THE ABAA PUBLICATION of October 28-30 Boston, MA (ABAA) Hynes Convention Center

The

ABN E WSLETTEA AR VOLUME SIXTEEN, NUMBER 3 ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLERS' ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SUMMER 2005

INSIDE: Housecalls: Movie Mania II. By Arnold Herr...... PAGE 3 The Leaf Book In Memoriam Considered

Leona Rostenberg by John Windle New York, New York This talk was given at the Newberry Few longtime ABAA members needed to Library on May 20, 2005 as part of the search their memories when they heard Leaf Book Symposium arranged by the “Leona died.” She was memorable and Caxton Club of Chicago and accompa- unique. Leona Rostenberg died in her nied by an exhibition curated by Joel 97th year on March 17, 2005, in New Silver and a catalogue of the exhibition, York City, where she lived for all of her Disbound and Dispersed published by life. the Caxton Club and available from Oak She was president of the Antiquarian Knoll Books. Speakers included Michael Booksellersʼ Association of America, Thompson, Chicago attorney, president of Inc., from 1972 to 1974 as well as active the Caxton Club and leaf book collec- in its inception in 1949 along with her tor; Sarah Harding, Associate Professor lifelong companion, Madeleine Stern. of Law and co-director Institute for Law They both loved the ABAA, fondly fuss- Leona Rostenberg. and the Humanities at Chicago-Kent ing and fuming about the vagaries of the College of Law; Paul Gehl, Custodian, Board and the membership and the book John M. Wing Foundation on the History business in general. On many occasions of Printing at the Newberry Library; Max Madeleine left a tenured teaching posi- they bemoaned the closing of the Book Yela, head of Special Collections at the tion to join her, beginning a successful Center at Rockefeller Center in the late University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; and 60-year business in the antiquarian book 1980ʼs, feeling that it provided an unpar- myself representing the leaf book publish- world. alleled venue for ABAA dealers and their ing and dealing trades. It was attended While Leona was ABAA president, the books. I suspect Leona never forgave me by some 60 people and lasted three International League held their annual for not reopening it 15 years ago. hours, followed by a reception at which meeting in Japan. As a joke Madeleine She was born on December 28, 1908, much further discussion took place. I gave her records (LPʼs) of Japanese graduated from New York University in have edited my talk from the spoken text language lessons. Leona took it seriously, 1930, and met Madeleine the same year, for publication in print form. and to the amusement and appreciation then a Barnard College freshman. After In 1940 the first check list of leaf of their Japanese hosts and guests, gave graduate studies at Columbia, her dis- books was compiled by Miles Standish her speech in Japanese. sertation on the politics of 17th century Slocum; it recorded 20 titles. In 2005, Leona was a serious scholar and printers was rejected. Leona gave up the John Chalmers recorded 84 leaf books researcher and wrote five books: English idea of an academic career, working for before 1940 and about 150 since 1940 Publishers in the Graphic Arts, 1599 Austrian book dealer Herbert Reichner, for a total of around 250 titles if I include – 1700; Literary, Political, Scientific, a trying experience but it provided her a few Chalmers omitted. Although T.F. Religious & Legal Publishing, Printing with five years of solid foundation in the Dibdinʼs Greek and Latin Classics (4th & Bookselling in England, 1551 – 1700 antiquarian book business. In 1944, she edition, 1825) and the British and Foreign (2 volumes); The Minority Press & The opened her own business with a small Bible Societyʼs Catalogues in the 1850's English Crown: A Study in Repression, stock of early printed books concerned predate it, Francis Fryʼs Bible leaf book with the history of printing. A year later, continued on page 15 continued on page 4 Letters to the Editor From: Harold R. Nestler numbing technology. Just today I was reading that even some Many thanks for your fine review of my libraries have closed for lack of patrons book in the ABAA Newsletter Spring – patrons who are supposedly intelligent 2005. beings, but who think the internet can I appreciate it very much. supply all the knowledge they will ever I just hope that other dealers write need. ILAB Book Fairs down their memoirs. It is important to It is time to go to the Post Office and keep alive the history of the antiquarian mail books to a couple of customers who 2005 book trade before the advent of mind- are not afraid to buy books from catalogs.

THE ABAA PUBLICATION OF October 28-30 Boston, MA (ABAA) Hynes Convention Center

October 28-30 Sydney, Australia (ANZAAB) Masonic Center

November 4-5 London, England (ABA) ROGER E. STODDARD'S ADDRESS Old Chelsea Town Hall No More Mr. Nice Guy; or How to Get Along When Roger’s Not Around Anymore

January 27-29 Delivered before the ABAA and ILAB guests April 30, 2005, at the Grolier Club Stuttgart, Germany (VDA) Württembergischer Kunstverein Will Soon be Available in A limited edition of 250 copies, designed and printed by the Poltroon Press, Berkeley, California February 17-19 Los Angeles, CA (ABAA) Westin Century Plaza $10.00 per copy. Orders are now being taken. All proceeds go to the ABAA Benevolent Fund.

For a calendar including non-ILAB book For details inquire at [email protected] fairs, visit www.abaa.org

