Rare Print Discovered in Library Book

Posted by trav in Book Collecting, Book Column, Book Talk, library, News, On the TV      No comments

May
4

I love stories like this… The NY Times published the recent account of a Brown University archivist finding, what is believed to be one of only five copies of a print done by revolutionary heavyweight Paul Revere himself. No doubt the chance of this happening increases if your job is handling books from the 1700′s. But it’s still pretty cool to think that such a unique rarity was just stuck in the back of a book on physics. Revere was quite the engraver and printer, flooding the colonies with pamphlets and political information. He’s certainly not known for any kind of iconic or religious art, which ups the “cool factor” of the find. Be sure to click through to read the article on the library archivist and see the photos.

If nifty old archives of historical significance interest you then you should tune into Book TV (on CSPAN2) this weekend. At noon, on Saturday, they will be touring old bookstores and the Nichols Collection at the University of Oklahoma. They have books going back as far as the 15th century! They also have a History of Science Collection with papers and books from Galileo, Copernicus and other famous people in white lab coats. I think it’ll be fun to watch.

A Great Weekend for Local Book People

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting, Events      1 comment

Apr
17

This weekend is shaping up to be an amazingly busy and book filled, with three great annual events happening:

1. The 9th Annual Alabama Book Festival, down in Montgomery is on Saturday, April 21st from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
2. Also on Saturday, April 21st is the Birmingham Reads – Brookwood Celebration at Brookwood Mall from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
3. Running the full weekend is the third annual Used-Book Sale at St. Francis of Assisi. I have no clue as to how the pickings will be this year, but I’m told that there will be tons of books again. They have a $5 wine/cheese “get in first to buy/preview party” Friday night. The sale continues Saturday, 21st from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, April 22nd from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. They also have a silent auction planned for some signed first editions.

Phew. I have no idea how much I’ll be able to squeeze into this weekend. I hope you get to make it out and about though.

New Basbanes Book in 2013

Posted by trav in Authors, Book Collecting, Book Column, Upcoming Titles      No comments

Apr
11

Nicholas Basbanes is world’s leading expert on “books about books”. In 2009, during a BookTV interview (and tour of his home library), he teased his next book about the history of paper. It looks as if that new book, titles Common Bond, will finally get finished and printed. Basbanes is slated to speak at a University of Missouri dinner next week. An interview in the school’s library newsletter (PDF download) has Basbanes talking about the book briefly, saying:

“…I am loosely describing as a cultural history of paper and papermaking. It is a story that covers two thousand years but, consistent with the way I do things, is pretty much an exercise in storytelling. I go where the good stories are.”

The book has traces paper’s invention, use and future from the earliest pulp recipes in China through the current artisan and preservation efforts of today. The folks over at the FineBooks blog (the blog where I picked up on this and one you should be reading) said that Knopf is the publisher. I checked the Knopf Fall 2012 and didn’t see it listed, so it looks like it will be a Spring 2013 title at the earliest.

Homewood Library Used-Book Store

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting, Bookstores, library      2 comments

Mar
19

Here is a quick photo tour of the used-book store that is maintained by the Homewood Library’s Friends of the Library Group. It’s located downstairs at the Homewood Library and is open:

• Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m.

This is by far the best library bookstore to visit if you are looking for magazines. They have shelves and shelves of magazines that I’ve never heard of, plus all of the big popular ones. If magazines and journals are your thing – THIS is the shop you have to visit. Magazines cost ten cents each.

The whole used-bookstore is pretty big, divided among three rooms, with a so-so turnover in the Fiction shelves. Most everything is discarded library books. Though finding donated copies (with no library stickers or stamps) isn’t uncommon. I have seen First Edition books priced at $5 and they do keep a 50 cent table, which is always worth glancing through when you’re at the library.

The first thing to do when you arrive is look down just inside the door. There is a cardboard box there with Free Stuff in it. It’s usually just magazines, maps, photos, etc. but you may find something there. Also, in the magazine room, there is another bookshelf unit and another box with free books and magazines for the taking.

Book Collecting 101

Posted by trav in Book Collecting, Book Column, Book Talk, On the Web      No comments

Nov
7

I encourage you to check out this post on book collecting over on Exile Bibliophile. I recently discovered that blog while clicking around the discussions over on LibraryThing. Here’s one of my favorite snippets:

“Not everyone who owns a lot of books is a book collector.  Granted.  I wear pants most days, and own many pairs, yet don’t think of myself as a pants connoisseur.  Book collectors are the same way.  A book collection has a purpose beyond accumulating, beyond, even, reading.  A book collection has a purpose.  What should the focus be?  That’s the beauty of it.”

