The

ABN E WSLETTEA AR VOLUME SEVENTEEN, NUMBER 2 ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLERS' ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SPRING 2006

INSIDE: ABAA offers Scholarships to ILAB Congress...... PAGE 15 ABAA Member Report from the New World: The Wins Oscar 39th California International Antiquarian Book Fair

Photo credit: Copyright A.M.P.A.S.

Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry at the Academy Awards. by Susan Benne Longtime member Larry McMurtry won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his treatment of Brokeback Mountain at the 78th Annual Academy Awards. He shared the honor with his writing partner, Diana Ossana. Photo credit: Lynne Winslow In his acceptance speech, Mr. McMur- The Book Fair Committee celebrates the success of the fair. Pictured: Gordon try thanked his bookselling colleagues of Hollis, Carol Sandberg, Ed Postal, Victoria Dailey, and Rachel Weinstein. the world. In a follow-up interview with McMurtry, he conveyed to Newsletter by Gordon Hollis and Kate Fultz If this wasnʼt your impression of the Editor Rob Rulon-Miller: "Here is rough- Hollis (Mr. Hollis was chair of the 2006 Los Angeles Book Fair then you might ly what I meant to say at the Oscar[s]-- Los Angeles Book Fair Committee) have missed the 39th California Inter- actually got to say most but not all of it... national Antiquarian Book Fair at the Finally, I'd like to thank booksellers--all When you think of the California Interna- Century Plaza in Los Angeles where all booksellers everywhere, from the owners tional Antiquarian Book Fair in Los An- of the above was true. The numbers for of the humblest paperback exchange up geles, does the following come to mind: the fair this year were impressive: there to the grand masters of the great book were 190 dealers from the U.S. and 11 rooms of the [world]--they contribute to • Over 3,000 collectors and potential countries; 11 exhibitors had never partici- the survival of the culture of the book: a new clients attend? pated in the Los Angeles fair before; 230 rich, nurturing culture which our society • Three educational seminars take more people attended than in 2004 for a can ill afford to discard. place, one with standing room only? grand total of 2,958 walking through the "Booksellers are my heroes and my • The hotel is classy, comfortable, has Century Plaza in two and a half days; and teachers, my colleagues and my friends." good food and a spa? a surprising number of people, 240 to be McMurtry is the owner of Booked Up • The weather is cold with a little rain? continued on page 17 in Archer City, Texas. Congratulations! ■ New York Antiquarian Book Fair April 20-23, 2006

Preview April 20th to Benefit the New York Public Library ILAB Book Fairs

2006

March 24-25 Edinburgh, Scotland (ABA) Assembly Rooms

April 20-23 Thursday evening benefit preview 5:30pm-9pm New York, NY (ABAA) Tickets: 212.930.0730 Park Avenue Armory Friday noon-8pm May 18-21 Saturday noon-7pm Sunday noon-5pm Paris, France (SLAM) Maison de la Mutualité Tickets Friday, Saturday, Sunday: $15 3-day pass: $35

June 8-11 For more info, visit sanfordsmith.com, or call 212.777.5218. London, UK (ABA) Olympia Exhibition Center

September 15-17 Please Join your Colleagues for the New York, NY (ILAB) Annual Dinner Meeting of the Park Avenue Armory Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America

7:30 Saturday April 22 at the Grolier Club 47 East 60th Street New York City

The meeting will be held in honor of the past presidents of our Association

Wine, hors d’oeuvres and dinner: $60.00 Special dietary requests will be accommodated

R.S.V.P. to Susan Benne by April 15, ABAA, 20 W. 44th St., New York, NY 10036 For a calendar including non-ILAB book [email protected] or (212) 944-8291 fairs, visit www.abaa.org