2 back and youʼre home free.” House Calls: Movie Mania II A long pause -- a really long pause. by Arnold Herr to get stuff to and from the warehouse Morty: “Whaddya worried about? Itʼll The Melrose Cannonball (July 1988) across the street? With all the traffic out work fine. Claudeʼs done the math. “Here, attach this spring to your fore- there on Melrose and having to go down Me: Claude hasnʼt learned yet how to head.” Morty held up a coil spring from to the corner to cross the road, itʼs just a make change. Show me in my job profile a long-dead Studebaker whose carcass big waste of time.” where it says I have to be a human can- littered the back of his book shop. We Me: “And finding the cannon gave you nonball.” were constantly stumbling over parts of an idea.” And then we were outside on the side- this car which were lying underfoot and Morty: “We shoot the boxes of books walk. Claude was munching a candy bar; heaped higgledy-piggledy all over the out of the cannon and across the street. Jack was sipping a Mexican Edsel (V8 place. According to Morty, junk like this Simplicity itself.” veggie juice and tequila). Bob was stand- always came in handy when you least ex- Me: “How do I fit into this picture?” ing across the street at the warehouse pected it. Thatʼs why it was never thrown Morty: “Youʼre making the maiden door. I glanced at the Zacchini which away. voyage.” seemed to be aimed higher than the build- “What the hell are ya talkinʼ about?” I Me: “Why not Bob? Why not ing across the street. respectfully queried. Claude?” Me: “Shouldnʼt that be aimed a little “Use this duct tape to hold it place.” Morty: “Claudeʼs too chunky. Bob has lower? The way it is now, Iʼll end up in He handed me the roll and the spring. bad feet.” Catalina.” “Youʼre going for a ride.” Me: “What do his feet matter? Heʼll Morty: “Everythingʼll be hunky-dory. I taped the spring to my forehead; it probably die anyway.” Youʼll see. Whereʼs your sense of adven- looked like a gigantic round tefillin. Morty: “ Youʼll fit easily into the barrel ture?” Me: “Will I need to take some clean of the cannon; youʼre slim-hipped." Me: “Whereʼs yours? Youʼre slimmer- clothes.” Me: “And small-brained, for an even hipped than I am.” Morty: “Itʼs not that kind of a trip. Jack better fit. Why the spring?" Morty: “Iʼm allergic to muzzle veloc- unearthed my old Zacchini circus cannon Morty: “For the return trip. Youʼll hit ity. Besides, youʼre fully insured.” from the inner sanctum upstairs in the the facade of the building about five feet Me: “Insured?” bargain basement.” above the door. The g-forces will be up Morty: “By Lloyds of Long Beach.” Me: “You mean the inner scrotum, around 12 somewhere, but donʼt worry, Me: “I am not reassured. Whoʼs the donʼt you?” itʼll be duck soup. Just before you hit the guy with the cigarette leaning against the Morty: “It gave me a great idea.” stucco, you drop the box of books. Bobʼll black van?” Me: “Saints preserve us.” be underneath and catch it. The spring Morty: “The county coroner.” Morty: “You know how it takes forever hits the building - “BOING!” - you fly continued on page 8 “Real Time” guy, Bill Maher, who gave ABAA does Book Expo at Javits a talk on Saturday night. Both events had standing room only. Working the by Ed Smith ABAA booth were Liane Wade, Susan Book Expo America was held June Dixon, and Ed Smith (PR). Directories 3-5, 2005, at the Jacob Javits Exhibi- were prized by librarians, museum staff, tion Center in New York City. This and booksellers. Shirts and caps were was the second year the ABAA has sold along with DVDʼs of BIBLIOMA- had a booth at this huge book indus- NIA. Bookmarks were also a hit. More try event where one can experience than a dozen booksellers inquired about the entire scope of book publishing membership, and many people who worldwide, all in one place, all at one stopped by the booth were familiar with time. This is the premier event for the ABAA and were glad to see us at the booksellers, retailers, librarians, edu- show. Other attendees wanted directories cators, rights professionals, publish- in order to contact members for apprais- ers and anyone involved in the world als, and some even wanted to sell their of books. The ABAA fits right in with collections. 2,000 exhibitors had booths this crowd, and enhances it. on the main floor, and, one floor down, The main speaker this year was Exhibitors get ready for another busy day. held more. 500 authors were signing at comedian and actor/author Billy the show and included Mike Wallace, Crystal. Another attraction was the continued on page 13 3 book program as well as his own leaf At this point the economics become de- Windle book publications, and since Warren ceptively (and I use that word advisedly) continued from front page Howell was also a publisher of leaf books simple and thus, perhaps unfortunately, as well as involved with the Book Clubʼs tempting. Rather than discuss abstractly is the first book to describe itself as a leaf publishing program, I can fairly claim the theories of leaf book economics, book by mentioning on the title-page the to have learned the leaf book trade from I will instead provide concrete details leaves to be found as part of the publi- the originators of it. And I might also about the two leaf books I have pub- cation, and this soon became standard add that it is largely a California indus- lished, whether they could be regarded as for the genre. The first American leaf try. The Book Club, then, had access to financial successes or failures, and what book was issued in 1897, the 7th leaf excellent printers, and a subscriber base I have learned from my own efforts and book overall. In 1924 the Book Club of that virtually guaranteed that every book from prior experience with the efforts of California published its first leaf book, would sell out. It was a natural progres- others. My first project was conceived the Hypnerotomachia, and since then it sion for the local rare book dealers, John in 1994 when I was reading an auction has published more leaf books than any Howell-Books, David Magee, Dawsonʼs catalogue of a sale in London that listed a other publisher which is an important fact Book Shop, and more recently Bernard Kelmscott Chaucer, published in 1896. It to recall when considering the economics M. Rosenthal, Kenneth Karmiole, Zeitlin is by common consensus one of the great- of leaf books. Firstly, the Book Club of and Ver Brugge, Philip Pirages (just over est printed books in Western history and California did not, and still does not, have has, since the day of publication, always the same requirements of profitability been extraordinarily expensive. What in- that a commercial or small press pub- trigued me about this copy was that it had lisher has, and to some extent this is also been through a fire and a flood and had true of rare book dealers who are the next subsequently been largely neglected. The most prolific publishers of leaf books. leaves had been soaked through, causing In the San Francisco Bay area there has the red ink used by Morris as highlights been a flourishing small press scene as in the borders and text to bleed through well as a good number of rare book deal- the pages so that the entire book had ers for almost a century; both printers blotchy pink stains in the margins, text, and dealers have largely been supported and woodcut initials, borders and illustra- by wealthy collectors and institutions tions. The house estimate was low, about who have underwritten publication costs, a tenth or less of what the book normally thus enabling the printers to take on jobs sold for. I had had a run of copies through that commercial printers would probably my shop as happens sometimes in the be unwilling to consider. Many of these book trade and had sold six copies in the presses also receive substantial commis- prior two years including two to the same sions from the Book Club of California person (who gave them away). Having for books, sometimes more than one a John Windle at the Newberry Library. taken copies to all the major bookfairs, I year, and the Book Club of Californiaʼs had heard collectors tell me many times the California border in Oregon), and my- publishing program has become quite how they could never imagine affording self, finding ourselves with a fragment of a large undertaking. As of May 2005, a complete copy but if I ever came across an important or interesting book, to bring the Club has 14 books accepted and in a page or two theyʼd love to have a frag- it to the attention of the Book Club, the various stages of production, with several ment. I had sold a double-page spread, Roxburghe Club, the Zamorano Club, the more in the wings. on vellum no less, to a sophisticated New Sacramento Book Collectorʼs Club, all of I have been a member of the Book York collector and I felt confident that whom have published leaf books. If one Club since 1971, edited its Quarterly a leaf book would be successful. Since of these clubs did not pick up the project, Newsletter for some years in the 1970's, Philip Duschnes had published the only it was not much of a leap to publish it and am currently on the Board of Direc- Kelmscott Chaucer leaf book in 1941 in oneself since we know eminent scholars tors, so I am familiar with its history and an edition of 150 copies, I argued that if who write about such books like Chris- operation. From my first days in the book a reasonable number of leaves could be topher de Hamel or Paul Needham. We trade in London in the 1960's I knew resurrected from this wreck of a book it know the institutions and private collec- David Magee and Warren Howell, and would be well worth the effort of re-is- tors who buy such books, and we have when I moved to San Francisco in 1971, I suing it, especially since the Duschnes frequent and usually friendly relations spent many happy hours with David and leaf book consisted almost entirely of with the printers who typically will have Dorothy Magee, while also working for unillustrated leaves and very rarely printed our letterhead and business cards, Howell. Since David virtually single- even occasionally our catalogues. continued on next page handedly launched the Book Clubʼs leaf 4 I knew – the commercial history of the leaves in paper wrappers which I did not Windle Chaucer. I owned a copy of Quaritchʼs price. Thus I could count on a total profit continued from previous page 1896 catalogue of the books he took to of roughly $60,000 before discounts. I New York to sell to the great collectors of decided that it would be fitting to donate comes on the market. But my gamble was the day and it included a Hypnerotoma- the text leaves free of charge which I did enormously risky; water damage, smoke chia, a Nuremberg Chronicle, a Shake- by giving them as keepsakes to various damage, mud stains in the margins where speare First Folio, and a King James book groups such as the Roxburghe- the book had lain in the dirt, squeezed Bible – thus I had a frozen moment in Zamorano joint meeting, the Colophon flat and glued crudely into a library time when the Chaucer, published at 20 Club, etc., as well as to friends and cus- buckram case, it was not a promising guineas, could be compared with the oth- tomers who didnʼt want to buy the book. case but I went ahead and purchased the er books at Quaritchʼs listed prices. I then Amusingly, a well-known librarian who book for $7,450. Everyone who had seen created a simple chart showing auction collects the history of paper asked me for it thought I was mad and