From $0 to $4,500, the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale will offer something for just about everyone — regardless of interests or budget.
Books on topics ranging from superheroes to presidents in the specials collection will be purchased and read as a result of the sale, set to take place Friday, July 9 through Tuesday, July 13 at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane.
The highlight of this year’s prize items in the rare books section, however, is a collection of screen prints. It is Josef Albers’ Interaction of Color, originally published by Yale University Press in 1963, a portfolio of 80 folders containing multiple screen prints, and at $4500, it is believed to have the highest asking price in the 45-year history of the sale.
John Renjilian, a rare book expert who volunteers each year for the book sale, has had quite the selection of unusual books and other items to examine and price as this spring gives way to summer.
Renjilian, who has spent much of his time buying and selling antiquarian books, has helped with the annual book sale in 44 of its 45 years. Each spring yields a new collection of books that sale volunteers sort through, looking for valuable titles, signatures, and other things that make them rare. The screening process cuts down on Renjilian’s responsibilities, but he still has boxes and containers of books to look through.
“It’s always fun. Anyone in the book business will tell you the hunt is the their favorite part. I don’t have to go out and look for it. It all comes to us, and the thrill is still there,” Renjilian said.
With the coronavirus canceling last year’s sale, and donations accepted for half of the year, Renjilian and the other volunteers are sorting through an 18-month supply of donated books and other items in preparation for the sale.
‘A Tour De Force’ And More
Renjilian describes Interaction of Color as “a monumental tour de force of color theory and of printing.” This complete set of prints includes many with die cuts and other additions, all in very good condition with original tissue guards, Renjiian said. The portfolio and companion volume are housed in a cloth-covered slipcase with original ribbon.
“We’ve gotten a lot of art books. Some of them good, but this is beyond good,” Renjilian said.
Safe to say, Interaction of Color will not make it until the final date of the sale, which is a free partial day.
Whether a collector or dealer goes for one of the higher priced items, there are other options from which to choose — with nothing else coming close to the price tag of Interaction of Color.
Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, by Lewis Carroll, 1982, features illustrations of wood engravings by Barry Moser, with an extra suite, pencil signed. It includes notes by Moser, pictorial boards, and 80 of the 95 plates in the collection — all in very good condition. The asking price is $750.
One item not yet priced — it will be subject to the price of silver the week of the sale — is National Parks, a full set of 36 silver medallions issued in celebration of the centennial of our National Park System (1872-1972). Renjilion said this is expected to be listed in the low thousands. The coins are mint and described by Renjilion as “Weighing approximately 1 troy ounce each and struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York City from original designs by Frank Hagel, a prominent artist, of Kalispell, Montana.”
Secret Warriors, Omnibus, a graphic novel of superheroes, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, is from 2012 and has an asking price of $100.
There are multiple books about presidents, including a signed, limited edition (#163 of 2,000) of Ronald Reagan, An American Life in very good condition, with a price tag of $400.
The first two volumes of the original three-volume set, The Works of Alexander Hamilton, from 1810, has a cost of $250. The books feature leather binding and gilt decoration.
A large collection of foreign language phrase books for GIs is included in the specials collection.
“The most we have seen from a single owner. Eight are West European, four Eastern European, seven Asian, one North African, along with three other linguistic works, from later WWII years to the 1960s. Most, if not all, bear the name of William P. Bray, with various ranks up to Master Sargent, and various units and stations. All are priced individually from $10 to $25, but if [someone is] interested in keeping Sargent Bray’s legacy together, we will be happy to discount the lot,” Renjilian said.
Apollo 13, written by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger, is a commemorative edition of the 30th anniversary of the space mission, and is signed by Lovell, with a price tag of $75.
A salesman’s dummy of the book Wonders of the Arctic World with The Polaris Expedition, by Epes Sargent and William H Cunnington, can be had for $35. It contains excerpts from the book and samples of the binding, with several blank pages for a book salesman to log information on those who wanted to purchase a copy of the book. Renjilian said there are a “perhaps optimistic 23 leaves for subscribers’ names; one sale is recorded.
“They would travel around the country, literally would walk around the countryside knocking on the door and saying ‘I’m going to give you the rare chance to purchase this book,’” Renjilian said.
On top of these rare books, the sale will include a variety of children’s books, puzzles, sheet music, and records, such as Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, a limited edition, five-album set in original box for $10.
There are some changes to the sale, with the specials collection moving into a bigger space. A Friday preview will be held on July 9, from 1 to 5 pm for $40 admission. Saturday is 10 am to 5 pm for $5 (18 and under admitted free). Sunday runs 10 am to 5 pm again, and books are half price. Monday goes from 10 am to 7 pm, with books $5 per supplied bag. Tuesday is free day from 10 am to 1 pm.
According to book sale chair Denise Kaiser, “This year the specials collection will be in a larger room at Reed School called the Auxiliary Gym. In addition to the more rare and valuable books in that room, patrons will find an eclectic selection of many attractive leather-bound books, as well as artwork and stamp collections at an affordable price. This year we are also including sought-after graphic novels and manga, and rare issues of sheet music.”
Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.
Rare book expert John Renjilian shows this year’s Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale’s highest-priced item, Interaction of Color, a portfolio of 80 folders containing multiple screen prints. The asking price is $4,500. —Bee Photo, Hutchison
National Parks, a full set of 36 silver medallions issued in celebration of the centennial of our National Park System (1872-1972) will be for sale at a price to be determined, and expected to be in the low thousands.
The specials collection at the book sale will have a variety of books and other items ideal for collectors and casual readers alike.—Bee Photos, Hutchison
Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, by Lewis Carroll, 1982, features illustrations of wood engravings by Barry Moser.
Secret Warriors, Omnibus, a graphic novel of superheroes, is among the books that will be for sale.
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