Books and Ephemera
By Silas Finch
There are many factors that contribute to the value of an antique book, manuscript, or map. Amongst them are age, of course, condition, scarcity, and trends in interests. A book that possesses some of these qualities but not others might still be valuable but it is likely compromised in the eyes of the serious collector.........................
By Silas Finch
In the opinion of a number of book collectors we have gotten worse at carry and storing antique books in the last century. In a culture in which we have grown accustomed to advances of every kind this might seem absurd but they have a point..........................
By Silas Finch
In June 8, 2005 a Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University employee noticed a hobby knife blade laying on the floor near where someone had been recently examining a book of antique maps. The remarkably diligent Yale employee soon knew the name of the most recent visitor but also discovered his occupation, rare maps dealer. Before long, before he left the building in fact, the campus police had arrested Edward Forbes Smiley. .........................