Arkham House Books


Book Description

This reference work covers the supernatural and speculative fiction published by Arkham House Publishers, Inc., of Sauk City, Wisconsin. In 1937, promising Wisconsin writer August Derleth decided to publish a collection of the stories of his recently deceased friend, H. P. Lovecraft. After two years of failed attempts, Derleth and another Lovecraft fan, Donald Wandrei, published the collection themselves under the name of Arkham. In the years that followed, Arkham House published the works of many of the foremost American and British writers of weird fiction, including Basil Copper, Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, and Robert Bloch. Arkham published Ray Bradbury's first book, Dark Carnival, in 1947. The work begins with a history of the house and biography of August Derleth; it also includes a chapter on H. P. Lovecraft's connection to Arkham. The main body of the text consists of chronologically listed descriptions and current values of the more than 230 titles published by Arkham House and its two imprints, Mycroft & Moran and Stanton & Lee. These entries detail editions, reprints, special points, restoration, care, buying and selling, investment, and future trends. Other features include alphabetical indeces of titles and authors, lists of scarcity and value ranking, a list of annual stock lists and catalogs, and a bibliography of reference literature. The book is illustrated throughout with dust jacket reproductions and photographs.




How to Buy Rare Books


Book Description







Collectors' Guide to Antique American Glass


Book Description

If you are curious about the fuss some people make about American glass, if you are a collector who has concentrated on a single phase of your hobby, or if you are a student of Americana who would like to see how glass relates to the rest of the decorative arts, this book was written for you.




Collector's Guide to Children's Books, 1850 to 1950


Book Description

Lists prices for children's books and includes information on publishers to assist in identification




Valentines


Book Description

Valentines, A Collector's Guide, 1700s - 1950s, is a thorough reference for accurately dating and identifying valentines. The book's dating system uses nearly 1,300 photographed cards arranged in chronological order based on extensive research. Besides the visual arrangement, collectors will find researched lists of design trends, card subjects illustrated, and important publishers for each decade and for each different type of card. These key facts placed at the fingertips of the collector make dating and identification easy, accurate, and enjoyable. Illustrated valentines include those by anonymous and early makers from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and Canada. Feast your eyes on lacy Victorian valentines, romantic couples, adorable children, hearts, flowers, whimsical mechanicals, dimensional tissue paper cards, sarcastic vinegar valentines, and dimensional fold down cards. Beyond the illustrated valentines, lists of non-illustrated cards by more contemporary manufacturers are compiled so collectors can identify way beyond what is illustrated. Enjoy these sentimental, entertaining tokens of love and affection in a clear, easy to understand presentation that will be an indispensable reference for anyone who loves and wants to date and identify their valentines. 2011 values.




Collecting Children's Books


Book Description

This book contains a complete list of children's works by over 200 collectable authors and illustrators, and provides help in identifying the collectable editions of all the works listed. It also includes a guide to the value of every first edition.




Paradise Postponed


Book Description

When Simeon Simcox, a socialist clergyman, leaves his entire fortune not to his family but to the ruthless, social-climbing Tory MP Leslie Titmuss, the Rector's two sons react in very different ways. Henry, novelist and former 'angry young man' turned grumpy old reactionary, decides to fight the will and prove their father was insane. Younger brother Fred, a mild-mannered country doctor, takes a different approach, quietly digging in Simeon's past, only to uncover an entirely unexpected explanation for the legacy. An exquisitely drawn saga of ancient rivalries and class struggles, featuring a glorious cast of characters, Paradise Postponed is a delicious portrait of English country life by a master satirist.







Rare Book Hunting


Book Description

My essays and escapades span over thirty years of rare book hunting--an exciting journey that is ongoing. Many of my friends are rare book people, and much of my free time revolves around bookish pursuits. I can't recall a day without thinking about a book and seldom without handling one. I write regularly on my blog about rare books I've found and their history. Recently, my wife and I began plans to expand our library space by converting the attic above the garage, so it seems inevitable that the book you hold in your hand would come to fruition. If you're already a rare book hunter no further prelude is needed. If you have found this book through curiosity or happenstance, and it creates a spark within, I strongly encourage you to follow your own book hunting path. The rewards are great and the space concerns never-ending. Kurt Zimmerman is a highly regarded book collector and author. He has been collecting for over thirty years in two areas: association items related to book collecting history (currently 7,000+ items) and first editions of Latin American literature (over 2,000 items). He received his Master's in Library and Information Science degree from UT-Austin while completing a three year internship at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. There he learned bibliography and rare books from the best in the field. He worked in the rare book trade and as director of the rare books & maps department at Butterfield & Butterfield auction house (now Bonham's) in San Francisco. Zimmerman is a co-founder of the Book Hunters Club of Houston. His established is popular blog bookcollectinghistory.com in 2011. The author can be reached directly at [email protected].