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The semi-annual antiquarian book fair was today, which I took advantage of to indulge in 3 hours of escape from the rest of the world. The parking lot was packed, the fullest I've seen it in a long while. Unfortunately, there were slightly few dealers inside than last year. Still, there were many books to look at, and more than a few surprises. One dealer had a copy of "Mostly Harmless" that was signed by Douglas Adams. The asking price on the end-page was $90 and I was tempted, but passed on it. I have a few signed books, but I always feel like a bit of a poser if I get a signed book by a contemporary author for which I didn't obtain the signature; the feeling is more intensified when it's one of my favorite authors.
Another dealer had two, nicely leather-bound volumes entitled "Medical Botany", which were published in London in 1837. Fortunately, he was asking three grand for the pair; and I say fortunately, because a quick search at abebooks.com show that the set is three volumes (as well as that his asking price for only 2/3 of the set was a bit high). I'll probably never be able to afford one of the older sets, but have started a search for a modern reprint. Later editions expanded for four volumes and hundreds of color plates, so I am almost afraid to find a newer version for fear that it will be only a shadow of the older, encyclopedia-sized volumes.
One of the most fantastic books was a 1651 copy of DaVinci's "Trattato Della Pittura". It was published in
Paris, and was the first edition of the work to have been published in Italian. It was also eight grand, and I was surprised that the dealer still had it, even at that price.
One of the local dealers had a copy of "The History of Queen Anne", which began with the reign of Charles II and covers one of the most tumultuous times in England's history. He was asking $175 and said he'd come down to $125, but by the time I asked him I had already bought three books and didn't have money to spend. IF he still has it come August, I think I can buy it then.
I've added what I did bring home to my librarything account: "Conquest of the air by airships and other flying machines ... marvelous achievements of the bird men ... how to build and sail an aeroplane"; "Benjamin Franklin and Catharine Ray Greene: Their Correspondence, 1755-1790"; and "English Coins From the Seventh Century to the Present Day". I spent some time when I got home looking through all three of them. I'll read the Franklin book first, although it won't be for another month or so. I'm reading the third volume of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, and it's going to be a slow, savory read; it's one of those stories that I hate seen end and am in no hurry to get there.
Another dealer had two, nicely leather-bound volumes entitled "Medical Botany", which were published in London in 1837. Fortunately, he was asking three grand for the pair; and I say fortunately, because a quick search at abebooks.com show that the set is three volumes (as well as that his asking price for only 2/3 of the set was a bit high). I'll probably never be able to afford one of the older sets, but have started a search for a modern reprint. Later editions expanded for four volumes and hundreds of color plates, so I am almost afraid to find a newer version for fear that it will be only a shadow of the older, encyclopedia-sized volumes.
One of the most fantastic books was a 1651 copy of DaVinci's "Trattato Della Pittura". It was published in
Paris, and was the first edition of the work to have been published in Italian. It was also eight grand, and I was surprised that the dealer still had it, even at that price.
One of the local dealers had a copy of "The History of Queen Anne", which began with the reign of Charles II and covers one of the most tumultuous times in England's history. He was asking $175 and said he'd come down to $125, but by the time I asked him I had already bought three books and didn't have money to spend. IF he still has it come August, I think I can buy it then.
I've added what I did bring home to my librarything account: "Conquest of the air by airships and other flying machines ... marvelous achievements of the bird men ... how to build and sail an aeroplane"; "Benjamin Franklin and Catharine Ray Greene: Their Correspondence, 1755-1790"; and "English Coins From the Seventh Century to the Present Day". I spent some time when I got home looking through all three of them. I'll read the Franklin book first, although it won't be for another month or so. I'm reading the third volume of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, and it's going to be a slow, savory read; it's one of those stories that I hate seen end and am in no hurry to get there.
