The beauty in a collectible photography book

March 29, 2013
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Photography is not merely a reflection of reality but more like a witness to realism. All the technical manipulations used by computer imagery, turn-tables, biochromatic  gum exposures are hopeless without photographable reality. Photography would be guilty of imposing an image of reality if it simply passed off reflections instead of visible achievements that captured a […]

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Contemporary Art for the Bibliophile

March 22, 2013
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Contemporary art can be alluring for investors. Prices are soaring and the traditional cheaper alternative of investing in art works that are printed, bound, and widely offered in the form of a limited edition book, are not what they used to be. Such editions printed on better quality paper and featuring fine illustrations or even […]

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Old Book Paper Bindings

March 19, 2013
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It is not unusual for many collectors and researchers to come across old books retaining their original paper binding. Centuries ago, the books were sold by the printer or the publisher. The client, who had requested a title, purchased it directly from the workshop; the book was in booklets tied up together with a string. […]

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Virginia Woolf, a rare book icon

March 15, 2013
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At the very forefront of nineteenth century writings on feminism and rebellion against societal norms for women was the writer and journalist, Virginia Woolf. Woolf lived during a time of strict and traditional standards for women and the roles which they were expected to play, yet through her writings she expressed an alternative and freeing […]

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Rare Books Digest Spring Giveaway

March 12, 2013
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Don’t miss your chance to win a collectible book! Simply choose your favorite story from the following selections by submitting a comment at the bottom of this page.  Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced on April 1, 2013.   Man Ray and a missed opportunity. Book giveaway: Man Ray: American Artist. […]

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Rare Books and Veblen Commodities

March 8, 2013
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Let’s assume for a moment that we are in the market for a first edition copy of Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald from 1934. We may be an American literature collector of modern first editions or a fan of Fitzgerald or even a beautiful art dust jacket collector. We want to purchase […]

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First edition less significant than the reprint?

March 5, 2013
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Can a first edition of a rare book be less significant than a later edition? Of course it can. What follows is   a good example of such an “anomaly.” Bibliophiles of illustrated books often argue that the art contained in illustrated books is not being viewed as comparable in appeal to wall art. They call […]

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The “Anonymous” trade of the sixteen “Alcoholics”

March 1, 2013
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On September 1, 1939 4:45am Central European Time, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein leaves Danzig harbor to cross the channel to the Polish army fortress Westerplatte while German Wehrmacht begin crossing the border into Poland. It is the beginning of World War II. At the same time across the Atlantic in the United States, two partners […]

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Educational Books on Books

February 26, 2013
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In last year’s posting titled – “Collectible Books on Books,” a list containing some of the most collectible books themed after the practice of book collecting was published. It was put together by contributing book dealers specializing in the genre.  Included in the list were primers on bibliomania such as “A Gentle Madness” by Nicholas […]

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Someone to die for, at least once.

February 22, 2013
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Deaths are never a pleasant event in one’s life. That is, of course, with the exception of deaths drawn in comic books. Although fans usually have a hard time accepting the death of a favorite, popular character, chances are that he or she eventually gets resurrected. Keeping an eye on deaths may also contribute to […]

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