First Impressions - 2013 Dec. - Aug.

 

                                                                             

First Impressions - December 2013

What's new:

Our New Catalogue Is Here!

* Click here for our electronic catalogue

* Email or call to request a copy by mail –
info@bbrarebooks.com * (646) 652-6766

 

 

Special Website Sale!

Check out special prices on select books, on our website only.

Select ‘Sale Books’ from our ‘Inventory’ drop-down menu.

Events:

Upcomming Book Fairs

We are excited that the NYC January book fair, traditionally held at the Lexington Avenue Armory, will be revived this year!

Metropolis Vintage Books & Ephemera

69th Regiment Armory, 68 Lexington Ave (btw 25th & 26th St).

 

 

2014 Bibliography Week Showcase - free and open to the public this year!

Christ Church, 520 Park Avenue (at 60th St).

We hope to see you at both of these great New York City book fairs!

 

Book Collecting News:

Books Make History This Month at Auction

Sotheby’s recently sold the Bay Psalm Book, the earliest printed text in British North America, for over $14 million. One of 1,700 copies printed in 1640, this Bay Psalm Book is one of eleven surviving copies known today and one of only six retaining the original title page. As the first copy of the Bay Psalm Book to reach the open market since 1947, this sale marks an important event in book history. To emphasize its historical significance, the Bay Psalm Book traveled around the United States prior to the sale and was exhibited in several major cities. In particular, it was displayed with another copy from the same edition in Philadelphia at the Rosenbach Museum and Library, and with the Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence in Dallas at the Dallas Public Library.

 

In addition to its monetary value, the Bay Psalm Book is rich in American history, containing primary information about the nation’s colonial history, the history of American publication, and the history of Protestant Christianity. Published at a time when printed books were luxury items, the text functioned more as a hymnal than a reference book, used by many members of the congregation of the Old South Church in Boston. In a colony in which religious freedom was considered sacred, Biblical text printed in the vernacular makes the Bay Psalm Book as much a political statement as a religious doctrine; while the Bible was historically read only by the religious and the wealthy, the printing of the book of Psalms intended for the masses indicates a purposeful will to make Christianity open to personal interpretation and provides insight into publisher’s motivations in colonial America.

While the Bay Psalm Book shines light on early printing techniques in the United States, the printing press used by the Kelmscott Press shows how American publishing had developed by the turn of the 20^th century. This press, floor model Goudy Albion iron hand press No. 6551, the name of which is derived from two of its owners, was recently sold to the Rochester Institute of Technology by Christie’s. Originally manufactured by Hopkinson & Cope in 1891, the press was first owned by English designer William Morris, who used it at his Kelmscott Press, which notably published the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer in 1896. William Morris’ Chaucer, demonstrative of the Arts and Crafts Movement’s effect on book publication, is considered one of the most beautiful volumes ever printed and is often cited as a major source of inspiration for modern private presses. In 1924, Albion No. 6551 made its way to Rochester, New York, where it was imported by prolific American type designer Frederic Goudy, creator of the font Goudy Old Style, for use at his Village Press, which was largely based on the ideals of William Morris’ Kelmscott Press.

 Shortly after acquiring Albion No. 6551, Goudy designed the Aries typeface for Spencer Kellogg, Jr., who used the font in his 1927 private publication of 31 copies of Morris’ poem “In Praise of my Lady.” Around the same time, Goudy sold Albion No. 6551 to Kellogg, which he later used at his Aries Press. In 1932, Albion No. 6551 was acquired by Melbert B. Cary Jr., director of Continental Type Founders Association and proprietor of the Press of the Woolly Whale. By 1960, J. Ben and Elizabeth Lieberman had gained ownership of Albion No. 6551 for their Herity Press. The Liebermans topped their hand press with a Liberty Bell emblem, symbolizing not only the American spirit but also the freedom of expression. Now, Albion No. 6551 is part of the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at RIT, where it adds to the university’s collection of historical printing presses, and will also be used be student studying printing and typography.

