News
Feb 3, 2012
Unloved Antiques: Those Stacks of Old Books
In today’s example of an Unloved Antiques, let’s look at something nearly everyone has, almost never throws out and are often thought to be quite valuable. Old books. I’m as guilty as anyone, as my home is filled with books I’ve bought, borrowed or inherited over the years. Hundreds of pounds of them stashed in book cases, on coffee tables, under the furniture, in boxes and large plastic bins in the basement.
Feb 3, 2012
The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World
With Amazon slowly taking over the publishing world and bookstores closing left and right, things can sometimes seem a little grim for the brick and mortar booksellers of the world. After all, why would anyone leave the comfort of their couch to buy a book when with just a click of a button, they could have it delivered to their door?
Feb 2, 2012
Looking Back at Book Prices in 2011
The last few years have been economically trying for just about everyone, and book selling certainly hasn't been immune. While precisely what is happening to dealers is impossible to know (most don't talk), auction results are public. And the auction results show a modest recovery in the book market, though some may be surprised. But, numbers don't lie.
Feb 2, 2012
No More E-Books Vs. Print Books Arguments, OK?
Jonathan Franzen's in the news again, this time talking about how e-books are chiseling away at the foundations of civilization as we know it. Absurd, isn't it?
Feb 2, 2012
Letters of Note
Letters of Note is very interesting website attempting to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos. Check it out and let us know what you think?
Feb 1, 2012
Letter from freed slave to former master draws attention
A newly discovered letter from a freed former slave to his onetime master is creating a buzz. Letters of Note explains that in August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee wrote to his former slave Jourdan Anderson, requesting that Jourdan return to work on his farm.
Feb 1, 2012
5 Famous Writers Who Loathe E-Books
Jonathan Franzen, National Book Award winner and past TIME Magazine coverboy, is the latest author to decry the rise of e-readers such as the Nook and Kindle.
Feb 1, 2012
Letter from freed slave to former master draws attention - Yahoo! News
A newly discovered letter from a freed former slave to his onetime master is creating a buzz. Letters of Note explains that in August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee wrote to his former slave Jourdan Anderson, requesting that Jourdan return to work on his farm.
Jan 31, 2012
Biblical Humor in The New Yorker: A Brief History
Earlier this month, The New Yorker featured a humorous essay by comic wunderkind Simon Rich parodying the Book of Genesis.
Jan 31, 2012
Custer dealer seeks return of seized artifacts
A few miles from where George Custer made his infamous Last Stand against thousands of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, artifacts dealer Christopher Kortlander is waging his own battle with authorities to reclaim a trove of war bonnets, medicine bags and other items seized during government raids on his privately-operated Custer museum.
Jan 31, 2012
The Bookstore’s Last Stand
In March 2009, an eternity ago in Silicon Valley, a small team of engineers here was in a big hurry to rethink the future of books. Not the paper-and-ink books that have been around since the days of Gutenberg, the ones that the doomsayers proclaim — with glee or dread — will go the way of vinyl records.
Jan 27, 2012
Style For Book Nerds: 10 Literary-Inspired Looks For A Well-Read Wardrobe
Let's be honest -- we all love looking smart. But you don't need to rock a pair of thick plastic-framed glasses or a tattoo of your favorite Plato quote to do it! Being a book nerd has never been so cool -- now, you can show all your friends that you're stylish and well-read with these literary-inspired pieces.
Jan 27, 2012
Magna Carta Conservation Treatment
National Archives conservators devoted weeks to the conservation treatment of Magna Carta, the first phase of a major project leading its re-encasement and public display. The document -- written on parchment in 1297 with iron gall ink
Jan 27, 2012
The 5 Books That Inspire the Most Tattoos
What’s just as interesting as a tattoo is the story behind the tattoo, and that’s certainly true for the subcategory of tattoos that are inspired by famous literary works.
Jan 27, 2012
Former President John Tyler’s (1790-1862) grandchildren still alive
Former President John Tyler, born 221 years ago, still has two living grandchildren. The one-term president isn't a well-known historical figure; he's probably best remembered for helping to push through the annexation of Texas in 1845, shortly before leaving office.
Jan 26, 2012
The Rare Books of Cyberspace
About this time seven years ago, Christie’s auctioneers at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, sold a number of rare books, manuscripts, documents, offprint papers, etc., having as common denominator the topic of computer science. The event was titled “The Origins of Cyberspace” and it consisted of 133 lots and earned a total of 714,060 USD.
Jan 26, 2012
What was J.D. Salinger working on?
The reclusive author died two years ago. We've learned lots about his life since, but one big question remains.
Jan 25, 2012
Andy Warhol's Dollar Sign screenprint could make big bucks at Bonhams' auction
Fond of money in more ways than one, Andy Warhol's Dollar Sign screenprint could bring £30,000.
Jan 25, 2012
Cormac McCarthy Did Not Join Twitter
This morning a Twitter impersonator made waves online, pretending to be novelist Cormac McCarthy.
While the laconic writer would be a perfect fit for Twitter, the Vintage Anchor Twitter feed told publishing reporter Sarah Weinman that it was not the real McCarthy. Above, we’ve embedded the publisher’s tweet.
While the laconic writer would be a perfect fit for Twitter, the Vintage Anchor Twitter feed told publishing reporter Sarah Weinman that it was not the real McCarthy. Above, we’ve embedded the publisher’s tweet.
Jan 23, 2012
J.R.R. Tolkien & George Orwell Removed From Public Domain
Last week, the Supreme Court made a decision to uphold a copyright law for foreign works that will remove works from famous authors from the public domain.