2 Newsletter Editor Steps Down after 17 Years

Witten, Geoffrey Steele, William Salloch, by Rob Rulon-Miller that at the time the ABAA was being Elizabeth Woodburn, George Goodspeed, As Mid-West chapter representative I taken to task by our foreign colleagues Muir Dawson, and Leona Rostenberg. started attending Board meetings as early - unfairly, in my opinion, and worse, We endured. On several occasions I as 1987 when Ed Glaser was president haughtily - for not having addressed wanted to be rid of the responsibility of of the ABAA, but I didnʼt attend as a the Texas forgery matter in a manner getting a Newsletter together every three governor until the April meeting of 1989, the ILAB Committee thought fitting. months. When I became president in the second year of Mike Ginsbergʼs (Whether that was the case or not is a 1994 I thought Iʼd have too much on my tenure in that office. We met at the old matter of debate as our foreign colleagues plate. When the ABAA discuss list came ABAA headquarters at Rockefeller Plaza, were not privy to much that was dis- along, I thought the Newsletter had out- without much light, as I recollect, and I cussed in the ABAA Board room.) But as lived its usefulness. Yet, for one reason remember gathering around in a circle of a consequence we did rewrite our Code of or another, I continued forward with it. clunky old chairs. I donʼt remember that Ethics, and within a year we rewrote the Tracy Smith was an immeasurable help there was even a table. We worked from By-Laws which gave teeth to the Code. to me, and in the past 18 months, so has our laps. Several months before, Barbara Both have served us very well over the Susan Benne; both were putative editors Rootenberg had published a trial news- years and, as testimony to their success, and I succeeded in my job because of letter on behalf of the organization, and have needed but minor revisions over the their talents. a newsletter was an idea that Mike had last fifteen years. New book fair rules I was often frustrated by not being able wanted to run with. So when he asked followed and it wasnʼt long before ABAA to get enough submissions, and many who would volunteer to be the editor of was the model that the rest of ILAB issues went out with too much puff and an ABAA newsletter, I put up my hand, wanted to imitate. We were first on the filler. So I implore you now, members not thinking, of course, what that meant, internet, the first with a website, and the and subscribers all, not to let this hap- exactly. first with a search-engine. We were open pen as the Newsletter moves ahead in Well, lots has happened over the last with our debates on piracies and screen- the years to come. The ABAA Newsletter seventeen years and in some future issue plays, and ultimately the Texas forgeries. has a viable and important role in todayʼs I may recollect at length about my tenure We instituted new accounting measures. trade. It is a vehicle of the trade, for the as Newsletter editor and Board mem- We foiled book thieves and forgers. We trade, and by the trade, and as such stands ber. But for now, a farewell summary of weathered Pepper in Hollywood. apart from the glossy glamour mags, and what was reported in the Newsletter will We accepted into membership an ex- even the discuss list where politics and do, which is probably more for my own traordinary number of young, promising alcohol consumption are bandied about amusement than it is for your reading en- booksellers, including future presidents ad nauseum. What gnawed at me the joyment. Early on we hired Liane Wade Tom Congalton and Ken Lopez; our most was... Well, Iʼll desist now, before I who is with us to this day. Together with newest vice-president, Stuart Bennett; get on that horse. Beginning with the next ABAA counsel Larry Fox, she provides and our newest secretary, Sarah Bald- issue, Susan will take over as editor. She as much continuity for the association as win. We have honored our departed past deserves all our support, and then some. anyone. She will remember, for example, presidents, including John Jenkins, Larry She certainly has mine. ■ Another Perspective on Dust-Jackets By Tom Congalton While I found all of the subjects upon chinks in the armor of that unanimity. I read Julian Rotaʼs article “The Fate which Julian Rota reported worthy of For a bookseller, whose stock in trade and State of Removable Dust-Jackets” attention (and it sounds like a broad and largely consists of modern first editions, reporting on the conference of the same useful array of topics was covered), I to voluntarily take up the cudgel against name held at the University of London, was particularly struck by the apparent the professed cause of “bibliographical with the sort of fascination and enthusi- unanimity of opinion that existed among integrity” as this ideal relates to dust- asm that I usually reserve for articles on the participants upon the subject of the jackets, hazards the same risk that an sordid sex scandals involving Hollywood switching of removable dust-jackets. Ju- American or British politician might in- starlets. I very much regret that I did not lian expressed regret in his article about cur in defending the practice of inter-spe- have the opportunity to attend the sympo- having no opposing view represented at cies dating. Thereʼs no real upside to it. sium, at which I have little doubt I would the conference, although his description To some degree, I find myself not have been an appreciative and attentive of Rick Gekoskiʼs presentation seemed entirely unsympathetic with the appar- attendee. to me, at least, to suggest some modest continued on page 6 I was helping look for something) kept Bookscouting in Tijuana asking again and again me why a par- ticular book was so expensive. None of by Arnold Herr Earlier that evening: my explanations satisfied him. So I asked Bookscouting in Tijuana - January 1989 We were hurtling through the night; the him why he was so cheap. This didnʼt sit "AAAAH! AAAAHH! AAAHH! carʼs wheels scarcely touched the road. well and he demanded of Mickey that I CHOOOOOOOO!" Jack Gallagher and I were in Mickey be made to forfeit half my pay. That was me sneezing while driving Tsimmisʼs car which we had borrowed Mickey: "But I donʼt pay him any- Mickey Tsmissisʼs car. The muzzle veloc- a couple of hours earlier. We had left thing." ity blew out the windshield. There was a Mickey at Mrs. P. Talbot-Carsonʼs place Customer: "Then put him on the lot of book dust in the air. after we hot-wired the ignition. We payroll for $50.00 per week and take out "GLOOOGGH!" were headed for the border to do some $25.00." And that was Jack Gallagher tossing bookscouting in Tijuana. We needed a Mickey (scratching his head): "Hmm- his cookies out the open window on the change of scenery. Earlier in the day, mmmmm." passenger side of the car. Jack, Mickey and I arrived at Mrs. PTCʼs Me: "If you paid me $100.00 per week We were on the American side of the residence to look over her book collec- you could then take out $50.00!" U. S. - Mexican border, a few miles south tion and make her an offer on the hold- Mickey: "Thatʼs right, I could. Thatʼll of San Diego. Jack was blowing chunks ings. After a brief dunking in Mrs. PTCʼs be an even bigger forfeiture." all over the interstate while we were on koi pond however, Mickey soon found Me: "Yep." our way back to Los Angeles. her books less interesting than her skiv- Mickey: "There! Thatʼll teach you!" Jack: "Gezund - BLOORTZ! - heit." vies. On the way out the door to get some So I not only went on the payroll, but Me: "Thanks. Howʼre ya feeling?" empty boxes, Jack and I caught a glimpse I had negotiated a raise, all in less than a Jack: "Miserable." of Mickey and Mrs. PTC three sheets to minute. Me: "But at least - TTHPPPTTTT! - the wind, up on the tabletop, dancing the we got the books, so I donʼt feel too bad. kazatski. (Later, Mickey had told me that Meanwhile: How about you?" if we had stuck around a bit longer, we Mickey Tsimmis has been known Jack: "Ask me - GLORK! – tomor- could have seen him and Mrs. PTC in around town under several names: Morty row." her library among the Henry James firsts Plonk, Percy Duckbutter, California I know, I know; itʼs offensive. And and the Shakespeare folios, dancing the Eddie and The Shadow. “Names were somewhere in my resume it states that funky chicken). No thanks. So we took a meant to be changed,” he claimed, “most Iʼve been pandering to the taste-impaired powder. people are not the same people they were since 1972 and itʼs a tradition I enjoy (I know, I know; I seem to be endlessly five, 10, or 20 years ago. Why should maintaining. digressing but lemme back up just a bit the name remain the same?” So the bank here, and I promise not to do it anymore): can track you down when they have to Several hours earlier: By 1989 I had been working off and on notify you about one of your dormant ac- “Senor looks as if he is carrying a for Mickey for approximately 19 years. counts” I offered. “Hmmmm, good point” heavy burden on his shoulders.” Every so often I would stand back and try he conceded, rubbing the stubble on his “You have no idea” I answered the to figure out how and in what ways it had unshaved chin. bartender. “Let me have another cerveza enriched me; it certainly hadnʼt ennobled And so on a clear, bright January day please.” I was sitting in a smoky, dimly me. I had mastered the art of precarious in Southern California, Jack Gallagher lighted dive in Baja, California, some- perching: piling things one on top of and I accompanied Mickey to Mrs. P. where south of the border scraping the the other and having the mound remain Talbot-Carsonʼs swanky pad in Pasa- label off the frosty bottle with my thumb- standing. Inverted pyramids were a cinch. dena. She was eager to get her hands on nail and feeling crummy. Balancing my checkbook was another Mickey and it was pretty obvious that He set another cold Corona next to matter. In fact, Mickey didnʼt even pay Jack and I should disinvite ourselves and my empty one and helped himself to a me a salary when I first started working leave. So we left the Mickster draining couple of greenbacks from the stack I had for him; he made it clear that the experi- water and carp on Mrs. PTCʼs carpets and sitting on the bar in front of me. It was ence I would gain in his bookshop would headed for Mexico. a short stack and would most assuredly be invaluable and that maybe I should be A coupla hours later, Jack and I found grow shorter before very long. He must paying him during my apprenticeship. ourselves in a cantina somewhere in have known I had a tale to tell, because Luckily for me, that arrangement didnʼt or near Tijuana (it coulda been as far he rested his chin in the palm of his hand last very long. I began collecting a salary south as Ensenada, everything was kinda waiting for me to recount the events of in the following manner after working for blurred). It was probably the Marty Rob- the day. He seemed bored and in need of him for about two months back in 1970: entertainment. I began to blather. A very obnoxious customer (whom continued on page 8 4 Thrice-haired Donnis, and Marc, Her Pirate Donnis Joan re-enters, as a Tibetan Oakland in Pittsburgh, PA. Marc says she a toehold in Pittsburgh, 1988, and Donnis Buddhist might have it, in Kansas City, changed his life. They tried on each other was our Member, always, and Marc the MO on September 21, 1951, borne by for a full year and on the penultimate day Associate. Marc is a Member now. Margaret, Verl de Camp was her father of 1983, they married. And stayed mar- Naturally, the pirate set his wife to then. She took off on Saturday, January ried. They had a home on the South Side mind the shop in Squirrel Hill. He said 28, from Alamo, CA, and she was 54 or Slopes, which looked down into a river so in print. Donnis had to type cata- 55, depending upon the system of compu- or two or three or an alley, or a pit. Truth logues too, so she did, but they were her tation. Marc Selvaggio was by her side be told, it was the back yard that was of own catalogues, on travel literature, the and some women were singing; ovarian concern. It was the mouth of a mine. Middle East and Asia, of women, before cancer proceeds at its own pace. Death is B. Dalton has in the end a limited there were “womenʼs studies.” Ten either nothingness or nothing, but dying capacity to satisfy, and Marc apparently years of equity, and one month; ten years is awesome, awful. could not live by poetry alone, and like plus of territorial enterprise, forty-eight Because she grew up in Flourtown or some maddened few of that and earlier catalogues, [the next, in Berkeley, will be for some other reason, Donnis skipped generations, Marc and Donnis decided number one hundred twenty]; no small senior year at Plymouth-Whitemarsh that nothing was more sensible and safe matter, to think of leaving when you have High School and also did not go to the than enduring poverty and endless hours been in control of book territory in those prom, and she also skipped a year of of drudgery, like sweeping the side- days, even if you are delusional, when Georgetown College, which did not walk and using a hand-cranked adding it took an hour to snag a trunk line from prevent her from learning French and machine and typing on a typewriter and Scotland to home. And letʼs be honest, German and wintering in Salzburg and driving after rumors, so Donnis quit our couple are bright, there was not much Paris, and graduating in 1971. Let it be representing Harcourt Brace after two competition then, and Pittsburgh, PA is a said, she was abroad on merit because years as a sales rep [a lateral career move, seat of learning with many institutional she read a lot as a youth and also trained perhaps, after managing twenty-two new libraries one must serve. But not so much horses and made the horses turn the book stores at once]. Yes, she became a walk-in. This was pre-internet. Walk-in tricks. The skills accumulated qualified mid-day dj, and “out of the air, a voice;” = 10%. Then. He thought New England, her for bookselling, obviously enough, “her voice was ever soft, gentle and low, but Donnis loved California. So they and she immediately managed two B. an excellent thing in woman,” hosting left for California. First they cashed out Dalton /Dayton Hudson shops, in Detroit classical on WDUQ. But Donnis joined their equity, sold off much of the store and Philadelphia. B. Dalton, a modest Marc in attempting to do what he says inventory, the art to Powellʼs, even then, book chain, then. Nonetheless, soon, he had wanted to do since when he was a $10,000; 50 boxes here, 50 boxes there, Donnis was regional manager in charge tweeny [fourteen, he says], which was be 175 boxes to Kane Auction Gallery. Bless of exactly twenty-two stores, and sent a bookseller, so the two of them bought Gary Kane, and remember him always. to Pittsburgh, where actually some other some one elseʼs two-storey used book Sold the store, sold the home! And ABAA members were born. Most ABAA store. Schoyerʼs. Property of Bill and headed West, young people; West! where members have written poetry, few will Maxine Schoyer. Hard to pronounce in 45 or so bookstores have closed in the admit to it, and fewer still will publish 1985. Located right in Pittsburgh, built Bay Area alone in the last 5 years. And 1 any. Marc Selvaggio read his poetry in in 1900. That is the mistake of the young or 2 or 3 opened. public on November 6, 1982, so thatʼs and the ignorant and the romantic and is Seek debt? Buy a home in the SF Bay when our story really begins, as Donnis a certain path to quarrels over money [but Area. So our couple did, a duplex, one for was in attendance, and swarthy but week- there would be no quarrels because Don- the books, one for the pair, instead of one bearded Marc was at the podium, reading nis kept the books]. There is no good will for a tenant, but nearby was the most wel- poetry, and Donnis was on the make, but in buying anotherʼs name, in order to lose coming of couples, however private, oth- only for a funny guy and Marc must have your own; used inventories have been erwise, and Ann Arnold, a painter whose been funny, in addition to being a poet. deselected so many times, they ought to still lifes brightened the