Literary treasures abound in rare book store

Posted on July 23, 2014 inBook Collecting, RARE Books for Sale, Signed books

Erin and Bob Van Norman opened their rare book store Van Norman Rare Books on Main Street earlier this month

Nestled between the Shirt Shack and the Covenant Creations Salon on Main Street, Rapid City's newest bookstore doesn't look particularly remarkable from a distance.

But one step through the door of Van Norman Rare Books reveals a treasure trove of history, literary tales and a collection of rare books accumulated over a lifetime.

That green-colored book in the glass display case by the front door? That's a first-print, first-edition copy of "The Theory of the Leisure Class, An Economic Study of Institutions," by Thorstein Veblen. Published in 1899, it's valued at about $3,000.

The book next to it? "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas," written and signed by Gertrude Stein.

Walk a little further into the store and look in the small cabinet in the right corner of the shop. There, you'll see books published generations ago, such as "A South Dakota Guide," a travel guide published in 1930 by the Works Progress Administration that runs for about $200; and "A History of the Rod," by Rev. William Cooper, which details techniques for spanking delinquents with a rod.

Those are just a few of the gems to be found at the store owned by Bob Van Norman and his wife Erin Van Norman. They opened the store in early July at 519 Main St. with roughly 15,000 rare books and collectibles that Bob Van Norman collected over a more than 50-year period.

Bob Van Norman, 68, said he started collecting books when he was still in high school, and it became a lifelong passion.

"When I was 17, I told someone that I was interested in reading and going to law school and that sort of thing," he said. "That person took me to her home, got a ladder out, went up into her attic and gave me old, leather-covered law books. I had no idea if they were worth anything, but it started there. I loved the smell, I loved the touch."

That love affair with all things bound continues today. Van Norman showed off one of his latest acquisitions called, "La Perspective Pratique De L'architecture," a guide to French architecture in the 18th century written by Louis Bretez that was published in 1751. Van Norman said it hasn't been priced yet because while the interior of the book is in excellent shape, the exterior is not.

Spend five minutes talking to Van Norman and it becomes obvious that he is a voracious reader.

One of his favorite books is "The Life Work of 'Farmer' Burns," published in 1911, which tells the story of wrestler Martin, "Farmer" Burns. According to the book, Burns traveled to various towns to demonstrate his physical talents and his feats of strength, Van Norman said. Apparently the strength of Burns' neck was so legendary that townspeople would pay to watch him be hanged and survive the drop thanks to his sheer strength.

When he talks about "Outwitting History," an autobiography of Aaron Lansky, one can hear the admiration in Van Norman's voice. As a college student, Lansky and some friends basically drove around and collected books written in Yiddish. Lansky eventually collected more than a million books written in Yiddish and became the founder of the Yiddish Book Center. Though they have never met, Van Norman admires Lansky since he also places a high value on history.

The store hasn't been open for too long, but many of its sales have been to a mixture of teachers, librarians, tourists and lawyers, he said.

Although Van Norman's book collection makes up the lion's share of the merchandise, he also has various portraits, paintings, and other collectibles he acquired during his extensive travels, such as a handmade desk set made in Bulgaria that he bought when he lived in Uzbekistan. There's also a fossilized dinosaur egg from China.

Van Norman, who said he has visited 57 countries, also greatly enjoys telling stories of how he came upon certain pieces of his collection. He couldn't stop smiling as he recounted a tale of how he acquired a movie card of "The Lone Ranger," signed by the original lone ranger, Clayton Moore.

"I was in Buenos Aires two years ago in Argentina when I went into this junk shop," he said. "The guy spoke no English, just a Spanish variant, so I started humming the 'William Tell Overture,' he joined in, clapped me on the back and gave me a good deal."

He said the store will probably have an online option for people to purchase books, but he greatly prefers selling books to people in person. It's more enjoyable when a person can see and touch a book and maybe chat about the piece before any sale is made.

"I've bought a few things online to fill out the collection, but it's not as much fun," he said.

Plenty of books can be called rare, because they're hard to find, but those aren't works Van Norman is interested in. Van Norman said he is interested in books that are rare — and valuable.

"A rare book is one that has value beyond the pages and cover," he said.

The fame of the author, the public's appreciation of the work, quality of the content, its age and condition — those all contribute to a book's value, he said. Ideally it is a first-print, first-edition copy of the work to qualify. Other factors can contribute to a book's value and rarity, such as if it's signed by the author, or was later censored.