                                                                             

Home Office - Forbes, December 11, 2013

How to Start Your Business without a Loan

Interested in starting your own business but hesitant to take out a huge business loan? While it can be difficult to start a company with little capital, it is absolutely possible. In some ways, it can even be less risky and less complicated.

Here are some ways to build up your company from scratch:

1. Keep Working Another Job – If you’re not getting instant cash by taking out a business loan, your startup capital will have to come from your savings. Set money aside, separately from other savings, in amounts that you won’t miss on a daily basis. Your savings will only grow if you don’t draw on it for living expenses or other necessities.

When you’re ready to start your business, it could benefit you to keep your job at the outset, as keeping your salary while you’re starting up can take a lot of the pressure off of your first few months, or years, in business. And the benefits don’t end at your salary—your health insurance, retirement plan, and sick/vacation days are all things that you’ll have to pay for on your own when you’re self-employed.

2. Reinvest Your Profits Back Into Your Business – Using your profits to pay for living expenses or to pay down other debts will limit how fast your company can grow. You’ll maintain your highest level of working capital if you reinvest your profits back into your business. Whether you invest in new products, technology, or employees, your goal is to grow your business by attracting new and more customers. You can also choose to invest in marketing or advertising to grow your customer base.

3. Keep Your Overhead Low – You won’t need a huge business loan if you keep things small at the start, and grow organically. If you can get away with working at home, or not needing to rent a space or invest at the outset in new technology, you can keep your overhead low, therefore not needing to cover huge bills at the outset when you could be investing your profits into your business instead. If you can keep your overall running expenses on the low end, this will help you be better able to reinvest your profits back into your company. Once your company starts to grow and your income becomes more reliable, you can start to take on larger overhead costs without it slowing your rate of growth.

I started my rare book company with one book and less than $100. By reinvesting the profits from the first few sales into more inventory, I quickly learned that growing slowly yet steadily would allow me to stay in business without having to take out a loan. Working from home kept my overhead low, as I didn’t need to pay for additional rent or utilities. For my first five years in business, I kept working my day job, which easily covered my living expenses, so the business could grow organically from its own profits.

Early on, it was also psychologically liberating not having to worry about any money I owed, which let me feel safer taking risks. By the time I quit my day job and went full time with my business, it was sustaining itself while providing for my living expenses, and was in a place where it could grow bigger and stronger with the more time I put into it.

Starting a business without a loan has its limitations, but it can also lessen the risk involved. It can be a good way to test out the world of entrepreneurship, trying out your ideas and testing new markets. You can also feel more confident learning from your mistakes, knowing you have a safety net underneath you.

                                                                             

Home Office - Forbes, November 14, 2013

Your Start Up: Go with Partners or Go It Alone?

The idea of starting your own business is undoubtedly daunting. There are many factors to consider, such as the decision to begin your start-up with partners or all on your own. Are you embarking upon your own vision, or is that vision shared with a team? Going it alone will certainly give you full autonomy and control of your business, but a partner may allow you to expand into a more dynamic approach.

There are benefits to both sides—here are some things to consider when starting up:

Benefits of Starting with Partners:

1) Spreading the Risk – Having partners can mean multiple sources of cash flow, which will undoubtedly benefit your business during both start-up and growth phases. The risk of your investment will be spread among other people, which can protect you if your business doesn’t work out as planned. Don’t discount the psychological benefit of having partners either—knowing you’re not alone in your endeavors can help you to feel more secure when the entrepreneurial road gets rough.

2) Diversifying Your Expertise – You can only be an expert in so many areas. By selecting partners with different expertise, you can broaden the scope of your business. This could expand your customer base, which can increase your earning potential. Partners with different skill sets will also help to spread out the workload.

3) Checks and Balances – All of your ideas sound incendiary to you, but what about the world at large? With a team approach, your partners can serve as your sounding board when testing out new ideas, products and services, and markets. Their feedback can be invaluable, especially when you’re first starting up. They can also serve as an additional source of creativity when you’re brainstorming and problem-solving—as the saying goes, two minds (or more) are better than one.

