The Brotherton Gothic: Vampires in Leeds

It was a great pleasure to meet Rhiannon Knol @liber.librum.aperit in Berlin. She is a collector and bookseller @mckittrickrarebooks where she specialises in early-printing, classical reception, and visionary women of all eras.

You can read her article "Friends and Subtle Enemies: Some American Early Bookwomen of the 20th Century" in our latest issue. Autumn 2026 is just out!

There is still time to subscribe - get 15% off all subscriptions with code OFFER26 until 30th September.

Rare Books Berlin opened yesterday...a very busy start to the fair at the Kronprinzenpalais right in the middle of Berlin on Unter den Linden. The fair is open today and tomorrow and over 100 international book sellers are showing some of their best books, maps, manuscripts and other related material. There is also a great talks programme on offer.

Just some general impressions from the fair, finally an opportunity to present Tim White @booksforcooksau with the latest issue of The Book Collector.

A glimpse of the wonderful exhibition of part of the Marlene Dietrich library.

And two of the most astonishing items at the fair....ein Guckkasten from around 1800 #antiquariatfneidharft
and an engraving of a micrographic illustrated portrait of #maximgorky comprising 82,000 letters from the text of his short story "Malva" #ericchaimklinebookseller.

@antiquare_de
#rarebooksberlin
@ilab_booksellers_worldwide
@shaperorarebooks
@peterharringtonrarebooks
@deutschekinemathek

A fantastic first day @ilab_booksellers_worldwide symposium at the Staatsbibliothek Berlin.

A fascinating talk on the rediscovery of Alexander von Humboldt`s "Catalog Der Bücher" and a great panel discussion on the cooperation between libraries and book trade.

Finally, the award ceremony for the 19th ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography. More on that later...such impressive winners from around the world.

We are ready for part two today....and if course the @antiquare_de
#rarebooksberlin

Our latest issue is out!
It`s a medley of good things - from incunabulists to modernists. John Gandy`s detective work on a Wynkyn de Worde book at the John Rylands Library, and Rhiannon Knol`s account of some American female experts on 15th-century books will enlighten us on the former. Neil Pearson writes about the other end of the spectrum, as one of several people involved in rescuing part of the archive of the Associated British Picture Corporation from destruction. ABPC`s readers were employed to assess the movie potential of recently published novels from the 1940s through to the 1960s (Ian Fleming: no; John le Carré: no; The Dam Busters: yes).
You can see Neil with our latest issue here at the York Book Fair!

This issue does of course cover everything in between: Chris Arnison writes about a 16th-century Wittenberg bookbinder; Sarah Prescott and Rachel Eckersley give an overview of the Gothic-related collections at the Brotherton Library in Leeds; well-known Boswell scholar Terry Seymour entertains us with a tale of scholarly fakery involving the Auchinleck Press and Richard Heber; Henry Gott shares his investigations into the authorship of The Wild Olive (1899); Jennifer Smyth looks back on collecting books associated not only with the actress Barbara Leigh-Hunt but also her literary ancestor Leigh Hunt; and Susan Finding shines a light on the sale of the Stowe papers to the Huntington Library in 1925. Naturally, there will also be our usual roundup of recent auctions and booksellers` catalogues, news and book reviews!

Other images from York including:
@rareneilpearson
@voewoodrarebooks
#librismundi
@rogertreglown
#jeremiahvokes
@luciusbooks
@pocockrare
@worldsendbookshop

Melbourne Rare Books Fair is open....and the Bath Book Fair opens at noon!!!

Come along and if you aren`t a subscriber yet, pick up a Book Collector postcard for a special fair discount..available at both fairs!

@rarebookfair
@abararebooks
@pbfa_south_and_west_book_fairs

Melbourne Rare Book Fair
📍 Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne
🗓 30 Jul – 1 Aug 2026
🎟 Free entry — rarebookfair.com

Thursday 30 July 6-9pm
Friday 31 July 10-5pm
Saturday 1 August 10 - 4pm

Presented by @_anzaab_ with support from @ilab_booksellers_worldwide & @uomcollections @https://www.instagram.com/unimelb/?hl=en &Grimwade Conservation Services @robertcrippsinstitute

Part of Melbourne Rare Book Week @rarebooksmelbourne

.....and we had these fabulous tote bags made just in time for @firstslondon ... Modelled here by #tomfleming, @justincroftantiquarian, #jessstarr and #tomlinternmole @antiquatesfineandrarebooks

Available at a special fair discount for £5 each.

Which colour will you choose?

And it`s @firstslondon weekend!
With more talks today and tours tomorrow. Here are some highlights from the fair...don`t miss the best book of the fair @douglasstewartfinebooks and the best display @tomwayling ...the much photographed collection of all things #bayeuxtapestry .

Don`t miss the exhibition celebrating 100 years of #winniethepooh.

Many thanks @thetimes and @lucynxrth @pamediaimages for featuring #firstslondon and @voewoodrarebooks .

We started the week with the launch of our editor`s latest book on #bookbindings @quaritch1847. Now we are @firstslondon ....see us on stand H70. This afternoon David Pearson will be talking about bookbindings and book collecting at 5pm and his book, published @bodleianlibrarypublishing , will be for sale afterwards. If you would like your copy signed, he is at the fair today and tomorrow.