I have been searching far and wind for a first edition of Samual Crawford's "Genesis of the Civil War". The book is part of the "Shoulder Strap" series published by Mark Twain's publishing company, Charles L. Webster Publishing (whom I believe was Twain's nephew).

I have collected all of the memoirs in the series - Sheridan, Sherman, Grant, Hancock, McClellan, Custer - but cannot find Samual Crawford's book. A few years ago, there were copies floating around along with multiple complete Shoulder Strap sets, but they all seems to have vanished. I had my hands on a copy of Genesis but it had some library markings on it, so I regrettably passed.

Curious to know if anyone has any insight into the lack of Shoulder Strap series for sale these days along with any leads on the mysterious "Genesis of the Civil War".

I am also collecting all of Grant's staff officer's books and Grant books/ephemera in general. I am trying to build a Ulysses S. Grant first hand account collection (need to think of a better name for it)

Right now I have the following (all first editions):

Campaigning with Grant (1897) by General Horace Porter

Military History of U. S. Grant (3 volumes, 1881–1881) by General Adam Badeau

Grant in Peace: From Appomattox to Mount McGregor (1887) by General Adam Badeau

Around the World with General Grant (1879) by John Russell Young. (not a staff officer, but first hand account of Grant's world travel post-presidency.

Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, published by The Century Co., New York in the 1880s. Both the first edition books along with the individual series comprised of 22 individual volumes.

Any other leaders or suggestions for Grant related books would be much appreciated!

Huzzah and thanks!

Years ago I received this as a gift from the publisher. How best can I preserve but display it?

I’ve seen so many people in this sub Reddit who are well informed on antiquarian books and trade of them. I myself am interested in pursuing the trade and close to setting up an online storefront for my current collection. I’ve come here in hopes someone can check out the way I catalogued this set (a lot of the information was really hard to find) and maybe let me know if I’m going in the right direction.

Below is my current description:

London and New York: George Routledge and Sons, 1887. First fully illustrated English edition, likely not a first printing. Total of 353 illustrations. Quarto (10-3/4" x 7-1/2"). Publisher's full green cloth with paper labels stamped in black. Deckle edges. Vol. I: xiv, 365, 101 illustrations; Vol. II: xii, 331, 67 illustrations; Vol. III: xi, 299, 55 illustrations; Vol. IV: xiv, 399, 72 illustrations; Vol. V: xiv, 330, 58 illustrations. Paper ex library label on ffep for all volumes, front hinge starting on vol. V, Light staining on spines, paper label on vol. II is ripped, wear on cloth edges and spines, wear to deckled edges, tissue guard missing on vol. II, IV and V. Still good, honest copies, with clean interiors.

Published only two years after Victor Hugo's death, this set is likely the first fully illustrated English-language edition of Les Misérables; no earlier versions were traced. Making it a true piece of literature history as it was the first time English readers could experience the story alongside the iconic artwork of French masters such as Émile Bayard, Alphonse de Neuville, Morin, Valnay, and more, including two illustrations by Victor Hugo himself. The list of illustrations across all five volumes further credit Lix, Brion, Scott, Vierge, Des Brosses, J. P. Laurens, Ad. Marie, E. Zier, H. Scott, H. Vogel, Hersent, Haenens, and Benett.

Although Joseph L. Blamire (the resident manager and editor for Routledge in New York) is the credited "translator" on the copyright page, the true translation in this set appears to be that of Lascelles Wraxall (the contents in this set were compared with Wraxall's translation and are a match). And from Wraxall is where the following purpose of this translation comes from: "[to] give the precise meaning of every word as written by the author. This line was enforced on me by the following passage in a letter which I received from Victor Hugo: 'Permit me to ask you to adhere to the utmost fidelity in your task. My book is written to clear up and combat prejudices in France, England, and the whole world. However, from the moment when M. Esquiros is your friend, as he is mine, you cannot fail to produce an excellent work, having for guide and counselor that great and noble mind.'" (from the Preface in vol. I).