walls of Chez So he was born in Pittsburgh. So he went be considered liabilities. Used books are Panisse [downstairs!] for many years and to Hampton High School. So he did not non-fungibles and you cannot pour them Ian Jackson, bookseller, private scholar, letter as a tight end because he was on the into a tank or even eat one if desper- eased Donnis and Marc into a new and bench. So he had taken five years to get ately hungry. You can eat them in other larger book world with hearty Italian his M.A. from the University of Pitts- senses, however, as everyone knows. cuisine, book wisdom, learning, affec- burgh. So What? He had shaven him- But Bill and Maxine financed the sale of tion, and a major jolt of energy. Once a self clean the week before [never, ever, Schoyerʼs themselves, $83,000.00, which year the Jacksons willingly sacrificed a again]. He read his poems at St. Peter no bank would give Marc and Donnis. Church, Oakland. South Oakland. Thatʼs “You must be kidding!” The ABAA had continued on page 21 5 and even in some less common cases of incentive to switch the dust-jackets on Congalton which I am aware, as late as eighth and first editions of such highly collectible ninth printings, of a certain book being American authors as Ernest Hemingway, continued from page 3 issued by the publisher in identical “first William Faulkner, or F. Scott Fitzgerald, ently unanimous view expressed by the printing” dust-jackets. (I wonʼt be more all or most of the bibliographical issues participants in the symposium. However, specific about these books, more or less and states of those dust-jackets had been I have always been suspicious of unani- on the same principle that one hesitates to identified (if not always published) by mous opinions, especially where they publish detailed instructions on the manu- bibliographers, collectors, or dealers, or concern the rare book trade, where any facturing of high explosives.) in many cases, in various combinations random gathering of ten booksellers can When a publisherʼs functionary or of the three. And it is the dealers and pretty much be counted upon to elicit at warehouseman applies one of these dust- collectors who have the most at stake in least twelve different opinions on any jackets to a corresponding book, is he determining the proper sequence of these book-related subject. the founder of this sacred bibliographical issues and states because, ultimately, they This unanimity of opinion described integrity to which we all so aspire? Is he are going to be the ones to put their mon- by Julian seems also not to be entirely any different than a dealer or collector ey where their conclusions lead them. devoid of some elements of hypocrisy who switches a bibliographically correct Ever heard of Lida Larrimore? I and righteousness which, taken by them- dust-jacket from one book to another? thought not. My interest in vintage dust- selves, are at least mildly unpalatable, but I suggest perhaps not; or, at least not jackets has given me cause to buy, and which when mixed together create a brew always. even occasionally sell, copies of novels of some toxicity that I find very difficult Would Professor Tanselleʼs exhortation by this thoroughly forgotten American to swallow. So despite all the obvious to dealers against ever marrying dust- romance novelist. I have never been hazards and pitfalls to which I might jackets to the appropriate books extend tempted to switch the dust-jacket on a subject myself, I find myself willing to as well to the British Library, which ap- Lida Larrimore book. I have never heard take issue with some elements of this parently stores, or at least has stored their of any of my colleagues or customers unanimity. dust-jackets in bales at a discrete loca- being tempted to switch the jacket on a In order to aspire to my rapidly tion from the books? While the forensic Lida Larrimore book, if indeed they had dwindling hope of brevity, I think I will bibliographic chain might well have been even heard of her at all. I suppose Ms. do well to confine my remarks to the broken, is it really a sin to re-unite them, Larrimore will reside forever in the neth- commonly collected books of the twen- and would the bibliographer have nothing erworld of literary obscurity. However, tieth century. I do not mean for them to to gain from this blessed (or apparently, if the clamor rings forth from Manhattan apply to what are perhaps certain unique damned) event? or Mayfair, from Harvard or Cambridge nineteenth century jackets, or books and If a collector or dealer wishes to adorn for first editions of the novels of Ms. examples of their jackets that exist in his inscribed copy of a notable book Larrimore, I will, I hope, be prepared to only a handful of copies. with a dust-jacket that is identical to the meet the demand. And long before the Julianʼs article notes Rick Gekoskiʼs one with which it might originally have economic incentive exists for me, my col- opinion “referring to the ABA / Book- been adorned, is the bibliographical leagues, or the collectors of her works to dealer debate,” that “books and dust- integrity of his copy impugned? Perhaps, supply dust-jackets for Ms. Larrimoreʼs wrappers are ʻmarriedʼ in the first place but I suggest in very few cases does this books from other copies, I suspect I will at the publishers and switching of the cor- apparent break in the bibliographical have identified, through observation rect dust-wrapper is therefore justifiable chain result in the loss of some usable and experience, in consultation with my although it ʻrisks monkeying about with bibliographical information. If that book colleagues, and maybe even with the bibliographical evidenceʼ.” is a copy of Hemingwayʼs The Old Man help of some visionary (or really, really I do not know if Rickʼs conclusion is and the Sea, is the removal of one of the desperate) academic, a bibliographically correct, but the basis on which he posits it seemingly hundreds of available copies convincing trail of evidence about the is at least evidentially correct. Jackets are of the first edition from the marketplace priorities and states of those books and often printed at geographically distinct in order to supply said dust-jacket going their dust-jackets. locations from where their corresponding to impede the laborers in the bibliograph- Dealersʼ catalogues from the first part books are printed, and as they are usually ical groves? Probably not. of the twentieth century seldom, or rarely, printed in color - a more costly printing I submit that the economic imperative mention the presence of dust-jackets. process - the publisher often takes advan- that might make the switching of jackets However, since I have been active in the tage of the economies of scale inherent in on a particular title tempting in the first trade, like every other modern first edi- the process to commission a larger quan- place, is at least strong evidence that the tion dealer, I have labored under a con- tity of dust-jackets than he might imme- necessary bibliographical work vis-a-vis stant barrage of accusation by collectors, diately have uses for. Thus, it is not at all that book has already been accomplished. uncommon for second and third printings, Long before there was an economic continued on next page 6 Bibliography, long the province of cies of bibliographers, curious librarians, Congalton enlightened amateurs, has not been ap- and working booksellers is sufficient continued from previous page preciably improved, at least as it concerns to police itself. While unscrupulous or modern first editions, by the ministrations incompetent specimens in each of these librarians, and even from my antiquarian of professional bibliographers. As one professions will always exist, and might colleagues, that in my professional capac- colleague remarked to me, “If you could even seem in the ascendance in this brave ity I have valued dust-jackets too much. take all the bibliographers in the world, new world of eBay and the Internet, I Were we Philistines because we paid and laid them end to end, they couldnʼt suspect that competence and profession- too much attention to dust-jackets, their reach an agreement.” More important to alism will eventually and ultimately hold states, their points, their condition, and me than a vague allegiance to a perhaps sway. Organizations such as the ABA, the priced our books accordingly? Have we unknowable bibliographical ideal are the ABAA, the other national associations now come full circle when a conference exigencies of everyday experience as of ILAB, and their individual members, must be convened in order to tell me that they present themselves to a practicing are the bastions that help to protect the I am a Philistine because I have valued bookseller, a collector trying to assemble ideal of bibliographical integrity from the them too little? Who knew? a collection, and to a bibliographer busily depredations of the marketplace. On this note, am I alone in noting at parsing states and issues, much of whose I understand that the ABAʼs Modern least a whiff of irony emanating from this work he may find has already been done First Editions sub-committee has reported conference composed in large part of aca- for him. to the ABA council that the organizationʼs demics, librarians, and bibliographers? Pious and heartfelt pronouncements de- current code of practice is sufficient to These professions as a whole, if the rest crying the practice of dust-jacket switch- cover this topic. Earlier attempts, spear- of Julian Rotaʼs report is accurate, sup- ing are all well and good, and, when that headed at least in part by dealers in more planted by their own testimonies, have fact is not disclosed, probably morally antiquarian books, to ban the exhibition been singularly and in large part ignorant and ethically unassailable. However in of books so adorned, have been fore- of the bibliographical significance of practice, they are rather like issuing a stalled. In private correspondence, Julian dust-jackets, and mostly heedless of the prohibition to Eve from partaking of the Rota tells me that this was never seri- continuing need for preserving them. fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil. Dust- ously considered, and while I donʼt for a Most bibliographers (and here may I pay jackets have been switched from books second doubt Julianʼs sincerity, others in homage to the exceptions) have histori- for decades. And while there is some rea- the British modern first edition trade say cally paid little, if any attention to dust- son to believe, as Rick Gekoski asserts, otherwise. jackets, and nearly all the information we that this practice may have started as a At any rate, they are to be congratulat- have on these objects has been preserved collector-driven American phenomenon, ed. One can only marvel at the spectacle by dealers and collectors. Most scholars English dealers and collectors were not that might otherwise have occurred. One have come late to the game, and appar- long in adopting it as their own. wonders if the members of an ABA vet- ently seem to think that all that should We are perhaps better served by ap- ting committee comprised of antiquarian be left now is for them to apply their plying our critical faculties to the task at dealers would be willing to interrupt their imprimatur to the subject, when much hand – identifying to the best of our abili- tireless labors in preparing their inven- of the hard work has already been done. ties, and with what bibliographic rigor we tory for sale - industriously replacing Sadly, their attentions come a bit too late can muster, the object as it is, not the one endpapers, transferring maps and plates to be of great use. that we might wish that it was. A dealer that are lacking from their copies from They further feel compelled to issue who repeatedly mis-describes dust-jacket other copies in their hospitals, supply- ethical guidelines on the handling of dust- states, or wantonly supplies bibliographi- ing leaves in facsimile when that is not jackets to those who have been the most cally incompatible dust-jackets to books, practicable, trotting out their paint boxes active in preserving and identifying them: will not long enjoy the confidence of his to color the supplied maps and plates, collectors and dealers in modern first edi- colleagues or customers, and is sure, in matching up the odd volumes of sets, or tions. I hasten to add that the participants the fullness of time, to suffer the corre- gathering Dickens novels in parts from in this conference, who seem willing to sponding economic consequences. very disparate parts indeed (all carefully acknowledge the mistakes, omissions, A bad dust-jacket marriage is much described and noted, of course), in order and depredations of their predeces- like its human counterpart – an event that they might otherwise apply their sors, should probably not be numbered much to be regretted and inevitably tender mercies to parsing whether one or amongst these transgressors. This conver- bound to wind up in tears. I have railed another dust-jacket has arrived at a book sion among their fellows to the point against this practice before, to no very fair on the self-same book that it origi- of view that dust-jackets matter is all to good effect, but I am heartened by my nally adorned? Again, I applaud the ABA the good, but bibliography is much too continuing observations that the ma- for avoiding this hypocrisy, which seems important a subject to be trusted solely to chinery of the marketplace, abetted by the bibliographers. single-minded collectors, the better spe- continued on next page 7 In my inventory of nearly 35,000 the material in their possession, and then Congalton books, I have four that are described as clearly and forthrightly describe the re- continued from previous page almost certainly having supplied dust- sults of those investigations. Beyond that jackets, and two that I positively assert I am a little leery of passing judgment. A less the province of such an august body have supplied dust-jackets. I think sup- prohibition against switching dust-jackets as it does the stuff of farce. One can only plied dust-jackets should be identified as may produce a most satisfying and self- imagine what fun Mr. Wodehouse, or such. I think that it is the responsibility righteous warmth in the pulpit, but is, Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan, would have of reputable dealers to make the stron- ultimately, a delusional avoidance of the made of such a fulsomely throated quire. gest attempts to ascertain the nature of reality that exists on the ground. ■ Arts & Crafts Exhibit opens at the de Young in S.F. by Barbara Traisman United States, Europe, Scandinavia, and Taking its name from the Arts and More than 300 of the finest examples Japan. Crafts Exhibition Society, founded in of the Arts and Crafts Movement dating The objects on view have been drawn England in 1888, the Arts and Crafts from 1880–1945 will be on display in from private and public collections all Movement initially responded to Victo- International Arts and Crafts: William over the world with approximately a third rian mass-production and inappropriate Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright. Orga- of them coming from the V&Aʼs collec- ornamentation by celebrating the simpler nized by the V&A, London, this is the tions. They include textiles, stained glass, forms of traditional decorative arts and most comprehensive exhibition ever furniture, ceramics, metalwork, jewelry, reasserting the value of hand craftsman- assembled on the Arts and Crafts Move- books, architecture, photography, paint- ship. Through its evolution and dissemi- ment. It is also the first to look at it from ings and sculpture. Altogether they serve nation to wider Europe, America, and a truly international perspective, tracing to illustrate how Arts and Crafts became its reverberations in Japan, the Arts and the development of the movement from the first British design movement to have Crafts Movement affected the decorative its flourishing in Britain in the 1880s to widespread and recognizable interna- arts, interior design, and architecture over its interpretation and development in the tional influence. continued on page 16