The prices of the items in the shop range from $15 to $5,000. The shop has first-print, first-edition copies of extremely recent works for people who might want collect them as an investment. If enough time passes and the author becomes famous enough, the original print run of a classic book can reach well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

For example, the original copy of the James Bond book, "Moonraker," by Ian Fleming is worth $15,000. An original copy of Harper Lee's classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird," is worth $15,000 to $20,000, he said.

Van Norman's primary occupation is as a criminal defense attorney, so his wife, Erin Van Norman, often runs the day-to-day affairs at the store.

"We want to sell people who will have an appreciation for the written word," Erin Van Norman said. "just like we do."

The shop is open on Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from Noon to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Bauman Dream Order - The List

Posted on July 18, 2013 inBook Collecting, First Edition, RARE Books for Sale, Signed Book, Signed books, Uncategorized

I just received the new Bauman Rare Books notice that their new catalog was in. I thought I take a quick look and noticed a "Wish List" button. So I thought, "Here I am, lots of time on my hands. Why don't I just make a Wish List where money is no object. The sky is the limit!" I also thought I'd share that Wish List with yaw'll. These are in no particular order. I will let you know my little "shopping spree" came to $760,750.00 + tax and shipping. If I ever win the lottery, Bauman's is the first place I will go. Period

The List

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
THOMPSON, Hunter S.
Item ID: 88059
SIGNED BY HUNTER S. THOMPSON

THOMPSON, Hunter S. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. New York, 1971. First edition of Thompson’s edgy journey into the American dream, boldly signed by him with his characteristic “H.S. Thompson,” and additionally dated SF/7.18,84” by him. In scarce original dust jacket.
$8,250.00

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
http://www.bookcollecting101.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SIGNED-BY-THE-ORIGINAL-ALICE-LIMITED-EDITIONS-CLUBS-ALICES-ADVENTURES-IN-WONDERLAND-AND-THROUGH-THE-LOOKINGGLASS.jpg

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
CARROLL, Lewis
Item ID: 88337
SIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL ALICE
CARROLL, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. New York, 1932, 1935. Two volumes. Limited editions, each book number 608 of 1500 copies and each signed by Alice Hargreaves née Liddell, for whom Carroll wrote the books. $8500.
Status: Available
$8,500.00

Rose Tattoo

Rose Tattoo
WILLIAMS, Tennessee
Item ID: 68221
INSCRIBED BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS, Tennessee. The Rose Tattoo. (New York), 1951[ie, 1951]. First edition of Williams’ “celebration of the inebriate god,” inscribed by the playwright to Cheryl Crawford, who produced the play’s first run: “To Cheryl with my heart’s true love—Tennessee.” Laid in is a flyer for Crawford’s 1977 memoir, One Naked Individual: My Fifty Years in the Theatre, with notes on the verso in Crawford’s hand about Camino Real and a prop list for Rose Tattoo.
$9,200.00

Romance of King Arthur

Romance of King Arthur
RACKHAM, Arthur
Item ID: 82872
ARTHUR RACKHAM’S OWN COPY OF HIS ILLUSTRATED KING ARTHUR

MALORY, Sir Thomas. The Romance of King Arthur. London, 1917. Rackham’s own copy of the first trade edition of one of his classic works, signed by him, and with his bookplate and a page of notes in his hand tipped in describing the inspirations for five of the illustrations. With 16 full-page color illustrations, seven full-page black-and white drawings and over 60 in-text illustrations. $10,000.
$10,000.00

Absalom, Absalom!

Absalom, Absalom!
FAULKNER, William
Item ID: 86960
SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION OF ABSALOM, ABSALOM!

FAULKNER, William. Absalom, Absalom! New York, 1936. Signed limited first edition, number 172 of only 300 copies signed by Faulkner-“the greatest American novel since the turn of the century”—with folding map of Faulkner’s fictional Yoknapatawpha County. $11,000.
$11,000.00

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
CARROLL, Lewis
Item ID: 83979
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WITH SALVADOR DALÍ

(DALI, Salvador) CARROLL, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. New York, 1969. Beautifully printed limited edition of the brilliant and beloved children’s classic, number 437 of 2500 copies signed by Salvador Dalí on the title page, with an original etching and 12 full-page color photogravures after his paintings—as breathtakingly imaginative as the text they illustrate. $13,000.
$13,000.00

