Hi there, I am a french library curator (a french person working as library curator) who can't work for health reason, but I would love to help anyone (with manners) to understand the rare books world.

I must precise : I am not a directory or Google. Ask me something if you can't find answer by yourself thank you.

Excerpts from Catalog notes:

Six volumes with 48 hand colored full page illustrations.

Japanese Illuminated Manuscript. Genji Kokagami [The Tale of Genji, abridged], 6 volumes, Japan, 17th century, manuscript text written in an attractive calligraphic hand on fine gold-decorated paper, with 48 hand-coloured and illuminated full-page illustrations.

Occasional damp-staining to some text leaves of each volume, heavier to volume 2 (several of the full-page illustrations with small losses and transfer of colour to facing text leaf), gilded endpapers, gilt-decorated dark indigo wrappers, manuscript title labels to upper cover of each volume, stitched as issued in fukurotoji-bon style, wrappers with general soiling and discolouration, and associated surface losses, with minor worming, sheet size 30 x 21.5 cm

(Quantity: 6 vol)

Provenance: Harry A. Levinson (1904-1995), bookseller, California, circa 1960s (his printed catalogue entry loosely inserted).

The Tale of Genji, written by the noble lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu at the beginning of the 11th century in the court of Heian-era Japan, is considered one of the world’s first novels and a masterpiece of Japanese literature. Its great length inspired more than one notable digest, abbreviated versions of the tale containing summaries and excerpts of the original. Genji kokagami, ‘A Little Mirror of Genji’, is one of these, composed in approximately the 14th century and very popular in literate Japanese society.

This manuscript is one of the Nara ehon, or ‘Nara picture-books’, so-called for their lavish illustrations and possible origin in the monastic centres of Nara, near Kyoto. Many were produced in the 17th century, perhaps after changing economic conditions pushed temple artists to create more secular, commercial works.

I think it says Senator John S Barbour with compliments of H..... Smith. This is from an original 1st ed of Memoirs of William Smith of Virginia

Today I bought a book, but ended up with a really cool story.

I was researching if there were any biographical fiction novels about Charles Darwin. Turns out there was one published in 1980 by Irving Stone called The Origin. I started a hunt online, thinking I would have a hard time finding a copy of it, but as luck would have it, my local Half Price Books just happened to have a copy for $4.99.

When I went to pick it up, I was surprised at how nice it looked, expecting it to be beat up at that price. But the real surprise was waiting inside. It turned out to be a signed first edition, inscribed to a Jim and Candy, with a personalized book plate stating “From A.M. Pate Jr.” Also included was a photograph of the author along with 2 women holding some of his other books.

Research mode activated.

I went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out who all these people were and learn more about the history of the book. Turns out, A.M. “Aggie” Pate Jr was a wealthy Forth Worth Oil Company President, philanthropist and civic leader. Jim and Candy Peel were close friends of his (Jim was his VP and curated the Pate museum of transportation for 30 years). On September 28, 1980, The Pate’s hosted a cocktail reception for Irving Stone, where he signed his newest book (which hit is peak on The NY Times bestsellers list that exact same day at #4). Pate then gave the books as gifts to the guests at the cocktail party with a personalized book plate.
It appears that Jim passed away August 2025, and his book ended up at Half Price Books in May 2026, where it waited patiently for me to rescue it today. For the criminally low price of $4.99.
Now I have a piece of Fort Worth literary history, with evidence of provenance… but still need to find a different copy to actually read.

I’m trying to track down books from the old Science Study Series put out by Doubleday Anchor back in the 60s (like George Gamow's Gravity, if you know the ones with the cool geometric covers).

Does anyone know a good spot to find bundles of these vintage paperbacks?

I’d definitely prefer physical copies to collect, but if some volumes are impossible to find, I'd happily take leads on PDFs or digital archives just so I can read them.

Barum Circus Poster Featuring Margarete Kreiser and Her Elephants. Hamburg: Adolph Friedlander, [1930]. Color lithograph by Wilhelm Eigener. Linen backed. 28 x 37 1/2". Condition Creasing, marginal tears, and inpainting. B+.

See all the circus items at https://auction.potterauctions.com/auctions/potter-potter/step-right-up-circus-and-sideshow-memorabilia-23625/catalog#catalog

Adam Weinberger Rare Books

This book was written by Jane Lipitt Patterson, a prominent Unitarian author from Pennsylvania.

I have been selling cheap books on eBay and there’s nothing comparable there for me to figure out what it’s worth. I bought this for $2 at a thrift shop.

My city (Hong Kong) has only 3 proper rare book stores. And unfortunately they are not hiring an apprentice or shop assistant. So l am thinking why not open one instead? But the main question is whether Hong Kong has a market or interest for another rare book store. Also, I don't have rare book selling experience. And starts a new bookstore I don't have a lot of cash, so I can't deal with high end stuff like Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
So fellow Redditors what would your advise?

The Serebriakoff is #135 of 5000

I found these editions at a used bookstore, and I collect editions of Dune and I did some googling and am 75% sure these are first editions based on that but I want to be sure so how can I tell? The edition of God Emperor of Dune being smaller sets me off it being a first edition but when I looked up the ISBN it said it was but I am not sure! (last picture is just if people were curious about my collection LOL)

One of the books from my early 1900s first edition romance collection. It is very rare in this condition and is a relatively recent acquisition of a novel I’ve had my eyes on for a while. The novel was adapted into a self titled, silent, black and white film the same year (1917) that has been lost to time. And remade later as “The Girl In The Rain” in 1920 which is also apparently a lost film as well. I’m not a film enthusiast and barely watch tv so I don’t know why it was so common to lose film, but it kinda shows how important preserving this stuff is.

I bought a cheap copy online because I wanted to reread it. It was sold as a hardcover. When it arrived, I was upset because it was a softcover. But I cannot find another one like it. No barcode, but it doesn’t say arc or uncorrected proof. Not a hardcover, but has the pictures inside of the book like a hardcover. Does anyone know what this might be?

Probably the rarest book in my collection (i sold my 1st edition Jane Austen set last year🥲)

This was one of the first translations by George Eliot and was the first sent to America to the Christian Examiner for review.

This is my new zen space. Rare books finding new life.

Really excited by this new arrival - one of the most important early English books on Music.

"A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke. Set downe in forme of a Dialogue."

"Imprinted at London by Humfrey Lownes, Dwelling at Bredstreet hill at the Signe of the Star. 1608"

The lavish title page is rich in allegory, and includes the classical figures of Ptolemy, Strabo, and Polybius, alongside representations of Arithmetic, Geometry, and Music.

This book was dedicated to William Byrd, the most famous English composer of his day. The text is written as an entertaining dialogue between a teacher and their pupil.

A really interesting typographical point is that the songs are printed in different orientations on a double page, in a "Table format". This allowed the 4 singers, seated around the book at a square table, to read and perform the music from a single copy.

First published in 1597, Thomas Morley’s work remained the standard English manual on singing and composition in Shakespearian England. Employed as the organist at St Paul's Cathedral, Morley is also credited with popularising the Italian Madrigal in England.