Benefits of Going It Alone:

1) You Can Follow Your Vision – As a sole owner, your vision for your company will be completely uncompromised—and isn’t that why you wanted to become an entrepreneur in the first place? This is helpful when first starting up, as the strength of your vision and your commitment to it will be crucial to your success. Having one vision for your company can also benefit you long-term, as differing views or changes in personal needs can start to divide once-compatible partners.

2) Increased Productivity – This may be counter-intuitive, but working on your own can actually increase your productivity in a number of ways. As a sole proprietor, you get the first and only say—without having to run your decision making by other parties, there will be no need for team meetings, collaborating, or voting. You will also be less distracted, seeing tasks through to completion without having to trust other people. You can do what you want and need to do effectively, and the end results will be up to your high standards. If you need additional manpower, hiring employees can enhance your productivity without giving other people decision-making power.

3) Personal Comfort and Flexibility – Some of the best perks of owning your own business include setting your own hours, creative control, and unlimited earning potential. Flexibility will not only help you, but can also positively affect the lives of those around you, which can assist you in achieving your desired work/life balance. Without partners, and their varying or possibly contradictory needs, you can put whatever truly matters to you first.

The type of business you’re tackling will certainly influence your best mode of approach. Don’t forget to also consider your resources, your work style, and your personal goals. 

                                                                             

First Impressions - October 2013

What's New:

Literature-Themed Halloween Party!

We will be hosting a Halloween party this year on the Saturday before Halloween.

Guests are encouraged to wear literature-themed costumes, and there will be prizes for the best costumes!

Join us for drinks, snacks, and a haunting good time as we get into the Halloween spirit:

Saturday, October 26th,  2 – 6 PM
30 East 20th Street, Suite 305

Please call or email us if you plan to attend: info@bbrarebooks.com / (646) 652-6766

Events:

Upcomming Book Fairs

Join us at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair, along with Joe Maynard (Brooklyn, NY) and The Book Shop (Covina, CA) – Booth 503.

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.

 

Book Collecting News:

Decorative Bindings

Since the arrival of the digital e-book, books with beautiful illustrations and elaborate bindings have become more appealing. In the mid-late nineteenth century, a similar trend occurred in response to the Industrial Revolution-- The Arts and Crafts and Aesthetic movements emphasized the importance of craft and design, as well as the importance of beauty for beauty’s sake. For books, this translated into a golden age of illustration and publishers’ use of decorative trade bindings.

Facilitated by new technology that allowed for faster and cheaper production, publishers employed artists to make their bindings recognizable and eye-catching for advertisement and branding purposes. Illustrations, especially color or supplementary plates, became the selling point for many editions. This created new employment opportunities for artists, especially women who had been previously excluded from the trade.

Inspired by Sunday’s recent completion of a course on The History of Bookbinding at UVA’s Rare Book School, we have acquired a new collection of decorative trade bindings. B & B Rare Books is pleased to feature these attractive editions (and you can find our entire offering here):

     

                                                                             

Home Office - Forbes, October 24, 2013

Are You Ready to Hire More Help?

Many entrepreneurs and small business owners do everything: they are their own boss, business manager, financial officer, administrative support, and visionary. Doing everything yourself can help to keep your business life simple—but is it best for your company?

If you are currently running your business by yourself, you may find yourself with too much to do, or just bogged down with tasks that might be more appropriate for another person. It might be worth it to your business to pay for extra help if your skill set is being over-used or not being used efficiently.

There are many pros and cons to hiring employees, or otherwise delegating your work. If you’re thinking about adding staff or out-sourcing projects, here are some things to think about:

Obstacle: Control

It can be an easy impulse to tackle everything yourself—you know your vision for your company, and if you do the work, the end result will be up to your very high standards. Or perhaps you’ve already handed over the reigns to someone else, and been disappointed with the outcome. If you are used to having creative control over every part of your business, it can be scary to trust a stranger.

Advantage of Hiring Help:

No one cares about your business as much as you do, of course, but by hiring the right people and training them effectively, you can impart your high expectations and work ethic. They may not do everything exactly as you would have done, but talented people with different skill sets than your own might even do a better job than you could do. Having trouble verbalizing your vision or concepts for a project? The right professional will know how to extract your ideas and turn them into something professional.