I caught the bartenderʼs eye and for the benefit of those who havenʼt read gestured toward the girl. He nodded and it or drunk one, is vodka combined with Herr brought her her drink. He knew what V8 vegetable juice and a kiss of tabasco continued from page 4 she liked. There were even a few ginger to give it some authority). I motioned for snaps in the saucer. Those are gonna cost the bartender to replace the spilled drink bins tunes on the Wurlitzer that drew us me, I thought. with a fresh one and tossed a couple of in. Certainly it was the Corona cerveza I waved my hand back and forth, push- Yankee bucks on the bar. I handed my that kept us there. We sat at the bar. ing some of the smoke away to get a bet- barstool up to Jack who grabbed it and Jack was happily puffing a Camel. I had ter look at my surroundings and - Saints began stumbling, blundering and crawl- stopped smoking several years earlier, Preserve Us! - there were several shelves ing toward the end of the bar, stepping on but an American at the other end of the of books on the walls, way up there in the hands, drinks, ashtrays, loose change and bar offered me a Cuban cigar - he called gloom, high above eye level. “Books!,” some sleeping guyʼs beard. Jack placed it a Monte Cristo or a Christ Almighty - I I burped. That hoicked Jack from his the stool firmly down on the bar with a donʼt clearly remember. “Contraband in boozy torpor. (Iʼve noticed that the cry of loud THWACK! Most of the folks in the the U. S.” he said, “but if youʼve never “broads!” or “dames!” just doesnʼt elicit cantina were now staring at him. Both of smoked one before, hereʼs your chance to the same response as “books!” anymore. him. He/they turned to face them. do it without fear of being busted.” Iʼd I - and my associates - must be getting Jack (theatrically): "Watch this." never had a Cuban cigar before, but I fig- older. Or deranged). Jack was torqued on nine beers and ured I could fall off the wagon just long Jack: "Where?" so was hamming it up. He climbed up enough for a taste. I fired it up; not bad, Me (pointing): "Up there." into the smoky darkness. He grabbed a I thought. Some good beer, a good cigar; The bargirl wandered off. I pointed to book at random and tossed it toward the about all that was lacking in this picture the books and the bartender shrugged and sound of my gibbering voice. I caught it. were some good books. I then became gestured as if to say “have at ʻem.” Jack It was a vellum-backed copy of Somerset aware of a bargirl clinging to me like a clambered (what a great word, huh?) up Maughamʼs A Writerʼs Notebook. Signed cheap suit. She had festooned my neck on the bar, upsetting his neighborʼs drink. and limited. What the hell? I looked with hickeys. She wanted me to buy her a It looked like a Mexican Edsel (which I drink. I asked her what she wanted. think I described in another episode, but continued on next page Bargirl: "A cup of hot Ovaltine." 8 reptilian part of my brain I wondered who to it as we neared it; if I didnʼt know bet- Herr originally owned this collection and how ter, it looked almost ethereal and magical it all ended up in this hovel. In all the glittering in the damp early morning air. continued from previous page ensuing confusion I had forgotten to ask. But I knew better.... closer; the spine was a little grimy, but so We found a large box containing what After dropping off Jack at his room what. Next came a copy of Canemakerʼs appeared to be a set of toy soldiers. I in Hollywood, I parked and locked Winsor Mckay. I guess Little Nemo and shined the flashlight on the label; it read: up Mickeyʼs car behind his store after Gertie the Dinosaur have a following “complete with smoldering cities in ruins. covering up the books in the back with in Baja. More surprises came flying off Bleeding corpses not included.” (Later, flattened cardboard boxes. The car looked the shelves; some dropping on the wet on the road back to L. A. I realized we so disreputable, no one would bother it. I bar, some knocking over bottles and had forgotten to pack them into the car. once watched a woman approach Mickey glasses. Others were caught by me and Jack referred to it as a “nocturnal omis- as he exited the car after parking it and suddenly-eager participants in this game sion”). she handed him a dollar bill and said of catch the octavo and catch the quarto Altogether, we had pulled out about “you poor man. Here, go buy yourself or whatever else came sailing down. We 30 boxes of books and the kid hollered a Snickers bar.” She then turned and missed a few and those landed on the across the road for his father the bartend- walked away. sawdust and spittle-covered floor. These er who came over and told us how much I chuckled at the memory. I wiped off on the the bartenderʼs dog he wanted for them, along with all the Dawn was slowly breaking over a which remained sleeping through all the broken glasses, the spilled and replaced chilly, misty Hollywood as I hoofed it excitement. drinks and the scratches on the bar. Jack home. Bartender (pointing to the books): "You and I realized we simply didnʼt have A day or so later, Jack and I found that like this stuff?" enough dinero between us. The bartend- Mickey had replaced us with a couple Me: "Yeah. You have more?" erʼs eyebrow shot up and I thought we of new chumps.....er, uh employees, and Bartender: "Plenty. In the house across might end up spending the night in the was teaching them Stamp-Moistening the road." Tijuana jail. But then in a moment of 101. He would lip-shpritz the stamp (or He stuck two fingers into his mouth inspiration, I remembered the carpet we the envelope flap) with a fine, even mist. and whistled loudly. It spooked Jack and had used to wrap Mickey earlier that day; That way you never actually had to touch he fell off the ladder onto the bar. Luck- it was still rolled up in the back of the car, the flap or the stamp with your tongue. ily, a puddle of watered-down scotch and I dashed out and carried it back in- You couldnʼt be too careful in those days broke his fall. The whistle also brought a side. The bartender was mightily pleased (the ones before self-sticking stamps). I kid out of the back room. with this offering, waved away the books worked up the nerve to ask Mickey how Bartender (to me): "My son. (To the and happily clutched his new rug. The he had gotten back to the store from Mrs. kid): Take these two locos across the kid helped us shlep boxes out of the P. Talbot-Carsonʼs pad in Pasadena. Jack street and show them the books." shack and load them into Mickeyʼs car. and I had after all, stol.....uh, borrowed The kid led and Jack and I followed. It He crawled into the back of the station his car. We found him puttering around was a dump and there was no electricity. wagon and piled up the boxes we handed in the psychology section of the store, Me: "This place smells of cat." in to him. He sniffed the air in the car. standing under the sign that read “a death Jack: "Big cat." Kid: "Senor..." wish a day keeps the analyst away.” Me: "Bad cat." Me: "Yeah?" Me: "How did you...uh...get back here Jack: "Big, bad, incontinent cat." Kid: "There is something in this car..." to the store from Mrs. P. Talbot-Carsonʼs Me: "Generations of cats." Me: "Yeah?" place?" Jack: "Cats immemorial." Kid: "It is big and it is dead." Mickey: "She had Wormwood drive Me: "Cats primeval." Yeah, I thought, but it doesnʼt smell me back in the Bentley. Itʼs a really big The kid handed me a flashlight and like cat. car, yʼknow." Jack went out and found another in The drive back to the border was un- Me: "I donʼt know. Iʼm a buck-ninety- Mickeyʼs car. There were many books eventful; Jackʼs head lolled and thumped eight kinda guy. I donʼt ride around in there, some good ones among them: A against the window on the passengerʼs Bentleys." 12-volume set of The Golden Bough, side of the car. His eyes were open but Mickey: "I got into this discussion Senecaʼs Tragoediae (16mo.) dated 1656 unseeing. Customs waved us through with Wormwood about how many books and in its original vellum binding with without a second glance. We stopped a could be stuffed into it. We couldnʼt agree yapped edges, B. Travenʼs The Death couple of times to irrigate the shoulder on anything because neither of us knew Ship. And more goodies, old and recent. of Interstate 5 and toss out meals eaten exactly how many cubic feet of space We were madly tossing them into old gin six months earlier. Approaching L. A. were in the car." and tequila boxes. The dross we stacked sometimes does that to you. continued on next page in the corner. Somewhere back in the Los Angeles had a kind of magical look 9 monikers at different times and Iʼve even dishes in the same water." Herr tried drawing a timeline to refer to when Me: "Hunh, couth...." Iʼm writing, but itʼs still bewildering." Rupert: "...and he suggested I eat off continued from previous page Morty: "Howzabout referring to me as my shorts and save a step." the Bookseller Formerly Known as Morty Me: "Hunh, a weisenheimer." Me: "Yeah...." Plonk." Mickey: "So we pulled onto the shoul- Me: "Someoneʼs already come up with A few weeks ago: der of the Pasadena Freeway and found something very similar." And so I wasnʼt too surprised when a a tapemeasure in the trunk and tried to Morty: "Call me Slick; Iʼve always short time later, Rupert called to let me figure it out. While we were doing this liked the name Slick." know he had unearthed some more books a CHP officer on a motorcycle pulled Me: "Forget it. What name do you while on one of his periodic archaeologi- up thinking we were having car trouble. have on your driverʼs license?" cal digs at his old house in Hollywood. When we told him what we were up to, Morty: "I donʼt know; I canʼt find it. I Perhaps the term “dig” is a little shy of he wanted to cite Wormwood for some think itʼs Parsnips K. Magpie, but Iʼm not the mark; “mudslide” might be more sort of infraction." sure." accurate, or a tectonic shifting of layers. Me: "And Wormwood would have Me: "Any other documents?" Whatever it was, I was invited to come scalped you for all the grief you cause Morty: "My last will and testicle?" over and take a look. him." Me: "Testament." Barnyogurt: "If Morty Plonk is still Mickey: "No. The CHP guyʼs father Morty: "Itʼs Noodnik. I think my around, heʼs welcome to come over too." had been an architect and so the officer license says Noodnik." Me: "Heʼs still around and heʼs calling knew a little bit about volume and how Me: "Iʼll make it easy: Iʼll call you himself Mickey Tsimmis now." to determine cubic feet and we all stood Mickey Tsimmis regardless. From now Barnyogurt: "Thatʼs not a good sign; around doing calculations." on, whatever you were calling yourself, the man is having an identity crisis." Me: "So how many books could you youʼre gonna be Mickey Tsimmis." Me: "He has no problem with knowing cram into a Bentley?" Mickey: "Fine, as long as you donʼt who he is; he has difficulty with how heʼs Mickey: "About 900, if you ripped out call me late for lunch." perceived by others." the seats." Not too long ago: Barnyogurt: "Iʼm glad you cleared that Me: "Front and rear?" I ran into Rupert Barnyogurt at a dinner up for me. Whoever he is, heʼs welcome Mickey: "Right. You would have to party given by an old customer of mine to come over." drive the car seated on a milk crate." who collected books on photography and I then phoned Mickey. He sounded sad. Me: "So did you customize the inte- architecture. I hadnʼt seen old Rupert for Mickey: "I was thinking of my mother rior?" thirty-some years and was surprised he and the times when I told her I was bored Mickey: "Naw. Wormwood figured if was still alive. I found him rinsing his and had nothing to do and she made me we did that, Mrs. P. Talbot-Carson would dentures in the punchbowl. play “wet toe in a hot socket.” She found run his giblets through a wringer." Rupert: "I had some food stuck be- it amusing when I skittered across the tween my gums and the plate. I hope you floor on my butt after getting zapped." Last Thursday: donʼt mind." Me: "Well, cheer up! Rupert Barn- I phoned Morty. I had a problem that Me: "I donʼt care. Iʼm not drinking yogurt invited the two of us over to look needed clearing up. that stuff anyway. Is that the same filthy at some books heʼs excavated." Me: "Morty?" t-shirt you were wearing in 1973? Itʼs Mickey (groaning): "Why are you Morty: "Yeah. Whatʼs up?" ripened nicely." throwing temptation in my path? You Me: "Iʼve got a little problem." Rupert: "No, Iʼve had two others since know I shouldnʼt be buying any more Morty: "Whatsamatter?" then. And it does have a nice seasoned books. I canʼt even get to the john here Me: "Iʼm getting complaints: people look to it donʼt you think?" at the store. The trail is completely who are reading the stuff Iʼm writing are Me: "Hunh, seasoned...." blocked." confused. They ask me if Morty Plonk Rupert: "In the old days I used to Me: "I love torturing you Mickey. and Mickey Tsimmis are the same guy or take whatever shirt, socks and shorts I Besides, Rupertʼs good company; weʼll two different people. I tell them youʼre was wearing that day into the tub with have a few yuks." actually about 17 different people, each me when I bathed at night. Kind of an And so that evening, as Rupert pried with his own distinct personality but the efficient use of water and soap, wouldnʼt open the door, he handed each of us hard- same lousy taste in clothes." you say?" hats with flashlights duct-taped to them. I Morty: "What are you driving at?" Me: "Hunh, efficient..." noticed someone had tacked up a sign to Me: "For the sake of simplicity, Iʼd Rupert: "And then carrying that the front door which read “proof of recent like to stick with one name for you in thought one step farther, I asked my my articles. I know youʼve used different continued on next page priest if it would be couth to wash my 10 ing contraption that had two hooks, one tioned nose to nose on the lawn with their Herr on either side of a doorway (I think it was hoods raised and they seemed to snarling a doorway - it might have been a vent) and spitting antifreeze at each other. continued from previous page that would grasp each side of his trousersʼ Rupert: "I used to be able to drive tetanus shot required.” Rupert offered us waistband. With a small wheel, he could around to the back of the house; there a drink, but he couldnʼt find any glasses, lower the pants enough so he could step was a driveway over there. But as my clean or otherwise, so we sipped from out of them. He could also raise them holdings increased and the place began the garden hose which we passed around. after he had stepped into them. That to overflow, the driveway kept getting Tap water was the beverage du jour. saved him from having to bend over. His shorter and shorter and I had to park on Mickey (sniffing the air): "I smell footwear included flip-flops, loafers and the grass and then on the street." burning feathers." bedroom slippers. Sometimes in matched Me: "And what has this got to do with Barnyogurt: "Thatʼs some of my pairs, sometimes not. He didnʼt give a disasterous first dates?" down-home cooking. But before we look damn. Rupert: "Iʼm getting to that. One eve- at the books, I want to show you some- And then Rupert wandered away and ning when I could still get the car into the thing." I continued ferreting through the slag. I driveway, I pulled in with Angie on the He led us to a bathroom. opened a box and found a complete set seat beside me..." Barnyogurt: "I donʼt often have com- (13 volumes bound in seven) of Hast- Me: "Donʼt tell me: her last name was pany over, so I decided to clean it up a ingsʼ Encyclopedia of Religion & Ethics. OʼPlasty." little." I hauled the box outside - not as easy as Rupert: "Oh, have you dated her too? It wasnʼt exactly “cleaned” - he had it sounds - I had to push it through a 15 Well, no matter. The driveway was so pushed the heavy stuff to one side and foot tunnel with my nose to get it to the narrow I could barely squeeze the car in. raked up the rest of it. main trail leading to the door. I was get- Also that kitchen window there...." Mickey: "Itʼs very nice, but I wouldnʼt ting a little light-headed breathing all that Me: "What kitchen window? I see want to eat a meal in here." bad air in the house, so it was a perfect what must be a mound of 1,500 to 2,000 Me: "Yeah, and itʼs nice to know that opportunity to remain outside for a spell. boxes and other assorted detritus topped when you drop your pants, they wonʼt I found Rupert out there on the lawn with a Maytag washer." stick to the floor." seated on a rotting mound of Harlequin The tumulus must have equaled the I returned to what I thought was the Romances. weight of a dwarf star. A blue tarp lay living room since it seemed the most Rupert (sighing): "Iʼm soooo de- on top of the heap; a feeble attempt to geologically active. I poked around for pressed." protect it from the elements. Sort of like a bit and found some furniture...or what Me (sympathetically): "Of course you covering Orson Welles with a Kleenex used to be furniture. The area near the are: youʼre overweight, you live in unbe- and hoping to keep him dry during a couch seemed promising, so I cleared lievable squalor breathing mold and dust, monsoon. away some debris. I spotted something your t-shirt is filthy, and youʼre reading Rupert: "Take my word for it, the win- that looked promising so I took a chance a book by Norman Mailer. No wonder dowʼs there. I hadnʼt been able to close and reached under the couch. The thing youʼre unhappy." it for years. I hadnʼt been able to reach it I touched had a halvah-like consistency; Rupert: "Iʼve been thinking of some in years. But bad weather couldnʼt get in- it felt warm, so itʼs possible it may have of my disasterous first dates. Believe it side because of the heaps of dirty dishes been alive but it didnʼt react to my prod- or not, there used to be a driveway over and pots and pans and rotting food." ding, so it was in all probability, dead. there." Me: "Cute..." Rupert shouted from the end of a distant Rupert was describing the topographi- Rupert: "I pulled the car in the drive- tunnel that a copy of Oliver Wendell cal features of the grounds surrounding way with Angie sitting beside me." Holmes, Jr.