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Rare Books Uncovered: True Stories of Fantastic Finds in Unlikely Places
Feed your inner bibliophile with this volume on unearthed rare and antiquarian books.
Few collectors are as passionate or as dogged in the pursuit of their quarry as collectors of rare books. In Rare Books Uncovered, expert on rare and antiquarian books Rebecca Rego Barry recounts the stories of remarkable discoveries from the world of book collecting.
Read about the family whose discovery in their attic of a copy of Action Comics No. 1--the first appearance of Superman-saved their home from foreclosure. Or the Salt Lake City bookseller who volunteered for a local fundraiser--and came across a 500-year-old copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle. These tales and many others will entertain and inspire casual collectors and hardcore bibliomaniacs alike.
Few collectors are as passionate or as dogged in the pursuit of their quarry as collectors of rare books. In Rare Books Uncovered, expert on rare and antiquarian books Rebecca Rego Barry recounts the stories of remarkable discoveries from the world of book collecting.
Read about the family whose discovery in their attic of a copy of Action Comics No. 1--the first appearance of Superman-saved their home from foreclosure. Or the Salt Lake City bookseller who volunteered for a local fundraiser--and came across a 500-year-old copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle. These tales and many others will entertain and inspire casual collectors and hardcore bibliomaniacs alike.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2015
11 people are currently reading
1519 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Rego Barry
2 books73 followersRebecca Rego Barry is the author of "The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells" (2024) and "Rare Books Uncovered" (2015). She is an award-winning editor, formerly at Fine Books & Collections magazine, and her writing about books and history has appeared in many publications, including Smithsonian, Atlas Obscura, Lit Hub, CrimeReads, Slate, and The Guardian. She lives with her husband and two daughters in New York's Catskill Mountains, in a home bursting with books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 12, 2018
What book lover doesn't like reading a book about books? The topic is like catnip to me, so when I saw the title, it was a no-brainer.
The book is comprised of short chapters that each tell the story of an individual book hunter who found something incredible in an unexpected place. Not always a book, the printed word and other interesting ephemera were also discussed. I have to say, I didn't realize Larry Mcmurtry was also a book hunter and aficionado as well as a highly respected author.
This book is more geared for the collector than the average reader. I am an average reader, so while the book was interesting, I didn't quite get the whole collecting thing. I love stories of pieces of history being saved from destruction, but other than the historical factor, I wasn't that overly impressed with this book.
By average reader, I mean I buy books to read them and pass them on. I don't have multiple copies of more than a few titles, and that's only because I have my personal copies of a few books and I have loaner copies that if I don't get them back, it won't ruin my day. Books enter my home in a revolving door. They come in and they go out too. That's not to say they don't stay a LOOOONG time before they are read and go back out, but they do leave.
But a collector, they are different. My Roomie is a collector. As in, there are a few authors where she has EVERY version of their work that she can get. Foreign editions, mass market, trade paper, hard cover, ebook, audio AND when new covers come out? They are added to the collection.
And when I read this book, I realized that she was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to collecting books. There are some pretty intense book lovers/collectors out there. Not judging. Just making an observation.
Good, solid 3 star book. Not as in my wheelhouse as I had originally thought, but not a bad book and I am glad I read it. I learned something about the world of collectors and book hunters out there and it was interesting. Recommended if you like to read about books and don't want to feel QUITE so bad about the hundreds to thousands you have piled up in your home. It's all about perspective and I feel much better about my books now!
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
The book is comprised of short chapters that each tell the story of an individual book hunter who found something incredible in an unexpected place. Not always a book, the printed word and other interesting ephemera were also discussed. I have to say, I didn't realize Larry Mcmurtry was also a book hunter and aficionado as well as a highly respected author.
This book is more geared for the collector than the average reader. I am an average reader, so while the book was interesting, I didn't quite get the whole collecting thing. I love stories of pieces of history being saved from destruction, but other than the historical factor, I wasn't that overly impressed with this book.
By average reader, I mean I buy books to read them and pass them on. I don't have multiple copies of more than a few titles, and that's only because I have my personal copies of a few books and I have loaner copies that if I don't get them back, it won't ruin my day. Books enter my home in a revolving door. They come in and they go out too. That's not to say they don't stay a LOOOONG time before they are read and go back out, but they do leave.
But a collector, they are different. My Roomie is a collector. As in, there are a few authors where she has EVERY version of their work that she can get. Foreign editions, mass market, trade paper, hard cover, ebook, audio AND when new covers come out? They are added to the collection.
And when I read this book, I realized that she was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to collecting books. There are some pretty intense book lovers/collectors out there. Not judging. Just making an observation.