a dealer friend prices from 1966 to 1993 so one could an example and I gave him leaf a1, which took the trouble to call me and tell me see that the ratio of values between these is the first printed leaf of the Chaucer and what a terrible mistake I had made. five blue-chip landmarks of book making bears nothing but the lower case letter The book arrived and I believed I was had essentially remained the same over ʻaʼ at the foot of the leaf – perfect for his right. It was a disaster. I doubt if one a period of close to 30 years, as they had collection. The rest of the edition slowly person in a hundred would have imagined done in the sixty years prior to that allow- kept selling, 3-5 copies a year mostly it would clean up but I decided to give it ing for the slow-down of the depression to dealers, and I finally declared it “out a shot. I detached a badly stained plain and the long lag in book price increases of print” in January 2005. A CPA might text leaf and sent it over to Karen Zukor, from World War II well into the 1960's. I well argue that over that period of time I the doyenne of conservators in the Bay wrote an essay illustrated with a selection didnʼt make any money but we bookdeal- area, with the simple instructions that she of prices across the century, and com- ers have our own economics which defy could try anything at all to see if the leaf missioned Andrew Hoyem at the Arion comprehension; no less an authority than could be cleaned up. Karen called a few Press to print it for me in an edition of a Nicolas Barker once declared that the rare days later with the astonishing news that hundred copies with an illustrated leaf, book business was a version of the Indian it had cleaned up just fine, the red bleed plus some 300 folders with a plain text rope trick that could not be explained or had washed right out, the smoke and mud leaf. The production of this in a nicely understood except by those who practice damage came right off, the paper was of made portfolio cost another $6,750. it. Louis Weinstein, arguably the most such good quality that it didnʼt need re- I was now into the project for about successful rare book dealer of my genera- sizing, and that the red and black ink had $18,000, not including my time, plus tion, used to tell the story of two rare not run or faded at all. I took the leaf and another $2,000 or so in incidental costs book dealers who were marooned on a put it next to the same leaf in a complete such as mailing, advertising, etc. Based desert island. A year later they were both copy; the match was perfect. With very on auction prices and dealer prices for the millionaires. Quibble or not, I think of it mixed feelings, for I had never done this Duschnes leaf book and a rough value per as one of the more profitable ventures I before, I took apart the whole book, mak- leaf of all the illustrated leaves divided have undertaken thus far in the rare book ing piles of double-page spreads, chapter into the retail price of the complete book, business. What I learned from this was openings with woodcuts and elaborate I reckoned that I could price my book that a leaf book at a reasonable or at least initials, pages with woodcuts, pages with on a sliding scale, with a premium price justifiable price will sell 40-50 copies in woodcut borders, and plain text pages. for the opening page double-spread of about a year. After that it will keep selling Aside from those leaves that were irrepa- $4,500, $1,500 for the colophon leaf, slowly but may not sell out completely rably damaged, I was left with 101 leaves $675 for book and chapter openings, for a decade or more. This is not based with woodcut decorations and a large pile $575 for better woodcut pages, $500 for just on my book, but, by comparing notes of plain leaves, all of which I had Karen the regular woodcut pages, and $175 for with several others who have published wash. It was not too expensive and by the the text leaves with woodcut borders. I similar books, I established that our time she had finished I had spent another announced the publication as soon as I experiences were quite similar though the $2,500. had the first copies in hand from Hoyem profit margins varied widely. Reviewing the literature around the and immediately the two super de luxe I was not invited here to debate the Chaucer it was obvious that there was copies and all the $675 copies sold, legal and ethical issues that creating leaf nothing left to say about it that had not with the $575 copies selling out within books raise as others here are expert in already been definitively written by a year along with about half of the $500 such matters, and attorney and collec- renowned scholars and historians of the copies and the $175 copies. This added tor Michael Thompson has written at book. I didnʼt want to reprint some article up to about $50,000 in sales and left me length on the subject in the book that and so I hit upon the one subject that with about $30,000 in unsold copies, not had never been broached before as far as including trade discounts or the plain continued on next page 5 vest or they genuinely loved the business. touched on – bringing leaves to people Windle There are better and safer places to put who could never afford the book; saving continued from previous page large sums of money, that will generate an object that was otherwise unsalvage- reasonable rates of return and preserve able; and, diminishing my own risk while accompanies the Caxton Club exhibition capital without as much risk. Whenever maximizing my potential for profit and Disbound and Dispersed: the Leaf Book investing in a multiple, you are at risk for creating a small but steady cash flow, Considered, though a few comments will the market to become (however tempo- which is always a benefit in this business. be appended at the end of my essay. Like rarily) oversupplied and your investment From the day I went ahead to the pres- Thompson, I do not believe itʼs a black becoming illiquid at best and devalued at ent, I have never been taken to task for and white issue, and I do believe that the worst, possibly for several years with no breaking that Chaucer, and I have been benefits as well as the drawbacks are well return. The British Rail Pension Fund, to thanked by many people who purchased known and generally understood. What take just one well known example, lost and enjoyed owning a leaf, especially as I believe I do bring to the discussion is money on all of its purchases in multiples many of the earlier buyers got to choose some degree of openness and honesty such as rare books and prints, in fact on the very leaf or leaves they wanted. This, about the financial aspects of breaking anything other than manuscripts, paint- coupled with the reasonably successful books. From Gabriel Wells, who first ings, and unique books, despite using the return on my outlay, inspired me to do broke a Gutenberg Bible, to the present most renowned experts and auction house it again on a tiny scale. In 1998 I came day, rare book dealers have broken books advisors in the world. Although the far across an ugly cloth volume of 13 of the because it can be a profitable way of more modest world of leaf book manu- 17 woodcuts by Blake for Thorntonʼs selling what is otherwise unsaleable. A facturing hardly merits mentioning in the Virgil. They had been given to Caroline dealer at the very top end like W. Graham same breath, it is nonetheless subject to Newton by her father A. Edward Newton, Arader (who explained his methods at the same market forces and its economics and were glued onto cheap paper, and length in a profile in The New Yorker are essentially the same. were beginning to brown and suffer dam- some years ago) is typically anticipat- I would not be honest if I denied that age. I had owned copies of the complete ing a gross return on his investment of when I risked my small amount of capital book and, like the Chaucer, there were somewhere between five and 10 times the on my first leaf book it was for any many Blake collectors who would have investment over a period of about seven reason other than that I saw a substantial loved to own a single woodcut, were years. This sounds like a lot but when potential for profit for relatively little such a thing ever available. I purchased you do the math and deduct the very risk. It is a well-known adage in the it for $1,200, commissioned an essay by considerable carrying costs of such an investment world that the best invest- Bob Essick on the woodcuts, and went operation anything less than a five-time ment is in something you know, and the ahead and published 513 copies in 1999, mark-up will probably lose you money better you know it the safer your invest- the first de luxe copy with the fine, large when adjusted for inflation, the cost of ment is. If I know anything it is the world woodcut for $2,500 and the remaining 12 money, etc. Certainly, financial experts of books; in retrospect, had I taken that with an original woodcut at $1250; the I have talked to have been quite frank same $20,000 and invested in Microsoft, balance with just the essay was priced at that neither the book business as a whole Nike, and Apple, all of whose products $30 a copy, less 40% to Oak Knoll who nor breaking books specifically meet the I used, understood, trusted and believed distributed 250 copies, netting me about criteria that a serious business investor in, I would have had a far greater return $4,500. The de luxe copies sold out at would bring to bear when seeking a good over the same ten-year period. But once for $17,500; I sold about 100 of return on an investment. hindsight is always 20/20 and at the time the remaining copies, I gave away 100 Arader and others following his lead they seemed far riskier than a Kelmscott copies to book clubs as before, and I have put together syndicates to buy, Chaucer, an investment in which I was have about 50 copies left which sell 3-5 break, and sell color plate books, manu- quite sure I could manage to my benefit copies a year. After printing, illustrating, scripts, and atlases which have certainly while controlling my own destiny. At the distributing, and advertising costs which returned more for the investment than risk of seeming disingenuous, I must also ran proportionately about the same as the the profit a dealer could expect to make say that the fact that this Chaucer had Chaucer, I have profit to date of about selling the book complete and unbroken, been deemed unsalvageable assuaged my $15,000. Although the “purists” again with a very few exceptions. It is a highly feelings of unease at the point when I was might object to taking an intact object, capital-intensive form of business how- cognizant of the fact that I could choose however imperfect, and destroying it, I ever, which explains the need for partner- to return all the washed leaves to a binder weighed against that the pleasure the few ships, syndicates etc., and I suspect most and have a new book created. It would buyers of the original woodcuts derived people in the book collecting and dealing not be a Kelmscott Chaucer. It would from their purchase, and the benefit to worlds would not bother to put money be an assemblage of leaves bound up to Blake scholarship at large derived from into such a venture unless they either had look like one, and I decided to go ahead more money than they knew how to in- with the leaf book for the reasons already continued on next page 6 not as easy as it sounds and it is getting physically exists as a