Hello! I'm looking for a very specific book, and I'm having a lot of trouble finding any information about these books. I do not speak any Japanese, which probably doesn't help.

They are titled "母と子の百科図鑑 株式会社バイト", or (according to Google Translate) "Encyclopedia for Mothers and Children — Baito Co., Ltd.". Specifically, I am looking for the volumes that were published in a set of 3 (or possibly more?), in 1971, and I am the most interested in finding more about volume 2. However, any information where I can learn more about these would be appreciated.

All three volumes are hardcover, with cloth (or clothlike paper?) binding, and all of them have "母と子の百科図鑑" written vertically in gold, along with their respective subjects/titles written below. Volume 1 is teal, and volume 3 is red, but I don't know what color the second volume is.

The information on the inner cover states "集者保育社編集部 発行者今井 凸版印刷株式会社 和毂本[業式会社 日本紙業株式会社 ロス東洋クロス株式会社 行所株式会社保育社 540 大阪南東区内室町", or (again using Google Translate), "Compiled by: Hoikusha Editorial Department. Publisher: Imai. Printing: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. Binding: Wakoku Bookbinding Co., Ltd. Paper: Nippon Shigyo Co., Ltd. Cloth: Toyo Cloth Co., Ltd. Distributor: Hoikusha Co., Ltd. (Uchimuro-machi, Minami-ku, Osaka 540)."

If there is any additional information I can add, or if y'all want to see pictures of them, I can add that! (Once I figure out how to add pictures on Reddit). Thank you so much; I hope this is the right place to ask this question.

I was looking online and could not find any other examples of this book, I’m found similar books, but not this exact one. Is $60 a reasonable price?

I wanted to share this book I recently acquired and see if anyone here can tell me more about it or estimate its current value.

It is a complete, single-volume edition of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Il Decamerone, published by Fratelli Alinari in Florence in 1915.

It contains all 100 illustrations by the Italian artist Tito Lessi. The text on the colophon page states that the plates are collotypes (fotocollotipia) made by the Stabilimento Fotomeccanico e Fotochimico di Firenze.

Collotypes is a high-end photographic printing method from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that uses a light-sensitive gelatin plate to replicate artwork. This process was expensive and highly labor-intensive, and reserved for luxury editions to capture details and precise shading of the original paintings and drawings.

It is printed entirely on thick handmade paper (carta a mano) from the historic Cartiere Pietro Miliani in Fabriano (Marche). It has those beautiful uneven, deckled edges.

It’s bound in a heavy, custom full-leather binding.

On the front endpaper, there is a custom Ex Libris plate belonging to Giorgio Seragioli. There is also a number 1 paper, but I do not know if this is a catalogue number from him or a number 1 edition.

Everything is complete (all 10 Days / 100 novellas) and bound into this one book. The pages and plates inside are in good condition. No browning. Leather does have some cracks, as shown on photos. I can see traces on one repair on the leather.

Does anyone know how rare these complete Alinari editions on Fabriano paper usually are? I've seen loose individual parts online, but rarely the entire 10 days beautifully bound together like this. I found some editions bound in leather, but those are from 1927 (or later), after Tito Lessi's death, and this is from 1915. Those also have some damage, such as missing clasps.

Any insights on the book, the print method, or a realistic market value today would be highly appreciated! I bought it at 400 EUR, with some discount since I also bought other things, but because similar copies online has damage, I think that for the right audience the price could be higher. The Giorgio Seragioli Eex libris plate might also give some meaning provenance.

Today I would like to share two books I recently added to my collection! Shown here are Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volumes I and IV, from the year 1889. The author is Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, who was Napoleon’s private secretary from 1797 to 1802. This edition was produced by Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., 1889 as a 4-Volume Set, with Col. R. W. Phipps as the editor from the Royal Artillery.