Obstacle: Cost

Doing everything yourself will certainly save you money. I constantly think of all the money I’ve saved doing my own bookkeeping, and my own graphic design for product catalogs. However, I’m realizing more and more that my time and expertise can be worth more than the money I’m saving. Some tasks are too time-intensive and can prevent you from focusing on the big picture.

 Advantage of Hiring Help:

What’s your time worth? If you’re slaving away on administrative duties, you are not using your time for tasks that actually make your company more money. By delegating these or something similar to an employee, you will be free to do what you do best—discovering new products and services, finding new customers, and increasing your revenues.

Obstacle: Size

The decision to hire or not to hire can largely be a question of sustainability; adding to your workforce can significantly increase your overhead expenses. In addition to salary, health insurance, liability, taxes, and becoming a manager to your staff are all things that can be overwhelming to think about if it’s been just you thus far. By keeping things small, it helps to keep things simple—but do you see your company growing in size, force, and strength?

Advantage of Hiring Help:

The good thing here is that there is so much flexibility, you just need to decide how much help you really need. Can you commit to hiring someone full-time, part-time, or do you just need extra assistance seasonally? Do you need someone on-site with you, or can you sub-contract work out to a freelancer? Do you just need help from another professional like an accountant, graphic designer, or editor? You can hire new talent based not only on your needs and budget, but also according to your own comfort level.

Delegating work to others could either directly or indirectly increase your revenue. Bringing another’s expertise to a project could attract more customers, or by hiring someone to maintain the subtle aspects of your business, you will be free to brainstorm and grow your company in other ways. If having your hand in every aspect of your business is overwhelming, you may benefit from outside help. 

                                                                             

Home Office - Forbes, October 9, 2013

3 Tips for Stressed-Out Entrepreneuers

It’s October—summer is long gone and any vacation you had already seems like a distant memory. Feeling overwhelmed and like you’re falling behind?

Most entrepreneurs and small business owners can make their own schedules—indeed, this is one of the best perks of working for yourself. But it can also be easy to take on too much, get distracted by different projects, and otherwise over-book yourself. Here are a few ways to manage yourself while you’re managing it all:

1) Add Structure To Your Day

A common problem for entrepreneurs can be lack of structure. If your head is spinning because you have too many tasks to complete, too many projects to work on, and too many obligations you can’t get out of, change your routine. Start by getting all of your commitments out of your head and onto lists—on paper, on your phone, or on your computer, whatever works for you. Then complete your tasks by focusing on one at a time. If you’re trying to do everything at once, you may never reach your end goals. Give each project your full attention, and you’ll be more likely to finish them on time and do them well.

When I fall behind with work, it usually happens on a day when I don’t adhere to a schedule. I either get distracted with things that aren’t urgent, or I work on too many things at once and don’t see any of them to completion. My more productive days are ones where I’ve triaged my responsibilities and adhered strictly to my schedule.

2) Don’t Eliminate Breaks

When work gets overwhelming, it can be tempting to skip the gym or cut down on time with friends and family. Sometimes it’s necessary, but beware—if you’re constantly putting your non-work activities on the back-burner, they’ll no longer provide the stress relief you desperately need. This can also become a slippery slope—the more you cut out these activities, the more you’re likely to keep doing it.

When my schedule gets packed, it always makes sense to skip a work-out or dinner with friends. But I know how this ends… skipping one engagement can lead to a month without me seeing the outside of my office. Sure, I’m getting more work done, but now I’m working without breaks and the quality of my work suffers. If you properly manage your time, you can fit it all in, and the commitment you make to your social life will help to keep you sane in the long run.