discrete object. (1)- Windle harder and harder as important books in (4) have often if not always been adhered continued from previous page any condition become more and more to in most 20th-century leaf books, but expensive. The days of buying a Kelm- curiously (5) has virtually never been Essickʼs superb and highly lauded es- scott Chaucer in any condition for $7500 included. These crippled orphans have say which otherwise would never have are over and yet only a few days ago (I little or no historical standing and, having been printed and distributed at all. If write at the end of May) the Book Club been ignored and rejected by libraries and this sounds a bit self-serving, so be it; of California purchased a copy of the first private collectors, their disassembly has even The Book Collector, my harshest edition of The Wizard of Oz lacking all seemed unworthy of comment. Perhaps critic, lauded Essickʼs essay though their but two of the plates with the intention of too, the publishers donʼt wish to draw reviewer couldnʼt resist knocking the gor- attention to how geous Japanese paper wrappers we used unwanted the item for the binding. they are now try- From what I have written it is prob- ing to make so de- ably evident that I am, though hesitantly sirable once was. and even a little defensively, proud of my That is ironical, two ventures into leaf book publishing. I but it seems right honestly believe that they bring more to in the future for the world of scholarship and collecting leaf book publish- than any damage caused by their creation. ers to disclose the I donʼt see the world as black and white full history of the and I do believe, perhaps unfashionably copy they are of- in these days of moral extremism and Panelists at the lecture: John Windle, Max Yela, Paul Gehl, and fering leaf by leaf. purist certitude across our country (and, Sarah Harding. I must end by indeed, much of the world), that there is creating a leaf book – the budget for the congratulating the Caxton Club on pub- a large grey area between good and evil, purchase was $900, it sold for $287.50 lishing such a distinguished volume so whether in religious conflict or intellectu- with commissions. Iʼm sure that a fine quickly and inexpensively, with essays by al property discussions. I would generally essay by Peter Hanff, and a lovely print- Christopher de Hamel, Michael Thomp- argue that breaking any complete book is ing and binding job by one of our many son, Daniel Mosser, Joel Silver (who also flat-out wrong and that removing an in- local fine printers, will see the Club issue selected and mounted what will be a trav- complete or damaged book from an early yet another distinguished, useful, and eling exhibition), and a bibliography of or significant binding is flat-out wrong, pleasurable book in its long history of almost 250 leaf books by John Chalmers and unless I could see a truly compel- leaf book publications. that is now the only definitive text on the ling cause I very much doubt if I would The guide lines that seemed to be leaf bookʼs long and interesting publish- create or support the creation of more leaf agreed on at the end of the symposium ing history. The exhibition was organized books. That is easy for me to say, you might be summed up as follows: a book by the Clubʼs Exhibitions Committee, may observe, since Iʼve had my turn and could be considered as a candidate for and chaired by Kim Coventry, an exhibi- made a modest but decent profit taking breaking if (1) it is of no cultural or tions consultant in Chicago. By not shirk- it. But in the larger scheme of things it historical significance as an object per ing the controversial issues surrounding is my hope that future leaf books, for se in the copy under consideration, (2) leaf books, and publishing important surely there will be some (see below), that the assessment of (1) include but not scholars on both sides of the controversy, will be created in full cognizance of the be limited to an imperfect text, a bind- the Caxton Club has done a great service ethical, legal, and financial challenges ing of no value or intrinsic interest, and to the world of rare book collecting and, involved. By shedding the light of day on a lack of any association value, (3) that ironically, sparked a renewed interest in a hitherto dark and hush-hush area of the accompanying the leaf there will be text collecting leaf books. book and publishing trade it is my hope that enhances scholarship and connois- to help people make more informed and seurship of the book, (4) that affordable The exhibition is open at the Newberry sensible choices that will enrich and not copies of such a text be made available a Library until July 16th. It will run from diminish the world of books to which we little or no cost to those unable to acquire November 5th to December 31st at the have all, in one way or another, devoted the original due to scarcity or cost and, San Francisco Public Library, from our lives. Not every leaf book is per se (5) that the provenance of the copy dis- January 18, 2006, to March 19th at the a bad thing, and nor is publishing leaf membered be disclosed and include a full Houghton Library at Harvard, and from books a financial slam-dunk either. To account of its history, acquisition, and April 3rd to May 26th at the Lilly Library identify the proper copy of a proper book disassembly so that it retains historical at Indiana University in Bloomington, for the proper treatment as a leaf book is integrity as an object even if it no longer Indiana. ■ 7 April 1977: old medical and dental textbooks, Read- Herr Me: “How many more flights do we ersʼ Digest condensed books, you get the continued from page 3 have to climb?” picture. And then after the charge and wad- I had stopped halfway between the Morty: “I hate to buy more of this ding were packed into the cannon, I was 11th and 12th floors of a swanky old crap...” stuffed into the barrel. A box of books apartment building on Rossmore in Hol- Me: “You have so much already.” was placed in my outstretched hands. lywood and stood gasping for breath. The Morty: “...but Iʼve already climbed 14 “Drop the box just before you hit the elevators had crapped out and we had to stories...” wall,” Morty yelled. hoof it up the stairs. Morty was lying on Me: “Thirteen. Thereʼs no 13th floor.” “Bon voyage,” said Claude. the floor of the landing below me. For a Morty: “...and Iʼm not leaving empty- “Clench your sphincter,” advised Jack. moment I thought he was dead. A nickel handed.” “Blow it out your barracks-bag,” rolled out of his pocket and his hand Me: “Iʼm not carrying them down thought I. reached out to catch it; I knew he was those stairs. I can see the car down below. Then someone lit the fuse and the still alive. How about we just throw them out the concussion from the explosion behind Morty (wheezing): “Sheʼs up on 14.” window? Yʼknow, instant antiquing and me caused my eardrums to touch. I was Me: “Does this building have a 13th all that.” aware of flame and smoke and noise. floor?” Mrs. Przyslmnskwycz (tapping Morty My butt was on fire. I thought: “Whereʼs Morty: “How the hell do I know! What on the arm): “What size are you?” a snow cone when you need one?” As does that have to do with anything?” Morty: “I donʼt know. I donʼt get my I arced south across Melrose, a flock Me: “Some buildings donʼt.” clothing from stores.” of pigeons was winging west. So many Morty: “And some buildings have Me: “Dumpsters. He gets them from pigeons. Itʼs hard for me to detail exactly elevators that work.” dumpsters.” what happened when we collided, but I Me: “I think weʼre halfway between The doorbell rang. The Babushka an- was very aware of feathers and beaks and 11 and 12. If thereʼs no 13, weʼre only swered it and Mae West walked in. (How guano and blood. I was conscious too of one and a half from 14." did she know we were in the building? ) the whistling of air as I sailed through it. Morty: “Youʼre one and a half from Mae: “Who are these two bozos? I saw I looked down and saw cars and trucks 14; Iʼm still on 11. I think Iʼll die here on them coming up the stairs.” below me; I saw a beautiful, braless 11.” Me: “Well, youʼve always said 'come brunette in a Mercedes convertible who Me: “Itʼs not that much farther; you can up and see me sometime.'" was oblivious to my flight. Probably make it. Here, let me carry the dolly the Mae: “I didnʼt expect anyone to take just as well she didnʼt look up and see rest of the way.” me up on it.” me. I would have been hard pressed to When we reached the 14th floor I Morty: “No one will if the elevator is look cool. I spat out a few feathers and remembered that Mae West lived in this always on the fritz.” glanced ahead and saw I was approaching building. Mae: “You guys look kinda hinky to the building right quick. I could see Bob Morty: “Where?” me.” waiting to catch the box; I dropped it. Al- Me: “In the penthouse.” Morty: “We look more exhausted than most immediately, I was knocked nearly Morty: “Whereʼs that?” hinky.” senseless. The spring and I hit the front of Me: “Another four or five flights up.” Mrs. P: “I was going to show them the the building. The spring compressed. So Morty: “To hell with her. If she wants wardrobe left behind by my husband, the did I. For a fraction of a second, I think to meet me, sheʼs gonna have to walk dead dentist.” the spring and I had a combined height down here. I ainʼt going up another flight Me: “You want to sell your husbandʼs of four inches and a circumference of of stairs.” wardrobe?” eighteen feet. A little grandmotherly babushka an- Mrs. P: “My husband - Herbie, the And then I began the return trip. I was swered our ring. dead dentist - was such a smart dresser." traveling backwards and couldnʼt see Me: “Mrs. Przyslmnskwycz?” One side of hallway leading from the where I was going. Not that it mattered; Mrs. P: “Yes?” living room to the bedrooms was a long not that I cared. Someone once remarked Me: “Am I pronouncing your name clothing closet with sliding doors. Mrs. P that Morty had the ability to cloud menʼs correctly?” slid open a door and pulled out a sleeve, minds; not so, he had the ability to scram- Mrs. P: “Close enough.” offering it to Morty.” ble menʼs minds. What sensible person Morty: “Weʼre here about the books Mrs. P: “Feel the material.” would allow himself to be fired out of a youʼre selling.” Morty: “Nice.” cannon? I had wanted to be a bookseller, Mrs. P: “Yes, they belonged to my Mrs. P: “Itʼs gabardine.” not a projectile. husband, the dead dentist.” Morty: “Uh...how tall was your hus- And as I flew backwards, time un- Me: “May we see them?” band?” wound.... I wish we hadnʼt. Book club fiction, continued on next page 8 left with a pair of pants with a 3” inseam. the dame with the orange-colored Harpo Herr But since the crotch of the trousers hung Marx fright wig. She had introduced down to his ankles, Morty was pleased herself as Ethel. continued from previous page with the fit. Morty: "Whoʼs he?” Mrs. P: “My husband, the dead den- Morty: “I can carry an awful lot in the Ethel: “Thatʼs my cousin Milton.” tist?” pockets of these pants: my four wallets, Morty: “On the phone you said he was Morty: “Yeah, that one.” flashlights, cash, keys...” dead.” Mrs. P: “He was 6ʼ 6” and weighed 300 Jack: “...an 11th edition of the Britan- Ethel: “Well, nearly dead. Look at pounds.” nica...” him.” Me: “Morty over here is 5ʼ 7” and And now back to our story in progress: Me: “You sure you have the authority weighs 135 lbs. How do you think heʼd to our great relief, the