2007 Collegiate Book-Collecting Championship winners announced:

Scott Brown, editor of Fine Books & Collections has just announced the winners of the 2007 Collegiate Book-Collecting Championship. In alphabetical order, with the subject of the collections in quotes, the finalists are:

* David Butterfield. Christ's College, Cambridge. "Landmarks of Classical Scholarship"
* Craig Citro. UCLA. "Mathematician Emil Artin"
* Diana Looser. Cornell. "Drama of Oceana"

There are also three Honorable Mention recipients:

*Shelley (Johnson) and Dawson Jones. University of South Carolina. "Poet Mary Robinson"
*Brent Morris. Cornell. "Abolitionists"
*Robin Worth Reinert. Harvard. "American Songbooks"

The awards ceremony will be hosted by the Book Club of Washington on October 12 during the Seattle Book Fair. We (Lux Mentis, Booksellers) are very pleased and honored to be sponsors of this competition. The future of the profession rests on the shelves of these students. I look forward to meeting them in Seattle. Congratulations to them all.

How does it feel to be a genius, Sir?

TiL made my day with the following:

On this day in 1928 Sylvia Beach hosted a dinner party in order that F. Scott Fitzgerald, who "worshipped James Joyce, but was afraid to approach him," might do so. In her Shakespeare and Company memoir Beach delicately avoids describing what happened, although she perhaps suggests an explanation: "Poor Scott was earning so much from his books that he and Zelda had to drink a great deal of champagne in Montmartre in an effort to get rid of it." According to Herbert Gorman, another guest and Joyce's first biographer, Fitzgerald sank down on one knee before Joyce, kissed his hand, and declared: "How does it feel to be a great genius, Sir? I am so excited at seeing you, Sir, that I could weep." As the evening progressed, Fitzgerald "enlarged upon Nora Joyce's beauty, and, finally, darted through an open window to the stone balcony outside, jumped on to the eighteen-inch-wide parapet and threatened to fling himself to the cobbled thoroughfare below unless Nora declared that she loved him."

... Joyce was alarmed at [Fitzgerald's] falling-angel side -- "That young man must be mad," he later told Beach. "I'm afraid he'll do himself an injury some day" -- but he handled the American exuberance with Old World charm. When Fitzgerald sent him a copy of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man a few days later, asking for a dedication, Joyce sent back this note: "Herewith is the book you gave me, signed, and I am adding a portrait of the artist as a once young man with the thought of your much obliged but most pusillanimous guest."

I have just spent several pleasing minutes drinking coffee and contemplating which limb (or, possibly, two) I would forgo to possess a copy of Portrait inscribed by Joyce to FSF. And happy belated Bloomsday. I have clearly been too busy.

Mugglefest 2007...as if you needed another reason to come to Portland

Well, it is official. Mugglefest will be in Portland, ME. From Friday July 20th, 1:00pm to Saturday July 21st, 1:00am, Portland will immerse itself in all things Potter. The Narrow Gage railroad will be transformed into the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley will be born out of Phinney Sprague's complex on the East side. It should be *way* too entertaining. Come one, come all.

Why I love Uline...

Well, I have just picked up and sorted away my new allotment of white presentation mailers from Uline. They are in the midst of their annual (June/July) sale on these sturdy little boxes and we have stocked up for the year. Last year, I only had to reorder one size...so we are feeling pretty good. We are up to 18 different box sizes (though two are the same length and width but 3 different depths). It is nice to have the appropriate size for nearly any book. We also have three sizes of scalable brown...but only use them for sets and/or largish orders.

We also picked up some new black bags for shows (smaller) and some new white tape for our machine of infinite (as long as reloaded) tape. We toyed with getting printed tape, but having to buy 10 cases of it (120ish rolls) seemed a bit...er...excessive. We'll see when I burn through this case. A new roll of bunk and tissue paper for wrapping and a few other bits of this and that (278 pounds)...it was just like Christmas (if all one asked for was boxes...).

I love a company with great customer service, good prices, good (predictable) sales and free shipping. Oh, and they give you bits of this and that when you spend too much money (starting with a mug and coffee/cocoa at $250 and a new car over $200,000,000, or something like that). My favorite, thus far, is my glow-in-the-dark fish skeleton box knife (>$300).

Coffee and other reasons to get up in the morning...

Coffee is good. Good coffee is better. While I am currently addicted to Trader Joe's, Bay Blend, I have been tempted recently by Dean's Beans. My wife, who does niche strategy consulting has been doing some work for these fine folks and bringing home some wildly good coffee.

I can not recommend Ahab's Revenge highly enough. Then again, I am biased toward dark, oily, rich beans...and healthy caffeine levels.

