Early maps of Florida at the book fair

 

By Charlie Neuschafer, of New World Maps 

We will be exhibiting a collection of early maps of Florida at the 2026 book fair in St. Petersburg.

Here’s a brief description of one of the maps:

Large-format nautical chart of the coastal waters of Florida by Thomas Jefferys, published in London in 1775. It is richly annotated with soundings, shoreline features, and historical notes, including a depiction of the Spanish Treasure Fleet and its route from Veracruz, Mexico, to Havana, around Florida, and then through the Bahamas to take advantage of the Gulf Stream current on the return journey to Europe.

Thomas Jefferys (c. 1719 – 1771), "Geographer to King George III", was an English cartographer who was the leading map supplier of his day. He engraved and printed maps for government and other official bodies and produced a wide range of commercial maps and atlases, especially of North America. This map measures more than 48 inches across and was issued in Jefferys’ West India Atlas.

This handsome, original antique map is in excellent condition, archivally mounted and framed. It is from the personal collection of publishing magnate William Bernard Ziff, Jr. and had hung on the wall at Ziff’s sprawling Gemini estate, which straddled the barrier island in Manalapan, just south of Palm Beach, a property that was sold four years ago to billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison in Florida's largest residential sale ever.

This map will be part of the collection of early maps of Florida on exhibit in Booth 39 at the 2026 book fair in St. Petersburg.

 

Barbara Loe shares some "nice" Valentines, the kind you'd send to your sweetie back in the Victorian era

 

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Frequent Rare Book Cafe guest Barbara Loe returns with a follow-up for her last appearance on the program, when she shared a genre of greeting ca

Frequent Rare Book Cafe guest Barbara Loe returns with a follow-up for her last appearance on the program, when she shared a genre of greeting cards called Vinegar Valentines. 

 

They’re full of insults and spiteful comments and they became popular in the mid-1800s. Some were quite funny, if you weren’t on the receiving end. With Valentine’s Day approaching, in this episode Barbara shares some of the vintage Valentines in her collection, ones designed to express a sweet sentiment to a sweetie or heartthrob. Awww! 

 

 Barbara and co-host Lee Linn also discuss the upcoming Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, both agreeing that it’s one of their favorite book fairs all year. Their enthusiasm is evident as they ventured off into discussion of the book fair and the reasons it holds a special place for them 

 

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 Lee Linn and Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, New Hampshire. Barbara, Lee, and Richard will exhibit at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair on March 7-8, 2026 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. 

 

More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com The event is the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. Rare Book Cafe is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. 

 

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Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by Brendan Kinsella Piano Sonata in B-flat major III Allegretto Grazioso Creative Commons Copyright-only Dedication (based on United States law or Public Domain Certification. http://www.chosic.com/download-audio/... 

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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

Edward Lemon and The Atlanta Rare Book Fair: It's a week before the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in St. Petersburg

Edward Lemon of Fine Book Fairs is our guest and Rare Book Cafe co-hosts Lee Linn and Richard Mori are particularly elated because they’re anticipating participation in The Atlanta Rare Book Fair at Oglethorpe University February 27-March 1, 2026. 

 It has been several years since there was an antiquarian book in Atlanta, and so Lee, who lives near Atlanta is quite excited, about you might expect. Richard is becoming an old hand at doing Fine Book Fairs events, so he’s elated, too. 

 The discussion morphed into Edward recounting how the Fine Book Fair started and also into the news that Kermit Roosevelt III, the great-great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, will offer a talk during the book fair event. 

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 Lee Linn and Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, New Hampshire. 

Lee, and Richard will exhibit at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair on March 7-8, 2026 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

 More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com The event is the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. Rare Book Cafe is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. 

************** Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by Brendan Kinsella Piano Sonata in B-flat major III Allegretto Grazioso Creative Commons Copyright-only Dedication (based on United States law or Public Domain Certification. http://www.chosic.com/download-audio/... ************** 

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 

Victorian ephemerist Barbara Lowe's Vinegar Valentines

Collectors know that funny Valentine somebody gave a friend a century ago was never meant to still be around today. And, yet, it is. They also know that’s exactly what makes it fascinating, at least to some.