Room of One's Own

Room of One's Own
WOOLF, Virginia
Item ID: 72408
“A WOMAN MUST HAVE MONEY AND A ROOM OF HER OWN IF SHE IS TO WRITE FICTION”

WOOLF, Virginia. A Room of One’s Own. New York and London, 1929. Signed limited first edition, number 106 of 492 copies distinctively signed on the half title by Woolf in her characteristic purple ink. $15,000.
$15,000.00

Hell's Angels

Hell's Angels
THOMPSON, Hunter S.
Item ID: 87782
SIGNED BY HUNTER S. THOMPSON
THOMPSON, Hunter S. Hell's Angels. New York, 1967. First edition of Thompson’s first book, his narrative of California’s infamous biker gangs, boldly signed by the celebrated “gonzo journalist” on the half title. $16,000.

Writings

Writings
STOWE, Harriet Beecher
Item ID: 68172
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE’S WRITINGS, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR

STOWE, Harriet Beecher. Writings. Cambridge, 1896, 1897. Together, seventeen volumes. Signed limited large-paper edition, number 246 of only 250 sets signed and dated (“Jany 9th 1896”) by Harriet Beecher Stowe in Volume I, with 33 illustrated frontispieces and title pages, beautifully bound in full morocco-gilt. Autographed on the fly leaf by the author for this edition “a few months before her death.”
$16,000.00

Strength to Love

Strength to Love
KING Jr., Martin Luther
Item ID: 88406
INSCRIBED BY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

KING Jr., Martin Luther. Strength to Love. New York, Evanston, and London, 1963. First edition of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s second book, inscribed by the author and civil rights leader, “Best Wishes, Martin Luther King,” in original dust jacket. An excellent association copy from the library of Transport Workers Union of America co-founder and president Mike Quill.
$16,500.00

Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Tree Grows in Brooklyn
SMITH, Betty
Item ID: 78153
EXTRAORDINARILY RARE INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION OF A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN

SMITH, Betty. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. New York, (1943). First edition of Betty Smith’s scarce first novel, inscribed, “To Bill with love, Betty Smith, June 1960, Chapel Hill, N. Car.”
$16,500.00

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?
KING Jr., Martin Luther
Item ID: 88773
PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. TO HIS AUNT AND UNCLE

KING Jr., Martin Luther. Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? New York, Evanston, and London, 1967. First edition, presentation/association copy, of Dr. King’s last book, published the year before he was assassinated, in scarce original dust jacket, inscribed by him, “To Aunt Woodie and Uncle Jerry, For whom I have great Love and Respect and whose loyal support I cherish very deeply. M.L.” $17,500.00

Works

Works
WILDE, Oscar
Item ID: 82241
FIRST COLLECTED EDITION OF OSCAR WILDE’S WORKS, WITH TYPED LETTER SIGNED FROM HIS LITERARY EXECUTOR ROBERT ROSS TIPPED IN AND WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF WILDE

WILDE, Oscar. Works. London, 1908. Fourteen volumes. First collected edition of Wilde’s works, one of 80 sets printed on Japanese vellum, bound in publisher’s limp vellum gilt-decorated after designs by Ricketts. With typed letter signed by Wilde’s literary executor Robert Ross and a hand-addressed envelope containing an early print of the famous photograph of Wilde taken two hours after his death tipped in to De Profundis.
$18,500.00

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind
MITCHELL, Margaret
Item ID: 88893
SIGNED BY MARGARET MITCHELL

MITCHELL, Margaret. Gone with the Wind. New York, 1936. First edition, first printing, of this American classic, in original dust jacket, signed by the author..
$20,000.00

Streetcar Named Desire

Streetcar Named Desire
WILLIAMS, Tennessee
Item ID: 86964
SIGNED BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. New York, 1947. First edition of Williams’ first Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, signed by him. A beautiful copy.
$20,000.00

Green Hills of Africa

Green Hills of Africa
HEMINGWAY, Ernest
Item ID: 88839
“THE MOST LITERARY HUNTING TRIP ON RECORD”

HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Green Hills of Africa. New York, 1935. First edition of Hemingway’s gripping account of big game hunting, inscribed by the author, “Very truly, Ernest Hemingway.”
$22,000.00

