Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - August - 2014 Issue

50 Cool Things from Brian Cassidy, Bookseller

This may be your last chance to own a picture of Allen Ginsberg in a hot tub.

This may be your last chance to own a picture of Allen Ginsberg in a hot tub.

For those of you who know Richard Hell only as a musician, he was also a writer. Perhaps the pseudonyms threw you off, and recognition will come once we point out this 1971 book is attributed to “Ernie Stomach.” Perhaps the pseudonymous books should not be a surprise since the name Richard Hell was a obviously a pseudonym too. His “real” name, if there is such a thing, is Richard Meyers. Hell started out writing and publishing, became a pioneer in the punk music field in the 1970's, and returned to a focus on writing in the 1990's as the punk era aged. He performed in several bands, but the best known is still Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Getting back to the books and Ernie Stomach, item 36 is flip-movie dance alphabet peepshow toy enigma boring book, published in 1971. Cassidy notes that this was an early example of Meyers using a persona, describing the book as “a minimal, semi-erotic alphabet book.” We assume it was not meant for the kids. $500.

 

Item 41 is a flyer for the quintessential punk band, the Ramones. It was for a 1979 concert in Milwaukee. Milwaukee was not exactly the capital of punk rock music, but The Palms, where they played, was noted for featuring many of the top punk bands of the day. The cost was $6.50, and who wouldn't gladly pay that today for a chance to see them play? Sadly, we note the passing of the last original Ramone still living, drummer Tommy, last month. None of them had the chance to live a long life. $250.

 

Brian Cassidy, Bookseller may be reached at 301-589-0789 or books@briancassidy.net. The website is www.briancassidy.net

Rare Book Monthly

  • 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.
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