Good, solid 3 star book. Not as in my wheelhouse as I had originally thought, but not a bad book and I am glad I read it. I learned something about the world of collectors and book hunters out there and it was interesting. Recommended if you like to read about books and don't want to feel QUITE so bad about the hundreds to thousands you have piled up in your home. It's all about perspective and I feel much better about my books now!
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
April 20, 2018
I read a lot of nonfiction about rare and antiquarian books and booksellers back when I was in library school just over a decade ago. I always enjoyed the topic, so it's been great to have a sort of "update" on the subject courtesy of Rebecca Rego Barry's collection of stories and anecdotes, first published in 2015 and now updated for 2018.
The stories here are full of interesting people and even more interesting finds. Various book scouts, dealers, and random people who happen to have unearthed something interesting are asked about their experiences. Some tales are very recent, but others are relics of days gone by. There is a lot of repetition that "there are still things out there" vis-a-vis any claims that the Golden Age of book scouting and "barn finds" is over, and while I'm sure there are still *some* things out there, methinks these people doth protest too much. The internet has had too huge an effect on the world, in too many ways, for things to be otherwise, and this fact is largely downplayed in this book but for a handful of examples. As far as the brick-and-mortar world goes, serendipity and/or an overabundance of free time seem to play more of a role than deep, hard-earned knowledge.
In any case, I really liked this book. I could have done without the little sidebar definitions of rare book terminology, which are not needed among the majority of the book's audience, but that's a minor quibble. There are a lot of wow moments, some because of the circumstances of the find (as in, "Wow, what an amazing twist of fate!"), and some because of various behavior (as in, "Wow, I can't believe Harvard did that, what a bunch of a--holes!"). One of my least favorite parts, I should note, was actually the author's introduction, in which she first tells the neat story of how she unknowingly acquired a somewhat valuable copy of Death of a Salesman with an interesting provenance, and then actually laughs it off when it gets damaged by her dog. Haha, right? Sooo not funny. Fortunately, that weird attitude does not carry over into the rest of her writing, which is uniformly good throughout all the other 50+ (!) chapters.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
(2018 edition)
The stories here are full of interesting people and even more interesting finds. Various book scouts, dealers, and random people who happen to have unearthed something interesting are asked about their experiences. Some tales are very recent, but others are relics of days gone by. There is a lot of repetition that "there are still things out there" vis-a-vis any claims that the Golden Age of book scouting and "barn finds" is over, and while I'm sure there are still *some* things out there, methinks these people doth protest too much. The internet has had too huge an effect on the world, in too many ways, for things to be otherwise, and this fact is largely downplayed in this book but for a handful of examples. As far as the brick-and-mortar world goes, serendipity and/or an overabundance of free time seem to play more of a role than deep, hard-earned knowledge.
In any case, I really liked this book. I could have done without the little sidebar definitions of rare book terminology, which are not needed among the majority of the book's audience, but that's a minor quibble. There are a lot of wow moments, some because of the circumstances of the find (as in, "Wow, what an amazing twist of fate!"), and some because of various behavior (as in, "Wow, I can't believe Harvard did that, what a bunch of a--holes!"). One of my least favorite parts, I should note, was actually the author's introduction, in which she first tells the neat story of how she unknowingly acquired a somewhat valuable copy of Death of a Salesman with an interesting provenance, and then actually laughs it off when it gets damaged by her dog. Haha, right? Sooo not funny. Fortunately, that weird attitude does not carry over into the rest of her writing, which is uniformly good throughout all the other 50+ (!) chapters.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
(2018 edition)
June 15, 2018
Books that are about books. There's a novel idea :)
If you are a book collector or any other type of bibliophile, this book will make you jealous and filled with yearning.
I think all of us want to make a great discovery at a bookshop, estate sale or in grandma's attic, and the people featured in this book have done just that. Some truly fantastic finds, of historical, sentimental and even monetary value.
I read this book with interest, enjoying the various stories the author put forth for our consideration and getting a kick out of the antics of book collectors and their joy at finding the rare and wonderful. If you are not a collector already, this book might create a new level of interest within you. It did for me. Or perhaps it simply renewed an interest that was already there. Either way, I enjoyed this a lot and recommend it to other 'book people.' You know who you are.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
If you are a book collector or any other type of bibliophile, this book will make you jealous and filled with yearning.
I think all of us want to make a great discovery at a bookshop, estate sale or in grandma's attic, and the people featured in this book have done just that. Some truly fantastic finds, of historical, sentimental and even monetary value.
