Rare Books Blog by Calix Books

What Makes a Rare Book, Rare?

What makes a rare book, rare? Good question and here are some hints as to finding out just how rare your book might be. Rare books are not always about price, odd as that may sound. You can have a modern first edition signed by Rowling that will sell for $30,000 and a First Edition Incunabula printed in 1478 selling for $15,000. Nearly 420 plus years of age difference but yet the more rare incunabula may be priced well below the modern first edition. Happens all the time. So the bottom line is that price does not always indicate 'rareness'.

Here are some ways you can find out about the price of your rare book and get some indication as to its rarity. There are a number of very good bookseller associations that provide online searching for free, mainly because it is a form of advertising for booksellers to you, the potential book buyer and customer. The booksellers that are members all must have stores where there books, especially their rare books and rare ephemera can be purchased by the 'walk in trade' or their rare books are sold online. Why? Well many of the world's libraries are connected to ILAB, ABE and Alibris so when a librarian does a search on the global database of books owned by all the libraries, they have the option of clicking one of these links and finding out if the book is availble, from whom and how much the rare book sells for and how many copies are availble of this rare book online. Whether the book is a first edition, signed Rowling book selling for $30,000 or a rare incunabula, selling for $15,000. You will be using the same databases that rare book rooms in libraries use to acquire books in the open market.

Just click on these links and a new page will open up for you.

They are:

Advanced Book Exchange

Alibris

Biblion (UK)

International League of Antiquarian Booksellers

Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America

You will notice that on all the sites there is an advanced search option, I suggest that you use this and provide a description of the book such as author, title (if the title is too long, shorten it), year of publication (usually from when to when dates) and then finally publisher. If your book doesn't show up, don't fret and it doesn't mean that it is rare, it only means that none of the dealers have the books in stock.

So what makes a rare book rare? An incunabula (printed before 1500), where there may only be a handfull of copies in the world can actually sell well below the price of a modern first edition. Again, price does NOT an indicator of Rarity of a Book. Booksellers and rare book dealers tend to specialize in areas of interest and some focus on building an expertise in particular rare book areas of collecting, selling and buying. A combination of demand, limited supply and book quality all make up the condition known as a 'rare book'. So don't just put your book up for auction on eBay, if you think you have a rare book, ask someone to give you an appraisal or if you want to sell it, ask a dealer to sell it for you!

Rare Ephemera US Navy Marblehead 1795

Some of the more interesting and small one of a kind items that we often find on our hunting in New England are the rare ephemera for local New England history that we occasionally find. This little gem was purchased from the previous owners of the bookstore in Marblehead called "Much Ado" the bookstore is still there but with new owners and is named after the Shakespeare play. When we first bought this little piece of Marblehead history, we thought that perhaps it was about a boat 'race' and the owners of Much Ado, described it as such. However, after some research we found that the word 'Prize' had nothing whatsoever to do with a race but rather the capture of a foreign ship and the selling of its contents. The Prize was then divided up amongst the Captain, crew and the other commanders. Brigadier General John Glover was the commander of the entire Continental Navy and also the Army forces for Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War. He was a long time resident of Marblehead and much loved the town. He actually lived in a house in or near Vinnin Square that borders on three towns, Marblehead, Lynn and Swampscott. His house or the main 'farm' house was expanded and built upon through the years and was at one time a famous North Shore restaurant owned and operated by the now deceased, Anthony Athanas (1911-2005). It is now closed but was called the General Glover House. It had great food and the best pop-overs (a New England and English treat).

The Betsey was a fishing schooner captured under the command of at that time of Colonel (or Commander of the Continential Navy) John Glover, later to become Brigadier General (in the Army and the Navy) the Navy was based out of Marblehead, Massachusetts. The folks in Beverly argue that they are the home of the Navy but we all don't believe them. John Glover was in command of the early U.S. Navy. Colonel (or Commander) Glover, acting on behalf of General George Washington, chartered the schooner Two Brothers, renamed the Lee and placed at its command Captain David Waters who in 1777 captured the sloop on May 3 and sent her to Marblehead Massachusetts.

