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Antiquarian Book Fair!!

The 52nd Annual Bookfair at the Park Avenue Armory held some stunningly beautiful and indeed rare historical gems.  Among many of the European dealers, there was a plethota of material relating to the age of exploration and indeed the Jesuits in the Far East.

Frederik Muller Rare Books of the Netherlands brought a wonderful selection as always.  Manuel Acostas History of the Society of Jesus in the Orient (Paris, 1572) brings together a selection of Jesuit lettters from 1568-1570.    Another volume on the Life of Ignatius Loyola, (Ingolstadt, 1590), and a volume by Father Pistorious, India Gloria, (Dillinger, 1660), deals with St. Francis Xavier in South Asia.

Leo Cadogan Rare Books, a newcomer to the show from London brought an amazing array of volumes.  One of my favorites illustrated history of the rulers of Bohemia. This volume, written by Giulio Solimani, SJ and printed in Prague in 1629, offers a short narrative of the 59 rulers of what is today the Czech Republic.  According to the description, the book was part of an education project in the wake of the defeat of the Protestant Czechs.  The vanquished Frederick, the Winter King, was ommited from the book.    This book dealer also brought some fascinating acounts of French Diplomacy and Overseas Commerce during the age of Louis XV.  One such volume from 1718 deals with the "difficulties" facing French subjects from pirates in the Mediterranean as well as advising French subjects travelling on foreign ships to bring the proper documentation "showing that they are French, and followers of the King."

Libereria Bardon of Madrid brought a fascinating collection of rare books including the Jesuit Missions in Japan, (Rome, 1595), Alexandre de Chaumont's Kingdom of Siam (Paris, 1686), and Engraved Portraits of the Kings of France (Paris, 1711)

Proclamation for the Creation of the Royal Philippine Company, Real Cedula dating from 1785, was a particular favorite.  The Company promoted direct trade between the islands and Spain.

These are but a few of the literary and historical jewels at the Book Fair. 

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Park Avenue Spring--Tulips and the Bookfair!!

Signs of Spring are everywhere in New York--the Weather, the Flowers, and the 52nd Annual Antiquarian Book Fair.  This year's show was simply splendid and the Sanford Smith & Associates outdid themselves in bringing together a vibrant community of rare book and map dealers from the USA and Europe.

Over 200 dealers encamped at the iconic 67th Street Park Avenue Armory between 12-15 April.  Over these days collectors and antique lovers alike converged for what has become without question one of America's premier book fairs.

We will soon review some of the dealers and the splendid selections offered.  Stay tuned!

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RMS Titanic--Rememberance and Respect

One hundred years ago, the British RMS Titanic, en route to New York, hit an iceberg and subsequently sank in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. April 15, 1912, became the most fateful day for the transatlantic oceanliner crossings as Titanic suffered the loss of 1,517 passengers and crew.

Only about a third of the people on this splendid but doomed vessel survived.

Today we recall, remember, and respect the passengers and crew of RMS Titanic as well as the amazing recovery efforts of nearby ships who came to her rescue.

A few pictures of items from the current Bonhams auction in New York are posted.

Despite a flurry of real time Marconi International radiograms relating the accident, immediate assistance was simply too far away from the stricken ship.

RIP RMS Titanic

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RMS Titanic 100 Years of Fact and Fiction

Bonhams Auction in NY

A century ago, on the night of 14 April 1912, the RMS Titanic of the White Star Line, sank in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. This near iconic martime tragedy has been etched in memory of generations, but the story of this ill-fated oceanliner is often recalled as a mix of fact and fiction--the latter, courtesy of the silver screen.

That's why when the prestigeous Bonhams Auction House put a Titanic sale together in New York, my first reaction was a hesitating curiosity to see the items, from what a Hollywood film called "A Night To Remember." I'm glad I went.

The lots comprise a respectful selection of Titanic-related items ranging from an Invitation to the launch in May 1911 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to news accounts of the disaster, to surviver documentation.

This is not a saved sunken treasure focus, but a thoughtful presentation of items connected to the ship's story, the sinking and the media presentation of the aftermath.

Significantly the exhibit includes a number of telegrams--Marconi Marine Cables which reveal the time line of the accident and the rescue attempts of reasonably nearby vessels. The radio traffic cables offer a searigly poignant, albeit somber, log of the actual timeline of the Titanic tragedy. An 14 April message at "Eleven PM New York Time. Titanic Sending out signalsof distress answered his calls... Titanic replies and given his position 41.46N 5 14W and says 'We Have Struck an Iceberg' Our distance from Titanic 505 miles." Another telegram at 11:40 PM to the Olympic "Titanic Says tell Captain we are putting the pasengers off n small boats."

There are 37 messages to the RMS Olympic outlining the unfolding disaster at sea.
The RMS Carpathia was reasonably nearby and assisted in saving over 705 passengers and crew.

The RMS Titanic has sailed into the mists of history--it's the duty of this generaion to keep scholarship alive so that fact is separated from fiction. We owe it to those who perished, to the heros who survived, and the oceanliners which came to the rescue. Bonhams has presented RMS Titanic with dignity.

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HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

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Titanic Shipwreck Protected Site/UN

Just a century ago the majestic British oceanliner Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. Now as the date of one of maritime history's most infamous disasters approaches, comes word that UNESCO is affording special legal protection to the wreck site off Newfoundland.

The Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage applies to shipwrecks over 100 years old--RMS Titanic sank on the night of 14 April 1912. To this day, the still nearly innacessable site at 12,000 feet underwater remains a draw for explorers and treasure hunters.

“The sinking of the Titanic is anchored in the memory of humanity and I am pleased that this site can now be protected by the UNESCO convention,” stated the Paris-based UN agency's Director General Irina Bokova.

UNESCO's Bokova added, “But there are thousands of other shipwrecks that need safeguarding as well,” she added. “All of them are archaeological sites of scientific and historical value. They are also the memory of human tragedy that should be treated with respect. We do not tolerate the plundering of cultural sites on land, and the same should be true for our sunken heritage.”

Though the final resting place of RMS Titanic lies in international waters,
State parties to the UNESCO convention "can outlaw the destruction, pillage, sale and dispersion of objects found at the site."