I read this book with interest, enjoying the various stories the author put forth for our consideration and getting a kick out of the antics of book collectors and their joy at finding the rare and wonderful. If you are not a collector already, this book might create a new level of interest within you. It did for me. Or perhaps it simply renewed an interest that was already there. Either way, I enjoyed this a lot and recommend it to other 'book people.' You know who you are.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2016
A fun tome of about 50 chapters detailing rare book finds in the last few decades. Each chapter introduces a collector/rare book dealer/book scout, who somehow finds, or is brought into contact with, a rare or prized book/map/document. This is the stuff of romance for people who love books! It's heartening to realize that there are still treasures to be unearthed at flee markets, that there may be rare finds among granny's boxes....
I read the chapters in this book like I eat chocolates : a few at a time, then quick saturation, pause, then some more, pause again to savor, then some more...
I read the chapters in this book like I eat chocolates : a few at a time, then quick saturation, pause, then some more, pause again to savor, then some more...
April 24, 2018
Opening line:
"In 1925, Vincent Starrett posed a question in the Saturday Evening Post: "Have You a Tamerlane in your attic?"
This book was full of fascinating finds--such as a first edition of To Kill A Mockingbird--in unfascinating places--such as under a bed. It would be really fun to make a TBR list from this book of finds. The only negative to this book??? I want to go to all the yard sales and estate sales and find me a rare-find book!
Thanks to netgalley for the read! I loved it.
"In 1925, Vincent Starrett posed a question in the Saturday Evening Post: "Have You a Tamerlane in your attic?"
This book was full of fascinating finds--such as a first edition of To Kill A Mockingbird--in unfascinating places--such as under a bed. It would be really fun to make a TBR list from this book of finds. The only negative to this book??? I want to go to all the yard sales and estate sales and find me a rare-find book!
Thanks to netgalley for the read! I loved it.
November 30, 2015
I had the pleasure of seeing Barry speak at the Miami Book Fair 2015. She read from one chapter of this book, on a family which finds a relative's stash of 30s-era comics and realizes they are worth millions of dollars. Once I brought the book home, I was glad to find that each of the other 51 vignettes on rare books, papers and ephemera was just as delightful. 5/5 stars.
January 17, 2016
A Bit of A Disappointment
A bit dry in spots. I was surprised at some of the author's mean-spiritness. Still, it's good to have these tales collected in one volume.
A bit dry in spots. I was surprised at some of the author's mean-spiritness. Still, it's good to have these tales collected in one volume.
May 21, 2018
My love for books is both my family's pride and the bane of their existence. As a young child my parents would be thrilled to see me reading and infuriated to find my still reading at midnight. No matter where we are, no bookstore can be passed without a visit. And too often I turn pleading eyes onto my family members and beg for 'just 10 more minutes'. I can spend hours in bookstores, especially when they're the kind of bookstores you can get lost in, where the shelves reach to the ceiling, where old meets new, literary fiction meets art history and music theory settles in next to science fiction. So how could I resist Rare Books Uncovered? Thanks to Quatro, Voyageur Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My obsession with antique books is really my family's fault. I think it started when my granddad one day decided that since I liked history I could help him riffle through a chest (I'm not kidding!) of old papers, photos and books that had been there for who knows how long. Not only did we discover we're related to George Friedrich Handel (again, I'M NOT KIDDING! It was an exciting day!), but we also unearthed a centuries old Latin copy of Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico. We went to the local library the next day to have it assessed and almost 8 years later my grandfather gifted it to me. That day spent with him lit a fire in me for antique books because I began to appreciate how wonderful those old books are, how they have passed through countless hands and how imbued with history they are. So from then on my trips to bookstores included hunting down books that struck me with that sense of history, books whose plain covers hid fascinating content. It started a passion that hasn't abated and probably never will. I own 7 different editions of Wuthering Heights and have stacks of books waiting at my father's house for me to get my own apartment with actual bookshelves. I may have a problem...
Rare Books Uncovered is the perfect book for bibliophiles and collectors like myself. Barry fills the book with short chapters dedicated to extraordinary finds, whether it's superhero comics or Dali's Alice. For someone who delights in boxes of books and dusty bookstores, these chapters are a delight. I found myself excited by these finds, laughing at the sheer serendipity of most of them, and inspired by the collectors' clear passion for books of whatever kind. Not each find pulls at me equally. I'm much less interested in driving manuals than in Frankenstein, and yet each chapter held something of interest for me. The chapter that struck me most was 'Scarce Scottish Imprint Hiding in the Stacks' in which Barry describes a surprising find in the St. Andrews Rare Books library. The library began a program called 'Lighting the Past' in which they started working their way through their backlog. While doing my Master's Degree in Medieval English at St. Andrews I actually spent time myself helping dig through the Rare Books and cataloguing them, comparing them to other copies in WorldCat and other collections. The work done on 'Lighting the Past' happened in the room next door. I loved the mornings I spent there, surrounded by books, and I felt a surge of pride reading about it in Rare Books Uncovered.
