An antiquarian bookseller’s catalog is a bibliophile’s literary treasure trove between two covers. Open any catalog, and you will find beautiful, sought-after gems — rare first editions, inscribed copies, manuscripts, letters, screenplays, and author portraits — from some of the most famous authors in the world.
Ken Lopez has been an antiquarian bookseller since the early 1970s. Formerly the president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, Lopez focuses on first editions, literature of the 1960s, the Vietnam War, nature writing, and Native American literature. He is the quintessential bibliophile — as passionate about discovering rare books as he is about preserving literary history. Bibliophiles salivate as they browse through his comprehensive catalogs, filled with fascinating and valuable literary treasures. Here are some highlights from his most recent catalog, Modern Literature No. 173 (December 2022):
Light in August by William Faulkner (1932), in a custom clamshell: $15,000
Turn About by William Faulkner (1939), one of only five copies of the first separate edition of Faulkner’s short story of WWI that was first published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1932: $15,000
The Mansion by William Faulkner (1959), Limited edition (91 of 500) signed by the author: $1,500
Privacy by Richard Ford (1999), a fine press limited edition (1 of 35), in a clamshell case: $5,000
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1971), first American edition: $125
Stepppenwolf by Hermann Hesse (1970), the uncorrected proof copy of a reissue of Hesse’s novels, first published in 1929: $250
ENJOY THE BOOK. If you love reading Atkins Bookshelf, you will love reading the book — Serendipitous Discoveries from the Bookshelf. The beautifully-designed book (416 pages) is a celebration of literature, books, fascinating English words and phrases, inspiring quotations, literary trivia, and valuable life lessons. It’s the perfect gift for book lovers and word lovers.
SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoyed this post, please help expand the Bookshelf community by FOLLOWING or SHARING with a friend or your readers. Cheers.
Read related posts: Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores
Types of Book Readers
Signs at an Indie Bookstore: Why Not Try a Book?
Serendipitous Discoveries in Used Bookstores
How Indie Bookstores are Thriving
Bookstores are Full of Stories
Who Will Save Our Bookstores?
The Sections of a Bookstore
For further reading: lopezbooks.com
Atkins Bookshelf 