As Wilde said, when asked when he would stop drinking so much alcohol, "when someone develops a more efficient way of getting it into my bloodstream." (paraphrase) Happy Monday.

Auctions in the hinterland...

I love finding auctions in the middle of no where (or so). I saw a little sign a few weeks ago as I was driving announcing an "Auction Today". As it turned out, there were a lot of books...a solid working library. Many at the iffy end of the spectrum, but many very nice architecture volumes and, as luck would have it, several reasonably significant titles/associations copies. Just far too much fun.

On a related note, box lots can be so much fun. Usually, I pursue a given box because there is a title or two I've noticed (that, with luck, others missed) and want. Most of the contents of the box either gets lotted off to someone with a shop or donated to the library sale(s)...but every now and then I discover that something in the box that I had more or less ignored is an even better gem than that which I pursued the lot for in the first place. It's like x-mas every time...presents from people you don't know.

On a slightly related note, I was chatting this past weekend with a book dealer who told a great story of noticing, at the bottom of a large box lot, a near fine copy of Catcher (years ago, but still a major find). He pursued it, but there was another there who was seeking to take every lot and he ended up giving up. At the end of the auction, the dealer who took the lot approached and asked him if there was anything in particular he wanted in the box (which was otherwise related in a completely different area). He said, yes, the Catcher...and the other dealer said, "Sure, $75". The moral, I guess, is sometimes you don't need to win the lot to win the...er...lot. I wish this would happen to me....

Princeton reunions

A slightly belated, heavily illustrated tale of a weekend in Princeton. Suzanne's class was celebrating their 20th class reunion. We went down with both the boys as it is a pretty wonderful family event.

We arrived on Thursday and settled into our room at Blair Hall. I did not live in the dorms at my undergrad, but doubt that they had fireplaces in the rooms (and can attest that the grad-dorm at Case Western did not (though it did have other redeeming features).

The boys had a great time. In addition to climbing on a variety of tigers, there were *many events aimed for the younger set. Movies, a magician, a science show, face painting, etc., etc.

The boys went with me to Special Collections for a very interesting (even to them) presentation on their current exhibit, To the Mountains of the Moon: Mapping African Expeditions.

The reward for their exceptional behavior was to spend a couple of hours or so in the Cotsen Children's Library. If you have a child under 45, this library (adjacent to/part of the main library building) is worth a trip to Princeton alone. It is simply spectacular. The antiquarian collection is a gem of the finest order...but equally importantly, they have built a truly wonderful children's library around it...colorful, climbable, tons of reading spaces for large and small. I can not recommend it highly enough.

A highpoint of the weekend is the "P-rade". This is a *wickedly* long parade wherein every class marches through campus in the costume of their class's theme. The parade starts with the class celebrating its 25th reunion and then with the oldest class with members on campus (Class of 1930, this year). The Class of 1987's theme was "Paws in Spaces". As a result, I had the pleasure of wearing a very orange flight suit for many hours...it was hot...I am quite grateful to Princeton for being so thoughtful of my weight loss efforts...urgh. Truly, it was great fun and the boys loved it. There were bands (mardi gras, drum line, etc.), dogs dressed as tigers, Elvis and and any number of other entertaining bits. A group of drummers and brass (and dancers) from a Trenton, NJ high school lead the Class of '87. They were absolutely amazing. It has been a long time since I was in HS, but I am reasonably certain that none of my classmates could play like that...or dance like that. Yikes.

After the P-rade, we wandered over to Suzanne's eating club, Charter. They held a very nice reception...best food of the weekend (on campus, see below ). It is an amazing building...definitely a nice place to have one's meals (and parties) for a couple of years. It has a long and interesting history...which is of little surprise given the location. I have to admit, I think the hardest part of graduating from Princeton would be leaving the campus and environment. I am certain it is why so many return for events like this. Hell, spending a weekend made *me* want to move my shop there. We shall see .

To top it off, one of Suzanne's classmates undertook contributed a very special gift such that in addition to a local band one night and the reunion of a class rock band (of unusually strong talent), on Saturday night Blues Traveler played. It is always fun to see a really good performance band in a very small location. They played under a tent in the courtyard of Blair.

It was loud, there were a lot of very young (we have grown very old) kids...er, adults...there, as all the events are open to Princeton seniors (who graduate the following Tuesday). It was extremely fun.

Finally, but in no way least importantly, we had two "meals" at Hoagie Haven. This near-legendary eatery has been keeping Princeton students fed (and cardiologists happy) for many, many years. There was a line *way* out the door as we were finishing up our order (we just beat the rush). They specialized in exceptionally good, reasonably unhealthy food. Cheesesteaks, gyros, chicken drenched in hot sauce, etc., etc., all inexpensive, dripping grease and other liquids and generally delicious. We started and ended the weekend there (lunch on Thursday and Sunday).

