libraries, museums and archives 

Don't Say “Banned Book” Hawaii does a work-around as libraries throughout the state rebrand using the term “Freedom to Read” instead of the familiar “Banned Books” during 2025 Banned Book Week. O...

Settlement Reached in Library Deaccession Case Between an Institution and Ohio Attorney General

Settlement Reached in Library Deaccession Case Between an Institution and Ohio Attorney General

The Ohio Attorney General and a religious institution have reached a settlement of the state's claims against the institution's alleged plans to deaccession some of the books in its library. In wha...

Books and Garlic Mayonnaise. A Perfect Match.

Books and Garlic Mayonnaise. A Perfect Match.

"Bring Out The Hellmann's, and Bring Out the Best." You've undoubtedly heard the jingle for the mayonnaise many times through the years (unless you live west of the Rockies where it's "Bring Out th...

Eight New Catalogues Reviewed This Month

Eight New Catalogues Reviewed This Month

This month we review eight new bookseller catalogues. Hale Co. has released their first catalogue and it is quite a presentation! James Cummins bookseller has combined with the George S. MacManus ...

Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby’s
    Shelf Life: Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper from the Library of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone
    25 June – July 7
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Ludwig van Beethoven. Autograph sketches for the overture "Die Weihe des Hauses", op.124, [1822], UNPUBLISHED. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice, 1813, first edition, 3 volumes, contemporary half calf. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Walt Whitman. Leaves of Grass, Brooklyn, 1855, first edition, first issue, original green cloth, the Doheny copy. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: Binding—Sangorski & Sutcliffe—Omar Khayyam. Rubaiyat, London, 1872, third edition, in a magnificent jewelled Peacock binding. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Sotheby’s, July 7: George Eliot. Middlemarch, Edinburgh and London, 1871, first edition in the original parts. £20,000 to £30,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: Hassall (Joan) A large collection of over 300 original woodblocks of engravings for various books, v.d., with Hassall's engraver's glass water-globe (Qty) - Est. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, July 9: Eragny Press.- [Bradley (Katherine Harris) & Edith Emma Cooper], "Michael Field." Whym Chow, Flame of Love, one of only 27 copies, inscribed by Bradley, the rarest book from the press, 1914. - Est. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, July 9: [Moore (Thomas Sturge)] [Wood Engravings], 71 wood-engravings printed by David Chambers from the original blocks, the only set on Japanese Hosho paper, from an edition of 5 sets, [1970]. - Est. £3,000-4,000
    Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: La Fontaine (Jean de) Contes et Nouvelles en vers, 2 vol., engraved plates after Eisen, fine early 19th century blue morocco, gilt, by Bradel l'ainé, Amsterdam [Paris], 1762. - Est. £2,000-3,000
    Forum, July 9: Erotica.- Prostitution.- Pretty Women of Paris (The); Their Names and Addresses, Qualities and Faults..., [Paris], privately printed at the Press of the Prefecture de Police, 1883. - Est. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, July 9: Vale Press.- Ricketts (Charles) & Lucien Pissarro. De la Typographie et de l'Harmonie de la Page Imprimée…, [one of 216 copies], bound in dark blue morocco tooled in gilt, by Sarah T.Prideaux, 1898. - Est. £1,000-1,500
    Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: Martin (John) Illustrations of the Bible, complete set of 20 mezzotints, good impressions, rarely found in early states, [c.1831-1835]. - Est. £1,000-1,500
    Forum, July 9: Golden Cockerel Press.- Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ (The), one of 500 copies, Mary Gill's copy, Waltham St. Lawrence, 1931 with a signed proof of engraving on japon numbered 10/10 (2) - Est. £5,000-7,000
    Forum, July 9: Boccaccio (Giovanni) The Decameron, 3 vol., vol.1 extra-illustrated by John Buckland Wright with c.150 erotic original drawings in pen & ink and pencil, 1886 [extra-illustrated c.1940]. - Est. £10,000-15,000
    Forum Auctions
    The Private Library:
    Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
    July 9, 2026
    Forum, July 9: Cox (Morris) Collection of Gogmagog Press Books, 35 vol., rare complete collection of printed books issued by the press, limited editions, most signed by Cox, 1957-83. - Est. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, July 9: Wynkyn de Worde.- [Terentius Afer (Publius)] [Comedie...], [Paris, Josse Badius: sold in London by Wynkyn de Worde, & others], [15 July 1504]. - Est. £4,000-6,000
    Forum, July 9: Mosley (James) Ornamented Types. Twenty-Three Alphabets from the Foundry of Louis John Pouchée, 2 vol., one of 10 copies for presentation, from an edition of 210, 1992-93. - Est. £1,000-2,000
  • Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Inundation papyrus. P.Michael 4, the ‘Inundation papyrus’, a geographical account of the Nile near Canopus, in Greek, remains of two columns from a manuscript scroll on papyrus, Egypt, second century CE. £12,000-18,000
    Forum, July 16: Book of Hours, use of Sarum, manuscript on vellum, 6 full-page miniatures, with famous Middle English inscriptions, Southern Netherlands for the English market, [c.1430]. £30,000-50,000
    Forum, July 16: Qu'ran, Arabic manuscript on burnished, stencilled, and gold-flecked paper, 447ff., Sultanate Gujarat, Ahmadabad, [after 1411 but no later than 1442]. £15,000-20,000
    Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Turner (William). A New boke of the natures and properties of all wines that are commonly vsed here in England, rare first edition of the first English book on wine, By William Seres, 1568. £20,000-£30,000
    Forum, July 16: Spenser (Edmund). The Faerie Queene. first edition, Printed [by John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, 1590. £30,000-40,000
    Forum, July 16: Shakespeare (William). The Comedie of Errors, extracted from the first folio, Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, 1623. £15,000-20,000
    Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Fleming (Ian). Casino Royale, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1953. £40,000-60,000
    Forum, July 16: d'Agoty (Jacques-Fabien Gautier). Anatomie de la Tête, first edition, Paris, chez le Sieur Gautier, 1748. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, July 16: Martial Arts.- Lee (Bruce). 'Praying Mantis style' Kung Fu book, containing numerous annotations, diagrams and graphs in Bruce Lee's hand, c. 1960. £50,000-70,000
    Forum Auctions
    The 10th Anniversary Sale
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    July 16, 2026
    Forum, July 16: Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, rare hand-coloured issue, 1848. £30,000-40,000
    Forum, July 16: Norie (John William). The Marine Atlas, or Seaman's Complete Pilot for all the principal places in the known world..., 1826. £30,000-50,000
    Forum, July 16: Mao Tse-tung.- Kim Il-sung.-[Note book for visitors from China to Korea], signed by Mao and Kim, [Beijing, 1954]. £10,000-15,000

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