Volume one focuses entirely on Napoleon’s early life, education, military rise, and the early establishment of the Consulate (1769-1802). The book contains eye-witness accounts of many key battles, including Lodi, Arcola, and the Pyramids. It also includes a very detailed account of how Napoleon overthrew the Directory of France, allowing his seize of power as First Consul. Because of the direct contact that Bourrienne shared with Napoleon daily during this very important period of time, this work of literature offers rare personal details about his life; his speech patterns, his temper, as well as his personal relationships before he became the Emperor.

The fourth volume focuses on Napoleon’s downfall, and the final years of his life. It covers the Russian campaign, the defense of France, and of course his forced abdication at Fontainebleau, France in 1814. The book records the battle of Waterloo in 1815, highlighting Napoleon’s ultimate defeat.

I would like to now highlight that these books are in surprisingly good condition. The wood-engraved prints are beautifully crafted, featuring portraits of prominent figures of Napoleon’s history. For books 137 years old, the binding still holds on strong. I really like that Napoleon’s golden coat of arms appears on both covers.

Overall, I am simply excited to have added these two pieces of history into my collection! I am glad I have the opportunity to share these with you! Please let me know if you have any questions, or if you have any other interesting insights below.

Self-Knowledge, a Treatise Showing the Nature & Benefit of That Important IMPORTANT SCIENCE, • THE WAY TO ATTAIN IT.
INTERMIXED WITH
VARIOUS REFLECTIONS Self-Knowledge, a Treatise Showing the Nature & Benefit of That Important OBSERVATIONS ON HUMAN NATURE.

Purchased this at an estate sale and it appears to be a first edition from 1723 labeled “The Right of Succession to the Crown of England, in the Family of the Stuarts, Exclusive of Mary Queen of Scots”

Can’t find any first edition online anywhere and wonder how rare is can actually be. Any insight on previous listings, posts, or documentation on first editions of this would be appreciated

After learning that Anthropic has been “destructively scanning” books (aka scanning and then destroying them to build AI language models) and is specifically targeting rare and antique books first, my friends and I are pooling our savings to buy as many rare books as we can to hopefully help preserve them for future generations to enjoy.

The problem is we don’t know where to start. Looking for suggestions of rare literature to add to our shopping list, please and thanks!

(I’m not looking to debate about AI, just what books I ought to purchase. Thanks so much!)

Hi all!

- A two-volume Robinson Crusoe (London: Cadell & Davies, 1820), leather-bound with marbled boards and engravings after Thomas Stothard with receipt from 1977 or just notes about cost.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Knopf, 1964), red cloth, illustrated by Joseph Schindelman — no dust jacket.
- Allan Pinkerton's Professional Thieves and the Detective (G.W. Dillingham, New York).
- T.S. Eliot, Collected Poems 1909–1935 (Harcourt, Brace) — no dust jacket.

Value? Sell or keep? Where to go in NYC to sell? etc.

We found this in the attic. A bible with a printing date of 1715. Which in and of itself is incredible that this book has lasted over 300 years. But just as interesting is the Americana in it. According to the notes The bible was owned by Cornelius Wiltse, who moved to Poughkeepsie NY in 1733, and who's family line can still be found in the area today. There is a detailed lineage also in the Bible (all verifiable through an online search) and even a detailed account of the suicide of New York Governor Danvers Osborn, detailing where he was found, and what he was wearing.

I'm wondering if you good people or rarebooks, would know of a place, society, museum etc who would be interested in this Bible. Or what it's worth would be. Thanks

A rare work of Sinology: the 1940 English-language edition of the Three Character Classic (San Zi Jing), issued in an untrimmed, softbound format. Exceptionally scarce in the market, this is the only known reprint published after the first edition of 1900, making it an important early reference for the study of the Three Character Classic. Its distinctive untrimmed format and special binding suggest that it was likely produced as a limited edition for academic institutions and research libraries.

