🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 42: What book collector Mary Vretas seeks at the Florida book fair

Avid book collector Mary Vretas is a longtime visitor to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. In this conversation with co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn, she discusses her adventures in hunting down the books she’s seeking for her collection, and her excitement about the upcoming Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. She offers a different perspective from booksellers who have been on the program. 

Mary is an enthusiastic fan of poet Sylvia Plath. She first discovered her in high school. She has collected various editions and various versions and Sylvia Plath-related materials. But she hasn’t acquired everything. Some items remain beyond her budget, she tells Lee in answer to a question about the collectors’ “Holy Grail”. 

A SPECIAL REQUEST: Please SHARE this program with your book loving friends. If this is the first time you've watched Rare Book Cafe, let us know what you think in the comments. If you're a regular watcher, tell us in the comments how often and what you enjoy about the show. 

Our Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK series offers short programs, usually on a single topic. Watch for more in the series. 

Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts and Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. 

Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the saoutheastern United States. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will be presented March 1-3, 2024 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

The program also is made possible by Biblio.com, a website featuring used, rare, and out-of-print books from independent booksellers. Biblio is celebrating 20 years of serving book lovers. It’s better than ever. Biblio spotlights “the core of our business model: the independent booksellers who bring their expertise, enthusiasm, and professionalism to soon the used and rare book trade.” 

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Music by Kevin MacLeod Hyperfun Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

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Rare Book Cafe is a gathering of collectors and lovers of old, rare, and collectible books. It is a virtual cafe, accessible anywhere in the world, where the subjects are priceless and the conversation is free. It is truly the book lovers' rendezvous. Join us on our Facebook group Book Lovers’ Rendezvous. Rare Book Cafe is based in Florida. 

Rare Book Cafe The Book Lovers' Rendezvous™ 

YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Also as a podcast on YouTube Music 

 #rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #bostonbooklovers #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 41: New bookseller Dillon Baldwin shares love of sci-fi fantasy

Dillon Baldwin of Solaria Books in Lakeland, Florida, shares with co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn some of the items he’s bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Among them are science fiction and fantasy classics like signed Piers Anthony books. 

Dillon also likes to feature the artists who do the book covers for science fiction works like Michael Whelan. Whelan’s work has appeared on series by Anne McCaffery, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and H.P Lovecraft. He has sets that include the hardcover edition, a paperback edition and art cards featuring the artists’ work. Dillon is on Instagram @solariabookstore. 

A SPECIAL REQUEST: Please SHARE this program with your book loving friends. If this is the first time you've watched Rare Book Cafe, let us know what you think in the comments. If you're a regular watcher, tell us in the comments how often and what you enjoy about the show. 

Our Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK series offers short programs, usually on a single topic. Watch for more in the series. 

Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts (soon to be in Massachusetts) and Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. 

Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will be presented March 1-3, 2024 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

The program also is made possible by Biblio.com, a website featuring used, rare, and out-of-print books from independent booksellers. Biblio is celebrating 20 years of serving book lovers. It’s better than ever. Biblio spotlights “the core of our business model: the independent booksellers who bring their expertise, enthusiasm, and professionalism to soon the used and rare book trade.” 

************** 

Music by Kevin MacLeod Hyperfun Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

************** 

Rare Book Cafe is a gathering of collectors and lovers of old, rare, and collectible books. It is a virtual cafe, accessible anywhere in the world, where the subjects are priceless and the conversation is free. It is truly the book lovers' rendezvous. Join us on our Facebook group Book Lovers’ Rendezvous. 

Rare Book Cafe is based in Florida. 

Rare Book Cafe 

The Book Lovers' Rendezvous™ 

YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Also as a podcast on YouTube Music

 #rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #bostonbooklovers #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous

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Thank you to all our exhibitors and fairgoers. We look forward to seeing you on March 1-3 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 40: Sean Lynch shares Harry Crews, Ken Kesey, "John" Kerouac, and more

Our guest is bookseller Sean P. Lynch, owner of Books 4 Ewe Rare Books in York, South Carolina. 

He shares with co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn some of the volumes he’s bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair March 1-3 at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg. 

Among the treasures is a signed, first edition of Jack Kerouac’s first novel, The Town and The City (1950), which was published under “John Kerouac” and is signed that way. This copy of the book also includes two letters of provenance from previous owners. 

 Sean shows a 1981 letter written by Cormac McCarthy to another author friend. 

And he shares a special treat for Florida readers, a signed copy of Harry Crews’ first novel The Gospel Singer (1968), as well as a first printing of Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1962). 

Sean is a relatively new bookseller and this will be his first time attending a book fair. 

A SPECIAL REQUEST: Please SHARE this program with your book loving friends. If this is the first time you've watched Rare Book Cafe, let us know what you think in the comments. If you're a regular watcher, tell us in the comments how often and what you enjoy about the show. 

 Our Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK series offers short programs, usually on a single topic. Watch for more in the series. Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts, and Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. 

Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will be presented March 1-3, 2024 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

The program also is made possible by Biblio.com, a website featuring used, rare, and out-of-print books from independent booksellers. Biblio is celebrating 20 years of serving book lovers. It’s better than ever. Biblio spotlights “the core of our business model: the independent booksellers who bring their expertise, enthusiasm, and professionalism to soon the used and rare book trade.” 