ʼs The Common Law inscribed his house and his love life, certain I could Me: "Yeah...." by Holmes to someone wonderfully im- make sense of it all. Rupert: ...and the corner of the bumper portant might be somewhere near where The term “grounds” may be a bit nudged the side of the house... I was groping. He said if I didnʼt mind misleading because you couldnʼt see any Me: "Uh huh..." getting bitten and possibly contracting of them; they were all covered with.... Rupert: "...which was enough to dis- rabies, I might poke around a bit more. I well, with stuff. There was stuff piled lodge all the dishes and pots and pans and asked him who the “wonderful” recipi- everywhere, higgledy-piggledy. Stuff was they all came crashing down on the hood ent might have been, but it had been so oozing out the windows, some of which of the car." long since he had seen it, heʼd forgotten. hadnʼt been closed since 1955. Decrepit Me: "And Angie?" I began rooting around in earnest - Rupert lawnmowers were leaning against ceram- Rupert: "She nearly plotzed. The made his way toward me through the ic cactii; the hulks of a Buick Riviera and waffle iron broke the windshield. I didnʼt tunnel but was unable to bend down, his a Chrysler Cordoba (thatʼs right, the one continued on next page belly was so large. He owned an interest- with rich, Corinthian leather) were posi- 11 Me: "Which one?" revolver. But Rupert solved the problem Herr I torqued my head in the direction of before it came to that. He decided to keep the Riviera and the Cordoba. the books. “But you invited us over here continued from previous page Rupert: "Itʼs not those. Itʼs in the to buy books!!” Mickey remonstrated. Plymouth." Rupert: "Yeah, but not these books." even know I owned a waffle iron. Such Me: "What Plymouth?" Mickey: "Cʼmon Rupert, theyʼll only noise; such confusion; such a mess. Have Rupert: "I think itʼs buried under that get buried again in this pesthole, and you ever seen an eight year old banana? mound." what goodʼll that do you?" It resembles a strip of beef jerky. Need- Me: "You think?" Me (whispering into Mickeyʼs ear): less to say, the romance had gone out of Rupert: "Iʼm certain. Itʼs buried under "Tell him you got a tetanus shot today the moment. Angie tried to flee but she the mass." just for the occasion." couldnʼt get the car door open. There was Me: "Letʼs dig it out." Mickey (to Rupert): "I was inoculated a minor avalanche of rubble that threat- Rupert: "Another time. Itʼs a formi- before coming over here." ened to crush the car. She started crying dable task." Rupert grabbed volume II from Mickey and blubbering about being only 31 years Me: "Nah! Itʼll be a cinch. In the old and held out his other hand to me for vol- old and that her child-bearing years were days Mickey and I were known as the ume I. I handed it to him. Rupert replaced slipping away. Suddenly, it seemed that Megalopolis Wrecking Crew. Steaming, the books in the Plymouth, emerged from neon lettering was flashing before my cyclopean heaps were our specialty." the tunnel we had dug and kicked out the eyes saying “Commitment” and I wanted And so Mickey and I burrowed a supporting 2 x 4s allowing all the rubble no part of it. I blurted out “you want to path to the old Plymouth. After an hour to once again entomb the car. We tried have a baby?” She said “Iʼve admired of filthy work, Mickey was able to mollifying Rupert but the visit ended on your genes for a long time Rupert, but crawl into the window broken by Angie a sour note. is see now that youʼre...well, youʼre OʼPlasty and retrieved the books. The A little later: untidy!” “Itʼs even worse inside Angie” damage to volume I was worse than “Heʼll be fine tomorrow,” I consoled I said. “I donʼt know how to tell you this, Rupert remembered: the board was Mickey. “He knows weʼre not evil.” but Iʼm a pack rat.” detached and the spine was splitting. But Mickey: "Speak for yourself." Me: "How did she react to your can- Rupertʼs confusion could be forgiven; he We were seated in a booth at Tortilla dor?" had probably suffered a minor concussion Flatulence, a restaurant hidden away in a Rupert: "She began throwing lighted and his brains were probably addled from back lane of Hollywood. I was picking at matches out the window and screaming." the abuse. my free-range lima beans while Mickey Me: "Matches?? What does that We stood under a streetlight inspecting stared at his plate and dragged his fork mean?" the dictionary when I noticed an early across the liver and into the peas. Rupert: "I donʼt know. Luckily, noth- inked note on the first free endpaper. The We both sighed. Bonifacio the cook ing caught fire." hair on the back of my neck stood up. thought we were editorializing about our Me: "Probably not enough oxygen." “Holy moley!” I muttered, was this writ- meals and frowned. Just to be safe, I sug- Rupert: "So then she climbed into the ten in Johnsonʼs own hand? I had seen gested to Mickey that we shouldnʼt return back seat, grabbed a volume of Dr. John- examples of his writing before and this for another meal there for a while. sonʼs Dictionary of the English Language looked pretty good to me. Unfortunately, and beat me nearly senseless with it. She there were several deep stains covering Earlier today: then kicked out the rear window and went and obscuring part of the inscription. It A very attractive woman (long raven- running off into the night." was in Latin and although I was unable black hair, beautiful symmetrical face Me: "Probably just as well. You two to decipher all of it, I was able to pick and a lush figure in a low-cut, tight black wouldnʼt have been compatible." out a few words..."mingere [maybe]...... leather outfit) stepped up to the counter in Rupert: "Yeah...... " cum bumbis...saluberimum [I think] est my shop and asked me about books writ- Me: "By the way, tell me about the lumbis...." ten by and about exotic dancers. I asked Johnson volume." My hands were trembling. I wouldnʼt her if that included burlesque and she Rupert: "London. 1755. It was the real mind owning this set. I could tell that replied “yes, of course.” McCoy." Mickey was thinking the same thing. Me: "Itʼs an area I wish I knew more Me: "Both volumes?" Would I trading blows with him on the about. The only ones that come to mind Rupert: "Yup. And in pretty good sidewalk over who took precedence in are the obvious ones by Gypsy Rose Lee shape. Even volume one. I got the worst this matter? Nah. Mickey and I went and Ann Corio." of it in the drubbing. The front hinge was back a long time and I knew we wouldnʼt She: "I have copies of those. Iʼd like to a little weak, but not too bad." fight over some something like this. I find some others because Iʼm writing my Me: "Where is it now?" knew he would treat me as honorably as Rupert: "Still in the car." continued on next page I would him. I started to reach for my 12 A large corporation bought up several community." Herr retail buildings in the 400 block of North Shows you where I stand in the peck- Fairfax Ave. in L. A. where I had been lo- ing order around here. The lettering got continued from previous page cated for more than nine years and sought painted over. Oh well.... to upgrade the neighborhood by chucking Shortly thereafter, the guy who had memoirs and would like to - you know out what they deemed to be undesirable owned the poop business dropped by my - compare notes." businesses - mine included. Itʼs still diffi- new shop and introduced himself as I was Me: "Youʼre an exotic dancer?" cult for me to discuss this matter calmly; unpacking books. He told me he had been She: "Yep! My name is Queen Bunny- I was driving along Beverly Blvd. near a newspaper reporter once, but wasnʼt pants. You play a tune, any tune and Iʼll my old store when I saw one of the new very good at it and going into the poop dance exotically to it." landlords of my old shop in the car next removal business seemed to be a natural Me (reaching for a CD): "All right, to mine. I had one of my assistants with for him: it enabled him to keep his old letʼs try this one." me in my van at the time and he told me nickname - Scoop. He was sad that he Queen Bunnypants (turning her head I started snapping and snarling at the had to close up his shop. to read the title): "Oooooo, John Phillip other car. I was apparently foaming at the Scoop: "I miss some of the neighbors Sousa. My favorite." mouth too. I donʼt remember any of it. around here. See that old guy across the I slipped the disk into the player and But Iʼve already relocated to another street?" cranked up the amperage. Out blasted shop about six blocks north of the previ- Me (looking out the window): "The The Stars and Stripes Forever. She did a ous one and am now positioned at a very one with the cape?" few high-steppinʼ movements, grabbed busy intersection in West Hollywood. Itʼs Scoop: "Yeah. He used to come in the stanchion, swung around it a couple an old (for Southern California) building every day. The entire year I was here, he of times, arched her back and let her hair - built in the 1920s - and has a stateli- always came in to say hello." sweep across my counter. I lifted the ness to it that my former shop lacked. Me: "Thatʼs nice." calculator so she could clear away the For five or so decades it had been the Scoop: "In all that time he never shook eraser crumbs. Big and Tall Menʼs clothing shop. Those my hand. In fact, almost everybody Queen Bunnypants (leaning on the folks folded up their tent about two years avoided shaking my hand." counter): "So whaddya think?" ago and a Russian video store moved I made a mental note to head for the Me: "Iʼm impressed. Is Queen Bunny- in. They lasted a bit over a year and for sink the moment Scoop left. pants your real name?" a short while before I moved in, it had Queen Bunnypants: "Itʼs really Ginger been a dog poop removal company. I kid Just last week: Hale." you not. They left a few things behind: a Mickey called me on my cell phone. I Me: "Cʼmon." beat-up old desk and 15 shovels. I tossed was in my car driving back to my book- Queen Bunnypants: "Iʼve also danced them all out. I mentioned this to Mickey shop in West Hollywood after buying a under the names Joy Almond and Jugs Tsimmis and he admonished me for not load of Limited Editions Club volumes Wilde." calling him. He would have taken the at Park LaBrea. My sister was holding Although I didnʼt have any books shovels. “A bookseller can never have too down the fort at the store while I was out. on exotic dancing, I remembered that many shovels,” he said authoritatively. I would have used my van, but it was I might have a few photos of interest, There was some white lettering on a being repaired that day. The books were so I rummaged through one of my file black glass panel under one of the two piled loosely and were sliding around cabinets and found several 8x10s of plate glass windows at the front of my in the back of my old Corvette. All my Josephine Baker, all taken in Paris dur- new shop that read “Poop Removal.” I empty boxes were still in the van. ing the 1920s. One was signed by her. cleverly transformed the capital “P” to a Mickey: "Harry Greenstamps died and Queen Bunnypants bought a couple of capital “B” with a single brushstroke. The is being buried today. My carʼs on the them including the signed one. She was lower case “p” took a bit more work, but fritz and I was hoping you could pick me delighted with her purchase and bounced I managed to make it look like a “k”. It up to take me to the funeral. Whaddya and jiggled in glee. She said sheʼd be now read “Book Removal.” But only for say?" back. I suggested she phone me before a couple of days, when the city of West Me: "I never liked the guy, Mickey. coming in. That way, I could post an Hollywood notified me that the lettering You hated him too." urgent message on the ABAA discuss list on the front of my shop covered more (Harry Greenstamps fancied himself a (non-trade of course) and alert the other square footage than I was entitled to. book maven, but was a sometime book members who might like to be here when Me: "What are you complaining scout whose specialty was medical and she shows up. about? The dog poop guy had more let- technical textbooks. Most dealers bought tering than I do. He even had a picture!" nothing from him). To bring you up to date: West Hollywood official: "But at least Iʼve had to move my shop recently. continued on next page he was providing a useful service to the 13 Driver: "That son-of-a-bitch just stole casket (with Harry inside) into a parked Herr my hearse with your friend in the back." Willys. The coffin splintered and Harryʼs Me: "He was no friend of mine." body rocketed over the car and landed in continued from previous page Mickey: "Nor mine." the hole of a 25-foot tall doughnut. Mickey: "I know, but Iʼm going just to Driver: "Lemme in the back!" “God, I love the book business” I make sure heʼs really dead." Me: "Are you kidding?" said as I slammed on the brakes behind Me: "OK, Iʼll be by in 15 minutes." Another weak moment: I popped the several police cars. To make a long story I got there in 10 and found him noshing release for the rear window/hatchback short, the carjacker was arrested after on a bowl of cold gray gruel. which is hinged at the targa top. The being pulled from the wreckage and the Mickey: "I have to fortify myself for hearse driver leaped in among the LECs. hearse driver (he called himself Down- this." He made to toss them out but I spun wind Murphy and after skidding through Me: "Gimme a break Mickey; you get around in my seat and glowered menac- much of L. A. County with him jammed flatulent when you eat that stuff." ingly at him. into my car, I can attest to the appropri- Mickey: "Not excessively so." Me: "Toss out one book from this car ateness of his name) made a persuasive Me: "Weʼre gonna be in a small car. A and I will beat you to death with that case to the cops that we had to get the little bit goes a long way. Why donʼt you copy of Walden you have in your hand body to the cemetery. eat this thing over here instead." there." The problem though, was that we Mickey: "Itʼs a six-year-old banana. Mickey: "Is that the one signed by had no way to carry Harryʼs carcass to Itʼs past its prime." Edward Steichen?" the gravesite, what with the hearse all I lowered the two windows in the car Me (still glaring at the hearse driver): smashed up. One of the cops though, got and we set off for the funeral parlor. "Yeah." the bright idea of tying him to my car. Mickey was pawing through my LECs. He carefully set the book down and He produced some rope and helped us tie Mickey: "How come I donʼt get calls made himself comfy. Harry to the Corvetteʼs hood. for stuff like this anymore?" Driver: "OK, I wonʼt mess with the It was a warm day, and Corvettes run Me: "Change your diet." books. Could you please haul ass? hot despite the weather. But on a warm Mickey: "In fact, I rarely get calls at The car was dangerously overloaded day they run even hotter. Having Harryʼs all anymore. I miss the looting and pil- and hadnʼt been tuned up in a year and corpse simmering on the griddle was laging." half. I told him if we have to haul ass, sufficient reason for me not to spare the We got to the viewing and sure enough, weʼll have to make three trips. But then I horses to the graveyard. Harry was righteously dead. Mickey realized that I could never live down the While waiting at an intersection I did and I were all for leaving at that point, humiliation of having the ʻVette outrun a double-take when I spotted a guy in a but Harryʼs ex-wife pleaded with us to by a hearse. So I floored it." dirty, fringed buckskin jacket holding up accompany the small gathering to the KA-POW! PTOOOEY! a sign that read “will blow for food.” In cemetery. Small was right: there couldnʼt SCREEEECH! his other hand was a trumpet. Downwind have been more than 10 or 12 people That was the car, not me. I burned got very excited and yelled for me to pull altogether. That included Harry. In a plenty of miles off my rear tires. There up alongside the musician. weak moment I relented and said “sure, was a lot of roaring and screaming going Downwind: "Letʼs grab that guy. Weʼll why not?” on. The roaring came from under the slip him a few bucks and get him to play Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! hood and the exhaust pipes. The scream- Taps. They were gonna have me play it Mickey wasnʼt pleased either but ing from my passengers. We went careen- on my spoons, but heʼll be better." kept quiet since I was his ride back to ing along surface streets through Hol- Downwind talked the guy into accom- his store. Harry was stowed in the back lywood, onto the 101 freeway, across the panying us for ten bucks. He crawled of a hearse as Mickey and I galumphed Valley and down the 405. Along the way into the tiny space behind the two seats outside and piled into the ʻvette. We the hearse driver called 911 on his cell already filled with Downwind and my pulled into the procession. Somehow we phone and we picked up a contingent of LECs. He tossed the trumpet to Mickey ended up directly behind the hearse; the police cars. They signalled for me to back to hold and introduced himself as Howard limousine and rest of the caravan had got- off, but I stayed close nonetheless. The Wagstaff Gribble. He had recently eaten ten stuck at a long light. A few moments hearse barrelled off the freeway near Los something with a lot of garlic in it; you later, as the hearse stopped at an intersec- Angeles International Airport and quickly could tell. We were all sweating heavily. tion, some goniff ran up to the driver, spun out of control when the carjacker It was a pretty funky ride. Mercifully, it stuck a gun in his face and yanked him hit a patch of oil in the road. The hearse was short. out of the car. The carjacker slid behind plowed into a light pole at about 45 mph We arrived at the cemetery a short the wheel and sped off. Mickey and I in front of a doughnut shop just off Cen- while later with Harry strapped to the stared in disbelief. The hearse driver ran tury Blvd. The tail end swung around and continued on next page up to me. the rear door flew open, launching the 14 were all in a hurry to get this over with soon morphed into a scene of graveside Herr anyway. Harry was then lowered into jitterbugging and a swell time was had continued from previous page the ground with great alacrity and little by all. Downwind Murphy was even per- dignity. suaded to play much of the Cole Porter hood like a dead moose, and Mickey, It was obvious Howard Wagstaff Songbook on his spoons. Downwind, Howard Wagstaff Gribble, Gribble hadnʼt had much experience Thusly, Harry Greenstamps was laid to me, and 100 or so LECs all scattered hig- with a trumpet, and I overheard him rest as most of the mourners boogalooed gledy-piggledy inside the car. There were telling someone that he had “blown up a off into the sunset. gasps of shock from some of the attend- lot of balloons, so how bad could I be?” I on the other hand, was not feeling ees, but I could also detect a few satisfied Actually, pretty bad. But what he lacked so merry; turns out that one of the LECs “see, I told you he was really dead” and in musicality, Howard Wagstaff Gribble - the Matisse-signed edition of Joyceʼs similar remarks making the rounds. made up for in lungpower. Ulysses got interred with Harry in my car The body was quickly wrapped in my The tune started out resembling Taps, cover. On the drive back to Hollywood, blue car cover, which was quickly pulled but quickly gained momentum and began Mickey and I plotted its retrieval. ■ out from under the LECs - no replace- sounding like Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy. ment coffin was handy, and frankly, we As you might imagine, the ceremony Coming soon: The Lopsided Merkin

