Rare Book Monthly Articles - March - 2025 Issue

The Past Meets the Future in San Francisco

The Past Meets the Future in San Francisco

Old and rare bookstores have been disappearing into the internet miasma.  Their stock has been uploaded to listing sites but the person to person contact they relied on has slowly declined. Meantime book fairs have been evolving into more complex events giving dealers an efficient way to buy and sell. In San Francisco this past month, Rare Books SF provided the field a fresh opportunity to see what’s being offered.  For old timers, like me, visiting bookshops were occasions.  The serious collector could browse the shelves for mispriced or unappreciated stock. Yes, you could do it and it was...

If you collect paper, plan to be in the Big Apple

If you collect paper, plan to be in the Big Apple

If you collect paper, plan to be in the Big Apple     As of February 25th, 182 rare book and collectible paper dealers are signed up to participate at the upcoming New York Book Fair. It’s the m...

The New York ABAA Book Fair April 3-6: the official announcement

The New York ABAA Book Fair April 3-6: the official announcement

If its April, it’s time to plan to be In New York for the ABAA Book Fair April 3-6   The ABAA New York Antiquarian Book Fair Celebrates 65 Years of Literary Treasures – April 3-6, 2025 NEW YORK ...

MANHATTAN RARE BOOK & FINE PRESS FAIR: April 5, 2025

MANHATTAN RARE BOOK & FINE PRESS FAIR: April 5, 2025

MANHATTAN RARE BOOK FINE PRESS FAIR: April 5, 2025   The Manhattan Rare Book and Fine Press Fair returns to the Upper East Side for one day only, inviting booksellers and bibliophiles from aroun...

Pawning Rare Books

Pawning Rare Books

When people need to turn their books, particularly more valuable ones, into cash there are a few places they usually go. Generally, they either take them to a bookseller or an auction house, occasi...

The Library of Barry Humphries to be sold on March 26th at Forum

The Library of Barry Humphries to be sold on March 26th at Forum   On 26th March, Forum Auctions will offer the library of Barry Humphries. The sale will feature a remarkable array of books, manu...

Does This 19th Century Book Foretell the Future?

Does This 19th Century Book Foretell the Future?

A book has been showing up in discussions on TikTok and other online social media sites. It is not a new book. It dates back to the 19th century. However, some people believe it foretold the future...

The Annual Ephemera Society Fair Will Be Held March 15-16

The Annual Ephemera Society Fair Will Be Held March 15-16

There is no hotter field of collecting today than ephemera. Ephemera are those odds and ends, by definition, things that were only meant to be used for a short time. Posters, letters, greeting card...

After 40 Years, Show Organizers Tina and John Bruno of Flamingo Eventz Call It a Day

After 40 Years, Show Organizers Tina and John Bruno of Flamingo Eventz Call It a Day

One of the longest running shows in the book world is coming to a close. The book, antique and collectible shows of Tina and John Bruno's Flamingo Eventz has held its last events, culminating a 40-...

Collectible Paper is off to a good start

Collectible Paper is off to a good start

The Strength of the Collectible Paper Auction Market continues to surprise as the market transforms.   These days we are living through turmoil. Politics, yes, the Collectible Paper market, no. ...

Dame Edna Oh Dear!: The Library of Barry Humphries to be sold on March 26th at Forum

Dame Edna Oh Dear!: The Library of Barry Humphries to be sold on March 26th at Forum

On 26th March, Forum Auctions will offer the library of Barry Humphries. The sale will feature a remarkable array of books, manuscripts, works on paper and objects from the extensive library of the...

Some Recent High Spots in Dystopian Fiction  Orwell and PK Dick, BNW, F451, Handmaid’s Tale, Hunger Games Trilogy

Some Recent High Spots in Dystopian Fiction  Orwell and PK Dick, BNW, F451, Handmaid’s Tale, Hunger Games Trilogy

Dystopian fiction is having a moment with certain titles pushing new highs. Four dystopian novels getting strong recent auction play including Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell. Also in demand ...

