Books About Books, Bibliography from Oak Knoll
The latest "Books about Books" from Oak Knoll.
By Michael Stillman
From Oak Knoll Books comes their Catalogue 282, containing sections on "books about books" and "bibliography and reference." They define the former as book collecting, type, book selling, printing, book illustration, bookbinding, book design, bookplates, papermaking, and private press. Of course, bibliographies are books about books too. For those whose pursuit of books extends beyond content to their physical being, Oak Knoll shares your interest. This newest catalogue offers 444 items in the field, and here are some examples.
If you collect early French autographs, and aren't sure whether that signed "Napoleon" refers to the early 19th century French emperor or Mr. Dynamite from Idaho, here is a helpful book: Autographie, two volumes from 1864-5. You will be able to check facsimiles of the signatures of the likes of Dumas and Voltaire, and a few non-French speakers such as Dickens. Priced at $475.
Item 213 is one of the famed Christmas greetings from noted collector A. Edward Newton. Newton not only compiled a library of some 10,000 works, but also published numerous books himself, some in short runs for friends, others longer runs with information for collectors. This card was for Christmas of 1920, and includes a picture of a portrait he owned, Death-Bed Portrait of John Keats. Why this would encourage recipients to have a Merry Christmas has been lost to time. Perhaps his friends didn't like Keats. Oak Knoll notes that the card comes in "stiff" paper wrappers, which seems appropriate for a portrait of a dead man. Newton's estate was known as "Oak Knoll." Hmm… $65.
Here is another Newton item. It is the History of Moses by Robert Louis Stevenson. Newton had this edition privately printed in 1919. Not familiar with that one? It isn't one of Stevenson's better-known books, but he cared enough to dedicate the work to his mother. Stevenson wrote this piece when he was six years old. Newton bought Stevenson's manuscript at an auction in 1914. Item 216. $60.
For those who collect books for children, as opposed to those written by them, item 257 is a fascinating and unusual collection. It is a group of receipts, letters, catalogues, etc. that belonged to Henriette Roberts. Ms. Roberts collected children's books in the 1920s and 1930s. This binder full of material will tell what she paid for her books, and includes comments and predictions from booksellers such as E. Byrne Hackett of Brick Row Book Shop (which still continues today though, naturally, under new ownership). $200.
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Books About Books, Bibliography from Oak Knoll
A collection of Beardsley drawings.
If you have ever come across any Hemingway letters, you will probably know that his writing talents weren't limited to books. The letters are much more revealing, even if the structure is not quite as refined. The writer tends to express his views, which are often somewhat outrageous, more freely in his personal letters. Carlos Baker put together a collection of almost 600 of his letters for Scribner's, which was published in 1981: Ernest Hemingway, Selected Letters, 1917-1961. This copy is signed by the editor. Item 166. $125.
Next we have an inside look at the publishing world. Item 134 consists of two 1908 letters from publisher Frank Nelson Doubleday to his corporate treasurer Samuel Everitt. His firm was known as Doubleday, Page and Co. at the time. After two decades at Scribner's, Doubleday struck out on his own (or in partnership) and developed one of the nation's largest publishing houses. In these letters, Doubleday talks about the difficult economy of the time and its impact on publishing, and works about to be published. Sports fans may want to note that Doubleday was related to, though not descended from, purported baseball inventor Abner Doubleday, and his grandson, Nelson, owned the New York Mets franchise for many years. $75.
Aubrey Beardsley was a prolific artist and illustrator of the late 19th century, with a penchant for the grotesque. It is fortunate that he was quite active, as he only lived to be twenty-five. Item 14 is Fifty Drawings by Aubrey Beardsley Selected from the Collection of Mr. H.S. Nichols, published in 1920. It states that some drawings were previously unpublished. This is from a limited edition of 500 copies and is signed by Mr. Nichols. $300.
The website for Oak Knoll Books is www.oakknoll.com, and their telephone number is 302-328-7232.
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