During lockdown many of us have probably tried some new recipes and looked through cookery books for inspiration. I have to confess, I am always tempted by an antiquarian cookery book, although when it comes to actually attempting any recipes from it, my success rate is rather low.
This week Sotheby’s is to offer a questionnaire completed by Oscar Wilde as he sat on the cusp of stardom in 1877.
It is a fascinating recording of the young writer's passions and preferences across thirty-nine questions..
Wilde was in his early twenties when he contributed to the album of “Mental... Read more about Oscar Wilde: 'Confessions of Tastes, Habits and Convictions'
The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association announced yesterday that its annual flagship event Firsts – London’s Rare Book Fair will move to a brand new venue at Saatchi Gallery next year, with an expanded event schedule taking place from 20th-23rd May 2021. The UK’s most prestigious rare book fair... Read more about Firsts London moves to Saatchi Gallery for 2021
The Book Collector is taking a break from Podcasts and Newsletters this August, and during this time we thought we would keep the minds of our readers and followers busy with a little challenge…
Recently a portrait of EM Forster set an Auction record for painter Roger Fry (1866-1934) when it sold... Read more about An Author Recreation Challenge
CHRISTOPHER PLANTIN was born 500 years ago this May and is being commemorated by Antwerp’s Plantin-Moretus Museum in a series of exhibitions intended to run through the rest of 2020 (corona volente).
The museum has made available online and in high-res some 14,000 woodcuts, including those from... Read more about Christopher Plantin: 500 Years
Covid-19 has changed our daily lives in many ways and for book fairs it has certainly meant a speedy transfer online. ‘Firsts London’, the prestigious and highly esteemed book fair, due to take place in early June, decided to go digital instead. It was the first such venture for the Antiquarian... Read more about Firsts London's’ inaugural digital book fair - over 150,000 pageviews!
The Making of Joseph Banks' Florilegium, Part II: 1771 to 1990
Joseph Banks’ botanical discoveries during the Endeavour voyage of 1768-71 revolutionised European understanding of natural history. But it took more than 200 years to realise his plans for a scientific catalogue of botanical finds from... Read more about Video: Joseph Banks' Florilegium (part 2)
The Arts Institute of the University of Plymouth came up with a splendid way to alleviate the dolours of lockdown: to get forty of the world’s best and brightest authors and artists to read, in turn, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Jeremy Irons and Glenn Brown led the way, followed by Jeanette... Read more about The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Peter Harrington's latest literature catalogue "In Other Worlds - Fantasy, Science Fiction and Beyond" focuses on genres that seem a lot more real to us after spending three months in lockdown. During this strange time, many of us thought occasionally that we are living in a world we used to read... Read more about Sammy Jay: In Other Worlds
Join Type & Forme’s Dr Anke Timmermann FLS to explore how Joseph Banks and his associates gathered, processed, described, and drew plants from around the world on the Endeavour voyage of 1768-1771.
This is the first part of a two part video created by Type & Forme as part of their 'Banks Month'... Read more about Video: Joseph Banks' Florilegium (part 1)
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