Elisabeth Woodburn Fund and ILAB Congress Committee Announce Scholarships to Congress in Philadelphia

The Trustees of the Elisabeth Woodburn Fund are pleased to announce the ABAA is sponsoring five schol- arships for ABAA members to attend the ILAB Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 9-14, 2006. The scholarships will provide the entire fee for the ILAB Congress, up to $300 towards travel expenses, and free participation in the ABAA booth at the ILAB Book Fair September 15-17. Travel expenses above $300, lodging and shipping of books to the book fair will be the responsibility of the recipient. The Woodburn Fund Scholarships are open to full members of the ABAA who have not previously participated in an ILAB Congress and who have not registered for the Philadelphia Congress.

ABAA member recipients of the scholarships may exhibit up to 10 books as part of the ABAA booth at the ILAB Book Fair and participate in setting up, manning and packing up of the ABAA booth with other members during the full three days of the ILAB book fair. Recipients may be asked to write about their ILAB Congress experience for the ABAA Newsletter.

The ILAB Congress Committee is pleased to offer five additional scholarships in the amount $1,000 each to be used toward Congress fees. The ILAB Congress Committee Scholarships are open to non-ABAA ILAB Members who have never participated in an ILAB Congress.

Requirements for both Scholarships:

Applicants must write a brief essay of approximately 250 words describing why they think they are deserving of the scholarship, and what contributions they will make by attending the Congress. Those who choose to display books in the ABAA Booth at the Book Fair will be required to work in the booth.

Please submit the essay by May 1st either by email to [email protected], or to ABAA Headquarters at 20 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. Applications will be reviewed and recipients awarded by the Trustees of the Woodburn Fund and ILAB Congress Committee respectively. Scholarship recipients will be announced by May 15th. All applications except those awarded scholarships will be kept confidential.

15 In 1894 and 1895, Traisman artists William Keith continued from page 8 and May Curtis Rob- inson, and architects several decades. A. Page Brown, Albert C. Schwein- Highlights and Special Features of the furth, and Bernard Exhibition Maybeck collabo- A special feature of the exhibition is rated on this church four specially created room sets empha- under the inspiration sizing the importance of the Arts and of the Reverend Crafts home and interior. There will be Joseph Worcester. two British sets—one urban and one Stained glass doors from the entry hall of the Robert T. Bernard Maybeck rural—one American ʻCraftsmanʼ room Blacker Estate by Charles S. Greene and Henry M. Greene. (1862–1957), who and one Japanese ʻmodel roomʼ dating silver, glass, textiles and fine art made for started as a drafts- from 1928 and recreated recently with houses of the rich. man on this project, subsequently created rediscovered objects. Promulgating new attitudes toward over 40 private residences and several Other highlights include objects by work, design, and the home, as well as public landmarks in the area, some in influential British designers such as the value placed on the way that things his singular Gothic style featuring mas- Voysey, Mackintosh, Ashbee, Morris, and are made, the Arts and Crafts Movement sive carved timbers. His First Church of Baillie Scott; a group of Russian objects laid the foundations internationally for Christ Scientist, Berkeley, (1910) with its that have not heretofore been exhibited new approaches to design and lifestyles freely inventive design is his masterwork in the Unites States; four-meters-wide in the twentieth century. in the Arts and Crafts style. stained glass doors by California design- Each section of the exhibition, which The Craftsman bungalow was popular ers Greene and Greene, as well as works is organized geographically, explores all over the West in the period from 1900 by Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd the distinctive characteristics of the Arts through 1920 and came to represent the Wright; and Japanese objects by crafts- and Crafts Movement and the different California lifestyle. These houses built of men of the Mingei (Folk Crafts) move- ways in which its ideas were interpreted simple redwood construction are found in ment. as it developed in countries or regions many parts of the Bay Area, particularly from England to Japan. The movement in the Berkeley Hills. The most elaborate Arts and Crafts: Both a Movement and emerged and flourished in Britain in the variations are included in the work of a Style 1880s. It then spread to continental Eu- the architects Charles and Henry Greene Arts and Crafts was both a movement rope and Scandinavia from 1880 to 1914, (1868–1957 and 1870–1954). They cre- and a style, a reaction to the Industrial and to America from 1890 to 1916 before ated the ultimate Arts and Crafts houses, Revolution and its machine dominated its final manifestation in the Mingei (Folk designing every aspect of both the interi- production. Inspired by John Ruskin and Crafts) movement in Japan between or and the exterior, from the furniture and William Morris, the movement promoted 1926 and 1945. In Scandinavia, Austria, textiles to the lighting fixtures. Using the the ideals of craftsmanship, individual- Russia and Germany, the Arts and Crafts most expensive materials, each detail is ism, and the integration of art into every ideology led to a revival of nationalism as beautifully finished to the highest degree day life. The movement challenged the craftsmen returned to indigenous materi- of design and craftsmanship. Although hierarchy of the arts to raise the status of als and native traditions. In America, the their practice was based in Pasadena, they craftsmen, and it also advocated social movement flourished in the mid-West, also worked in the Bay Area; their Green reform through improved workshop upstate New York, Boston, and Califor- Gables estate in Woodside and Thorsen conditions and a simpler way of life. The nia. House in Berkeley are two of their most exhibition illustrates that while handicraft important projects. and the simple, country life was the ideal, Arts and Crafts and the San Francisco Of all the artist craftsmen working in the movement was also sophisticated, Bay Area the Bay Area, the metalworker Dirk van intellectual and urban, with a strong com- For California and the West, the Erp (1860–1933) is the most famous. His mercial basis and a desire to influence earliest examples of the Arts and Crafts hand-hammered copper and mica lamps industrial design and manufacture. Movement were created in the Bay Area. have become synonymous with the whole International Arts and Crafts explores In San Francisco, the Swedenborgian Arts and Crafts Movement in the United the influence of Arts and Crafts through- Church in Pacific Heights was one of States. The paintings and decorative work out the decorative arts across all spec- the earliest projects realized by a group of the artists Lucia and Arthur Mathews trums of society from furniture made of artists, architects, and designers in (1875–1945 and 1860–1945) evoked Cal- for country cottages to highly crafted the spirit of the Arts and Crafts ideals. continued on next page 16 Frederick Hürten Rhead (1880–1942), designers can be found on view in the Traisman this pottery was located in a tuberculosis permanent American art collections of the continued from previous page sanatorium in the Marin County town of new de Young museum. ifornia and its landscape. The Mathewsʼs Fairfax, where itʼs making was offered as International Arts and Crafts: William picture frames, lamps, and painted furni- an occupation to its women patients. As Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright is orga-orga- ture, sold in the their Furniture Shop from with the Mathewsʼs work, Arequipa pot- nized by the V&A, London, and the pre- 1906–1920, were often painted in bright tery is characterized by decorative motifs sentation in San Francisco is generously colors with Californian trees, poppies and often influenced by the natural beauty of supported by the San Francisco Auxiliary Arcadian scenes. Pottery, often seen as California in the form of landscape, trees, of the Fine Arts Museums. On view at the the most typical product of the Arts and and flowers. The factoryʼs signature style de Young in San Francisco 18 March–18 Crafts Movement, was made in the Bay resembles the mosaic effects of stained June 2006. For more information, please Area at the Arequipa Pottery. Under the glass. Examples of the work of some of visit www.famsf.org, or call 1-866-912- direction of the English-born ceramicist these artists, craftsmen, architects, and 6326. ■

To offset the declining number of ex- National Center to install a museum- Hollis hibitors at the Los Angeles book fair, we quality exhibition on Los Angelesʼ early abandoned the premium booth allocation immigrant groups and their artifacts; we continued from front page system for an egalitarian system. The advertised a special seminar on Sunday exact, attended “Rare Books 101” led by premium booth system is one in which entitled Collecting your Roots with His- Carol Sandberg of Michael R. Thompson a dealer can pay for a premium location panic, Black, and Jewish book collectors Books, Rachel Weinstein of Heritage at the entrance of the fair or in front or and experts. Bookshop, and Katie Carter, independent along center in the main aisles. This sys- This approach seems to have worked: book binder and restorer. tem caused resentment, marginalization the book fair was featured on two Net- We are going to talk about how the fair into side rooms and even attrition among work prime-time newscasts Friday and changed this year, and remark on some some exhibitors for whom the extra Saturday evening. The TV spot high- successes and some problems. First of all several thousand dollars for a premium lighted Laurens Hessenlink of Antiquariat the incredible work of Lynne Winslow booth was too great an expense, and it Forum with a Tupac Shakur manuscript, and Winslow Associates as well as that seems, to the book fair Chairman anyway, right next to his 17th century Blaeu Atlas. of the book fair committee (Victoria Dai- to be contrary to the spirit of the ABAA The day before the book fair, The Los ley, Ed Postal, Carol Sandberg, Rachel by-laws which create book fairs for the Angeles Times ran a huge, two-page fea- Weinstein, and chairman Gordon Hollis) equal advancement of all members. ture story highlighting Rachel Weinstein made this fair better than we imagined. For 2006, we changed to the San Fran- of Heritage Bookshop talking about her In addition to “Rare Books 101,” ABAA cisco model of booths allocated without seminar “Rare Books 101,” which drew president John Crichton moderated a preference to location and all sizes dis- 240 people, most of them potential new panel discussion on the rare book trade persed equally throughout the rooms. We collectors. (A selection of press refer- with Tom Congalton, Michael Ginsberg, added a small (perhaps too small) $2000 ences about the fair appears at the end of Ian Smith and Lou Weinstein on Saturday booth that we felt anybody could afford. this article.) morning. Early Sunday afternoon, Sal (The small booths did draw a number The biggest problem we encountered Güereña of the University of California of new exhibitors who would not have was the dealer reaction to ending up in Santa Barbara, Avery Clayton of the Los otherwise come.) the “less elegant” of the two exhibition Angeles African American Historical This “equal opportunity” system we rooms. Of the two rooms, one had low Museum and Harry Sondheim, a collec- adopted, while it did cause some grum- ceilings and narrow aisles. The other hall, tor of Judaica, talked about collecting bling—most loudly from the exhibitor separated by a lobby, was a Victorian materials based on ethnic and cultural who demanded a better location be- type of ballroom with spacious aisles, backgrounds. cause he was a founding member of the high-ceilings, and chandeliers, which ABAA—was accepted overall because it provided a very poorly lighted elegance. Changes in the Book fair was absolutely fair. Every exhibitor was A number of dealers were concerned With declining attendance, a declining treated as an equal member of the ILAB about how different the exhibition rooms number of exhibitors and almost no press no matter how rich or poor he or she hap- were. Rodolphe Chamonal of Librairie coverage for the 2004 book fair, the book pened to be. Chamonal, Paris (who was located in the fair committee was faced with making To bring new customers to the book ballroom) suggested that placement in major changes for the 2006 fair if we fair, we tried to attract the Internet- the ballroom should be a reward for the hoped to be profitable, especially since savvy, young collector by advertising a long-distance traveler. “I am particularly costs skyrocketed at our new venue, the high-tech, multi-cultural new world of continued on next page Century Plaza Hotel. book collecting. We convinced the Autry 17 fair, we wrote to surprised by the number of California Hollis a few to see what bibliophiles of all ages who spoke to continued from front page they thought. Reed him in French and “who asked a raft of satisfied with the fair organization (and) Orenstein was questions about where I come from. The Iʼd like to remark on the new rooms at thrilled with his story is that St. Briac Sur Mer has been the Hyatt. The two rooms are completely experience at the the summer home of the Forbes-Kerry different: the one is fantastic; the other fair: Reed notes, family for more than 50 years and your horrible. [Une difference de prix pourrait “It was a pleasure celebrated senator, John Kerry, has spent faire une sélection parmi les librairies qui participating in my his vacations there since childhood. Our seraient dans la belle salle. Dʼautre part, first Los Angeles mayor is a cousin of Kerryʼs, which, of Reed Orenstein. je précise que de nombreux libraires font book fair. As it was course, merited our harassment by sev- un gros effort pour venir de très loin (Eu- only my second ABAA fair as a member eral big U.S. television networks during rope-Australie) et il serait peut-être bon of the organization, I am limited in my your last elections.” Jean Francois also dʼen tenir compte car ils ont des dépenses ability to compare it to previous fairs. attended the party at Heritage Bookshop supérieures par rapport aux libraires Nonetheless, I am pleased to report that Saturday evening and was very pleased locaux.]” the fair went exceedingly well for us. by the camaraderie of his American col- (The difference in price in the rooms Our sales were strong and very steady on leagues. As a new Los Angeles exhibitor, could provide a choice for dealers to be in Friday, although Saturday and Sunday, Jean Francois wrote that he was satisfied the better room. Itʼs my view that many while producing a few large sales that with the business he could do at the fair booksellers make a great effort to come made the fair a financial success for us, and the new customers he could find. “Je from far away (Europe, Australia) and were, it seemed both very slow, and the pense donc bien être à San Francisco en it would perhaps be good to realize that (ball)room seemed to lack the energy that 2007 et LA à nouveau en 2008!” their expenditures are greater than local had been there at the opening.” Reed also Many returning book dealers also did booksellers.) Other dealers felt that the noted that some of the logistics of the fair well at the fair. We received a couple book fair location should be determined worked very well. “I found that it was of unsolicited comments from Chris- by subject specialty with the antiquarian probably the easiest fair that I have ever topher Sokol of Sokol Books, London dealers placed in the ballroom and the done. My books were picked up by Cala- and Helen Kahn of Helen R. Kahn & modern dealers in the room across the dex and magically appeared in my booth Associates, Montreal. Chris, who was hall. upon my arrival. Those books that [were stuck in a frigid section of the ballroom, Actually, traffic patterns seem to indi- not sold] arrived back in New York, a full wrote, “Although I had a cold for days, cate that more visitors went, not first into day before the promised delivery date. (the Los Angeles book fair) was a HUGE the ballroom, but into the low-ceilinged Set-up was made easy by the manage- IMPROVEMENT on all previous (L.A.) room with bright lights and narrow aisles ment staff who quickly and efficiently book fairs. The people who came to this (and sales certainly were substantial dealt with what might have otherwise fair were the right people too, that is the there). The two rooms didnʼt seem to been a thorny logistics problem. ones who could buy a book if they want- make much difference to many collec- "The camaraderie was wonderful, the ed. We did not sell much more than usual tors as both rooms were busy. To Beverly assistance and support I received from but we did pick up a good handful of new Hills attorney John Schwartz, it was the ʻold timersʼ very much appreciated. And private clients and we have not done that best L.A. fair he had attended, and he if that werenʼt enough...the hotel upgrad- in Los Angeles for a while. Reason: you thought this fair had a uniformly high ed me to a huge VIP deluxe suite!!!” got new people through the doors--not quality about the booths, no matter where Since the Century Plaza hotel was once just the same old (if nice) faces.” they were situated. the “Western White House (of Ronald Helen wrote, “Just a note to thank We suspect the two-room issue will Reagan)” as well as a favorite with celeb- you for a superbly-organized book fair. continue to be debated, since we cannot rities, the upgraded suites must have been There was not a glitch that we could change the venue in 2008 and have the pretty nice. think of—the committee, the Winslow option to stay at the Century Plaza in We asked new dealers from Europe gang, and the set-up people were friendly, 2010. A final perspective on this topic about how they felt at the Los Angeles polite and extremely helpful and for all of comes from Reed Orenstein of Reed fair. Jean Francois Letenneur of Librairie that we thank you very much. On top of it Orenstein Rare Books in New York.: Ancienne des Trois Islets, St. Briac Sur all, we had a very good Fair!” “As the ancient proverb goes, the grass Mer, said that he “appreciated the dy- is always greener on the other side of the namic nature of this 2006 fair: this large Response from Collectors lobby.” gathering joining together more than 200 All of the collectors we spoke with booksellers of the world was wonder- thought that the Century Plaza was so New Perspectives ful for the booksellers and the collec- continued on next page Since we had new participants at the tors.” He noted that he was particularly 18 War I materials, found the variety of exceeding $600,000 for the Century Hollis books wonderful to see and enjoyed the Plaza venue, costs that are largely paid range of books available in literature. He by booth subscription, one fact becomes continued from previous page noticed in particular how many European clear: success in 2008 will be determined much better than the Los Angeles Mar- dealers were at the fair and because there by the willingness of exhibitors to return, riott at the airport. In terms of getting could be more materials in his collect- by word of mouth to attract those deal- around the fair, collector Maria Orefice ing interest from British dealers (as ers whom we have lost over the years, told us that the directory for the fair was WWI took place in Europe longer than and those who have not exhibited here very well done and it was easy to find here in the US), he liked seeing books before. ■ booths. She was particularly impressed and ephemera from many of our British with the special exhibits such as the colleagues. Also, David said that there Below is just a selection of what appeared Scripps College Press, the Printing Muse- seemed to be so many bibliophiles talk- with references to the 39th California In- um and the Autry Museumʼs exhibit, “Be- ing to dealers, maybe more than in the ternational Antiquarian Book Fair. Thanks coming Southern California: Selections last fair, and he enjoyed hearing what very much to Roberta Silverman of Rog- from the Braun Research Library Collec- other people had to say about the books. ers & Associates for her work with the tion.” Maria did not get a chance to go media. to the seminars as she came on Saturday Conclusion and she suggested that there should a one The importance of the Los Angeles CBS 2/KCAL 9 Local News, The Tomes seminar on Saturday and one on Sunday. Book Fair to both the exhibitor and the they are a Changinʼ: Rare Book Fair Perhaps also we could have a seminar on collector cannot be over estimated. The Opens. February 17, 2006. Video about a certain area of collecting such as 19th post-book fair evaluations by exhibitors the fair that was televised live and is now century books. She said, “The informa- indicate that the Century Plaza, while available on this website: tive lectures were so good for people who far from perfect, seems to be potentially http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_ didnʼt know about antiquarian books and more attractive than any Los Angeles 048185842.html wanted to learn how to collect, and how location since the Ambassador Hotel, to explore the book fair.” which was our home until the late 1980s, Brett Johnson, Rare Reads: Bibliophiles David Lundberg, a collector of World when it closed. However, with costs Hope Hobby Proves Contagious. Ventura County Star, February 16, 2006. Article on fair and on Daryl and Joan Hill of the Literary Lion: http://www.venturacountystar.com/ vcs/lifestyle/article/0,1375,VCS_230 _4470602,00.html