The final picture is of the two boys on one of the benches in front of the Haven. Eli opted for a simple grilled cheese ("perfect") and Aidan got a cheesesteak with all the fixings (even the hot peppers...I'm so proud). Please note the dark stain in the pavement in front of the bench. This is *not* boot grime or the like, it is accumulated Hoagie Drippings. Yum, yum, yum.

It was a great weekend. Suz caught up with many old friends, the boys made fast friends with two boys their ages who happen to live here in Portland and fun was had by all. Viva le Orange and Black.

Portland Book Fair 2007

Well, the dust is settling from the Portland show. The show was moved from the old site (the Portland Expo Center) which was a big brick building with some charming architectural elements (but no air conditioning) to the Holiday Inn by the Bay's "Conference Center" (the quotations exist because it *was* parking garage space). What the space lacks in aesthetic merit, it more than makes up for in air conditioning.

Setup was on Saturday and had that element of performance art Theatre of the Absurd that all such events should embrace. The hotel, aware that a few dozen book dealers would be loading heavy things in decided that it would be smart to patch large sections of the parking levels in the garage. As a result, no one could actually pull up to the loading bay (that should have been able to hold 4-5 vehicles at a time. Instead, three vehicles (read vans/trucks) had to back down the ramp and unload "across" from the doors. We were, thankfully, able to wheel carts across the "new" cement...the alternative would have been to wheel things into the lobby and down the elevator. Luckily, we were somewhat early and were able to get in quickly and park behind on Pleasant Street.

Our location was very nice. We were near the front, had one open end, which I favor for any number of reasons, and at our other side was Don Lindgren/Rabelais Books, increasingly one of my more favorite book humans. This was doubly nice as it was a nice warmup for our adventure in a few months, as Don and I have decided to do the Seattle Fair this fall. Suzanne and my son, Aidan, were both on hand to help set up and shop for this and that.

Dealer turnout was interesting. As most may know, this is a "new" show, that is, it is in a new location, on a new date and it is no longer the show co-sponsored by MABA and MHS. For this last and undoubtedly many other reasons, a reasonable number of Maine dealers who have traditionally done the show were not there.

Personally, I missed Sarah of Sarah's Books fame. She had a scheduling conflict and was not able make it "down" for the show (it is a two hour or so drive down from Bangor...interesting as Bangor is still part of "Southern" Maine). In my not remotely humble opinion, Sarah's presence alone makes a book fair better. The profession needs more people who love books, book people, book trivia, bookish lore and the like...that she is charming and fun to have about are added perks.

Sarah absence notwithstanding, there was a broad and interesting collection of dealers at the show with a larger than usual number of good dealer "from away". For example, David Richie made the trek up and his wit was a nice perk, as did Joe Maynard. With luck, this bodes well for the fair in years to come. We shall see.

The show seemed to have reasonably strong attendance. Not great numbers, but pretty healthy. Better still, there seemed to be a good number of people interested in buying (always a treat). I had expected to sell one book from the "sexy/fun/interesting" tables and a reasonable number from my history of Maine collection and was very pleasantly surprised to have a half dozen or so sales from the "not Maine" material adding to that sum and more of Maine items. Best yet, many of the sales were to new clients (as opposed to dealers). We do this show to support the Maine book scene, meet the bookishly inclined in and about Maine and have a good time. It was a pleasure to have it also be a good show from a sales standpoint.

As has been noted elsewhere, Don hosted a very nice wine and cheese party after set-up on Saturday. He had mentioned this earlier and I feel quite twitish about not offering to help with it. It was a great idea, a great time and I intend to assist next time around.

It was a fun show and a good weekend. Perhaps the best part was that it was 4ish blocks from the house. I was home by 530 or so and asleep by 930. Pathetic, but necessary.

quick update and mea culpa...

Thank you for your notes, pleasant, pleading and snarky. I do apologize for my silence of late. I have *many* things to post about and no time at all to do so. However, I will find the time in the next few days. As a teaser, posts will included, but not be limited to, the following:

1: Auctions adventures (I've had great luck and fun of late)
2: Princeton reunions (and books their special collections)
3: Coffee (Ahab's Revenge and other great roasts)
4: Preparing for bookfairs (Portland bookfair is this coming weekend, come one, come all)
5: The joys of laser prints and technology in general (aka, the revenge of unintended consequences)
6: Book hunting, book hunters, the good, the bad and the downright rude and surly.

More to follow...promise...really....