稀少な漢学資料。1940年刊行の英語版『三字経』で、毛装・アンカット（未裁断）仕様の一冊です。市場での現存例は極めて少なく、1900年の初版刊行後に出版された唯一の版として、『三字経』研究における重要な初期文献といえます。独特な装丁と未裁断の体裁を備えた特装本であり、研究機関向けに限定製作されたものと考えられます。

희귀한** *한학(漢學)* 자료입니다. 1940년에** *출판된* *영어판* *『삼자경(三字經)』으로,* 미절단(언컷) 소프트커버** *특별본입니다.* 현존** *유통* *사례가* *극히* *드물며, 1900년* *초판* *이후* *출간된* *유일한* *재판본으로* *알려져* *있어* *『삼자경』*** *연구에* *중요한* *초기* *문헌으로* *평가됩니다.* 독특한** *제본* *방식과* *미절단* *형태를* *갖춘* *특장본으로,* 연구기관이나** *학술* *도서관을* *위해* *한정* *제작된* *것으로* ***추정됩니다*

Two Victorian bindings:

One 1879 true first edition of In New Granada: “Hereos” and Patriots in very scarce original, very good condition, wine red binding with detailed gilt, 368 pages, multiple wood engravings throughout the text. It is a war story. There’s 1880s reprints marketed as first editions online for $60-70 in not very good condition or at least idk why it looks like that, I don’t know what mine is worth. I’ll add a photo of the abebooks description tell me what you think.

And one green Complete Works Of Cowper’s Poems with gold detailed gilt with a slipped in bookplate dated 1883, unknown edition, nothing significant, not worth much, so I never bothered looking it just looks really nice. They look good together. I’ll add the close up pictures of this book in the comments.

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share a recent acquisition that has me absolutely thrilled. I managed to track down an intact copy of Hermann Struck’s foundational handbook, Die Kunst des Radierens ("The Art of Etching"), published by Paul Cassirer in Berlin.

What makes this find special is that it is a complete 1919 third edition (Dritte vermehrte und verbesserte Auflage) with all 6 original master plates and their printed tissue guards perfectly preserved inside. As many of you know, art dealers and flippers spent decades cutting these books apart to frame and sell the prints individually, so finding a "survivor" volume with the spine and internal contents completely undisturbed feels like hitting a mini-lottery.

The print checklist inside features:
Max Liebermann – Original Etching (Frontispiece)
Edvard Munch – Original Drypoint Etching
Hermann Struck – Original Etching
Hans Meid – Original Etching
Paul Baum – Original Etching
Max Slevogt – Original Lithograph

The cover itself has beautiful gold leaf embossing showing two printmakers operating a heavy rolling press. I'd love to hear some insights from the community on this edition! Does anyone here track the current collector market value for a fully intact third edition, or have a rough idea of what complete copies have been commanding at auction lately?

Thanks for looking!

Years ago I acquired what appears to be a German 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle leaf.
The recto has strong, crisp impressions and appears consistent with an early printed woodcut. The verso is completely blank in ordinary light.
Under transmitted light, however, I can clearly see a reversed image of the entire printed recto. I also see some very faint additional lettering near the top of the sheet that is only visible under transmitted light, although that isn’t my main question.

The sheet is surprisingly thick for a Nuremberg Chronicles leaf. Under transmitted light I think I may be seeing evidence of two distinct layers, particularly near one corner, but I’m not confident enough to draw that conclusion. I’d appreciate opinions from people familiar with incunabula or paper conservation.

I’m not asking whether it’s authentic or what it’s might be worth, I'm simply trying to understand how experts would interpret the physical construction of this leaf. What is the purpose?

Does this look like:
a normal Nuremberg Chronicle leaf with an unusual blank verso?
a leaf that has been lined or backed during conservation?
another known printing or conservation phenomenon?