old gals were not to sell his stuff?” look wearing one of these suits?” thrown from the windows; they were in Ethel: “Of course I do. Donʼt I, Mil- Mrs. P: “Heʼll look fine; heʼll grow the kitchen of the widow of Herbie, the ton?” into them.” dead dentist, preparing to sit down to a She lifted Miltonʼs chin, breaking the Morty: “Iʼm 54 years old. I stopped snack of cold, gray gruel. They offered strand of saliva. She made his head nod growing in 1936.” us some. in affirmation. Mae: “Did you feel the material?” Morty: “I love gruel.” Morty: “Thatʼs good enough for me.” Morty: “Yeah.” It looked like bad poi. I declined. Ethel: “Take a look around. Everything Mae: “Feel it again.” Morty joined them. I went downstairs and in the house is for sale. Can I get you Me (to Mae): “Are you on her pay- to pack up the car. guys a cold beer?” roll?” A cop was starting to write a ticket for Tops were popped. Thirsts were slaked. Mrs. P: “Did you notice all these the litter surrounding Mortyʼs car when I Books were perused. Glass doorknobs shoes? They belonged to my husband..." arrived. were coveted. Decorative plates over wall All: "...the dead dentist.” Me: “Whatʼs up?” switches were fingered and removed. So, in addition to buying all those Cop: “You own this stuff?” Half-used cans of Ajax cleanser were crummy books, Morty bought the entire Me: “No, but I work for the crazy old yanked out from under sinks. Every roll wardrobe belonging to Herbie, the dead gent who does.” of paper towels and toilet paper in the dentist and peeled off $400.00 from the Cop: “Well, heʼs in violation of the house was tossed into boxes. Every last roll of about $25,000.00 or so he always cityʼs litter laws and his car is in a no roll. carries with him. You never know what parking zone.” Morty (to me): “Ethelʼs out in the ga- you might buy and so many people these Me: “He also has no sense of decency, rage. Go see if the old man has any loose days wonʼt accept a check. he pays lousy, and heʼs got rotten taste in change in his pockets.” Then the fun began: we tossed all the clothes.” Me: “Morty, do your own mugging.” schlock out the window. The clothing Cop (picking up a jacket large enough I donʼt know if he went through Mil- went first and the books followed. It was to cover his motorcycle): “This doesnʼt tonʼs pockets and I donʼt wanna know. kinda fun throwing stuff out like that and look too bad...” I grabbed a crowbar and started prying watching it all drop. Clothing, books, TV Me: "Are you open to a bribe?" bookcases from the walls. I had been set, stereo, inflatable Judy-doll, Babush- Cop: “What is this?” wondering about a slot cut into the back ka. We had really gotten into the swing Me: “Gabardine.” panel of one of the cases and my curios- of it. Cop (flipping shut his ticket book and ity was satisfied when I got the bookcase Me: “Wait a minute. Did one of us toss tucking the jacket under his arm): “Have pulled far enough from the wall. I could out the Babushka?” a nice day, sir.” see the reason for the hole: Cousin Milton Morty: “You mean Mrs. Przyslmnskw- had been tossing his used double-edged ycz? Am I pronouncing it right?” August 1983 razor blades back there. There were hun- Me: “Close enough.” It was hot in Los Angeles. It was hotter dreds, maybe thousands of them. There Morty: “And whereʼs Mae West?” in the house on Orange Grove Avenue. were enough blades to rebuild the USS We both stopped to look at the lawn My aloha shirt stuck to me like that Oklahoma. Gillette, Schick, Wilkinson - and pavement below, but neither of us insipid Disneyland tune “Itʼs a small Milton had used them all. I was studying could spot the bodies of two old ladies world after all....” Looking at the old them when Morty appeared behind me. down there... man sitting on the couch with the string Morty: “Wow! Razor blades. Bag ʻem But let me jump ahead for a moment of saliva stretching to the puddle on the up.” to a point later that same day as Morty floor between his flip-flops, did nothing Me: “Youʼre kidding. Theyʼre old. trimmed 38 inches from the legs of a pair to improve my cranky mood. The old guy Theyʼre used. Theyʼre rusty. Theyʼre dis- of trousers from Herbie, the dead dentist. seemed to have a glaze over his eyes as eased. You canʼt possibly want them.” After stapling up the cuffs, Morty was stared out the window. Morty looked at continued on next page 9 Snickerton? That has a certain weight Ralphʼs for 72 cents!” Herr to it. Governor Eustace P. Snickerton My sister: “So go to Ralphʼs.” continued from previous page requests the pleasure of your company at W-EG: “I will! And Iʼll never buy fish his bris.” in this shop again!” Morty: “ʻCourse I do. Thereʼs always Morty: “You think this is a joke.” one more shave left in a blade!” Me: “Whereʼs this conversation going, The Big Belch of 1938 I used the tip of the crowbar to break Morty?” I had been hearing rumors for years them up; many of them were rusted and Morty: “Call me Mickey. I think a that Mickey Tsimmis owned a sound fused together. I used a dustpan to shovel person should be able to change his name recording of the Big Belch of 1938. Some them into several bags. My mood im- when his persona undergoes a change. even claimed he had recorded it himself. proved slightly picturing Morty spending Iʼve used other names before, ya know.” He would never admit to it, but the story a pleasant evening at home separating Me: “I didnʼt know.” was that he had been playing with a rela- the blades and stropping them by rubbing Morty: “Iʼve been known as Sid tiveʼs wire recorder one hot summer day them around the inside of a drinking Schmaltz, Ramsey Throckmorton, on the roof of his apartment building on glass. Itʼs the simple pleasures that make Nordhoff N. Sepulveda, Barnsdall Parke, West 93rd St. Near as anyone can figure, life worth living.... Norm de Porn and until today, Morty it was the first and probably the only mo- I was loading our haul into the station Plonk.” ment since the beginning of the Depres- wagon. Morty came out of the house car- Me: “And now itʼll be Mickey Tsim- sion in 1929 that everyone in the entire rying the toilet seat. mis, Schlockmonger to the Stars!” United States had had a decent meal and Me: “You took their toilet seat? I canʼt Morty: “Yeaaah!” they all belched at the same time. Mickey believe youʼd do a thing like that!” had been stuffing himself with soft, salted Morty: “Whatʼs the big deal? Neither Recently pretzels and was feeling a bit queasy, of them live here anymore.” I was seated at my computer at my but hell, that counts as a meal. Anyway, Me: “Weʼre taking their doorknobs, shop on Fairfax Avenue one Saturday af- he had been muckinʼ around with the their toilet paper. Weʼve removed all the ternoon. Fred the book scout was stuffing recorder singing verses of 99 Bottles of light bulbs. And I donʼt even want to his nose with nickels, and my sister was Beer on the Wall and Roll Me Over in the know if youʼve been ferreting through behind the counter muttering to herself Clover, when he felt the gas rising in his cousin Miltonʼs pockets...” about there being no jury in the land that gorge. He pointed the microphone away Morty smiled evilly and jingled the would convict her of homicide if she from his face just in case he might emit coins in his pocket. iced Fred. A wide-eyed guy in a bad suit a bit more than hot air. He belched..... Me: “Yʼknow, I just flashed back charged into the store. and at that very moment so did 111.8 to what you told me when you were W-EG: “I need to buy some fish.” million other people from the Atlantic to interviewing me for this job and I asked Me: “This is a bookshop. We donʼt sell the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to you what kind of experience would be fish.” the Mexican border. It was a Wagnerian appropriate for this line of work.” My sister (pointing to the lettering on thunderclap, stentorian and rumbling and Morty: “And I said...” my front window): “Yep, weʼre still a deep. A hint of garlic and onion perme- Me: “Graverobbing.” bookshop.” ated the air over America at that moment. W-EG: “But I need to buy some fish. Salsa too. Mickey wiped the dribble from November 1988 Itʼs urgent.” his lips and scanned the Manhattan sky- Morty: “Whaddya think of Mickey My sister: “There are three or four fish line. He backed up the wire and replayed Tsimmis?” markets here in the neighborhood. Why it. His first word was “Huh!” He glanced Me: “I donʼt know any Mickey Tsim- donʼt you try one of them.” at the buildings across the street and saw mis. Who is he?” W-EG: “I did. Theyʼre all closed.” people leaning out their windows looking Morty: “Me. Iʼm thinking of changing Me: “Well, itʼs Saturday - shabbos.” up and down, wondering what had just my name.” W-EG: “But the owners are all Kore- happened. People on the sidewalks were Me: “Whatʼs wrong with Morty ans.” looking up; Mickey was looking down, Plonk?” My sister: “And all their customers are and while he respooled and pocketed the Morty: "It lacks gravitas. I need a name Jewish, so thereʼs no point in them open- wire recording, he realized that what he with more authority to it. Go ahead and ing on Saturday.” and everyone else had just heard, was the put a title in front of it." W-EG: “I really need some fish.” Burp of a Nation. Me: “Like Governor Morty Plonk?” Me: “I have can of tuna in the back Morty: “Right. It doesnʼt have any room.” January 1989 -Megalopolis Bookshop weight to it. Now try Governor Mickey W-EG: “How much you want for it?” Mickey: “Are you wearing clean Tsimmis." Me: “A buck.” shorts?” Me: “How about Governor Eustace P. W-EG: “I can get a can of tuna at continued on next page 10 his 37th Camel of the day, giving us a cate.” Herr heads-up that the fire inspectors were on Mickey: “Itʼs OK, I can breathe continued from previous page their way to the store and Mickey didnʼt through my butt.” want to face them because he knew they We pulled into Mrs. P. Talbot-Carsonʼs Me: “What?” would write up a huge list of violations circular driveway and Jack and I yanked Mickey: “Mine are fulla holes.” for the clogged aisles, blocked rear exit the carpet from the back of the car and Me: “Huh?” and missing fire extinguishers. They al- carried it a little ways up the grassy slope. Mickey: “Iʼm probably gonna have ready knew to look for him hiding in the We then held the edge of the carpet and to romance Mrs. P. Talbot-Carson while foot well of his desk, so we rolled him up let Mickey roll out. And roll and roll and weʼre out at her place looking at her in a carpet. We could get jobs working for roll. Right into the koi pond for a refresh- books.” the Mafia I thought; thereʼs gotta be more ing ablution. Mrs. P. Talbot-Carson must Me: “Well, you canʼt have my shorts. room for advancement and job security have heard the car or the splash, because Thatʼs disgusting.” there than there is working for Mickey. she opened the door to her modest 42- Mickey (looking down the front his I figured the inspectors knew he was room bungalow as Mickey climbed out trousers): “Soʼre these.” inside, because one of them kept kicking of the pond and a carp leaped from the Me: “Look, sheʼs already seen you in the carpet while another rested his foot collar of his shirt. She dabbed him with your skivvies, like when you change your on the bulge and put all his weight on it. some of the toilet paper she unspooled clothes behind the counter and you think Jack and Paul and I then lifted it and car- from the roll she carried in the pocket of once youʼre back there youʼve assumed ried