Posted by Richard Gabriel on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 @ 12:08 PM
Dominic Winter Auctions in England is hosting an auction that has some particularly interesting books. The title of the auction is "PRINTED BOOKS & MAPS EGYPTOLOGY (FROM THE COLLECTION OF PROFFESSOR HARRY S. SMITH) EARLY BIBLES & THEOLOGY FROM RAMSGATE ABBEY: PART TWO"
Date: Wednesday 25th January 2012
Viewing Tuesday 24th January 9am-7pm and morning of sale from 9am
If you are planning to attend and bid, Dominic Winter has a email service for sending in your maximum bids on items that you might be interested in acquiring. They have the usual fees associated with auctions, no surprises there. We have purchased at auction and have found their descriptions of the books and articles to be accurate and received in a timely and well packed manner shortly after the auction has been settled.
The antiquarian books and antiques are very affordable, despite the currency difference between the British pound and the U.S. dollar. Prudent bidding can yield some good acquisitions for the collector.
"A Geometrical Practical Treatize..." is a particularly rare and hard to find complete edition. Any books printed in English and in England before 1600 are becoming harder and harder to acquire at reasonable prices.
This work has a low estimate and we believe it will go for quite a bit more than the estimate. But this is not the only jewel in the crown. A worthwhile trip to the web site for a look at this up and coming auction. Try the flip through catalog, it is quite attractive, well layed out and pleasing to look at. Catalogs can be purchased from Dominic Winter as well. Good luck at the Auction!
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Mon, Aug 15, 2011 @ 11:41 AM
Antiquarian Booksellers A past friend of mine introduced me to James and Devon Gray by giving me a book as a present. I have since passed that gift onto another friend of mine in Germany. It is the history of the Italian Wars, translated into English, first edition. This past friend of mine, bought it from James Gray and the book was rebound by Devon, his wife.
She is an excellent in fact par excellance would be very hard to find in re-casting a much abused book into a fine work of book art. I have several of her books and have sold several books with and for James and Devon.
James actually sat me down with a 16th century book and taught me how to collate it properly and how to read a collation index. He turned me on to the various databases and reference books that are at the heart of collecting 16th century and earlier books. He and Devon make a fantastic team of valuable books going back to any time and any price...literally, books costing in the thousands of dollars to books costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, James is the man!
The James & Devon Gray booksellers site is just the tip of the much deeper understanding of book collecting, buying and selling. We have at times collaborated and it has always been a pleasure to buy and sell books with James and Devon. Recently, I have not had any books redone by Devon but I can assure anyone who has a dishelved book from the 16th century or earlier, having Devon take a look at it, provide an assessment and having James help you price it or move it, is worth the effort.
The one thing that James did teach me is that if the book is extremely rare, then even if the pages are missing, it might be worth buying...however, if it is a book that even sells in the thousdands of dollars in perfect collation, not necessarily perfect condition, the value of the book with missing pages is only 10-20% of the value and should only be bought to fill a hole in the collection or to perhaps do a 'make up' edition from two dysfunctional books into one.
Today, we see so many ebay buyers who are bidding and buying books with missing pages, over the weekend, we note several books that are missing pages and are of considerable lower value, we think, compared to the purchase price. Plus, when we look at the buyer experience, we see buyers with very low ratings, meaning an uneducated buyer, at least in the book trade.
Collation, condition, scarcity, price and binding make up the price qualities of a book. If it is a 16th century English book, printed in English, then missing pages may not be so bad but the price should be adjusted accordingly for example a complete Chaucer printed in the 16th century in English in its original binding would sell for $50,000+ but a defective copy might sell for $15,000 to $20,000. The defective copy will also not appreciate at the same rate as a 'perfect' copy. Remember, 'perfect' in a 16th or 15th century book doesn't mean the same as a modern book with a slip cover...something else to learn about!
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Mon, Aug 08, 2011 @ 10:29 AM
Since the spring, the book business seemed to fall off the edge of the earth or at least for us it did. We decided instead to go on a buying trip to Spain, and well we were really disapointed. Barcelona has few antiquarian book dealers and the surrounding towns are equally as sparse. Perhaps we were spoiled by Italy, where book dealing is a vibrant and active industry as it is in England, France and Germany.
Don't get me wrong, Spain was great, good food, good wines, great olive oils and great weather, who could ask for more? How about some antiquarian books and more book dealers? Anyway, we are gearing up for a heavy listing on ebay but we are also doubting the strength of the buying audience on ebay, it seems everyone wants to shop at garage sale prices and sometimes we see bidders purchasing books, we wouldn't touch. It's really simple, if a book is missing its pages, i.e. title page, last several pages etc. etc. then don't touch it unless it is really, really rare. For example, English printed books in English before 1600 are extremely rare because the number of books printed in the 1500's in English is really low. The number of books printed in the 1400's is even lower! Right around the beginning of the 1600's there was an explosion of book printing, not that books in the 1600's aren't rare and if they are, then the purchase of a defective book has to be at the right price...we don't see that on ebay. What we see are bidders buying books that are defective and paying more that what they are worth. What we don't see is bidders buying good, solid books at the market prices that they should be sold at.
So where is all the action? It's in the auctions. Bloomsbury book auctions continues to be a great auction house. But don't forget Dominic Winter, Doyles, Sotheby's, Christies, PBA Galleries, Swann Galleries and many others. The dollar is so weak and since the Tea Party decided to play chicken with the credit rating agencies and our wallets, the dollar is going to get cheaper. So this is not good for buying books in Europe or the U.K. but it is great for selling them in another currency. Right now there is about a 40% premium just in currency for European and UK buyers and its is bound to go up as Congress and the President do battle over spending and tax increases.
So the message this summer is sell your books overseas and buy them in the U.S.!
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Mon, Apr 04, 2011 @ 12:52 PM
On April 7, 2001 a Rare Books Auction is being held by Swann Galleries. I have purchased from them before and have found their descriptions of the books to be spot on. Sometimes at auction, the descriptions are wanting for a complete and accurate description, especially when it comes to quality of the book, paper and binding.
Swann's catalog link is http://tinyurl.com/3hgb8hq
There are some fantastic properties in this auction, particularly some of the incunabula works as well as the 'books of hours', created in the 1400's. It's easy to register and bid on-line for this rare books auction. Just follow the links and if the prices are too high for you, come over to our eBay site and check out our listings!
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Sun, Feb 20, 2011 @ 09:36 AM
We are featuring a number of rare Presidential ephemera, printed during the life of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States and the son of John Adams, the second President of the United States. The listing of rare ephemera will be found on our next auction starting on Sunday morning February 27, 2011, EST at our eBay page. Follow the links and see some rare Presidential printed material. Not as pricy as signed documents but very collectable and rare Presidential ephemera, if you are collecting Presidential items these should certainly interest you. All First Editions with limited printing. On are list of offerings are:
1. 1826 Message from the President about Mexico and Pledge of the U.S. also noted Henry Clay in addtion to John Quincy Adams.
2. 1831 Eulogy on the Life and Character of James Monroe by John Quincy Adams. J.Q. Adams served under Monroe.
3. 1839 The Jubilee of the Constitution etc. by John Quincy Adams. As a young man, J.Q. was an intergral part of the Revolution and acompanied his father John Adams to Paris...
John Quincy Adams (July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. He was also an American diplomat and served in both the Senate and House of Representatives. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of President John Adams and Abigail Adams. The name "Quincy" came from Abigail's maternal grandfather, Colonel John Quincy, after whom Quincy, Massachusetts, is named. As a diplomat, Adams was involved in many international negotiations, and helped formulate the Monroe Doctrine as Secretary of State. Historians agree he was one of the great diplomats in American history.
As president, he proposed a program of modernization and educational advancement, but was stymied by Congress, controlled by his enemies. Adams lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson. In doing so, he became the first President since his father to serve a single term. As president, he presented a vision of national greatness resting on economic growth and a strong federal government, but his presidency was not a success as he lacked political adroitness, popularity or a network of supporters, and ran afoul of politicians eager to undercut him.
Adams is best known as a diplomat who shaped America's foreign policy in line with his deeply conservative and ardently nationalist commitment to America's republican values. More recently he has been portrayed as the exemplar and moral leader in an era of modernization when new technologies and networks of infrastructure and communication brought to the people messages of religious revival, social reform, and party politics, as well as moving goods, money and people ever more rapidly and efficiently.
Adams was elected a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, the only president ever to do so, serving for the last 17 years of his life with far greater success than he had achieved in the presidency. Animated by his growing revulsion against slavery, Adams became a leading opponent of the Slave Power and argued that if a civil war ever broke out the president could abolish slavery by using his war powers, a correct prediction of Abraham Lincoln's use of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Adams predicted the dissolution of the Union on the slavery issue, though he mistakenly predicted that if the South became independent there would be a series of bloody slave insurrections.
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Sat, Feb 05, 2011 @ 09:44 AM
Sometimes, the only copies of one of a kind books such as the 'Die Augsburger Passion' from 1480 can only be had as a reprint. In 1924, there was a careful and professional copy of the Passion made using carved wood blocks and hand coloring as well as a binding of a limited number of copies in the original vellum. This is an exceptional copy and very rare. Wonderfully well done, bright colors and terrific printing.
Hand colored wood block prints (28) bound in vellum with gold lettering on the spine. The title is 'Die Augsburger Passion von 1480' huftau Kiepenheuer Verlag- Postdam (1924). Page previous to title page states: ' Das alte Bilderbuch herausgegeben von Kurt Pfister. Zweiter Druck. In pencil on fly cover page it states: 'of an ed. limited to 300 copies this is one of 100 copies bound in full limp vellum'. Our copy is bound in limp vellum over paper boards.
On the next to the last fly page is printed: 'Dieserzmeite Druck de Reihe "Das alte Bilderbuch" wurde von der Hobten=Presse, Berlin, in der Liturgisch auf Wiek Zander=Butten mit der hand abgezogen. Die Aekungen fertigte F. Bruckmann A=B., Munchen. Das handkolorieren besorgte Hermann Silmar, Berlin. Die Einbande wurden nach den Angaben von F. H. Ehmcke, Munchen, von Otto Dorfner, Weimar, mit der hand gebunden. Nr. 1-50 find in Schweingsleder, Nr. 15-150 in Kalbpergament (calf vellum), Nr. 151-300 in Pappe gebunden. Diese Buch tragt die Nummer: 139. This copy is the only copy listed on the internet and it was acquired on our buying from the Sarasota bookshop where it was listed. Only one copy is found in a library, making these books extremely rare antiquarian books. A fine copy with outstanding graphics. This book is estimated at $550-$650 and our price is $325. Follow the link below.
The Augsburger Passion
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Sat, Sep 11, 2010 @ 06:53 AM
Every now and then we get lucky and find something completely unique. Last week we picked up the signed copy of a 1968 Science Fiction convention or as its now called a 'Trek' convention, held at the Statler Hilton in Los Angeles and called Future Unbounded: Science Fiction Show and Convention. At the Statler Hilton Hotel, July 4, 5, 6, 7, 1968. Chairman- Charles A. Crayne etc. Dian Pelz, publication. Published July 4, 1968. 43 numbered pages with Gene Roddenberry's signature across the front cover of the program. Other signature as well, top signature is 'Kichaven' and second signature looks like 'Forrest' with the number '4' for the 'F'...Some toning to the spine from handling and otherwise it is in reasonably good but not perfect condition. Roddenberry items sell for hundreds of dollars. This item is an early Star Trek collectors item and quite rare and in good condition. You can go to the eBay web page by clicking on the photo below for a complete description of this rare ephemera and the opportunity to bid on it!
Rare ephemera like this item, even recently signed, well recent to some of us anyway, are becomming harder to find. We estimate the value of this item to be in the $250-$350 range as the 'master' behind the entire Star Trek genre was known to be a reluctant and somewhat reclusive person, making his signatures rarer and harder to find than the other cast of characters.
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 @ 09:24 AM
Sometimes when we go hunting for rare books, rare ephemera and antiques, some items we find strike our fancy. In this week's picking case we found a couple of items that are outside of our normal Antiquarian books and rare ephemera items that we go looking for and sometimes, that's what you should do as well. We buy items first on quality and unusual or rare occurance. The first item we found at Todd's farm, a mere 45 minutes up and back, up route 1A and back Route 1 (because its faster). Is this Avery scale: Click the picture and an new window will open for you.
The first item we bought on site and from an old dealer friend of mine was an antique, brass and iron Avery store scale that measures nearly 31 inches from base to top and weighs nearly 15 pounds. It is marked Avery with a model number on the bottom and it struck us as a very rare item in such good condition. My dealer buddie said in the 35 years picking and selling, he has had only two of these. It hasn't really been futzed with too much or too buggered as we say in the trade. What it doesn't have are the corresponding Avery weights for up to seven pounds (if it did, this baby would be worth twice what it is currently). Avery was a weight manufacturer from the 1760's all the way until 1918. The new Avery Berkel scales company is not the same company as these scales are often referred to as Avery Scales as well. On closer examination and you can see more pictures by following the link as the scales are for sale on our eBay website, the details of the workmanship is stunning. This is a product that was designed, built and made to last.
So sometimes, hunting for something else, leads you to another interesting find. This scale will make a great addition to someone's interior design. Filled with potpouri, properly balanced of course, is just one application. A stunning visual artifact from the 1800's, even though it's not a Rare First Edition, it is in fact a valuable and rare antique as many of these scales got tossed, melted or sold for scrap metal.
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 @ 06:57 AM
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!
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 05:22 AM
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!