Spencer W Stuart launches The Antiquarian Outlook

Spencer W Stuart launches The Antiquarian Outlook

Spencer W Stuart is proud to present The Antiquarian Outlook, a weekly audio/visual review of rare book auction results as well as Industry news.   The Antiquarian Outlook is totally independent,...

Catullus’ Carmen 16? Not under 16!

Catullus’ Carmen 16? Not under 16!

Old books can hold you back in the past. Take Catullus, for instance. For years I’ve read his poems in a gorgeous 1653 edition (A Paris, chez De Luyne), wondering why people regard him as a sulphur...

Barnes & Noble Continues Expansion - 60 News Stores projected in 2025

Barnes & Noble Continues Expansion - 60 News Stores projected in 2025

Only ten years ago, Barnes and Noble, the last big American bookstore chain, was thought to be on its last legs, with widespread speculation about its projected demise.   In 2015 Barnes Noble spu...

Announcing the 2025 Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize

Announcing the 2025 Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize

Book collectors are stuffy old men. Everyone knows that. Well, maybe not everyone. Honey Wax Booksellers has announced the ninth annual Honey Wax Book Collecting Prize. It is awarded to women boo...

Fascinating Old Minutes from the Supreme Court of the Mississippi Territory Discovered and Now Available Online

Fascinating Old Minutes from the Supreme Court of the Mississippi Territory Discovered and Now Available Online

Collectors may collect for their own enjoyment, but in so doing, they provide an enormous benefit to all of society. They are also preservationists. We recognize this service when it is comes to li...

Seven New Catalogues Reviewed

Seven New Catalogues Reviewed

Seven new bookseller catalogues are up for review this month. Mark Funke Bookseller offers books from the Dr. Felix Guggenheim collection. Guggenheim was a German publisher who escaped that country...

Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby’s
    Year in Review
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: A Rare Hebrew Bible with Micrographic Masorah. Sold: 1,514,000 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: "The Freedman's Primer.” Sold: 241,300 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Smith, William. "The Map that Changed the World." Sold: 139,700 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Psalter, C13th. Illuminated Psalter. Sold: 330,200 GBP
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Lincoln, Abraham. The abolition of slavery. Sold: 13,697,500 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Vergilius. Opera, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 1501. Sold: 1,041,400 USD
  • University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Jefferson's Owned & Signed "Plutarch's Morals" Vol. 4. - 1st Time At Auction In Nearly 200 Years!
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Flown NASA Hasselblad 203S Space Camera On Endeavour STS-111, With Components, Data Module & Flown Film Magazine!
    University Archives, Jan. 7: One Of The Finest Lincoln Assassination Letters Extant, April 15, 1865 - Illustrated & Beyond Dramatic! 8pp.
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Isaac Newton Highly Important Religious Manuscript With 85+ Words In His Hand, Ex-Bonhams
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Marilyn Monroe Gorgeous Signed & Inscribed Photograph, PSA Authenticated
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Rare Ernest Hemingway, 1 Of 10 Signed Presentation Copies Of "Farewell To Arms"
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Ayn Rand 11pp Revised AMS "The Cold Civil War" For LA Times Newspaper- 900+ Words In Her Hand!
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Mary Todd Lincoln Calls Abe A "great & good man, who loved & served his country so well"
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Abraham Lincoln Gives Rebel Woman Pass To Visit Prisoner Of War Husband, Showing A Very Human Lincoln!
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration
    January 7, 2026
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Babe Ruth PSA Type II Signed Conlon Photo, With Ruth Miniature Louisville Slugger, 16.25"
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Armstrong, Collins, Aldrin Signed Photo - Prime Crew Apollo 11 - PSA Authenticated
    University Archives, Jan. 7: Huge Abraham Lincoln Hesler Photo, Ca. 1880 - As If He Were In The Room!

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