it outside to Mickeyʼs station wagon her gown. (Iʼve noticed that many of the the cloak of invisibility and no one can making sure we dropped it a couple of people we associated with at Mickeyʼs see you. Remember when you mooned times. Once the inspectors left, I fired up bookstore carried rolls of toilet paper Pinky Lee?” the Ford wagon and Jack hopped into the with them. What did they know that I Mickey (smiling): “I didnʼt know any- shotgun seat. He flicked his 38th Camel didnʼt?) body could scream like that...” of the day out the window and coughed Inside the mansion, Mickey - because Mickey Tsimmis (formerly known as up a lung. We hauled tuchis over to Mrs. he swallowed one or two koi while in the Morty Plonk, Ramsey Throckmorton, P. Talbot-Carsonʼs house in Pasadena. I pond - complained about being nauseat- Charles Atlas, Percy Duckbutter, and figured weʼd probably get the collection; ed. Jack urged him not to toss his cookies the Shadow) and I were helping fellow Mrs. PT-C really, really liked dealing on the floor; it would be unforgiveable. employee Jack load empty boxes into his with Mickey. In fact several people had Mickey brushed it aside by saying that if station wagon before heading to Pasadena suggested the two of them hook up. he did, the fish would come up with the to look at the book collection of Mrs. P. Everyone who knew them thought Mrs. white wine he had drunk earlier in the Talbot-Carson. Most of the books had PT-C was a terrific catch for Mickey: day. belonged to her late husband: hunting, “she was lonely, she was widowed, she Jack and I stepped outside to roll up the fishing, guns, etc. The esoterica dealing had $$$ and she had a great pad. She carpet and stow it in the car-along with with bondage and leather garments were wasnʼt bad-looking either. And Mickey one or two carp. hers. She urged us to bring lots of empty had...well, lemme see, Mickey had...uh... When we got back, Mrs. PT-C had boxes; she was eager to sell. She also had a mattress...a stuffed horse...parts 154 to Mickey lying prone on the couch remov- the hots for Mickey. Mickey had the hots 217 of Jimmy Hoffa, and...uh...well, we ing algae from his hair and feeding him for granola bars. bring to our relationships what we can." grapes. Something about Mickeyʼs wet Mickey: “Well, she has this thing for But Mickey maintained he was too set look musta really got Mrs. P. Talbot- me and I figured if things got a little in his ways to change at this late date. Carsonʼs mojo workinʼ - she had a Spike outta control and I lost my clothes over “Whatʼs to change?”, we had asked. You Jones tune on the phonograph to set the there, at least Iʼd be wearing presentable just improve your wardrobe a notch or mood. underwear.” two and you give up sleeping on a lumpy Mickey (to Jack & me): “Why donʼt Me: “Have you no shame Mickey? mattress stuffed with $3,000,000 in small you guys go look at the books and come Weʼre going to someoneʼs home on a unmarked bills. back in about an hour or two with an book call and you expect to end up in the Then I remembered Mickey was still offer.” sack with her?” rolled up in the carpet in the back of the Yeah, sure. Jack hotwired the ignition Mickey: “You know what sheʼs like. car. on Mickeyʼs car and we headed for the Youʼve seen her reach into my pockets.” Me (yelling over my shoulder): “Ya Mexican border. Me: “She was either looking for a stick sure ya donʼt want us to stop and unroll of Doublemint or needed to borrow a you?” Coming soon: Bookscouting in Tijuana.■ coupla grand.” Mickey: “Keep going! I donʼt wanna Just then fellow-employee Jack came be late.” running into the store having just finished Me: “I just donʼt want you to suffo- 11 the ballot on the emeritus issue caused Letter from the President a great deal of debate on the discussion by John Crichton connected to our legal contingency fund.) list on other ABAA issues (the internet The Officers and Board of Governors There are plans in place for eliminating committee, finances, counsel, person- have been busy this year working to- the deficit over the next two years, but nel, the competence and intentions of wards several important goals that that success of this depends on steady income those charged with running the Associa- should benefit all the members as well as from dues and increasing income from tion, etc.), and I will repeat here some the Association has a whole. book fairs. We are financially sound, and of my remarks to the online discussion Foremost was the successful conclu- with this new budget we have a clear and list: These matters have been carefully sion of the job search for an Executive correct picture of where we are, but there debated and previously considered by the Co-Director to work with Liane Wade, is work to be done. Board of Governors on many occasions, which resulted in the ABAA hiring Susan The By-Laws Committee under David and they will continue to be because they Dixon. Susan has brought us a lot of ex- Lesser has been busy. In conjunction are on-going concerns for the vitality of perience and energy and has had notice- with the Membership Committee they the Association. The Board of Governors able results – the most obvious being the wrote the proposal for the change in the and Officers want your opinions and recently redesigned website, which Susan emeritus membership category, which comments, and please be assured that superintended from start to finish. This, would essentially revert the emeritus just because they are not responded to in in addition to the database enhancements, membership to the way it had originally the fashion requested on the discussion is the first phase in getting greater partici- been constructed. It was changed about list does not mean theyʼre ignored. For pation by our members in the ABAA.org ten years ago after complaints that it was those of you who think youʼre not getting database. The Association has done its too restrictive. The ballots are due in the information youʼve asked for about part by supplying a professional-looking for that on July 1, 2005, and the Board internet budget details, or anything else website, supported by a good database; is unanimously behind the measure. If regarding the ABAA, I encourage you to now its ultimate success depends on it fails, however, the By-Laws Commit- call your chapter representative or an of- better participation by the membership. tee will revisit the subject, taking into ficer. I personally invite any member of With electronic sales gradually (and in account many of the recommendations the Association to call me anytime they some cases dramatically) increasing for by various members on the discussion list have an ABAA issue to discuss, or if they booksellers, our database together with and elsewhere. want more information about something ILAB should be one of the most attrac- Another issue the By-Laws Commit- they do not think is being sufficiently tive destinations for on-line searches for tee will be examining is the possibility of addressed on the discussion list, or else- rare and antiquarian books, but participa- revising the by-laws to reduce the size of where. Members are also encouraged to tion by ABAA members is essential to the Board of Governors. This has been attend the annual meeting of the ABAA this success. In the coming months mem- discussed before, but never formally at which all the Governors and committee bers who are not currently participating proposed, and I think a thorough discus- chairs are present and where we discuss in the ABAA database will be approached sion of it is long overdue. As currently just these issues. in an attempt to sign them up. As of this constituted, the Board of Governors has The ABAA discussion list is valuable writing there are 205 members participat- 12 Governors and four Officers, and as a forum for the exchange of ideas, ing in the ABAA/ILAB database, out of a many think it would be better for the As- news, and goodwill, but the list has its potential 450. sociation if we had eight Governors and limitations as a place where the As- About this time a year ago, Rob Rulon- four officers. It would be more efficient, sociation can examine its contracts and Miller, the treasurer, and I began to work and we would not expend volunteers continued on next page with the Associationʼs accountant to do a as quickly, thus saving some potential thorough review of the budget and how Governors for other Boards. Anyone itʼs compiled. As a result Rob produced who has served on an ABAA Nominating one of the most complete and accurate Committee might consider the last point budgets the ABAA has had in some the most persuasive for such a change, years. In accuracy, however, there is and almost everyone who has served on also truth, and the figures give cause for the Board itself would agree that it is concern. The Association has declining too large and cumbersome. A first draft income from membership and book fairs, of a proposal may be forthcoming this and we are operating in a deficit. Fortu- Fall, and the Board certainly welcomes nately previous boards had the foresight any exchange of ideas about this on the to save over $100,000 in better times, discussion list and elsewhere between Steve Weissman and Roger Stoddard and we are using some of those funds to now and then. after Roger's address at the Grolier offset the deficit. (These funds are not The arrival in the mail in late May of Club benefiting the Benevolent Fund. 12 sense tells us not to discuss current or ing for membership, the membership Crichton pending contracts in an open manner like applications, sponsors, fees, etc., in an continued from previous page this. One of our responsibilities as Of- effort to encourage more applications ficers and Governors is to exercise good – particularly by young booksellers. The relationships with vendors, counsel, per- judgment on behalf of the Association, Membership Committee has certainly sonnel, and discussion of budget details. and we will try to continue to do so, even obtained a lot of useful recommendations Some of these matters have aspects to if criticized for it. from comments made on the discussion them which require the same degree of Other important issues the Board and list and elsewhere, and we will be look- confidentiality as do membership appli- Officers will be taking up in the coming ing forward to their recommendations to cations and ethics complaints. Others are months are the requirements for apply- the Board by the Boston Book Fair. ■ not as restricted, but nonetheless common Nominating Committee Announcement by Ken Lopez ending in 2006, two of which need to be the Board for a full term. The Nominating Committee is in the filled-one from Northern California and The Nominating Committee includes process of putting together a slate of one at-large Governor. The third posi- members from every ABAA chapter. candidates for this yearʼs elections to the tion ending in 2006 is the MAC position, Recommendations of candidates can ABAA Board of Governors. currently held by John Spencer who has be made to any committee member, but This year all four Officersʼ positions been working intensively on the upcom- making a recommendation to oneʼs own are up for election-President, Vice-Presi- ing ILAB Congress and who, because he chapterʼs representative is probably the dent, Secretary and Treasurer. There are became a Governor mid-term, is eligible most efficient approach. ■ also three other Board membersʼ terms to continue as MACʼs representative to Snapshots: New York