Rare Books Uncovered could easily be a dry and boring book. After all, it is simply a collection of book titles, dates, names and prices. But Rebecca Rego Barry brings these stories to life. Each chapter feels like a mini mystery, and the interviews she has done with the collectors and discoverers brings a personal touch to their stories. There is a love for books in Rare Books Uncovered and it is a love that is shared by Barry, the people she interviews and us, the readers. One thing I especially adored were the little asides in the book that explained certain lingo like 'provenance', 'ephemera' or 'marginalia'. It makes the world of book collectors a little bit more accessible and, in my case, gives me the vocabulary to describe some of the things I have found in my years of book collecting. Rare Books Uncovered is probably not for every reader. If you love reading but don't feel the need to collect them then this book will perhaps not fill you with the same sense of recognition as it did for me. Some of the stories will be interesting and you'll enjoy leafing through it. But if you're like me then this book is close to inspirational. I will have to hunt down a physical copy of Rare Books Uncovered because reading it filled me with joy.
God I adored this book! Barry has written a book for book collectors, full of anecdotes, surprises and passion. Although book collecting has changed a lot in the last few decades, the spirit remains the same. It's about the joy of knowing anything could be anywhere and that maybe you'll find it. I'd recommend this to anyone who knows how addicting book collecting can be.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2...
My obsession with antique books is really my family's fault. I think it started when my granddad one day decided that since I liked history I could help him riffle through a chest (I'm not kidding!) of old papers, photos and books that had been there for who knows how long. Not only did we discover we're related to George Friedrich Handel (again, I'M NOT KIDDING! It was an exciting day!), but we also unearthed a centuries old Latin copy of Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico. We went to the local library the next day to have it assessed and almost 8 years later my grandfather gifted it to me. That day spent with him lit a fire in me for antique books because I began to appreciate how wonderful those old books are, how they have passed through countless hands and how imbued with history they are. So from then on my trips to bookstores included hunting down books that struck me with that sense of history, books whose plain covers hid fascinating content. It started a passion that hasn't abated and probably never will. I own 7 different editions of Wuthering Heights and have stacks of books waiting at my father's house for me to get my own apartment with actual bookshelves. I may have a problem...
Rare Books Uncovered is the perfect book for bibliophiles and collectors like myself. Barry fills the book with short chapters dedicated to extraordinary finds, whether it's superhero comics or Dali's Alice. For someone who delights in boxes of books and dusty bookstores, these chapters are a delight. I found myself excited by these finds, laughing at the sheer serendipity of most of them, and inspired by the collectors' clear passion for books of whatever kind. Not each find pulls at me equally. I'm much less interested in driving manuals than in Frankenstein, and yet each chapter held something of interest for me. The chapter that struck me most was 'Scarce Scottish Imprint Hiding in the Stacks' in which Barry describes a surprising find in the St. Andrews Rare Books library. The library began a program called 'Lighting the Past' in which they started working their way through their backlog. While doing my Master's Degree in Medieval English at St. Andrews I actually spent time myself helping dig through the Rare Books and cataloguing them, comparing them to other copies in WorldCat and other collections. The work done on 'Lighting the Past' happened in the room next door. I loved the mornings I spent there, surrounded by books, and I felt a surge of pride reading about it in Rare Books Uncovered.
Rare Books Uncovered could easily be a dry and boring book. After all, it is simply a collection of book titles, dates, names and prices. But Rebecca Rego Barry brings these stories to life. Each chapter feels like a mini mystery, and the interviews she has done with the collectors and discoverers brings a personal touch to their stories. There is a love for books in Rare Books Uncovered and it is a love that is shared by Barry, the people she interviews and us, the readers. One thing I especially adored were the little asides in the book that explained certain lingo like 'provenance', 'ephemera' or 'marginalia'. It makes the world of book collectors a little bit more accessible and, in my case, gives me the vocabulary to describe some of the things I have found in my years of book collecting. Rare Books Uncovered is probably not for every reader. If you love reading but don't feel the need to collect them then this book will perhaps not fill you with the same sense of recognition as it did for me. Some of the stories will be interesting and you'll enjoy leafing through it. But if you're like me then this book is close to inspirational. I will have to hunt down a physical copy of Rare Books Uncovered because reading it filled me with joy.