Jennifer Kim, Ones for the History Books: Collectors of rare volumes are attracted by the authors, artistry, and yes, smell. Los Angeles Times, February 16, 2006. Calendar, Weekend, E4. Very large feature article on young collectors and dealers ap- pearing at the Los Angeles book fair. http://www.calendarlive.com/books/cl- wkbooks16feb16,0,696476.story?coll=cl- books

Lewis Segal, Critics Notebook: Still a Step Ahead. Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2005. Article about Isadora Duncan col- lection to appear at the Los Angeles book fair: http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/se- Photo Credit: Gordon Hollis gal/cl-caisadora25dec25,0,624265. Visitors browse the larger of the two rooms at the 39th California International htmlstory?coll=cl-segal Antiquarian Book Fair in Los Angeles.

19 Southeast Chapter Launches Web Site The idea of a site for the chapter came speak for Sarah and Ed in saying that by Susan Benne with additional about after ABAAʼs revamped website we believe each Chapter should have an reporting from Nina Matheson launched, and the Chapter's awareness individualized website linked to the main The Southeast Chapter, largely through that WABA (Washington Antiquar- ABAA site. Also, that we should look the hard work of Nina Matheson, Sarah ian Booksellers Association) had had a to making it possible for each memberʼs Baldwin, and Ed Bomsey, has launched a functioning website for a couple of years holdings to be searchable from the Chap- web site. Since the chapter is geographi- that seemed to be attracting traffic and ter sites as well as from the main ABAA cally so large and diverse, the chapter fostering communication between and site. We are looking forward to enhance- saw this as an opportunity to equally among its members. The designer, Patty ments that include publicizing ABAA benefit all members-- placing print ads Johnson, was recommended by another shows and events in which Chapter that would reach all of the areas had bookseller, and was chosen from a group members participate." been a continuing problem. The web site of candidates by Nina, Ed and Sarah. It is a job well done! Please visit the provides yet another venue and means to Remarking on the site, Nina says,"I web site at www.abaasoutheast.org ■ advertise the chapter membership. think we got a great bargain. I think I Members in the News

Portland antiquarian and rare book dealer books and broadsides. His entire body Charles Seluzicki: 35 Years as a Fine Charles Seluzicki has also been a fine of creative work, taken from Multnomah Press Publisher on view from April press publisher for the last 35 years. He County Libraryʼs John Wilson Special 27-June 19, 2006. Reception: Saturday, has had the vision to combine writings by Collections, along with original manu- April 29, 2006, 2:00-3:30 PM. For more great authors including Seamus Heaney, scripts, correspondence and ephemera information, contact Jim Carmin, John Ted Hughes, Czeslaw Milosz, Katherine from the publisherʼs personal collec- Wilson Special Collections Librarian, Dunn, Charles Simic, and many others, tion, will be on exhibit for the first time Multnomah County Library, 801 SW 10th with skillful artists, binders, and printers anywhere in Central Libraryʼs Collins Ave., Portland, OR 97205; phone (503) to produce extraordinary limited edition Gallery. 988-6287; email [email protected] ■

ABAA Benevolent Fund & Woodburn Fund

A contribution to the ABAA Benevolent Fund or to the Elisabeth Woodburn Memorial Fund is a meaningful way to honor the memory of a departed colleague. A contribution can also be a thoughtful celebration of an important event in the life of an antiquarian bookseller—a birthday, an anniversary, or a retirement.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

The Antiquarian Booksellersʼ Benevolent Fund is a non-profit charity fund established by the ABAA in 1952 to benefit any antiquarian bookseller in time of personal need. The Elisabeth Woodburn Memorial Fund offers financial assis- tance for education and scholarly research relevant to the antiquarian book trade.