3) Minimize Distractions To Stay On Schedule

Distractions will manifest physically in your work space—chatty co-workers, a messy desk, instant messaging, and noise can all conspire against you to decrease your productivity. There are obvious ways to manage these—clean up your work station, close chat windows, and turn off the TV. Some distractions, however, are inevitable. There will always be urgent matters, or not-so-urgent ones, that can derail your otherwise perfect schedule. Since you can’t always change your environment, schedule a “distractions hour” for the miscellaneous things that can and will interrupt your productivity. This time can be used for anything you choose—answering email, catching up on old projects or brainstorming new ideas, or social media. Bonus: If nothing ends up interrupting your day, you’ve now got time to relax.

Adding a “social media hour” to my schedule has helped me to keep up with the posts that promote my business, while decreasing the amount of time I spend aimlessly surfing the web. Your “distraction time” can be added to your schedule on a daily or weekly basis, depending on what you need.

If your work/life balance is constantly tipping in the direction of more work, that’s hardly balance. Better time management, plus a commitment to the things you enjoy outside of work, will help to keep you calm, refreshed, and on-schedule.

                                                                             

Home Office - Forbes, September 27, 2013

Top 5 Banned Books for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Since it was launched in 1982, Banned Books Week calls awareness to ongoing issues of censorship in libraries, schools, and bookstores around the country. As an entrepreneur who is constantly inspired by my surroundings, I thought about the many books I’ve read that either directly or indirectly inspired me to start my own business.

As the owner of a rare book company, a book enthusiast in general, and someone who is currently reading a frequently challenged book (Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut), here is my partial list:

1) The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, 1951

When feeling disappointed and disillusioned with work or school, it is easy to find inspiration in this popular coming-of-age novel. Its themes of angst, isolation, and rebellion can be the rallying cry of anyone looking to avoid a conventional life in pursuit of something more personally rewarding and interesting, and isn’t that exactly what most entrepreneurs are after? By turns comforting and challenging, this book will motivate you to examine your thinking and decision making. Unlike Holden Caulfield, I waited until after college to run away to New York City, but I ran there just the same.

2) The Call of the Wild by Jack London, 1903

Told from a dog’s perspective, this book was considered by many to be “too radical” when it was first published. After being stolen from a ranch in California, Buck is forced to adapt to the harsh Yukon environment to work as a sled dog. His story of survival is inspiring enough, but what happens next is even more interesting—while in a weakened state due to malnourishment and poor treatment, Buck heeds his own instincts to avoid danger and saves his owner from drowning in a river. This groundbreaking novel champions loyalty and devotion, challenging one to become a leader by learning to trust one’s own instincts.

3) Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, 1936

Not everyone appreciates Scarlett O’Hara’s feisty nature, but no one can deny her tenacity and perseverance in the face of adversity. Widowed twice and with two young children to care for, she survives the American Civil War, regains her family’s burned plantation, and starts a lumber business to restore economic security to her family during the Reconstruction. May I remind you that none of this would be considered appropriate behavior for a young Southern belle? For all her faults and personality flaws, she continues to move forward, tragedy after tragedy. She is nothing if not a survivor.

4) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925

OK, I’ll admit it– coveting the lifestyles of the rich and fabulous partially inspired me to start my own business. In fact, reading about the extravagant lives of the East Egg and West Egg socialites did more than ignite my entrepreneurial spirit—I gained a deep personal interest in The Jazz Age, and our rare book company now specializes in authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. But tales of excessive booze and decadent riches are as cautionary as they are exciting—the tragic downfall of the story’s protagonist bootlegger, Jay Gatsby, can remind anyone to keep business on the straight and narrow.

 5) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, 1960

There is hardly a nobler protagonist in all of literature than ethical lawyer and hard-working single father Atticus Finch. His young children learn valuable lessons about loyalty, morality, and social inequality when he takes on the case of a black man falsely accused of rape. By standing up for what is right, Atticus teaches us all that it is possible to do well by doing good, even if it’s unpopular at the time. When the mysterious and dreaded Boo Radley comes to the rescue at the end of the novel, it is a lesson not to fear and condemn that which we don’t understand.

Having endured numerous challenges and bans, these books still thrive in our cultural consciousness. They continue to inspire new generations of readers– including this young bookseller– and undoubtedly countless other entrepreneurs.

                                                                             

Home Office - Forbes, September 5, 2013

Nightmares in Customer Service

The point of customer service is to have customers return to you. But so many companies just can’t get this right. They’re either putting their needs ahead of their customers’ or too wrapped up in finding new customers that existing ones become expendable.

As small business owners, and as customers of other companies in general, we’ve had our fair share of experiences with bad customer service. Here are some horror stories… and what you can learn from them:

Problem: Bad Attitude

We recently bought 30 books from a man who started the negotiation with “I do not negotiate.” True story. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t want to give a discount to colleagues, or a discount for buying multiple items, both of which are customary in our trade, but what was most frustrating was his attitude in general. It didn’t matter how much we were spending, or how pleasant we were trying to be, he does “not negotiate” (or he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed) and nothing was going to change that.

Solution: While it’s important to follow your company policies faithfully and treat everyone equally, flexibility is key. All customers are different, and most will have different styles of buying or negotiating. Some like to be quoted, some prefer face-to-face interaction vs. the phone or email, some will expect a certain level of service or special extras—the list goes on and on. If you seem too rigid, it could alter the entire dynamic between you and your customer, and not for the better. If you can learn to adapt your style to different types of customers, or at least be aware that these differences exist, your customers will feel like you are working with them. And be nice—that’s just common sense.

Problem: Lack Of Courtesy or Laziness

We just paid an invoice for $5,000. No– $5,008 to be exact. The item was $5,000 and we were charged $8 for shipping. Really? Or what about the countless times we request—and pay for—express or priority mail service and the item is shipped with a slower service. Again, really? While the latter can be a huge problem if the matter is time sensitive, the former is just annoying and something that, as a customer, I’d really rather not deal with.

Solution: Go with The Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. All customers want to be treated like $1,000,000, whether they are spending $1,000,000 or not. Little extras, like free shipping or discounts on future purchases, can help your customers feel special and taken care of, making them more likely to remember you, and subsequently return or refer their friends. Remember: your customers aren’t just buying your products or services, they’re buying an experience. How can you make their experience with you a little more special? There is always something special—and unexpected—about getting something gratis.

 Problem: Non-Existent Customer Service

We bought a coffee table from an online merchant and were referred to a freight service when it was shipped. Upon contacting the freight service to coordinate the delivery, they were unresponsive. When I called the online merchant to complain, they were equally uninterested in talking to me—they had my money, and now that there was an issue, they said to take it up with the freight service. When I finally got the freight service on the line, they informed me that while they would bring my new 400-lb. coffee table to the front door of my building, they were in no way responsible for delivering it to my third floor office. Again, I called the online merchant to complain, and they said they would accept no responsibility for the policies of the freight service. A bit understandable, as the company selling the product wasn’t actually doing the heavy lifting, but at the same time, they were my first point of contact and, over all, still responsible for getting the product I ordered to my office. If I had known ahead of time about these “policies” and that it would have been this much of a battle and inconvenience, I would not have bothered.

Solution: Be Available. When you are working with your customer, be available for the entire transaction. This will help them to trust you when they are working with you for the first time, and it will also help down the road. If there is a problem, they know where you are and how they can reach you, and will be more likely to contact you to work it out instead of just leaving a negative review.

As you can see, problems in customer service range on the spectrum of too aggressive to completely unresponsive. It can be difficult to get it right, but it will be well worth the time, training, and effort to be proactive to keep your customers happy. If customers can trust you and be confident that they are getting what they expect from you (or more), they will likely recommend you to others.

                                                                             

First Impressions - August 2013

What's New:

10^th Anniversary Party!     

B & B will be celebrating 10 years in business this month! After starting with one book and one dollar, and working from home for many years, we now have a gallery space and our family has grown from two employees to four (five, if you count Marlowe, our shop dog!)

It’s been a great year and we hope you can join us to celebrate!

* Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres

* Meet Becca, our Gallery Assistant, and Julie, our new Cataloger

* See the first book we ever bought!

Please email us for an official invitation. We hope to see you here!

 

 Meet B & B’s New Cataloger!