 ************** 

Music by Kevin MacLeod Hyperfun Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

************** 

Rare Book Cafe is a gathering of collectors and lovers of old, rare, and collectible books. It is a virtual cafe, accessible anywhere in the world, where the subjects are priceless and the conversation is free. It is truly the book lovers' rendezvous. Join us on our Facebook group Book Lovers’ Rendezvous. 

Rare Book Cafe is based in Florida. 

Rare Book Cafe 

The Book Lovers' Rendezvous™ 

YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Also as a podcast on YouTube Music 

#rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #bostonbooklovers #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous

 

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 39: Larry Rakow on what he's bringing to the Florida book fair

Many of our returning listeners probably are familiar with Cleveland Heights bookseller Larry Rakow, who deals in very special children’s books, including vintage popup and mechanical books, some of his favorites. 

Larry has been a regular contributor to Rare Book Cafe as well as an annual exhibitor at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Larry has been away for a while, taking care of family concerns but he’s back now and ready to do the Florida show once more. 

In this episode of Rare Book Cafe, Larry shares with the COFFEE BREAK regulars Ed Markiewicz, Lee Linn, and Richard Mori a few of the volumes he’ll be bringing to Florida, including a special Beatrix Potter item, Peter Rabbit’s almanac for 1929. Larry notes that few of these were distributed since that’s when the Wall Street stock market crash occurred. 

Another treasure: an amazingly beautiful moveable book called Wonderland Pictures, just a sample of the many such books of the late 19th and early 20th century he’s bringing to the Florida book fair. 

Florida readers are certain to be intrigued with Larry’s copy of Lois Lenski’s Strawberry Girl, which is set in the nearby strawberry growing region nearby during the Florida pioneer days. 

Larry and the COFFEE BREAK regulars also discuss the printing process chromolithography and ethnic representations in children’s books. 

A SPECIAL REQUEST: Please SHARE this program with your book loving friends. If this is the first time you've watched Rare Book Cafe, let us know what you think in the comments. If you're a regular watcher, tell us in the comments how often and what you enjoy about the show. 

Our Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK series offers short programs, usually on a single topic. Watch for more in the series. Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts, and Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Richard Mori is known as The Road Warrior for his frequent travels seeking unusual printed items. Richard owns Richard Mori Books in Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will be presented March 1-3, 2024 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

The program also is made possible by Biblio.com, a website featuring used, rare, and out-of-print books from independent booksellers. Biblio is celebrating 20 years of serving book lovers. It’s better than ever. Biblio spotlights “the core of our business model: the independent booksellers who bring their expertise, enthusiasm, and professionalism to soon the used and rare book trade.” 

************** 

Music by Kevin MacLeod Hyperfun Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

************** 

Rare Book Cafe is a gathering of collectors and lovers of old, rare, and collectible books. It is a virtual cafe, accessible anywhere in the world, where the subjects are priceless and the conversation is free. It is truly the book lovers' rendezvous. Join us on our Facebook group Book Lovers’ Rendezvous. 

 Rare Book Cafe is based in Florida. 

Rare Book Cafe 

The Book Lovers' Rendezvous™ 

YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Also as a podcast on YouTube Music 

#rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #floridabooklovers #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous #bookloversparadise

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 38: Lee and Richard share some of what they'll bring to Florida

It’s the 38th episode of Rare Book Cafe — Coffee Break, and we’re thrilled to be back after our holiday hiatus. 

 Co-host Lee Linn reveals some of the items she’ll be bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair March 1-3 in St. Petersburg. Health update: Lee continues to heal after a bad fall at the end of the Books in Boston Shadow Show. She fully expects to be mobile for the Florida show. 

Rare Book Cafe regular contributor Richard Mori (the Road Warrior) shares some of the items he’s bringing as well, including an early wartime poster by Theodor Seuss Geisel (who later became children’s book illustrator Dr. Seuss.) The Florida show is celebrating Dr. Seuss’ 120th birthday on Saturday of the show, so there has been some attention to items related to Dr. Seuss. Lee shares a look at Cat In The Hat shoes she’s planning to wear at the show. 

Meanwhile, co-host Ed Markiewicz is back from his extended stay in Verona, Italy, where he was in an apprenticeship in book binding. 

 A SPECIAL REQUEST: Please SHARE this program with your book loving friends. If this is the first time you've watched Rare Book Cafe, let us know what you think in the comments. If you're a regular watcher, tell us in the comments how often and what you enjoy about the show. 

Our Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK series offers short programs, usually on a single topic. Watch for more in the series. 

 Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts, and Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. 

Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will be presented March 1-3, 2024 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

The program also is made possible by Biblio.com, a website featuring used, rare, and out-of-print books from independent booksellers. Biblio is celebrating 20 years of serving book lovers. It’s better than ever. Biblio spotlights “the core of our business model: the independent booksellers who bring their expertise, enthusiasm, and professionalism to soon the used and rare book trade.” 

************** 

Music by Kevin MacLeod Hyperfun Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

************** 

Rare Book Cafe is a gathering of collectors and lovers of old, rare, and collectible books. It is a virtual cafe, accessible anywhere in the world, where the subjects are priceless and the conversation is free. It is truly the book lovers' rendezvous. 

Join us on our Facebook group Book Lovers’ Rendezvous. 

Rare Book Cafe is based in Florida. 

Rare Book Cafe 

The Book Lovers' Rendezvous™ 

YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Also as a podcast on YouTube Music

 #rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #bostonbooklovers #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous