An educational and informational site about rare, old and antiquarian books.
In 1543 Andreas Vesalius published his opus De Humani Corporis Fabrica Librorum Septem (Fabrica) and, later the same month, the companion volume De Humani Corporis Fabrica Librorum Epitome (Epitome). The two volumes are considered to be the foundation of modern Anatomy. Vesalius viewed the Epitome as an introduction for the novice in medicine, serving as […]
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In case you were wondering why Brooklyn seemed devoid of its usual hipster crowd tonight, it was not your imagination. They had all migrated just a few paces north to Long Island City, Queens, an entirely separate borough, but a stone’s throw from Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Skinny jeans, gingham/ plaid/ flannel/ floral/ checkers/ paisley shirts, […]
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The Codex Foundation of Berkley, CA is preparing for its fourth biennial “World’s Fair & Symposium of the Book Arts,” to be held February 10th through the 13th, 2013. The event takes place on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley, and its mission is to preserve and promote the hand-made book as […]
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It was exactly 100 years ago at about this time that the first book by famous, German-language author, Franz Kafka was published. Contemplation (Betrachtung in German) was published towards the end of 1912 and it included 18 short stories that Kafka wrote between 1904 and 1912. In fact, this was the only book published during […]
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If someone asked you to explain the principle of supply and demand, could you do it? What if someone asked you to apply the principle to explain the current state of the rare book market, would you be able to? The latter may not be as simple to explain by using the basic theory of […]
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Every enthusiastic print collector tries to make a determination on what can be considered an “original print” by examining the technique used to create a print coupled with the artist’s preferred media. An original print is a work conceived and originated by the artist as a print and excludes reproductions of the work conducted in […]
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When two or more objects of delight are combined into one amalgamation of pure bliss, the world instantly becomes a better and happier place. Consider a chocolate covered strawberry for instance. Two very different and distinct flavors are combined into a concoction that is truly divine. The creamy and rich chocolate and the sweet, juicy, […]
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Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech (1904-1989), better known as Salvador Dali, is one of the most famous and popular artists of the twentieth century. His artistic nature is captured in paintings, sculptures, plays, films, photographs, costumes and, of course, rare books. The mustachioed master of Surrealism was criticized and abandoned by the art establishment […]
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A century before Luigi Serafini’s Codex Seraphinianus perplexed readers worldwide, another very unusual moveable, hand-colored rare book by Dean’s of London had a similar effect in intriguing readers. Dean’s New Book of Dissolving Scenes, London: Dean & Son, (1861), featuring five, bright working transformations which have their scenes “dissolve” into another when tabs are pulled, […]
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The first quarter of 2012 marks the return of the best performer of the Rare Book Sale Monitor (RBSM) category breakdown –Arts/Photography/Architecture, to pre 4th quarter 2011 levels. Our top performer showed a slight decline in price appreciation during the end of last year and had a mediocre 2011 performance overall, which was very uncharacteristic. […]
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