God I adored this book! Barry has written a book for book collectors, full of anecdotes, surprises and passion. Although book collecting has changed a lot in the last few decades, the spirit remains the same. It's about the joy of knowing anything could be anywhere and that maybe you'll find it. I'd recommend this to anyone who knows how addicting book collecting can be.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2...
Read
December 10, 2015Review for LJ.
This book MADE ME CRY. I was reading one of the stories, about the document found in the attic of the historic mansion, and it just hit me, all the history that this paper had seen. All these famous people, who just happened to be in the same place at the same time, who changed the course of history, who had all visited this house. Amazing. I mean, I lost it. I don't remember the last time a book made me cry like that. I was overwhelmed with the idea of all that history taking place in one spot.
Don't get me wrong. I've visited historic places. I've been to Gettysburg and Harpers' Ferry. But what this brought home to me is that what really gets me is the personal factor. I would much rather see a tiny settler's house than a hall where a document was signed. For instance, take Philadelphia. Lovely history there. But Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell held less thrill for me than did Betsy Ross's house and Christ Church. That's where people lived.
This book is full of much more than that. Everything you ever wanted to know about the current state of book collecting, plus some great historic stories. It's not all been found, not by a long shot.
I kept getting distracted by gazing at my bookshelves and stacks, trying to value my hypermodern first editions. Which, to tell you the truth, was a real thrill.
This book MADE ME CRY. I was reading one of the stories, about the document found in the attic of the historic mansion, and it just hit me, all the history that this paper had seen. All these famous people, who just happened to be in the same place at the same time, who changed the course of history, who had all visited this house. Amazing. I mean, I lost it. I don't remember the last time a book made me cry like that. I was overwhelmed with the idea of all that history taking place in one spot.
Don't get me wrong. I've visited historic places. I've been to Gettysburg and Harpers' Ferry. But what this brought home to me is that what really gets me is the personal factor. I would much rather see a tiny settler's house than a hall where a document was signed. For instance, take Philadelphia. Lovely history there. But Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell held less thrill for me than did Betsy Ross's house and Christ Church. That's where people lived.
This book is full of much more than that. Everything you ever wanted to know about the current state of book collecting, plus some great historic stories. It's not all been found, not by a long shot.
I kept getting distracted by gazing at my bookshelves and stacks, trying to value my hypermodern first editions. Which, to tell you the truth, was a real thrill.
January 16, 2016
A must read for bibliophiles. So many inspirational stories that will inspire your book hunting.
December 3, 2016
Just a really enjoyable read, and a great book of book-adventures!
I could NOT put it down, and read it in one long sitting....
I could NOT put it down, and read it in one long sitting....
June 10, 2017
very informative a book like version of Antique Road Show pursuit:))
April 27, 2018
More than 50 chapters about rare findings of books, comics and music also. Best stuff ever is the way some of the people involved in these findings find out that they were potential millionaire ;) As a lover of books I enjoyed this volume a lot, but I understand that it is not the right reading for everybody.
Piú di 50 capitoli che raccontano le fortunose e fortunate scoperte di rari libri, fumetti e musica. Alcuni delle migliori tra queste sono le reazioni dei potenziali milionari, una volta scoperto che potevano diventare ricchi. Come amante dei libri, questo volume mi é piaciuto parecchio, ma mi è anche chiaro che non possa andare bene per chiunque,
THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
Piú di 50 capitoli che raccontano le fortunose e fortunate scoperte di rari libri, fumetti e musica. Alcuni delle migliori tra queste sono le reazioni dei potenziali milionari, una volta scoperto che potevano diventare ricchi. Come amante dei libri, questo volume mi é piaciuto parecchio, ma mi è anche chiaro che non possa andare bene per chiunque,
THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
February 7, 2017
52 stories about amazing book finds over the past years. Can you imagine stumbling upon a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird or a stash of comic books is almost pristine condition, a rare copy of a catechism, or an early printing of Shakespeare’s plays? Each of the collectors, book hunters, appraisers, and book lovers featured in this volume describes a find, and what a find! Some are ultimately sold, some are saved and savored, some are donated to libraries and archives for the public to enjoy, while others are purchased by private collectors. There are colored illustrations of the books tucked toward the back of the book, and sidebars to describe terminology for the novice bibliophile.
Why pick up this book of vignettes? So you will be enthralled in the thrill of the chase, the hunt for answers, and the search of clues about past owners, printers, and publishers. This is the perfect book to read one chapter at a time, to enjoy at dinner and with friends. Barry ends the book with a selected reading list to tempt the reader.