It’s a glimpse into another era, how people lived and what they cared about. Collectors of ephemera delight in discovering arcane details as well as a big-picture perspective of days gone by. 

In this episode of Rare Book Cafe, Victorian ephemera collector shares some of the funny (or blatantly cheeky valentines with insulting poems) in her collection, and shares some background and insight into these novelty items. 

Suffice it to say that these bits of ephemera carry a sentiment that’s far from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart song My Funny Valentine. 

You can see valentines from Barbara Loe's collection as well as ephemera collections of other exhibitors at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair March 7-8 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. 

🇺🇸 Founding Voices: George Washington on Knowledge

“Knowledge of books is the basis upon which all other knowledge rests.”
— Attributed to George Washington

George Washington’s life demonstrates a deep respect for reading and self-education. Though not a formally trained scholar, he built a wide personal library and relied on books to guide his thinking on agriculture, military strategy, Enlightenment philosophy, and governance.

His belief that knowledge must precede leadership reflects the intellectual spirit of the early Republic.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Washington’s insight feels especially timely. The Revolution was shaped not only by the willingness to fight, but by the exchange of ideas — spread through pamphlets, newspapers, letters, broadsides, and books.

Collectors today still seek these early printings because they offer something extraordinary: a direct link to the world the Founders knew.

This is the heart of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Each year, we gather to celebrate the printed materials that shaped history, preserved ideas, and continue to inspire curiosity.

You’ll be seeing George Washington again soon as part of our Let Freedom Read campaign — in several unexpected situations, in fact. 

Stay with us as we explore more Founding Voices in the weeks ahead.

And plan to join us at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, March 7-8, 2026 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. 

After the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, our co-hosts share some of their adventures at one of their favorite shows

Co-hosts Lee Linn and Richard Mori share some of their adventures at the just completed Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Lee has an old Girl Scout cookbook discovered by her son Gardner, who accompanied her to the book fair. Richard shares some recent acquisitions, including some outstanding poster. 

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 Lee Linn and Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, 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 was presented March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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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

Stay in touch with your favorite book fair all year

We've made it easy, and it doesn't cost anything. Scan the code at the top or use the link that's embedded in the image. Either way, we'll be in touch.

#ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #bostonbooklovers #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous

We're just days away, now. Be sure to tell your book loving friends so they don't miss it. Oh, and the QR code works.

 It's the Book Lovers' Paradise!

Anticipate the fun at this year's book fair. Here's a video from last year that gives you a glimpse of what to expect.

Last year, Toni Palumbo, host of Feed Your Creativity, had a marvelous time at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. She recorded her visit and posted it on YouTube. If you were wondering what the book fair is like, Toni’s video gives you the flavor of it. This year’s book fair is Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. Tickets are available at the Box Office (cash only) or on Eventbrite.com

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 96: Mike Slicker –– see you at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair

Our guest is Michael Slicker, owner of Lighthouse Books ABAA in Dade City, Florida. Michael is a longtime bookseller in the Tampa Bay region. He is also chairman of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Mike shares some of the items he's bringing to the book fair, including some books illustrated by Arthur Rackham, and also signed by him. Co-host Lee Linn also shares some of the titles she's bringing as well. 

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 Lee Linn and Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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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

FLORIDA ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR CELEBRATES THE PAST WITH “DISCOVER YOUR TREASURE” THEME

 

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA — The 42nd Florida Antiquarian Book Fair returns to this city’s historic Coliseum March 1-2, 2025. This year’s theme, Discover Your Treasure, pays tribute to the region’s colorful, swashbuckling past but also exemplifies the literary treasures awaiting book lovers at the event.

The region has a long history of treasure hunting. The Caribbean pirating era started in the 1500s and lasted some 300 years. The peninsula now known as Florida served as hiding place for those desperados of the seas, and sometimes, a place to stash their booty.