I like people who group their books in some logical or at least interesting fashion. I REALLY like people who dive deep into a category or genre or author. Those are always great conversationalists. And indeed. That is the beauty of it.

Buying Books in Birmingham, This Weekend

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting, Bookstores, Events, News      No comments

Sep
24

This is a GREAT weekend to buy used books in Birmingham, with THREE new places/events to buy.

First, Vestavia Hills library has shut down as they are moving to their new building (slated to open in early-November) so they are toting books outside to a tent and selling what they can. It’s being organized by volunteers, so they start selling sometime between 9a-10a and stop sometime around 6p. It all depends on their help. But be prepared to stay. There is no organization. So a child’s book will be stacked on a business book sitting next to a computer programming text book. But if you love to sort through new and dusty books. This is for you. They bring out new boxes every couple of hours, so the selection changes.

Ex-library books (hardback and paperback) are $.50. Donated hardbacks are $1 and donated paperbacks are $.50. Magazines are $.10. You can also pay $5 and fit as much as you can into a grocery sack.

The sale started yesterday and runs through all of next week.

Second, is the Whistle Stop Festival, out in Irondale. The library, has been culling their collection and taking donations for weeks and is setting up tables alongside the usual festival fair, from 9a-4p. I have not heard of the prices yet, but if they follow their usual price schedule, hardbacks will be a dollar and paperbacks will be $.50. Traditionally, they have not made a distinction between donated and ex-library.

Third, this weekend 2nd & Charles (which BBJ mentioned earlier this week) is supposed to open Saturday morning. The Books-A-Million crew had an invite-only preview party last night. I didn’t get to go, but have seen some photos. It’s in a vacated Goody’s department store and is massive. Very cool looking, too. I haven’t seen prices yet, but they will be buying books, cd’s, dvd’s, videogames, etc. all day, every day too. Hopefully they will make their open date.

I have fun this weekend and do tell about any loot you score!

#Bham – They Sell Books at The Red Cat

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting      3 comments

Aug
23

I had a project-update meeting at The Red Cat coffee house last week and walked out with more than just a good cup of coffee. Down on the bottom shelf of one of the bookcases are… books! Used books at that. Apparently, the owner and employees bring in books, from their personal collections, to sell.

Hardbacks and textbooks are $5 and mass/trade paperbacks are $2. I’ve had Goldstone’s Used and Rare for quite some time, but have never bought the next two in the series. So I was quite pleased to find a great copy of Slightly Chipped, which I was able to walk out after literally counting out pennies. It’s the kind of serendipitous find that will set your day back upright!

It’s just the one shelf right now, but I am told that turn over is high. So I’ll be checking back to see what’s new.

Also, I want to mention that the Alabama Bloggers group is getting together for lunch this upcoming Friday, August 27 at 11:30a at The Red Cat. If you’re downtown stop by and say “Hi”. If you’ve never been, don’t be shy, this will be my first meeting too.

Used Booksale, in Birmingham, this Weekend April 23-24

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting, Events, News      No comments

Apr
21

I was tipped off to the St. Francis of Assisi, Indian Springs event via email from a local Birmingham bookaholic. Here’s the deal for all those in and around Birmingham, AL. It boasts 5,000+ used books that have been donated for this fund-raiser.

1. Friday Night – Preview Sale with Wine and Cheese – 5p-8p – $5 admission :: All hardbacks are $1 and all paperbacks are .50 cents.

2. Saturday – The Book Sale – 9a-4p – Free Admission :: Same price as above, but they have a special “Stuff a Sack” sale planned for 2p-4p which lets you walk out with as many books as you can cram in half a sack for $5 or a full sack for $8.

I have no idea what they’re raising money for, but there is not much that is as fun as cramming as many books into a sack as you can for $8. Though $1 hardbacks comes awfully close.

The Largest Book in the World

Posted by trav in Book Collecting, Events, On the Web      2 comments

Jan
28

Wow. Just wow! The Guardian has a feature on the world’s largest book, which is part of a map & atlas exhibit at The British Museum. It takes 6 people to move the 350-year-old Klencke Atlas which contains maps and such dating from the time of Charles II. Pretty cool. I can’t find any measurements for the Atlas, but will share once I do. Apparently, this exhibit will be the first time the world’s largest book will be publicly displayed, with its pages open for viewing.

Vestavia Hills Library Booksale

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting, Bookstores, Events      No comments

Oct
3

I noticed the tents up out in front of the Vestavia Hills Library this weekend’s Tent Booksale Blowout.

The library’s hours are 9a-6p, on Saturday and 1p-5p, on Sunday.

Happy book hunting!