Hipster Mecca: The New York Art Book Fair

September 30, 2012
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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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World’s Fair & Symposium of the Book Arts

September 27, 2012
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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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In the beginning of the dust wrapper

September 24, 2012
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Dust-wrappers (or “dust-jackets” as they are often called), are the detachable book coverings that have been regularly used by publishers in the English-speaking world primarily British and American, since the early part of the nineteenth century. Publishers have been using them as protective devices and containers for advertising media, biographical information about the author, blurbs, […]

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The priceless Gutenberg Bible

September 20, 2012
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While the most common book ever to be published is the Bible, Bibles from the 1600s and earlier are actually considered quite scarce. They belong in a very elite group that is sought after by very wealthy collectors who are increasingly and unflinchingly pouring large sums of money into liturgical texts.  It is a group […]

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Rare book conservation tips and techniques #2

September 17, 2012
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Last month we published a set of tips and techniques regarding book conservation, and mentioned a number of book care supplies that can be extremely helpful in carrying out some fundamental book preservation tasks. This month we will provide more details on some of the specific products from specific conservation suppliers that are available and […]

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Why are my rare books not selling?

September 13, 2012
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If you are like me you probably have accumulated a few hundred or perhaps a few thousand books that have aged significantly. I am referring of course, to inventory ageing rather than years since publication type of ageing. Why are these books not selling?  These are rare books without any flaws, quite scarce in fact, […]

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What if they held an auction and no one bid?

September 9, 2012
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The Sotheby’s auction house organized the Bande Dessinée – Comics auction in Paris on July 04, 2012. The event consisted of 95 emblematic artists’ lots of what is also known as “the Ninth Art”, and it was managed by the famous comic book specialist, Jean-Marc Thévenet.  From the total of 95 lots 68 did not […]

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The Awakening by Kate Chopin

September 6, 2012
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      On August 26th, the United States observed the ninetieth anniversary of the nineteenth amendment, which granted women the right to vote. It is interesting to look back into history to a time when this right was only available to the privileged few. For seventy-two years, women all across the nation and around the world […]

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Rarest books on labor and employment

September 3, 2012
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We at Rare Books Digest got inspired this week on the eve of Labor Day 2012 by Fed chairman Ben Bernanke of all people, since he expressed a popular concern over the labor market. Labor Day’s popularity became obvious since first held in 1882 by the Central Labor Union which created the holiday to allow the public to […]

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Back to rare book school

August 30, 2012
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As a bibliophile school teacher, a strong fondness for the world of academia and learning continues to resonate in my heart as each academic year goes fleeting by. This love has propelled me to take every opportunity that I can to engage in a learning atmosphere, even during my summer breaks. This summer I decided […]

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