Julie Carlsen graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, in August 2012, where she received her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Before that, she attended Vassar College, where she majored in History and minored in German Studies. Prior to working at B&B, Julie was the Rare Books Assistant at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University.

Julie is interested in rare books, archives, and special collections. Specifically, she is interested in the intersection of books and art, including illustrated books, artist’s books, and books as art. Her favorite authors include Kurt Vonnegut and Langston Hughes. Outside of the book world, Julie enjoys fencing and helps coach the Montclair HS team.

Left to right: Josh, Julie, Becca, Sunday
Photo credit: Belathee Photography

Events:

Upcomming Book Fairs

Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

Join us in Baltimore the weekend before Labor Day - Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street (Downtown at the Inner Harbor).

We will be at Booth #2603, so come and say hello. Follow the link below for your complimentary E-ticket to the show. Simply click the link, fill in your information, and then print your ticket and bring it with you to the door. here has been a resurgence of interest in the era of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and their 1920's contemporaries.

http://baltimoresummerantiques.com/emailtickets/virtual_ticket.asp?idm=B

 

Book Collecting News:

 Zelda Fitzgerald and the Ex-Pats in Paris

There has been a resurgence of interest in the era of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and their 1920's contemporaries. From the new biography of Zelda Fitzgerald, Z by Therese Ann Fowler, out this past March, to the new The Great Gatsby movie which premiered in May, the Jazz Age is more attractive and accessible than ever.

We have specialized in the 1920's ex-pats since we started selling books in August 2003, and are very pleased to present a new collection of signed material and original art.

Please email us for more information or to order.

 

Two books inscribed by F. Scott Fitzgerald to Mr. & Mrs. Hurley:
James Hurley typed manuscripts for Fitzgerald while he resided in Asheville, NC. 

Tender is the Night: A Romance. First edition, first printing. Inscribed and signed by the author in black ink on front end paper: "For Margaret Hurley / with much respect / + regard from / F Scott Fitzgerald / April 1936 / Ashville." A near fine copy in the publisher's original dark blue cloth, with some wear to the spine head and tail, slight rubbing to the corners, a hint of spotting on the page edges and the front and back hinges, overall a very attractive copy.

 

Taps at Reveille. First edition, first printing, second state. Inscribed and signed by the author in black ink on front end paper: "For Jim Hurley/ adhesive tape expert/ ('May every tape- / writer ribbon prove / to be an adhesive / tape' Dorothy Dix) / From his friend / F Scott Fitzgerald / Ashville 1936." A near fine copy in the publisher's original dark blue cloth, with some wear to the spine head and tail, slight rubbing to the corners, a hint of spotting on the page edges and the front and back hinges, overall a very attractive copy.

 

 

One book inscribed by F. Scott Fitzgerald to a fellow Princetonian:
Anthony Woodward Durell, Jr. was a varsity athlete and member of the Officer's Reserve Corps during WWI.

Tender is the Night. First edition, later printing (lacking "A" on copyright page.) Signed and inscribed by Fitzgerald on front free endpaper to fellow Class of 1917 graduate: "From one who wishes he could be at 1917's 20th / F Scott Fitzgerald". 8vo, publisher's blue-green cloth with gilt to spine, decorations by Edward Shenton. Book tight, square, and clean, with light wear and bumping to corners, cloth split at crown of spine (horizontally, without fraying), gilt dimmed on spine, pages clean; with ownership inscription "A. W. Durell / June 1937" to front free endpaper.

Original artwork by Zelda Fitzgerald:
Zelda paintings are extremely rare and seldom see the market.

[Dogwood Blossoms]. ca. 1940. Gouache on paper (approximately 7" x 5"; 178 x 128 mm). Initial signed in lower left corner "Z.S.F." Gilt frame with name plate ("Zelda S. Fitzgerald 1900-1948"), matted in olive green velvet. Highly creative throughout her short life, F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda devoted her artistic energies to writing, ballet, and painting. After spending much of the 1920's in Europe, her style of painting became consistent with French modernist painters of the era, combining elements of Surrealism and Abstraction. Some paintings remain in private collections, but many perished with her when she died tragically in a fire at the Highland Hospital in Asheville, NC.

