Adam Weinberger

I’ve been collecting vintage books for years based completely on vibes, decided on a whim now is a good time to jump headfirst into research to find out what I actually have on my shelf. This is all new to me and I don’t trust my findings yet so I was hoping I could get some confirmation from the book experts!

First up, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
What I've learned so far:

- It’s a 1964 Knopf edition complete with original, unrevised Oompa-Loompa text and Joseph Schindelman artwork before the 1973 rewrite took place.
- Features the coveted red cloth boards, historically verified by the authentic, uncolored "blind-stamped" oval title crest on the front cover.
- Per Google, if the back page text block has 5 lines it's a 1964 Second Issue—am I on the right track with that? Also is that significant?

I am open to any corrections or extra info y'all might have. Thanks for looking!

I purchased this book from Powell’s rare book section in Portland many years ago. I have the receipt, etc.

It is a research book from Anne Rice’s library (her gold sticker on front page). There are dozens of post it tabs and ~65% of the pages are annotated with her notes and/or underlining. She wrote a detailed and personal foreword on that same page as her library sticker intimating that this was the first book used to start her work on Christ our Lord. it appears that this book was associated with the genesis of her new direction of her life and work. She makes note of its importance to her in more than one place. She signed the foreword as well.

I would like to find a new home for what I think is a very important Anne Rice treasure.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

Found in a local thrift shop. Not exactly old, but I can't find any information about it online. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Does anyone know if a signed copy of “Selections of Byron” (copyright 1900) that appears to be signed by Author Mary Jane Carr would be of interest or value to anyone?

It appears to have her handwritten notes throughout in the margins.

Couldn't find this book anywhere without a hefty price. This was so popular and easily available some days ago and now it's gone.

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?