Photo by Ed Smith

Stuart Bennett and John Crichton. A young boy learns about dragonflies at the New York Book Fair.

first batch of this nearly 800-page direc- website, much sought after by all. Smith tory of the show was gone setup day with The ABAA needs to be represented at continued from page 3 a fresh load delivered on Saturday. Many this premier book event, promoting our authors stopped by the ABAA booth, and organization. Next year the show will be John Irving, Charlie Rose, Michael Cun- when they found out we represented an in Washington D.C. at the Convention ningham, Umberto Eco, Nick Hornby, organization of rare booksellers, they felt Center May 19-21, 2006, and we are al- and Jim Dale, the Grammy-winning right at home, having their first book in ready looking forward to it and planning voice of the Harry Potter audio books. hand, hoping to get recognized, hoping several special events to be held in the The ABAA also had a listing in the Of- that one day it would be on the ABAA ABAA booth. ■ ficial Directory and Buyerʼs Guide. The 13 dining room originally, and a small bar. Books & Food: Cooperstown The dark-stained wood trim and tables, Editorʼs note: This will be an occasional Augurʼs Books, also on Main Street, or paired with ivory candlelight, elicit a feature when space and time permit. at the Book Nook, just a few steps away. romantic spookiness. The service is very Submissions are encouraged. There are a few other used and antiquar- friendly and many of their ingredients are ian book dealers a stoneʼs throw away in supplied by local farms and food purvey- by Susan Dixon the Catskills and environs. ors. Much of the fare is organic. On a Cooperstown is a charming village situat- Now about the food...If you happen to recent visit, I shared a salad of local field ed on Lake Otsego in Upstate New York. be in town for breakfast, mingle with the greens, blue cheese and roasted shallot The lake, also known as Glimmerglass, locals at the Cooperstown Diner on Main vinaigrette, and then had grilled salmon feeds the Susquehanna River, which is Street. A true greasy spoon, they serve served medium rare atop a bed of creamy beloved by kayakers, fishermen, and up honest grub like eggs, bacon and om- polenta. They also serve a nicely pre- other weekend warriors. Known more elets, but the gooey cinnamon bun French pared chicken, and even some simple, but for being the location of the birthplace toast is the real winner. The service is good pasta. Wines by the glass are inter- of baseball, the Hall of Fame, and the friendly and though it is small, the tables esting and include Rieslings and Rhone fantastic Glimmerglass Opera, it offers turn quickly. Youʼll get lots of bang for wines. Their beer choices often surprise much more. I spent several weekends in the buck here. and include a selection of Belgian brews Cooperstown last summer and discovered Just off Main is the Hoffman Lane like the refreshing Saison du Pont farm- what a great book community it is and Bistro serving new American fare without house ale. what good food one can eat there, but pretense. This is one of Cooperstownʼs If you are heading out of town, or com- more on that later. ABAA member Willis most elegant restaurants and the atmo- ing into town around lunch time, not to Monie has a shop right on Main Street sphere embodies simple sophistication. be missed is Brook's Barbecue. Itʼs been filled with general antiquarian books For dinner, ask to be seated in the upstairs around since the early 1900ʼs and some and, unsurprisingly, a great selection of loft away from the noise of the bar. Tuna of the wait staff appear to have been books about baseball. Fellow member au poivre with wasabe mashed potatoes there since then too. Roll up your sleeves Ed Brodzinsky of Atelier books in nearby and hangar steak with a red wine reduc- and dig into the moist and juicy BBQ Schenevus sells books mainly about tion are highlights of the menu. They of- chicken, and sticky Kansas City ribs with architecture and design, by appointment. ten feature risotto as a special that is quite corn on the cob. Although you may be Eleven years ago, Will and Ed launched good too. The wine list is unexciting, yet tempted, the pie is a bit disappointing. the Cooperstown Book Fair at the Clark has reasonably priced selections. All of the beverages are G-rated; the only Sports Center, located less than a mile Still a favorite dinner stop is about 12 bar here is the bar-b-cue. from Main Street, sponsored by NY State or so miles out of town in Cherry Valley. The contact information and addresses Historical Association. It takes place the The Rose and Kettle is located in a lovely for most of the places mentioned in the last Saturday June and features about 60 old house on Main Street dating from the article can be found at cooperstowncham- booksellers. When in town, one can also 1800's. There are two main dining rooms ber.org. ■ buy new and recent publications from that probably served as the parlor and

