Category: Books

A Book Collector More Obsessive Than I

Poking around the Internet, I came across this description of the personal collection of American librarian Paula Peyraud, who assembled a vast and impressive collection of books, letters, and art for the Georgian period (1760–1820), including important work by Samuel Johnson, Jane Austen, and hundreds of less famous figures. A more complete description of her… Continue reading A Book Collector More Obsessive Than I

Book Acquisition: Charnel House Edition of Tim Powers Hide Me Among the Graves

Powers, Tim. Hide Me Among the Graves. Charnel House, 2012. First limited edition, one of 124 signed, numbered copies in mica-flecked boards, a Fine copy, sans dj, as issued. The usual oversized, elaborate Charnel House production, ordered pre-publication. Note: I have an additional copy I’ll be selling through Lame Excuse Books. Drop me a line… Continue reading Book Acquisition: Charnel House Edition of Tim Powers Hide Me Among the Graves

Book Acquisition: Robert W. Chambers’ The King in Yellow

Nineteen times out of twenty, when you put in a lowball “what the hell” bid at an auction, you don’t win. You keep doing it because of that twentieth time. This was one of those twentieth times. Robert W. Chambers. The King In Yellow. F. Tennyson Neely (as part of their Neely’s Prismatic Library series),… Continue reading Book Acquisition: Robert W. Chambers’ The King in Yellow

Book Signature Faker Allan Formhals Found Guilty

An antiques dealer accused of selling books signed with fake signatures of famous figures on eBay has been found guilty of some of the charges he faced. Allan Formhals, 66, of Milford on Sea in Hampshire, was found guilty of eight counts of fraud and two of possessing articles for the use in fraud. He… Continue reading Book Signature Faker Allan Formhals Found Guilty

Book Auction Watch: Graham Greene’s Inscribed First Edition of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

Bloomsbury Auctions is offering up several notable modern first editions on Thursday, October 25th. Among the items offered: Graham Greene’s inscribed first edition of Lord of the Flies. That’s not quite in the same league as Lord Byron’s inscribed copy of Frankenstein, but it’s still an impressive association copy. There are a few other SF/F/H… Continue reading Book Auction Watch: Graham Greene’s Inscribed First Edition of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

Forged Book Signatures in the UK?

One problem book collectors face in assembling a collection is the possibility that some books sold as signed by the author actually have forged signatures. (This is why I won’t buy a book with a Philip K. Dick or Robert Heinlein signature unless it’s a dealer I trust or has some sort of providence.) Because… Continue reading Forged Book Signatures in the UK?

Lawrence Person’s Library: Reference Books (Part 5: Magill’s Sets)

Back when I edited Nova Express, I tried to pick up all the important SF reference works I could afford that I could lay my hands on. Among those were two extensive Magill’s references sets: Survey of Science Fiction Literature and Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature. Each covers hundreds of key works, alphabetized by title,… Continue reading Lawrence Person’s Library: Reference Books (Part 5: Magill’s Sets)

Lord Byron’s Autographed Copy of Frankenstein Up for Sale

I have a number of interesting association copies in my library, but a first edition of Frankenstein inscribed to Lord Byron by the author blows away anything I have by a good measure. That’s what bookseller Peter Harrington is offering up for a mere £350,000 or so (which, at this particular moment, comes out to… Continue reading Lord Byron’s Autographed Copy of Frankenstein Up for Sale