 

Four books inscribed by Ernest Hemingway to Guy Hickock:
Guy Hickock was an American journalist who traveled with Hemingway while he was in Europe. Hickock's Paris office served as a hub for American ex-pats, which is likely where they met.

Death in the Afternoon. First edition, first printing. Original publisher's cloth, lettered and decorated in gilt. Presentation copy; signed and inscribed by Hemingway to close friend, Guy Hickock: "To Guy, or Monsieur Tripas, / with much affection, / Ernest". Some light rubbing to the extremities and some stains to the rear cover, else very good.

 

The Sun Also Rises. First edition, early printing. Original publisher's black cloth, gold labels to spine and front cover. Presentation copy; signed and inscribed by Hemingway in the year of publication to close friend, Guy Hickock: "To Guy with much / affection Ernest / Paris 1927". A near fine copy with some mild rubbing to spine label, Brentano's - Paris sticker to rear pastedown.

Green Hills of Africa. First edition, first printing. Original publisher's green cloth, dust jacket. Presentation copy; signed and inscribed by Hemingway to close friend, Guy Hickock: "For Guy (look what / I got out of your scrapbook / now) with much / affection, respect and the / wish to be drunk with soon / again / Ernest". About very good with the usual fading to the cloth, light foxing to pastedowns; in a jacket with some wear and chips to the extremities, spine faded and lightly soiled, and a few small tears.

 

Winner Take Nothing. First edition, first printing of Hemingway's third collection of short stories, which includes "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," "A Way You'll Never Be," and "A Natural History of the Dead." Presentation copy; signed and inscribed by Hemingway the day after publication to close friend Guy Hickock: "To Guy with much / affection / Ernest / Paris Oct 28 1933". About near fine with some light soiling to covers and wear to lower corners, with Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Company (Paris) sticker to the rear pastedown; in a like jacket with some slight wear to the spine ends, and a small tear to the front panel, else near fine. Presentation copies of this title, especially those contemporary to the book's publication, are exceptionally scarce. This is the earliest presentation inscription of Winner Take Nothing we have seen or been able to locate.

Two photographs and one letter inscribed by Hemingway to Rupert Bellville, Jr.:
Rupert "Hercules" Bellville, Jr. met Hemingway through his father, Rupert Bellville Sr., the first English bullfighter in Spain

Inscribed Photograph of Ernest Hemingway Attending a Bullfight in Madrid. Original 9" x 6.75" photograph by Madrid-based photographer, Cano. Signed and inscribed to Rupert "Hercules" Bellville: "To Herc/ with love from/ Papa". Signed by Cano to the lower right corner and with Cano's photography studio stamp to the verso. Also included is Bellville's program and May 1959 schedule for the Plaza de Toros Madrid. Several small creases and some light wear to the corners. Framed and matted with archival white cream matting, black metal framing and glass. Bellville had joined his father, Rupert Bellville, Sr., and Hemingway in Spain in the summer of 1959. This was purportedly "the dangerous summer" of 1959, the year of the great Ordonez/Dominguin duel chronicled by Hemingway.



Inscribed Photograph of Ernest Hemingway with a Blue Marlin. Signed and inscribed by Hemingway to Rupert "Hercules" Bellville: "To Hercules from his/ good and very [underlined] old/ friend/ Mr. Papa". A large iconic Old Man and the Sea-inspired photograph (measuring 10.5" x 8.25") of Hemingway.

 

 

Handwritten letter signed by Hemingway on a Hotel Suecia-Madrid Napkin. "May 21st. / Dear Sir, I will be grateful / if you give a private showing to / my good friend Rupert Bellville, of your / library copies, (if you have these) of the "World of Nick Adams", / and "For Whom the Bell Tolls". / Both were produced by C.B.S. of N.Y. / Yours sincerely / Ernest Hemingway." It is most likely that Bellville composed the content of the letter, which Hemingway annotated and signed. The letter shows some creases, mostly at folds, otherwise in excellent condition. 

                                                                             

 

~ Sunday & Josh
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