A friend and I read the book one or two chapters a week. We now have a huge TBR list of books to explore and see firsthand. I hope you all enjoy the book as much as we did.
Why pick up this book of vignettes? So you will be enthralled in the thrill of the chase, the hunt for answers, and the search of clues about past owners, printers, and publishers. This is the perfect book to read one chapter at a time, to enjoy at dinner and with friends. Barry ends the book with a selected reading list to tempt the reader.
A friend and I read the book one or two chapters a week. We now have a huge TBR list of books to explore and see firsthand. I hope you all enjoy the book as much as we did.
February 10, 2016
Very uneven- some great stories here, some very boring stories, and a bunch of "meh" ones. I considered putting it down about halfway through, after a bunch of so-so ones in a row, but then it picked up again for a bit before tapering off.
February 4, 2016
52 short accounts of booksellers and scouts who have made surprising finds ranging from Byron's copy of "Frankenstein" to Maurice Sendak's first illustrated book. Fun (and a little envy-provoking).
July 25, 2016
It became a listing of "not quite" sensational finds as the book was padded out. Useful "bene nota" inclusions with most chapters.
Read
November 2, 2025this was so, so interesting! even if you are slightly intrigued by rare books, definitely read this! it was fascinating getting stories of different collectors/rare books. the pictures in this book were very cool to see. i felt like i learned a lot + the author includes links to further readings for a good amount of topics.
April 30, 2018
A book about books! 52 amazing stories about finding rare books in (often very) unexpected places. It opened up the fascinating and obsessive world of book collecting to me. Anyone who truly loves books will love this book! Now excuse me while I go check my shelves for first editions......
May 9, 2018
some great stories
November 14, 2021
These stories give the small time bibliophiles the belief that we just might find something spectacular someday while we are "browsing"!
February 5, 2016
The book-hunter whose heart is in his quest never tires of tales of lucky discoveries, and of rare books bought for a song. This is natural enough, and moreover, authentic details of some great find invariably stimulate his eagerness, and encourage him to persevere in the search for what he is repeatedly being told—as though he of all men did not know it already—is only to be met with casually, and by the merest of accidents (32).
The Romance of Book-Collecting
by J. H. Slater, London: 1898
Books about books is my forte. And I have a number of books by or about book hunters in my library that I enjoyed reading: The Book-Hunter by John Hill Burton (1863), The Book-Hunter in Paris by Octave Uzanne (1893), A Shelf of Old Books by Mrs. James T. Fields (1894), The Book-Hunter in London by W. Roberts (1895), Diversions of a Book-Lover by Adrian Joline (1903), A Sentimental Library by Harry B. Smith (1914), The Amenities of Book-Collecting by A. Edward Newton (1918), The Book Hunter At Home by P. B. M. Allan (1920), Penny Wise & Book Foolish by Vincent Starrett (1929), Carousel for Bibliophiles by William Targ (1947), The Adventures of a Treasure Hunter by Charles P. Everitt (1952), Gold in Your Attic by Van Allen Bradley (1958), Old & Rare: Thirty Years in the Book Business by Leona Rostenberg and Madeleine Stern (1974), and Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone (1997).
And then there is A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books by Nicholas A. Basbanes (2005). Looking back, I believe the dust jacket of A Gentle Madness made a statement about the book. Striking, it was. And it is the lack of a dust jacket that makes a bold statement about Rare Books Uncovered.
The word, uncovered, in the title of this book has a double meaning:
This book, Rare Books Uncovered, is not covered by a dust jacket!
This book is about rare books that were discovered in unlikely places.
Yes. You can add Rare Books Uncovered to the list of books about book hunters that I enjoyed reading. Thousands of people read A Gentle Madness. And I expect thousands more will read Rare Books Uncovered.
You don't have to be a book hunter to enjoy reading these 52 tales of lucky finds revealed in Rebecca Rego Barry's book. And you don't have to be a book hunter to find rare and special books either. Some of the finders whose stories you will read in Rare Books Uncovered didn't know the first thing about book collecting.
But knowing a little bit about books helps to know how fantastic your find is. Of the 52 finders in Rare Books Uncovered, at least half of them identify themselves as booksellers. At least six of the finders identify themselves as book scouts, which is a modern-day term for book hunters. And at least 15 of the finders identify themselves as collectors. One book collector even describes himself as a bibliomaniac!