Even in modern times, the saga continues. Every year for more than 120 years, Tampa Bay celebrates a legendary privateer, Jose Gaspar, who was said to have used the region as a refuge. Gasparilla, with its mock pirate invasion sailing into Tampa Bay, is one of the largest events in Florida. And, of course, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team taps into that  swashbuckling history.

Meanwhile, book lovers will converge on The Coliseum in search of a trove of literary treasures to add to their own libraries as more than 80 antiquarian booksellers present all kinds of printed prizes. The book fair is truly the Book Lovers’ Paradise (TM).
`
Fairgoers will find modern fiction, Americana, Florida history and literature, travel and exploration, fine bindings, poetry, cooking, military history, world history, the classics, art books, religion, children's literature, and illustrated books. Some dealers will feature maps, prints, post cards, ephemera, autographs, and other paper collectibles.

Items range in price from a few dollars to several hundred thousand dollars.

A complete listing of the exhibitors and their specialties is available at the Florida Antiquarian Booksellers' website: https://www.floridaantiquarianbookfair.com/exhibitors

Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is the largest and longest running fair of its kind in the southeastern United States and features specialized booksellers from all over the country.

The book fair is open Saturday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $6 for each day or $10 for the weekend. Children 12 and under, and students with valid identification, are free. Parking is free. Tickets are available online at Eventbrite.com and cash only at the Box Office.

A portion of ticket sales benefit the St Petersburg Public Library, a library system that operates seven locations and serves the community with a plethora of programs and services for adults, teens, and children.

Food and beverages, including cash bar, are available inside The Coliseum.

St. Petersburg’s 1920s-era Coliseum at 535 Fourth Avenue North is known as “the finest ballroom in the South.” The venue has played host to such famed artists as Louie Armstrong, Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Harry James, among others.

The City of St. Petersburg, which bought the facility in 1989, restored it to its original splendor, with polished oak floors and a high arched ceiling. The Coliseum boasts plenty of free parking and is conveniently located for easy walking to downtown hotels, shops, and restaurants.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is sponsored by WUSF. It is presented by the Florida Antiquarian Booksellers Association, Florida’s quality rare book organization since 1981.

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 88: Ed visits The Oldest Book Store in the World

 Ed Markiewicz, our former co-host and now roving reporter, is out and about again, this time in Lisbon, where he’s sampling his favorite Portuguese pastries, learning about a famous and prolific writer, and visiting the oldest bookstore in the world. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lee Linn and Richard Mori are remaining in the cozy comfort of their own abodes, enduring the chill that’s gripping the south and preparing for the upcoming Florida Antiquarian 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 Lee Linn andr Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia and Richard owns Richard Mori Books in Franklin, 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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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.87: Stand-Up Librarian prepares for Florida Antiquarian Book Fair

In this episode, co-hosts Lee Linn and Richard Mori enjoy a delightful time with friend and longtime supporter of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair Meredith Myers, who is billed as the Stand-up Librarian in her life as an entertainer.

Meredith has been a regular exhibitor at the book fair for many years and has been associated with the event in various capacities, including serving as spokesperson.

Meredith exhibits at the book fair, showing and offering her book-related fashions and accessories. Meredith credits longtime exhibitor Edie Eisenstein with being her inspiration and encouraging her to begin producing her creative products.

Meredith invites those interested to her websites, stand-uplibrarian.com and meredithmyers.com to learn more about her offerings.

Richard comments about the dangerous wildfires in California and makes note that people in the biblio community should visit the ABAA website to learn more about the organization’s benevolent fund designed to help booksellers in dire circumstances.

 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 Lee Linn and Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia, and Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. 

More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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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, Facebookk, 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. 86: Treasures we're bringing to Florida Antiquarian Book Fair

Co-host Lee Linn and guest co-host Richard Mori share some of the treasures they’ll be bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in March. Both Lee and Richard are long-time exhibitors at the Florida show and both are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Both also have been affiliated with the Rare Book Cafe for years as well. 

Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, New Hampshire. 

Former co-host Ed Markiewicz is planning to travel extensively, both in the states and in Europe. He will periodically file reports about the book-related places he visits. 

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. 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. 

