I am posting this for a list member having technical difficulties. --ECW
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----- Original Message -----
From: Maureen E Mulvihill
To: EXLIBRIS@MAIL.ECW.NA
Cc: Maureen E Mulvihill
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 3:33 PM
Subject: Book Collectors, Book Sellers, et al.
And let us not forget a classic on the subject, "Rare People & Rare Books"
by E. Millicent Sowerby (1967; rpt 1987, introduced by Edwin Wolf 2nd;
248pp; B&W photos). Sowerby was the first woman cataloguer at Sotheby's, and
also cataloguer to Wilfred Michael Voynich and to that Napoleon of Books, A
S W Rosenbach. Her memoir includes engaging anecdotes of Voynich, Rosenbach,
Sir Montague Barlow, et al. A mighty good read, full of information.
Hans Peter Kraus (1907-1988; East 46th St., NYC) was a major presence in the
world of books. His autobiography, "A Rare Book Saga," was publd by Putnam
in 1978; and there are many other credits. As Rosenbach, Kraus owned a
Gutenberg.
Books about books by Rostenberg & Stern, of course, and anything by Nicholas
Basbanes, are all splendid reading.
(For an early essay of mine, when I was building my own collection, see
"Feminism & the Rare Book Market," Scriblerian [Autumn '89, 1-6; 2 images);
it recounts my first visit to Fleming's firm in '85, the penthouse at 322
East 57th, NYC.)