COLORADO ANTIQUARIAN BOOK SEMINAR RETURNS FOR 27TH YEAR

Now in its 27th year, the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar provides an opportunity for specialist dealers, librarians, and collectors to share their experience and expertise with other booksellers, librarians, and collectors, in a comprehensive survey of the rare, used, out-of-print, and antiquarian book market. Over the years a good number of ABAA members and their employees have attended, and in total the Seminar has graduated close to 2500 booksellers, librarians, and collectors.

This year the seminar will take place August 7 –12, on the campus of beautiful Colorado College, Colorado Springs. The fee for the Seminar is $995 and includes all instructional materials. For more information and registration, please visit www.bookseminars.com or contact the Seminar coordinator, Kathy Lindeman, at [email protected]. The 2005 Seminar should provide an intensive opportunity to meet and network with others of like interest.

The Elisabeth Woodburn Memorial Fund of the ABAA is offering two scholarships of $1000 each for the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar. This fund is available for a variety of educational purposes of which the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar is one. Competition for the Woodburn scholarships is open to all. The Book Club of California is also offering five scholarships to the Seminar. All scholarships will be administered by the trustees of the ABAA Benevolent Fund. To apply, please submit a letter stressing desire and need, 500 words or less, to ABAA Headquarters, 20 West 44th St., N.Y., NY 10036-6604, or by email to Susan Dixon, at [email protected]. A letter in support of the applicant may accompany the entry statement, but it is not required. All applications must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2005. Successful candidates will be notified by phone, fax or email.

14 across an antique dealer displaying a ers who called on her. Doris continued In Memoriam handwritten letter concerning President to attend many book functions. She was William Henry Harrison. She purchased most recently among those at the memo- Doris Harris that letter and a small collection of others rial service for Muir Dawson, and the Los Angeles, CA and soon after with her husband started celebration of Dawsonʼs Book Shopʼs Emeritus member of the ABAA Doris Charles Hamilton Autograph Galleries, 100th anniversary. Harris died on April 30th of a cerebral one of the first in the city. There will be a memorial service for hemorrhage, at the age of eighty-seven. She divorced in 1962 and moved to Doris which will be announced to the In addition to being the first woman Southern California, recreating her busi- membership when plans are finalized. elected to the Zamorano Club, Doris was ness there. Doris later moved to Hol- The Southern California Chapter has sent a former chair of the Southern California lywood and Wilshire Boulevards. She a donation in remembrance of Doris to Chapter. retired in 1999. the ABAA Benevolent Fund. We invite Doris was born in Pennsylvania and As a dealer in the sometimes confus- her other friends and colleagues to do the studied in Wyoming and at UCLA. ing world of autographs, she was always same. ■ She married advertising executive known for her great integrity. She was Carol Sandberg contributed to this Charles Hamilton and resided in New also a lovely person, always ready to article. York City. It was there that she came help young collectors and young deal-

to Europe searching for books, and col- joy. How inspiring it is that you dedicated laborated on six books about their lives In Memoriam your lives to each other, to scholarship, and the book business. continued from front page and to widening the horizons for women. Giving full justice to the richness of Whether in the world of antiquarian 1558 – 1625; The Library of Robert her life isnʼt possible in this space, but books, historical or literary publications, Hooke: The Scientific Book Trade of Res- one can sense the abundance of her spirit or the affairs of a global community, toration England; Bibliately: The History in a friendʼs memories about her life and together you welcomed every adventure, of Books on Postage Stamps. Madeleineʼs, finding it natural to think confronted every challenge, and con- In 1973, Columbia University re- of them as an inseparable pair: “What a quered every barrier. Your life appeared versed their decision 30 years earlier, and blessing it is that the two of you found to be a joyful adventure in which you awarded her a Ph.D. each other so long ago and shared the de- dared to be undaunted.” ■ She and Madeleine traveled frequently cades of your lives with such fullness and Liane Thomas Wade

ABAA Benevolent Fund & Woodburn Fund

A contribution to the ABAA Benevolent Fund or to the Elisabeth Woodburn Memorial Fund. 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 retire- ment. It is also a meaningful way to honor the memory of a departed colleague.

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

15 New Members The ABAA Newsletter is pleased to wel- Bruce Barnett, The Book Block, Lake The deadline for submissions come the following new associate mem- Forest, IL. to the next Newsletter is bers who were accepted at the Board of Governors Meeting in April: Lisa Baskin, Cumberland Rare Books, September 12, 2005 Northampton, MA. Send your contributions to: ABAA Newsletter 20 West 44th Street Membership Updates New York, NY 10036 FAX: 212.944.8293 Bauman Rare Books has a new address: Edward T. Pollack has a new address: 3 EMAIL: [email protected] 1608 Walnut Street, 19th Floor, Philadel- Mayfair Court, Mashpee, MA 02649. [email protected] phia, PA 19103. Gerard A.J. Stodolski, Inc. has a new Brick Row Bookshop has a new web address, phone, and fax number: 5 site: www.brickrow.com. Chickadee Court, Bedford, New Hamp- shire 03110. Phone: (603)488-1775. Fax: First Folio has a new fax number: (731) (603)488-1780. 642-3029. Vagabond Books has a new address: Priscilla Juvelis, Inc. has a new ad- 14177 West Sunset Boulevard, Paciﬁc The ABAA Newsletter ress, phone and fax: 11 Goose Fair, Palisades, CA 90272. Kennebunkport, ME 04046. Phone: (ISSN 1070-7000X) (207)967-0909. Fax: (207)967-4466. Waverley Books has a new web site: is published quarterly under the aus- www.waverlybooks.com. pices of the Publications Committee of The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America ILAB CONGRESS 2006 20 West 44th Street, Fourth Floor New York, NY 10036-6604. PHONE: 212-944-8291 FAX: 212-944-8293 www.abaa.org

EDITOR: Robert Rulon-Miller ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Susan Dixon, Liane Thomas Wade

Annual postpaid subscriptions are $25.00 domestic; $30.00 Canada and Mexico; and $35.00 overseas.

Send submissions and letters to: ABAA Newsletter 20 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 USA PHONE: 212 944-8291 FAX: 212 944-8293 PHILADELPHIA, PA EMAIL: [email protected] [email protected]