Ravenna

Ravenna
WILDE, Oscar
Item ID: 82478
EXTREMELY RARE PRESENTATION COPY OF RAVENNA, INSCRIBED BY OSCAR WILDE
WILDE, Oscar. Ravenna. Oxford, 1878. Rare first edition, presentation copy, of Oscar Wilde’s first book, one of only 168 copies published, inscribed by Wilde across the front wrapper: “E.B. Benson with best wishes from the author.”
$22,000.00

Farewell to Arms

Farewell to Arms
HEMINGWAY, Ernest
Item ID: 88837
“THAT MUSICAL CRYSTAL-CLEAR STYLE, BLOWN LIKE GLASS FROM THE WHITE-HEAT OF VIOLENCE”

HEMINGWAY, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York, 1929. Signed limited first edition of Hemingway’s “consummate masterpiece,” number 326 of only 510 copies signed by him, in scarce original slipcase.
$22,500.00

Document signed

Document signed
CIVIL WAR
Item ID: 89168
SIGNED BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN, RARE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENT DATED JULY 9, 1863, ONLY DAYS AFTER GETTYSBURG AND VICKSBURG

LINCOLN, Abraham. Document signed. City of Washington, July 9, 1863. Fine July 9, 1863 official presidential order signed by Lincoln shortly after the Union’s powerful but costly victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, here calling for Maine to draft thousands of men under the controversial March 3, 1863 Conscription Act, a law that would provoke the bloody New York draft riots that erupted only six days after the date of this rare Civil War signed document.
$22,500.00

Portfolio I

Portfolio I
JACOBI, Lotte
Item ID: 58801
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PORTFOLIO COLLECTION OF LOTTE JACOBI’S MOST MEMORABLE PORTRAITS, ONE OF ONLY FIVE FOLIO COPIES, FEATURING TEN ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS SIGNED AND NUMBERED BY JACOBI

JACOBI, Lotte. Portfolio I. Deering, New Hampshire, 1978. Limited artist’s proof portfolio, number four of only five copies, a rare self-published edition containing ten original silver gelatin hors commerce proofs, each signed and numbered in pencil by Jacobi on the lower corner of the image, featuring some of her finest portraiture from before 1940, including her trademark Self-Portrait, her famous image of Einstein in a leather jacket and portraits of leading Weimar figures such as Lotte Lenya, Peter Lorre and Kurt Weill.
$28,000.00

Happy Prince and Other Tales

Happy Prince and Other Tales
WILDE, Oscar
Item ID: 85909
INSCRIBED BY OSCAR WILDE

WILDE, Oscar. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. London, 1888. Rare first trade edition, one of 1000 copies printed, in original Japanese vellum pictorial boards, with three plates by illustrator Walter Crane, inscribed in the year of publication, “Edith Cones from her sincere friend the author. Oscar Wilde, June, 88.” A fine, exceptional copy.
$42,000.00

Tender is the Night

Tender is the Night
FITZGERALD, F. Scott
Item ID: 68091
INSCRIBED BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

FITZGERALD, F. Scott. Tender is the Night. New York, 1934. First edition, third printing (only one month after the first), in scarce original first-issue dust jacket, boldly inscribed by the author: “Souvenir of Wilmington from F. Scott Fitzgerald to J. Stuart Groves.”.
$46,000.00

This Side of Paradise

This Side of Paradise
FITZGERALD, F. Scott
Item ID: 75461

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S FIRST BOOK, THIS SIDE OF PARADISE, INSCRIBED BY HIM ONE DAY AFTER PUBLICATION

FITZGERALD, F. Scott. This Side of Paradise. New York, 1920. First edition, first printing of Fitzgerald’s first novel, inscribed one day after publication, “For Pete Compton, A wild man if there ever was one — F. Scott Fitzgerald, Princeton, NJ, March 27th 1920.”
$63,000.00

Catcher in the Rye

Catcher in the Rye
SALINGER, J.D.
Item ID: 87077
INSCRIBED BY J.D. SALINGER

SALINGER, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston, 1952. First edition, early issue, of Salinger’s first book—“a 20th-century classic”—an exceedingly rare copy inscribed and dated by him within months of publication, “New York, N.Y. March 15, 1952 With best wishes, J.D. Salinger.”
$65,000.00

Beautiful and Damned

Beautiful and Damned
FITZGERALD, F. Scott
Item ID: 75463
INSCRIBED BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION
FITZGERALD, F. Scott. The Beautiful and Damned. New York, 1922. First edition, first issue, an exceptional presentation copy whimsically inscribed in the year of publication by Fitzgerald, “For Wilbur Judd, Parisien [sic], Critic, Playrite [sic], Bibliophile, Drunkard and Good Egg, From F. Scott Fitzgerald, St. Paul 1922,” in scarce second-issue dust jacket (issued within months of the first-issue jacket).
$75,000.00

Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild
LONDON, Jack
Item ID: 81588
“YOU HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOUR SON AND THINGS WITH US ALWAYS WILL BE WELL…”
LONDON, Jack. The Call of the Wild. New York and London, 1903. First edition, first printing, of one of the most desirable copies in American literature, inscribed from Jack London to his mother within four days of publication, one of the earliest known inscriptions: “Dear Mother, You have always loved your son, and things with us always will be well. Jack. July 22, 1903,” in scarce original dust jacket.
$125,000.00

Memoirs

Memoirs
WILLIAMS, Tennessee
Item ID: 88999
SIGNED BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Memoirs. Garden City, New York, 1975. First trade edition of Williams’ critically-praised autobiography, signed by him.
$750.00

Vision of Hell

Vision of Hell
DORE, Gustave
Item ID: 89102
“TORMENTS SHOWN WITH MINUTE AND SOMETIMES SHOCKING FIDELITY”
(DORÉ, Gustave) DANTE. The Vision of Hell. London and New York, circa 1870. Handsome folio edition, circa 1870, of one of Gustave Doré’s most famous illustrated works—The Vision of Hell of Dante Alighieri—his depiction of Dante’s horrific circles of Hell, with frontispiece portrait of the poet and 75 full-page wood-engravings, scarce in contemporary morocco.
$2500.

Opening of the Wisdom-Eye

Opening of the Wisdom-Eye
DALAI LAMA
Item ID: 89187
SIGNED BY THE DALAI LAMA
DALAI LAMA Tenzin Gyatso. The Opening of the Wisdom-Eye. Wheaton, Illinois, 1972. First American edition, signed on the title page by the winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
$4000.

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Autographed Books by Allen and Patricia Ahearn

Posted on June 23, 2010 inBook Collecting, RARE Books for Sale, Signed books

Thanks to Allen and Patricia Ahearn for their permission to post this article from their site at Quill and Brush Their site is very informative and an excellent resource for book collectors.

Author's autographs in a book may be considered in various categories, including signed limited editions, signed trade editions, and association copies. We've discussed limited editions elsewhere on the site.

Signed trade editions are copies of the regular trade first edition signed by the author, with or without an inscription. These signed books will usually sell for at least twice as much as an unsigned copy, but the real determinant of price will be the value of the author's signature. Some authors are very generous in signing their books; as a result, their signatures may be worth only $10 or $15, representing the price difference between a signed and an unsigned copy of a first edition, or the price of a signed later printing. On the other hand, some authors very rarely sign a book and their signatures alone may be worth $50 or more; again, this would establish a price. Further, some authors are very free with their signatures but very rarely inscribe copies of their books, and therefore inscribed copies, even if the recipient is unknown, will command a premium.

Value of Signed vs. Inscribed Books

We are often asked about the value of a first edition that is inscribed by the author to another person versus the value of the same book just signed by the author. We understand that if the original recipient of the book is not well known, or of general interest, some collectors prefer the author's signature without the inscription. From our point of view we would always prefer an inscribed copy and think it is worth more than a copy that is just signed by the author. However, we understand that if the author is young and the collector hopes one day to meet the author at a signing, or perhaps send some of his books to get the author to sign, the collector will not want to buy a copy of the book inscribed to some unknown person. From our point of view, we know that after the death of an author, inscribed copies are always worth more than copies that are just signed, Also, from our point of view, the inscription allows us to have more of the author's handwriting to examine to assure ourselves and our customers that it is a genuine author's autograph.

Association copies are books that include a signed inscription from the author to another famous personality or someone important within the framework of the particular author's life and work. These will be valued more highly than the normal signed first edition, depending on the importance of the recipient involved.

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Autographed Books by: Allen and Pat Ahearn

Posted on October 29, 2009 inSigned books

By: Allen and Pat Ahearn, the authors of Collected Books: The Guide to Values (Putnam: 2002), Book Collecting 2000 (Putnam: 2000) and 174 individual Author Price Guides, all of which require they keep current on the market prices for collectible books and make them uniquely qualified to offer professional appraisal services and to establish fair prices when purchasing books or libraries. We appreciate the articles from the Ahearns.

http://www.qbbooks.com