Bookwise or not, you will enjoy reading Rare Books Uncovered. And you will even pick up some of the book lingo, for Rebecca has included marginal notes for the "newbie," defining such words and phrases as incunabula, point, doublure, provenance, flyleaf, watermark, printer's device, and, my favorite, an Historiated Initial. Sounds painful, doesn't it?
It was not painful for some of the finders when they learned the value of their lucky finds—especially the one who found at least $8.9 million worth of comic books while cleaning out the house of a recently departed relative. This finder was neither a bookseller, a book scout, or a collector. But it was months before he realized the value of his find.
Of the 52 finds, three were found while clearing out houses, three were found on eBay, three were found at library sales, one was found in a dumpster, another was found in a trailer park, two were found at flea markets, two were found at book fairs, at least four were found in bookstores, and five were found at auctions. I won't tell you where the others were found, or what the finds were. You will find out when you read this book.
Finally, did I mention who wrote the Forward to Rare Books Uncovered? Nicholas A. Basbanes, the author of A Gentle Madness.
http://www.moibibliomaniac.com/2015/1...
The Romance of Book-Collecting
by J. H. Slater, London: 1898
Books about books is my forte. And I have a number of books by or about book hunters in my library that I enjoyed reading: The Book-Hunter by John Hill Burton (1863), The Book-Hunter in Paris by Octave Uzanne (1893), A Shelf of Old Books by Mrs. James T. Fields (1894), The Book-Hunter in London by W. Roberts (1895), Diversions of a Book-Lover by Adrian Joline (1903), A Sentimental Library by Harry B. Smith (1914), The Amenities of Book-Collecting by A. Edward Newton (1918), The Book Hunter At Home by P. B. M. Allan (1920), Penny Wise & Book Foolish by Vincent Starrett (1929), Carousel for Bibliophiles by William Targ (1947), The Adventures of a Treasure Hunter by Charles P. Everitt (1952), Gold in Your Attic by Van Allen Bradley (1958), Old & Rare: Thirty Years in the Book Business by Leona Rostenberg and Madeleine Stern (1974), and Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone (1997).
And then there is A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books by Nicholas A. Basbanes (2005). Looking back, I believe the dust jacket of A Gentle Madness made a statement about the book. Striking, it was. And it is the lack of a dust jacket that makes a bold statement about Rare Books Uncovered.
The word, uncovered, in the title of this book has a double meaning:
This book, Rare Books Uncovered, is not covered by a dust jacket!
This book is about rare books that were discovered in unlikely places.
Yes. You can add Rare Books Uncovered to the list of books about book hunters that I enjoyed reading. Thousands of people read A Gentle Madness. And I expect thousands more will read Rare Books Uncovered.
You don't have to be a book hunter to enjoy reading these 52 tales of lucky finds revealed in Rebecca Rego Barry's book. And you don't have to be a book hunter to find rare and special books either. Some of the finders whose stories you will read in Rare Books Uncovered didn't know the first thing about book collecting.
But knowing a little bit about books helps to know how fantastic your find is. Of the 52 finders in Rare Books Uncovered, at least half of them identify themselves as booksellers. At least six of the finders identify themselves as book scouts, which is a modern-day term for book hunters. And at least 15 of the finders identify themselves as collectors. One book collector even describes himself as a bibliomaniac!
Bookwise or not, you will enjoy reading Rare Books Uncovered. And you will even pick up some of the book lingo, for Rebecca has included marginal notes for the "newbie," defining such words and phrases as incunabula, point, doublure, provenance, flyleaf, watermark, printer's device, and, my favorite, an Historiated Initial. Sounds painful, doesn't it?
It was not painful for some of the finders when they learned the value of their lucky finds—especially the one who found at least $8.9 million worth of comic books while cleaning out the house of a recently departed relative. This finder was neither a bookseller, a book scout, or a collector. But it was months before he realized the value of his find.
Of the 52 finds, three were found while clearing out houses, three were found on eBay, three were found at library sales, one was found in a dumpster, another was found in a trailer park, two were found at flea markets, two were found at book fairs, at least four were found in bookstores, and five were found at auctions. I won't tell you where the others were found, or what the finds were. You will find out when you read this book.
Finally, did I mention who wrote the Forward to Rare Books Uncovered? Nicholas A. Basbanes, the author of A Gentle Madness.
http://www.moibibliomaniac.com/2015/1...
August 3, 2018
2.5 Stars
I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As a self proclaimed book lover, I had really hoped I would connect deeply with the stories contained in this volume; unfortunately this was not the case. I went into this expecting a reflection on the more human and emotional side of book collecting; I wanted to see the joy, the rush of adrenaline, the disbelief that this book was just sitting there waiting for the right person to come along, pick it up and recognise its true value. Instead this came off as almost clinical; I often felt these stories got bogged down with the technical aspects of how the finder identified that this was in fact a rare and much sought after edition.
