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<b>Bonhams:</b> MANDELSHTAM, OSIP. 1891-1938. Autograph Manuscript, 2 pp, [Petersburg,] January 1913, entitled

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Strange Book Title Finalists; AbeBooks Latest Top 10 - By Michael Stillman The metaphysical Baboon. By Michael Stillman The Bookseller magazine has announced the six finalists for its 31st annual Oddest Book Title of the Year award. These are titles that were not meant to make you laugh, which is precisely why they do. They range from the odd to the unintentionally suggestive to the incomprehensibly vague. Frequently, they are books of a technical nature, written by people with outstanding scholarly abilities, but not much aptitude for writing a headline. The good news is that, in their ineptitude, they unintentionally created some classic titles anyway. This year, there are six nominees for the prize, which will be announced on March 27. Baboon Metaphysics by Dorothy L. Cheney and Robert M. Seyfarth. Cheney and Seyfarth are not great philosophers from the Planet of the Apes, but simply people who have studied the baboons of Botswana. Curbside Consultation of the Colon by Brooks D. Cash. This book doesn't involve actually conversing with the colon, or providing those embarrassing, uncomfortable examinations on a public street. It is merely a work of technical medical advice concerning the colon for physicians. The Large Sieve and its Applications by Emmanuel Kowalski. This is a book about very complex mathematical formulas, not very simple kitchen utensils. Strip and Knit with Style by Mark Hordyszynski. The illustrations here will disappoint, as this book has nothing to do with stylish strippers. It has everything to do with knitting strips of fabric. Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring by Lietai Yang. The publisher describes this book as providing guidance on monitoring the corrosion of material, such as "polarization techniques, potentiometric methods, electrochemical noise and harmonic analyses, galvanic sensors, differential flow through cells and multielectrode systems." Clear enough? The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais by Professor Philip M. Parker. This is a highly technical study of worldwide demand for this particular type of specialty French cheese in 60-milligram containers. If the subject interests you, the book is available on Amazon for a mere $795. AbeBooks released its top 10 most expensive sales for the month of January, and the good news is that hard times notwithstanding, there are still books being sold for hefty price tags. Here they are:
Strange Book Title Finalists; AbeBooks Latest Top 10 - By Michael Stillman Does your colon consult with you? 10. Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov, signed first editions of his three "Foundation" books from 1951-53. $5,000. 9. Aline et Valcour; ou, Le Roman philosophique by the ever-popular Marquis de Sade. This is an eight-volume 1795 first edition by the Marquis whose erudition will always be overshadowed in most peoples' minds by his interesting lifestyle. $5,224. 8. Histoire générale des Antilles habitées par les François by Jean-Baptiste du Tertre. This is a 1671 history of the Caribbean. $5,224. 7. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, a 1981 uncorrected proof copy signed by the author. Rushdie is another writer doomed to be remembered most for his personal life, in his case, the fatwa on his life promulgated by the humorless Ayatollah Khomeini. $7,400. 6. Sonnets et Eaux Fortes by various authors, noted more for the 42 original etchings in this 1869 edition limited to 350 copies. $8,248. 5. Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, the 1820 third and final book by John Keats, who died at age 25. $8,500. 4. Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mather. Here's another humorless clergyman. He was a notable theologian, historian, and even supporter of medical advances, but he too is irredeemably associated with one event - his participation in the Salem witch trials. The "witches" operated in Mather's "invisible world," better known as his imagination. $9,500. 3. The Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ by Eric Gill. Well, Gill isn't actually the author of the Gospels, but he did the illustrations in this 1931 Golden Cockerel Press limited edition. $11,000. 2. Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. A signed first edition of a book that went for less before the election. $12,500. 1. YA-WAE PA-HU-CAE E-CAE AE-TA-NAE E-TU-HCE WA-U-N A-H A. One of my favorites too! Actually, this is an 1843 hymnal written in the transliterated Ioway Indian language. $13,500.

Strange Book Title Finalists; AbeBooks Latest Top 10

- By Michael Stillman

The metaphysical Baboon.

By Michael Stillman

The Bookseller magazine has announced the six finalists for its 31st annual Oddest Book Title of the Year award. These are titles that were not meant to make you laugh, which is precisely why they do. They range from the odd to the unintentionally suggestive to the incomprehensibly vague. Frequently, they are books of a technical nature, written by people with outstanding scholarly abilities, but not much aptitude for writing a headline. The good news is that, in their ineptitude, they unintentionally created some classic titles anyway. This year, there are six nominees for the prize, which will be announced on March 27.

Baboon Metaphysics by Dorothy L. Cheney and Robert M. Seyfarth. Cheney and Seyfarth are not great philosophers from the Planet of the Apes, but simply people who have studied the baboons of Botswana.

Curbside Consultation of the Colon by Brooks D. Cash. This book doesn't involve actually conversing with the colon, or providing those embarrassing, uncomfortable examinations on a public street. It is merely a work of technical medical advice concerning the colon for physicians.

The Large Sieve and its Applications by Emmanuel Kowalski. This is a book about very complex mathematical formulas, not very simple kitchen utensils.

Strip and Knit with Style by Mark Hordyszynski. The illustrations here will disappoint, as this book has nothing to do with stylish strippers. It has everything to do with knitting strips of fabric.

Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring by Lietai Yang. The publisher describes this book as providing guidance on monitoring the corrosion of material, such as "polarization techniques, potentiometric methods, electrochemical noise and harmonic analyses, galvanic sensors, differential flow through cells and multielectrode systems." Clear enough?

The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais by Professor Philip M. Parker. This is a highly technical study of worldwide demand for this particular type of specialty French cheese in 60-milligram containers. If the subject interests you, the book is available on Amazon for a mere $795.

AbeBooks released its top 10 most expensive sales for the month of January, and the good news is that hard times notwithstanding, there are still books being sold for hefty price tags. Here they are:

Strange Book Title Finalists; AbeBooks Latest Top 10

- By Michael Stillman

Does your colon consult with you?

10. Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov, signed first editions of his three "Foundation" books from 1951-53. $5,000.

9. Aline et Valcour; ou, Le Roman philosophique by the ever-popular Marquis de Sade. This is an eight-volume 1795 first edition by the Marquis whose erudition will always be overshadowed in most peoples' minds by his interesting lifestyle. $5,224.

8. Histoire générale des Antilles habitées par les François by Jean-Baptiste du Tertre. This is a 1671 history of the Caribbean. $5,224.

7. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, a 1981 uncorrected proof copy signed by the author. Rushdie is another writer doomed to be remembered most for his personal life, in his case, the fatwa on his life promulgated by the humorless Ayatollah Khomeini. $7,400.

6. Sonnets et Eaux Fortes by various authors, noted more for the 42 original etchings in this 1869 edition limited to 350 copies. $8,248.

5. Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, the 1820 third and final book by John Keats, who died at age 25. $8,500.

4. Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mather. Here's another humorless clergyman. He was a notable theologian, historian, and even supporter of medical advances, but he too is irredeemably associated with one event - his participation in the Salem witch trials. The "witches" operated in Mather's "invisible world," better known as his imagination. $9,500.

3. The Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ by Eric Gill. Well, Gill isn't actually the author of the Gospels, but he did the illustrations in this 1931 Golden Cockerel Press limited edition. $11,000.

2. Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. A signed first edition of a book that went for less before the election. $12,500.

1. YA-WAE PA-HU-CAE E-CAE AE-TA-NAE E-TU-HCE WA-U-N A-H A. One of my favorites too! Actually, this is an 1843 hymnal written in the transliterated Ioway Indian language. $13,500.