Direct your contributions and inquiries to: Antiquarian Booksellersʼ Association of America 20 West 44th Street Fourth Floor New York, NY 10036 or for five minutes to the Bancroft, to e Cucina by Marc and Donnis, at the sign de Camp meet with Bonnie Hardwick or Teresa of the BIG tomato hanging outside, over- continued from page 5 Salazar or Tony Bliss or Steven Black, head, threatened by two freeways further or Jack Von Euw, (or any combination of above, just steps from Pac Bell / SBC / son to a putative single parent, and once these good specialist librarians) and offer AT &T soon to be Bonds Park, you know, a year Marc became a father, but a Pirate books, or be graced with books. Jeff Carr where the Giants play in the springtime too, [in memory of our Pittsburgh?], and and Stuart Bennett might visit, or Burton of life, enough steps so the beer-loving the two threatened many a doorway, for Weiss, or Peter Howard, or John Crich- fans do not trip that far up Third to slake Marc was in charcoal and had a two-foot ton, John Durham and Mike Pinkus, or and dine. Perfect, before or after. Few parrot sewn upon his right shoulder and from afar, Garrett Scott, or Robert Fraker, knew the weights borne by Marc and Aldoʼs parrot was upon a perch, which he or Steve Finer, or David Lesser, for each Donnis in welcoming ILAB / ABAA Fair could swing AT you, held by one hand, and all of whom the Schoyers would have exhibitors to the Ricky Jay cocktail party his other armed perhaps with a cardboard books, and what a range of books, from an ABAA Fair ago, in offering, selflessly sword, not an ash or maple bat, but hold- Spanish Studies, or Isabella Bird, Ameri- and up close, at V e C, Donnisʼ favorite ing a sizable bag as well, and Marcʼs cana, Travel, Federal Writersʼ Project, belly, not her own, but the tattooed one hook held a satchel and they counted (Marc the foremost in the land, here), that shook for Donnis and Marc and their their jellybeans home alone and out of Food & Wine, Expositions, Worldʼs Fairs, friends shook, rippled, and jelly-rolled. sight. Who yet knows their take? Pirates Western Americana, California, Mideast, Whom have our couple not introduced to for years after. nineteenth century American poetry if the swirled swordfish carpaccio, antipasto In Berkeley, the Schoyers, awkward it was sufficiently obscure, nineteenth mm! The price was time and anxiety. to put it that way, yoked, could walk century American religion is it was $500 [not profits] went to the ABAA downhill five blocks to gourmet ghetto, obscurantist, books inscribed by de Falla, Benevolent Fund. or across campus to Donnisʼs favorite American sheet music if it was particular In California NW, each of our friends Bistro Santa Fe [now gone], or four enough, and water-witchery, because only sought, had time, found time, made time blocks to the Jacksons, or five blocks Marc specialized in books covered by for singular diversions. Marc goes to the to Black Oak, or nine blocks to Moeʼs, the flooding generality of “water in the Berkeley Y, the most democratic of all West.” Once a year, at least, David Sachs American institutions, not too early in the would sidle by, he day, and not to swim, but to be aerobic, will continue to do hardly in parallel form to his wife, who so, with a sliver of studied Japanese prints, several of the this and a two-page martial arts, including karate and tai chi, that, and fourteen and, mercifully, took up yoga. Stuart pamphlets, six unre- Teitler still dances at Monteroʼs, Solano corded, on a radical and San Pablo, Albany. Latin. Donnis religious sect from danced, flamenco, and salsa, risked the 1873, of a pipeline Mission Clubs of SF, but favored Mister to nowhere, a WPA Eʼs and Mister Eʼs on the Spotlight, prospectus. Maybe nearer to home. So, soon Marc danced, David would stay salsa anyway, and with his wife. To Pete for tea. Likely he Escovitoʼs timbale. Concern with Music would avoid colli- grew as a passion ripens, Donnis was free sion with a coarser to learn Spanish, and to Spain she went sensibility, by timing three times, her husband twice, together his call a week in to Granada, so that both concluded they advance. The prices could be together in Spain without busi- would be beyond ness reverses, a conviction that allowed fair. Who wishes to them to plan to return to Spain. In the please others, these future. Donnis will not make it back. friends, who wishes Modest success in the book business, not to devour? a reputation for civility, forthrightness, What is kindness, honesty sometimes all the positive values who cares in the converge. There is no good luck in the trade, with empa- book business. What happened to Donnis Photo credit: Steven J. Gelberg thy? Many have Donnis de Camp with her cat, Rossini. been treated at Vino continued on next page 21 sion, the cancer reappeared in December and more. A feast. Ironical only in that de Camp 2004, discovered in a routine CAT scan, book sellers are not customarily offered continued from previous page the cancer having spread to abdominal chances of this magnitude to reap such lymph nodes and onto the surface of bounty and such pain simultaneously, so and Marc in December 2003 was due the liver. Chemotherapy in another six intertwined. to their toiling as booksellers for almost rounds was endured, a routine not unlike No, Donnis was never loud. In a photo- twenty years. An obsessive loner died in- that which is practiced in California in graph her hair is long, it is dark because testate, the keeper of the Museum of the particular, in execution chambers, except the photograph is black and white, but Ordinary [Common Objects] represented that the degree of finality is more exact, her hair was dark. Her mouth is wide the Alameda County Court and Coroner more certain even, in the latter instance. and closed for she read with glasses and system of disposals, and the Schoyers The chemo worked once, for a PET scan her eyebrows are thick and arched and had for $225,000 the best collection of in July 2005 could not find the tumor/le- disappear into her dark hair. She sewed geology, historically considered, the best sion on the liver. The liver is remarkably a muslin bag once, and buried Rossini in geo-science collection that the Schoy- resilient after abuse, and here the abuse it, her cat, but Rossini had her own name ers were ever going to have. Now, the was laid on by the gods. But cancer in the and that was “the beaner” which is what Schoyers had never glowed in the aura nodes remained. Further treatment. When Rossini wanted to be called, but Donnis that some dealers think emanates from the surgeons thought it was time for yet and Marc knew her also as “the wiener”. the temporary possession of a $60,000 another look, on August 11, 2005, second Donnis holds Rossini in her photograph treasure, though one such [Aldrovani, opinions having been abandoned rather a and after Rossini died and was privately 1599-1667] was suddenly in their pos- long time before, surgeons found cancer interred Donnis once a week went to the session, nor chosen to surround them- spread. In December Donnis enjoyed Berkeley Animal Shelter, once a week selves with fine copies only. Rather, they eight visits to the hospital, including a for at least an hour, and she petted a cat perceived value where others did not, and few two-day stays. The twenty-second or more than one, and she was dying, not laid out research and sought out custom- wedding anniversary was celebrated in the cats. ers the hard way: distinctive, well-written San Ramon with sushi. The first day of On Friday January 6, 2006 Donnis catalogues. But, Rule Number One: if it 2006 brought Donnis home and the sec- removed to the Bruns House, operated is great, buy it. The Melvin Jahn geology ond day of 2006 brought her back to San by Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra books were great, they were acquired, Ramon. Doctors and RNs are dedicated Costa (www.hospicecc.org). The average and with reference assistance from master and highly educated, but chemo nurses stay is two days. Recommended, book in Jackson, Donnis and Marc wrote the are saints on earth, and Donnis employed advance, but far in advance. The care is- entire catalogue themselves, and, deter- three, Cammie and Cheri and Midge, and superb. Full kitchen, five bedrooms, two mined to respect their own labor, they all three were in attendance every single RNs, a doctor, lots of morphine, the price had the catalogue designed nicely, which time Donnis visited the San Ramon is irrelevant. means appropriately, by Andrea Latham. Resort. That would be three times on Twenty-two days, not the house record There are pictures, but no reproductions extended vacation. of twenty-eight. “I did not think life of dust jackets in color. Then the Schoy- Now Donnis was able to enjoy more would be this easy,” she said. Donnis ers proceeded to sell the books. of the reading she had always relished: was but awaiting the new moon of the The fact is, however, that Donnis was Rebecca West and George Eliot, Henry Chinese New Year. Many visited to say mortally ill, though the cancer was first James, Yeats all, again, and she read hello. Once Donnis and Marc danced to diagnosed in May 2003 at level 2C, a Buddhist works new to her, and as she Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at the University height from which a view of hope is was free now from the compulsion to of California Greek Theatre. Now, Marc permitted. She was profoundly scared research her own illness on the internet, danced for Donnis to that rhythmically and she wanted hugs. They carved out she could meditate. Irony of ironies, compelling music, and to her threw one- the ovaries, cycles of chemotherapy fol- another great library had come upon dollar bills and she carefully gathered lowed, cycles, cycles. Donnis had been Marc and Donnis this difficult year, the each, one by one, in turn, and arranged brunette, sometimes a touch of henna, Frederick Board [senior vice-President them square. She was bolt upright and though Donnis was not vain; now she of Borden, Inc] library, partnered with cross-legged and her arms then rose, one was bald and rightfully beautiful. Pride Robert Fraker. Odd books, a huge WPA and then the other, one to almost an eye- in self, after all. Booksellers more than collection, Hergesheimer and Hearn, brow and the other rose, bent, to a kiss, some others require pride in self. But Manhood, Rhys Davies, Potocki of Mon- and she stayed thus. “Iʼm going to cross Donnis soon had new hair and it was talk, [= unsalable authors?.....wrong!], a the world in song; thatʼs my special plan gray, with edges of silver or white, and book from John Deeʼs library, pop-up right now.” Those were Donnisʼs last she kept it short and several found it very books surrounded by a field of childrensʼ words and her new hair was the color of pleasing and no one felt the new color books, four “blow” books, miniatures foreboding. After 15 months in remis- continued on next page SO NUMEROUS they were left behind, 22 so far north, only to the upper half of Funghi), 3013 Second Street, Berkeley, de Camp the duplex, a little further from the sharp CA 94710 continued from previous page declivity in his own driveway, that took his ankle, a presentiment of sorts. Marc Hospice of Contra Costa Foundation steel. Voci were singing for Donnis when was one-legged not long ago. Marc will (attn: Burns House Inpatient Facility), she died. continue as Marc Selvaggio Bookseller, 3470 Buskirk Ave, Pleasant Hill, CA Marc met Robert Fraker and Ian member of the ABAA. “No one could 94523 Jackson at the ABAA Boston Book Fair, ever pronounce Schoyerʼs so I should 1988. Marc and Donnis met Jeff Maser give them a good Italian name to wrap Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 910 (ABAA, our youngest member when around.” 17th Street NW, Suite 413, Washington, joining) and his pal Andrea Latham a de- Donnis will be celebrated privately in DC 20036 cade or more later; Jeff and Andrea will a family party in the Spring; honor her share the duplex, moving into the lower if you are able, with contributions in her Women for Women International, 1850 half where Marc and Donnis ate and slept name. M. Street NW, Suite 1090, Washington, together. Marc will move north, but not Berkeley Animal Shelter (attn: Amelia DC 20036 ■

Diane was a major American dealer in able to Diane than to him. As the buyer In Memoriam miniature books, and also became well left her booth, she clasped his hand in known for her specialization in John both of hers, and with all the sincerity The Editors note the passing of L. Steinbeck and Wallace Stegner. In 1991 and deference of a preacherʼs wife, she Clarice Davis and R.E. Lewis. Obituaries and 1992, she published two excep- smiled sweetly, and almost inaudibly, will appear in the next issue. tional catalogs devoted to Steinbeck and deftly said, “F***youverymuch.” The Stegner based upon her acquisition of the poor cluck was completely entranced by Diane Peterson Alexander Summers and Maurice Dunbar her charm, and departed none-the-wiser Atherton, CA collections. with a courteous “Youʼre welcome, In the west-coast book trade, Diane youʼre welcome...” Diane Peterson passed away on February may have been most recognizable as the During the last fifteen years of her life, 18th at her home in Atherton, California lone driver of 1989 GMC step-van with Diane successively faced breast, spinal, after a long struggle with cancer. She was a roll-up rear door, that had been spe- and finally brain cancer straight on. “She 73 years old, and is survived by her hus- cially modified by Bill into a rolling rare was indefatigable,” observes Jim Pepper. band Bill, a retired firefighter. In business bookshop. “There is no book dealer,” Bill “She maintained and sold quality stock as Diane Peterson-Book Lady, she was a claims proudly, “that could ever compete under extreme adversity. I have never member of the ABAA for more than 20 with us for mechanical convenience.” known anyone who was more determined years. Diane was the daughter of a U.S. than Diane to continue working as a With her white hair, fair skin, and de- Army doctor, and grew up in Hawaii bookseller. “ mure demeanor, Diane appeared as every after World War II. She was an intrepid In 1995, Diane was my primary spon- inch a Lady at book fairs. But she was world traveler, and among her many sor for admission into the ABAA. There a strong and independent woman, who international journeys, went to Rwanda is no one in the trade whose friendship succeeded on her own terms at a time in to observe mountain gorillas and to the has meant more to me. She was graceful, the trade when some members of the “old Canadian arctic to see polar bears. she was tough, and during that final inter- boys club” were still prone to occasional “Strong Woman”... “Knew her own val of her life, when illness had depleted fits of misogyny. She handled heavy mind”... “Flinty” ... “Tough Chick”... her strength but not her will, she was wooden cases of books with grit and are some of the phrases that colleagues truly heroic. When I last spoke with her resolve that any Teamster would respect. have employed to describe Diane. All of on February 10th, she was still planning Like many of us in the trade, Diane which under some circumstances are as on exhibiting at the Walter Larsen fair on began as a collector. A former dental- undeniable as the rap of a gavel: “Guilty February 26th. hygienist; she began selling books along as charged!” Diane specified that there be no memo- side her extensive collection of Royal I once watched with great admiration rial service for her. Those inclined to cel- Doulton China at west-coast antique fairs as Diane patiently dealt with a loutish ebrate her life are encouraged to donate during the 1970ʼs. Over time, she found and particularly obnoxious customer at a to the Benevolent Fund. that she enjoyed bookselling more. Bill book fair who hammered her relentlessly Sleep well, Dear Friend. ■ recalls that Diane was one of those, “Who over the price of a book. After a grueling Roger Gozdecki started out with a trunk-full of books and bout of give-and-take, the sale was finally pretty soon had a truck-full.” concluded on terms that were more favor- 23 Lee Allen Perron, Lee Perron Fine New Members Books, 4702 Balsam Street, Santa Rosa, The ABAA Newsletter is pleased to CA 95404. (707) 568-3779. The deadline for submissions welcome the following new full mem- to the next Newsletter is bers who were accepted at the Board of Henry G. Taliaferro, Cohen & Taliaferro Governors Meeting in February: LLC, 59 East 54th Street, Suite 62, New June 15, 2006 York, NY 10022. (212) 751-8135. David Joseph Brass, David Brass Rare Send your contributions to: Books, Inc., 23901 Calabasas Road, Ste. For Associate Membership: ABAA Newsletter 2074, Calabasas, CA 91302. (818) 222- Susan Gallagher, The Gallagher Col- 20 West 44th Street 4103. lection, 2102 South Milwaukee Street, New York, NY 10036 Denver, CO 80210. FAX: 212.944.8293 Membership Updates EMAIL: [email protected]

Please note the 2006 ABAA Directory Columbia, MO 65203. will be available in April. Gotham Book Mart has a new web site: Black Sun Books has a new email ad- www.gothambookmart.com. dress: [email protected]. Wonder Books has a new phone number: Columbia Books, Inc. has a new ad- (301)694-3547. dress: 309 South Providence Road The ABAA Newsletter

(ISSN 1070-7000X) Notice of Expulsion is published quarterly under the aus- pices of the Publica tions Committee of Bennett Gilbert Expelled from ABAA made to the Association and to his credi- The Antiquarian Booksellers' tors about paying bills which were the Association of America At its meeting in Los Angeles on Febru- subject of complaints to the ABAA Ethics 20 West 44th Street, Fourth Floor ary 16, 2006, the Board of Governors of Committee. This announcement has been New York, NY 10036-6604. the ABAA voted pursuant to the Associa- sent to all recipients of the ABAA “An- PHONE: 212-944-8291 tionʼs By-Laws (Article 5, Section I, 2) to nounce” listserve, and is published in the FAX: 212-944-8293 expel Bennett Gilbert from membership ABAA Newsletter, and it will be sent to www.abaa.org of the ABAA. The expulsion, effec- the presidents of ILAB member organiza- tive immediately, was the result of Mr. tions. Gilbertʼs failure to honor the promises he EDITOR: Susan Benne

Notice of Censure Annual postpaid subscriptions are Thomas G. Boss Censured Board considered the recent statements $25.00 domestic; $30.00 Canada by the complainant that Mr. Boss had and Mexico; and $35.00 overseas. At its meeting in Los Angeles on Febru- agreed to the points of the complaint, and ary 16, 2006, the Board of Governors of was in the process of making financial COPYRIGHT 2006 by The Antiquarian the ABAA voted pursuant to the Asso- and other restitution. This announce- Booksellers' Association of America ciationʼs By-Laws (Article 5, Section I, ment is being sent to all recipients of the 2) to censure Thomas G. Boss. This was ABAA “Announce” listserve, and is pub- Send submissions and letters to: the result of a formal complaint regard- lished in the ABAA Newsletter, and will ABAA Newsletter ing issues arising from a consignment be sent to the presidents of ILAB member 20 West 44th Street of books. In determining that Mr. Boss organizations. New York, NY 10036 USA be censured rather than suspended, the PHONE: 212 944-8291 ILAB CONGRESS 2006 FAX: 212 944-8293 September 9-14 • Philadelphia EMAIL: [email protected] ILAB BOOK FAIR [email protected] September 15-17 • Javits Center, New York City 24