I was honestly saddened by how much focus the author put on the big scores for professional book collectors and sellers, to me it seemed that this put heavy emphasis on the corporate and commercial side to the industry. I was often frustrated with how much time auction houses and private traders spent in the spotlight while libraries, historical societies and ordinary humans were portrayed in a negative light or taken advantage of.
I would have loved to have seen a more human connection or historical significance focus to these stories. Maybe I'm being overly sentimental but I did not see myself and my love for books and book collecting reflected in these pages at all.
I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As a self proclaimed book lover, I had really hoped I would connect deeply with the stories contained in this volume; unfortunately this was not the case. I went into this expecting a reflection on the more human and emotional side of book collecting; I wanted to see the joy, the rush of adrenaline, the disbelief that this book was just sitting there waiting for the right person to come along, pick it up and recognise its true value. Instead this came off as almost clinical; I often felt these stories got bogged down with the technical aspects of how the finder identified that this was in fact a rare and much sought after edition.
I was honestly saddened by how much focus the author put on the big scores for professional book collectors and sellers, to me it seemed that this put heavy emphasis on the corporate and commercial side to the industry. I was often frustrated with how much time auction houses and private traders spent in the spotlight while libraries, historical societies and ordinary humans were portrayed in a negative light or taken advantage of.
I would have loved to have seen a more human connection or historical significance focus to these stories. Maybe I'm being overly sentimental but I did not see myself and my love for books and book collecting reflected in these pages at all.
June 15, 2018
Rare Books Uncovered is what I call a "coffee table book", by which I mean you can put it down on your coffee table and pick it up now and then to read a couple of chapters. Nothing wrong with that, mind you! I quite enjoyed reading about a book or two, soaking up the story of its discovery, and thinking about it for a few days before opening Rare Books Uncovered again. Some of the stories are heartwarming, others are quite surprising, but each one is a pleasure to discover. I know nothing of book collecting, so I did actually learn quite a lot by reading this book.
A must-have for book lovers!
Thanks to NetGalley and Voyageur Press for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
A must-have for book lovers!
Thanks to NetGalley and Voyageur Press for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2017
This is an enjoyable set of 52 short accounts of a key, memorable find by a book collector, scout or seller. Barry talked or corresponded with each of the individuals in order to pull together these stories that are intended to support, as Nicholas Basbanes puts in it in foreword, "the Larry McMurtry character Zack Jenks' classic line from Cadillac Jack (1982) that 'anything can be anywhere.'" This line or variations on it appear throughout the accounts. It is an easy, enjoyable read that will have you constantly on the look for a special book in places where you might least expect to find it.
January 8, 2017
I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is highly US centric although there are some stories about U.K. book sellers and book finds. It gives an inside in the U.S. antiquarian market that is not otherwise easily obtained by a book enthusiast living in France, such as me. I would hold that the principles of book scouting and collecting apply here as in the US and something can be learned therefore also by a European continental scout. A very entertaining book, parts of which I will certainly read again.
January 23, 2017
A rich treasure trove of lucky, lucrative and lovely finds.
Rego Barry makes the point that there are still hidden gems waiting for the right reader, collector or seller to discover. Perhaps there aren't as many dusty attics full of pristine first editions as there once were, but they are still out there.
I'm more reader than collector, but I also really liked the inclusion of brief definitions of the book collecting lingo.
Really liked this book, and hope some day I'll stumble across the exactly right thing that I'll want to collect.
Rego Barry makes the point that there are still hidden gems waiting for the right reader, collector or seller to discover. Perhaps there aren't as many dusty attics full of pristine first editions as there once were, but they are still out there.
I'm more reader than collector, but I also really liked the inclusion of brief definitions of the book collecting lingo.
Really liked this book, and hope some day I'll stumble across the exactly right thing that I'll want to collect.
April 10, 2016
This collection of essays had my pulling old books off of my shelves to see if I had any valuable first editions (none yet). Extremely interesting stories, most of which explain why individuals became rare book collectors and/or dealers. Anyone who truly loves books-not just reading-will get the fascination here.
February 10, 2017
As an amateur collector looking for that "big find" this was a fun read of real collectors and their great finds. Liked the reference to other works about book collecting. My to read list just got a bit larger! The biggest find....comic books! Married to a collector, it kills me because is justifies his pricey habit.
April 1, 2016
Great read for bibliophiles & those seeking lost treasures of bookish bent
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