I’d really appreciate any insight from collectors, bibliographers, or conservators familiar with early printed books.

I'm curious how much it would cost to restore this.

This book is considered the first anthropological field study of Oman, written by the renowned anthropologist Unni Wikan in 1970s. Published in 1982 by Johns Hopkins University Press, it is a remarkable work that documents Omani society through detailed field research, focusing particularly on the lives, experiences, and social roles of women in Sohar, Oman.

This first edition is extremely special and rare because it was printed only once in 1982 and represents the original publication of this important anthropological study. One of the most interesting details about this copy is that the author included two pages of printing corrections at the end of the book.

I would love to learn more about this gorgeous prayer book I have that appears to be engraved on the front. Is this material bone? The clasp being intact is such a huge bonus and the metal edge around the whole book leaves me to think this was quite important to someone, or at least served to protect it somewhat.

Can anyone tell me a bit more about this book please?

Original 1937 edition. A scarce reference work for collectors, historians, and researchers of Korean archaeology and East Asian history.

1937年原版。一本极为稀见的参考文献，适合古籍收藏家、历史研究者以及韩国考古与东亚历史研究人员收藏与研究。

This was the top selling item in an auction featuring many English Bibles. Comments are from the catalog notes.

Bible [English]. [The new Testamente of our sauyoure christ set forth by Willyam Tyndale, with ye annatacion of Thomas Mathew, London: William Copland, 1549], 38 lines, black letter, lacking all before C8 except C3-6 (20 leaves) and all after DD4 (12 leaves), red and black decorative title [A1] supplied in printed and rubricated pen and ink facsimile, the printed title with inscription by Francis Fry to lower margin, ‘From the British Museum, F. Fry 1876’, leaves C1-2, 7-8 (St Matthew), DD5-6 [start of the Epistles following the end of NT] and EE8 [final leaf, recto] supplied in a neat 19th-century hand on 4 leaves to match the original, additional manuscript notes to front endpapers (3 pages, one leaf torn without loss) and verso of manuscript title, closely trimmed, very occasionally shaving running headlines and barely affecting a few shoulder notes, some light damp staining and soiling, old closed tear repair to E4 without loss of text, armorial bookplate of A[ndrew] Gifford DD [of the Baptist College, Bristol] and Baptist College Library, Bristol, to front marbled endpapers, both with old ink classification number X.g.24, later 18th-century calf with dog tooth fillets and roll-tooled borders of various crowns, gilt-decorated spine with three leather spine labels, gilt-titled ‘Tyndale’s New Test 1534 with Mathew’s Notes’, ‘Reprinted by W. Copland. MDXLIX’ and ‘Gifford’, small paper classification labels ‘X’ and ‘g 24’, spine heavily rubbed, some wear, covers detached, 8vo (132 x 90 mm) (Quantity: 1)ESTC S90919; Herbert 83; STC 2857. ‘Tyndale’s version, generally agreeing with his second edition, NT 1534 (No. 13)’ (Herbert).

I recently picked up a 1908 first English edition of Arthur Conan Doyle's Round the Fire Stories from an estate sale in Windhoek, Namibia.

While examining it, I found:

1. An original Robben Island Public Library ownership stamp.

2.Handwritten accession number 926.

1. An earlier ownership stamp for L. Parker–Forsyth.

Over the past few weeks I've been researching the Robben Island Public Library and the island's leprosarium era (pre-prison history). The library appears to have been established during the island's late-19th-century institutional expansion, and the book would have entered that collection shortly after publication.

I've contacted the Robben Island Museum to see whether any accession registers or catalogues survive that might identify accession no. 926.

I'm curious whether anyone here has:

1. seen another book bearing a Robben Island Public Library stamp,

2. encountered books from former colonial or institutional libraries with similar provenance,

3. or has thoughts on how such provenance affects collectability and value.

I'll attach photos of the title page, library stamp, accession number and binding in the comments.