This item is a 'Net Prize' note to General Glover (known as the 'Greate General' in Marblehead) the amount of two pounds eight shillings dated may 7th, 1795. Prizes were often allocated to the commanding generals as part of their portion of the capture and sale of a foreign ship or its contents, which were sometimes removed and the ship set free or sunk. Although the war was over, there were during this time, much 'Prize' capturing of ships by the British, French and the Americans (this was during the great struggle between England and France following the Revolutionary War in which the United States under President George Washington tried to remain neutral). The Betsey was obviously involved in one of those seizures, brought the booty to Marblehead and the contents were auctioned off to the highest bidder and the proceeds distributed. In this case the Betsey had been so named on our note as was the Greate General. Brigadier General John Glover died in 1797.

Description: Single sheet 5-3/4 by 7 inches with tears and holes but oddly enough not affecting hand text. Author of the document is unknown and reverse has tape to hold the item together. A terrific piece of Americana Navy! Extremely rare and important item. It's up for auction now at our favorite spot, eBay! There is NO RESERVE on this important and one of a kind item. Just click on the picture or the word eBay to take you there!

1655 Rare Ephemera Kenebec Land Deed Native Americans

Rare Native American land deeds, even such as this one, copied around 1711 by the grand son, Josiah Cotton (1680-1756) of John Cotton (1585-1652) who was one of the Massachusetts Bay Colony founders. This particular deed lays out the territory that was purchased from the original founders because of constant encroachment, tribal wars and other more difficult matters to "Antipas Boies, Edward Tyng, Thomas Brattle and John Winslow of the Four of Boston in the County of Suffolk in the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts in New England in America". Truly a rare ephemera item sold only on eBay auction: Click the image or the eBay icon to bid!

The territory was about 1,500,000 acres of land and is bordered by rivers, most notably, the Kennebec River. Since the Cotton's had access to most of the records kept during the early days of the founding of our country, this particular 'copy' was made by Josiah Cotton when he was a 'registrar' for the Plymouth county and it is so noted in his history. He had taught many times amongst the Native American peoples, both religion as well as other matters of society, government and laws. During this time, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the Massachusetts Bay Colony were based upon English law. This copied document is a very rare item, finding its way to an auction, where we purchased it. The document is laid on watermarked paper and although toned, stained and with minor creases, tears and other usual annomalies, it is undoubtedly one of the rarest of ephemera items we have had in our inventory.

“1655 Prence (Presence) God 

A Deed appointed to be recorded. 

This indenture of the twenty seventh day of October Anno Donal One thousand six hundred Sixty one, made between the General Coast for the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England in America in the Behalf of the said Colony on the one Part and Antipas Boies, Edward Tyng, Thomas Brattle and John Winslow of the Four of Boston in the County of Suffolk in the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts in New England in America aforesaid merchants on the other Past, Wilsoforth that whereas our late loved Lord King James for the advancement of a Colony and Plantation in the Countrey called or known by the name of New England in America by his Highness Letters, Letters Patents and as the Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster the Kind day of November in the Eighteenth Year of his Highness Reign of England & c. does Give Grant and Confirm unto the Right Honorable…”

Rare Ephemera Picking Todd's Farm!

Finding Rare Photographs and Ephemera at your local flea market and picker's market is not as hard as it seems if you know what you are looking for and if the price is right, a rare combination but with the Walker photographs, we got lucky. We have found lots of rare ephemera, rare books and rare photographs on our forays to Todd's Farm in Rowley, Massachusetts, but our recent acquisition of the works of Paul H. Walker, a sometimes photographer and a sometimes lawyer that lived and worked and photographed, large format Black and White nature photos as well as some indoor light study photos are being offered at our auction on eBayfor the next seven days.

What we found delightful is the large format pictures that Walker had snapped. He composed many of these photos after the classic style, sometimes looking to the nature photographs of Ansel Adams for inspiration, the effects of studying how Adams formated his pictures are definitive in Walker's works. As with all rare photographs and ephemera, we sell our products only online!

Rare Books Navy Ships 1549

Rare books and ephemera sold only on line in our eBay bookstore are up for auction! We have some very high quality items in the auction that are already reasonably reserved to market! Check it out or forward to a friend who is a book collector!

 

This 16th century book is at the auction! Click on any of the pictures or the eBay logo and it will take you there to the rare book auction online.  A very rare and great book retaining its original vellum binding. Printed in 1549 and only 26 libraries have this copy with no copies available.

Want to save some money? Then now is the time to buy! The economy is improving and book prices are sure to go up! They tend to do so dramatically especially following a pick up in the economy. Why? People are looking for ways to divest their holdings into investments that can be liquidated. Books, especially rare books are a limited supply item and everytime a Library buys one, it takes that book completely out of circulation (at least in our lifetimes anyway, Libraries generally don't sell off collections unless they go bankrupt or are merged or bought by another not-for-profit. Don't forget to check out our other auction sales as well! Good luck and thanks for taking the time to view our items!

Calixbooks, rare ephemera and rare books at fair prices sold only online!

 

More Finds at Todd's Farm!

What other goodies rare ephemera and rare antiques did we find at Todd's Farm? How about a matching pair of Abercrombie & Fitch Flasks that will hold 128 ounces, manufactured in England in English Pewter (one of the finest and safest pewter's in the world), hallmarked and now available at auction on eBay!

In 1892 Abercrombie & Fitch began under the name David T. Abercrombie Co., a small waterfront shop and factory in downtown New York City owned by David Abercrombie.

David Abercrombie, born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, was a former trapper, prospector, topographer and railroad surveyor. He was also an inventor, an ingenious designer of tents, rucksacks and other camping equipment. It was his love of the great outdoors that inspired him to begin Abercrombie & Co., a shop dedicated to selling only the highest-quality camping, fishing and hunting gear. His clientele consisted mostly of professional hunters, explorers and trappers. And a man named Ezra Fitch.

Ezra Fitch was a successful lawyer in Kingston, New York. Restless and thoroughly bored with his life of law, Fitch spent all of his free time trekking the slopes of the Adirondacks and casting flies into the streams of the Catskill. In his search for exceptional outdoor gear, he had come to rely upon David Abercrombie's shop, becoming one of its most devoted customers.

He was so devoted, in fact, that in 1900 he had convinced David Abercrombie to let him buy into the business and become a partner. By 1904, the shop (which by now had moved to 314 Broadway) was incorporated and the name was officially changed to Abercrombie & Fitch. Both David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch were stubborn, hot-tempered men, and they had vastly different views about the future of their business. Abercrombie was more conservative, content to continue the store as it was, selling professional gear to professional outdoorsmen. Fitch, on the other hand, was more of a visionary. He was positive that the future of the business lay in expansion, selling the outdoors and its delights to more of the general public. Long arguments between the two men ensued. Inevitably, the partnership came to an end, and David Abercrombie resigned in 1907.

In the meantime, the store continued to expand. Ezra Fitch was a determined innovator. As a result of his imagination, hard work and sheer force of will, what he created was no ordinary sporting goods shop. Fitch was determined that the store have an outdoor feeling. Stock was not hidden behind glass cabinets. Instead, it was displayed as if in use. He set up a tent and equipped it as if it were out in the middle of the wilds of the Adirondacks. A campfire blazed in one corner, where an experienced guide was always in attendance, imparting valuable information to interested customers. The clerks hired at A&F were not professional salesmen, but true rugged outdoorsmen. Talking was their pleasure and selling was performed only at the customers' insistence. By 1913, the store moved to a more fashionable and easily accessible midtown address just off Fifth Avenue, expanding its inventory to include sport clothing. A&F became the first store in New York to supply such clothing to women as well as men.

By 1917, Abercrombie & Fitch moved to Madison Avenue and 45th Street, where it occupied an entire twelve story building. Outside a sign proclaimed "Where the Blazed Trail Crosses the Boulevard." Abercrombie & Fitch had become the largest sporting goods store in the world, as well as the most impressive. A log cabin was built on the roof, which Fitch used as a townhouse. Next to it he had a casting pool installed, where serious fishermen could sample the store's impressive collection of rods and flies. In the basement, an armored rifle range was set up. There was also a golf school, a floor dedicated solely to completely set-up camps, and a dog and cat kennel. In addition to the more standard types of outdoor goods, A&F had a selection of exotic sporting equipment that would make the imagination reel: hot air balloons, yachting pennants, portable trampolines, treadmills for exercising dogs, throwing knives, shirts of chainmail, leopard collars, and everything a person could possibly need for falconry.

Abercrombie & Fitch outfitted many great hunting and exploration expeditions, like Theodore Roosevelt's trips to Africa and the Amazon and Robert Peary's expedition to the North Pole. Ernest Hemingway bought his guns there. Presidents Hoover and Einsenhower relied on A&F for the best fishing equipment. Other famous clients included Amelia Earhart, Presidents Taft, Harding and Kennedy, the Duke of Windsor, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Katharine Hepburn, Greta Garbo and Clark Gable. And there was more: Cole Porter ordered his evening clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch. During Prohibition, A&F was the place to buy hip flasks.

Todd's Farm Rowley for Rare Ephemera

Every Sunday from early spring until late fall, Todd's Farm in Rowley, Massachusetts is a collection point for some of New England's vagabond pickers and dealers. If you are visiting Boston, then take a drive up Old Route 1A which by the way used to be the road that John Adams used to ride when making his circuit as a Lawyer from Massachusetts. But the trick is to get there early, have cash in hand and be ready to buy what you see.

It is also wize to leave early in the morning and if the road doesn't look like this as you get closer to Rowley...it's already too late.

I had not been to Todd's Farm in a while but used to go there every weekend when I was buying and selling antique furniture and other items. Every now and then I would run across some interesting rare books and rare ephemera but Todd's was all about antiques and still mostly is but here are two interesting items I found...but I didn't buy.

This piece of rare ephemera was priced at $150 but with a little haggling and combination buying (always a good way to bring down the average price of rare ephemera). I could have gotten it for less than $100.

The second item was also $150, considerably smaller but printed in 1801. Very nice Washington memorabilia and you didn't even have to go to an auction!

Proving that once again, if you want to find it, just get off the keester, get up early and get to Todd's on Sunday BEFORE the sun comes up and bring a flashlight!

 

Rare Ephemera Nicholas Biddle Autograph

Rare ephemera manuscript writings by Nicholas Biddle 1832. Found at Todd's Farm! All you have to do is look! Rare ephemera online by Calix Books.

The four Stanza hand written poem is found in 'The Pearl; or Affection's Gift. Christmas and New Year's Present.' Philadelphia: Thomas T. Ash-Chestnut Street. 1832. The four stanza work can be found in this edition but it is not ascribed to anyone. In our hand written manuscript copy it is ascribed to 'Chapman' by Biddle in 1832. This is Nicholas Biddle manuscript copies of perhaps an additional work he was creating for publication. Two sheets written on Water Marked Paper 'Amies Philad a' with a dove and a branch in its beak on the second page. Signed N. Biddle and then Biddle 1832.

Also copied is 'The Young Novice' by Miss Mitford and a poem written and incorporated into the work entitled "Ode to Bogle" by Nicholas Biddle, first published by Biddle in 1820. Extremely rare and important manuscript material from a Pennsylvania man who had a large influence on the finances of the United States...

On August 26, 1831, Biddle's brother, Thomas, a War of 1812 hero, was killed in a duel on Bloody Island (Mississippi River) at St. Louis, Missouri with Congressman Spencer Pettis. Thomas had taken offense to Pettis' criticizing Nicholas at the bank. After an exchange of letters to the editor Biddle accosted an ill Pettis in his hotel room. After Pettis recovered he challenged Thomas to a duel and both were killed when they exchanged shots from just five feet apart. The "Bank War" of 1832–36 was initiated by Biddle when he decided to apply for the Bank's re-charter four years before the charter was scheduled to expire. Until 1832, Jackson, for three years, had ignored the Bank and Biddle. But, once challenged, he decided to veto the bill to re-charter the bank, which was being pushed by Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky in preparation for another Presidential run later that year. Jackson, well-known as a man whom one did not want to anger, still harbored ill will towards Clay from the 1824 Presidential election. Clay's strategy failed, and Jackson gained great support from the public for his veto. Clay lost to Jackson again in November despite massive funding of over $3 million in bankers' support.

In early 1833, Jackson decided to pull the government's funds out of the Bank. The Secretary of the Treasury, Louis McLane, was favorable to the Bank. He refused to withdraw the funds and would not resign, so Jackson removed him as Secretary of the Treasury by appointing him to Secretary of State. His replacement, William Duane, deliberately delayed. After waiting four months, Jackson replaced him as well. The third man, his former Attorney General, Roger B. Taney, complied. The funds were transferred to seven state-chartered banks in late September. This put the Second Bank on the defensive. It had lost its biggest depositor, by far.

To fight back, Biddle decided to shrink the money supply and cause a recession in 1834 in order to force Jackson to accept a re-charter bill. The Bank demanded that old loans be repaid. It made no new loans. There was a brief recession in the first half of 1834, but another bill to re-charter failed in the House on April 4. That was the last time the issue ever came before Congress. And so, the Bank was doomed. Its charter expired in April, 1836. Biddle's friends assert that his non-partisanship provoked Jackson's hostility, a claim denied by Jackson's admirers. After the Bank lost its national charter in April, 1836, it continued to operate erratically as a state-chartered bank, partially causing the Panic of 1837.

In 1839, Biddle resigned from his post of Bank President, and in 1841, the Bank finally failed. Biddle was arrested and charged with fraud; he was later acquitted. He died soon after while still involved in civil suits. He was important in the establishment of Girard College under the provisions of the founder's will. Girard had been the original promoter of the Second Bank and its largest investor. Girard died in 1831.

Rare Book by Shakespeare Head Press Book Kynge Arthur!

A stunning two volume set made in the tradition of William Morris who created a new look in making modern books by using the old techniques for making books and printing them. Morris's company which included everything from designing wall paper to the making and printing of books, re-created some of the most spectacular works printed before 1500.

Here to, Shakespeare Head Press set out and accomplished the goal of re-printing the 1498 Edition 'The Boke of Noble Kyng. Kyng Arthure Somtyme Kynge of Englande and His Noble Actes and Feates of armes of Chyvalrye, and His Noble Knyghtes and Table Rounde and is Deuyeded in to. XXI Bookes. Wynkyn de Worde, Westminster. 1498.

This edition is an exact copy of that rare and unusual work that includes the wood cut engravings found throughout the text. The Elizabethan scholar A. H. Bullen established the Shakespeare Head Press in Stratford-up-Avon in 1904. His original aim was to produce a good edition of Shakespeare's  works, and his ten volume Stratford Town Shakespeare was completed by 1907. After Bullen died in 1927, the press was acquired by a partnership including Basil Blackwell, the Oxford bookseller. Bernard Newdigate was appointed as typographer and under his direction the press worked within the Morris tradition: Ovid's Metamorphoses was the first book he produced as a limited edition. This 1933 limited edition of 350 copies reaches the goal of reproducing a book in the finest, ancient and lasting traditions. This rare book set is the only one we have located and only one other copy is found in the World Catalog of Libraries database. A rare book sold only online by Calix Books.

Heritage Auctions Rare Americana

We will keep this short and to the point. We are listing a number of very rare americana items, ephemera and rare books at the Heritage Auction site.You can view and bid on my entire consignment in auction #6043 at thefollowing link: http://historical.HA.com/common/search_items.php?Sale_No=6043&Consignor_No=59&type=friend-consignorlive-notice&FC=0 You can cut and paste this link and it will take you directly to the items but hurry, auction ends today!

All the best,

Richard Gabriel
Owner
Calix Books
#281
505 Paradise Rd.
Swampscott, MA 01907
781 477 9485 Phone
781 477 9484 FAX
http://www.calixbooks.com