More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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

************** R

are 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 85: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, safe travels, Ed Markiewicz

Ed Markiewicz, Lee Linn and Richard Mori join together for this holiday and year end show, celebrating Christmas with memories of classic books and ephemera they’ve handled over the years. 

Lee also discusses her Dickens' London Christmas display that she puts up every year in her home/book store. Lee made a video tour of the display that you can watch on Rare Book Cafe YouTube channel.

Plus, Ed Markiewicz, co-host for these last four-and-a-half years, announces his transition into a new role as a roving reporter filing reports from exotic locations in the bibliosphere. Bon voyage, Ed. We’ll look forward to hearing about your travels. 

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. 

Lee Linn, Ed Markiewicz and Richard Mori are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts in Amherst, Massachusetts. Richard owns Mori Books in Franklin, 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

************** 

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

 

TEACH A CHILD TO READ AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING WORTH READING

We like the way Theodor Seuss Geisel put it: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” By now, we suppose, Dr. Seuss’s sentiment is almost a cliche. Still, there’s a fundamental truth here.

Other brilliant minds put it in their own ways. Roald Dahl said: “I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.”

Anyone who has read Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach surely will agree.

Katherine Patterson puts it quite another way.

She says, “It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations – something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own.”

She surely did that in Bridge to Terabithia, her 1977 children’s novel about two children who create their own magical forest kingdom in their imaginations.

Anyone in search of children’s books won’t be disappointed at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Just search of the 2025 book fair. You also can visit our website at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com

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

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 84: Bryan Young, Grayshelf Books, Modern firsts, sci-fi, horror

Our guest is Bryan Young of Grayshelf Books in Tomball, Texas. He is making a return visit to Rare Book Cafe. 

Bryan and his wife Kelly specialize in modern first editions as well as science fiction and horror. They will exhibit at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in March. 

Bryan also is a large animal veterinarian. He services race horses in the region of Sam Houston Race Park northwest of Houston. 

In this episode, Bryan discusses some of the amazing book treasures he’s bringing to the Florida book fair, including a pristine first edition of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939), a signed first edition of The Exorcist (1971), a copy of Moby Dick (1930) with illustrations by Rockwell Kent, and a first edition of Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast (1964), which was published posthumously. 

Richard Mori (the road warrior) reveals he’s now snowbirding in Florida (as he does every year) and discusses some recent finds, including a beautiful copy of Pollyanna (1913), the first of the popular novel series by Eleanor Porter. Richard notes with pride that Porter is from New Hampshire (his neck of the woods.) Richard and co-host Lee Linn will exhibit at the Florida show in March. 

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 in Amherst, 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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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

WHEN YOU FIND A WRITER WHO SPEAKS TO YOU

Avid readers know the truth of western writer Louis L’Amour’s statement. There’s no getting around it: books affect your life, especially if they seem to speak directly to you.

Fans or would-be fans of L’Amour have plenty to choose from. He wrote 100 novels, 250 short stories, and a whole series of books about the Sackett family, who emigrated from East Angelia, England, to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.  

L’Amour is best known for his westerns (frontier stories, he called them). He even wrote stories for Hopalong Cassidy Western Magazine, a short-lived publication produced to capitalize on the Hopalong television program in the 1950s. Those didn’t appear under his name and he denied writing them for most of his life.

There also are novels by him under the names of Tex Burns and Jim Mayo.

He was a favorite of western star John Wayne, whose producer (Robert Fellows) bought the film rights to a short story L’Amour had published in Collier’s magazine in 1952.  It became the basis for Wayne’s 1953 film Hondo. Of course, there were other short stories and novels that became films as well.

There’s so much more L’Amour to discover.  As you can see, you could easily get wrapped up in the whole Louis L’Amour mystique for eons. And we hope you will! ;-D

We hope you’ll come and explore the possibilities at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. It’s happening on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Just search of the 2025 book fair. You also can visit our website at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 83:: A visit to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Connecticut

Rare Book Cafe co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn engage in a discussion about the importance of the work of abolitionist writer Harriet Beecher Stowe as Ed visits her home in Hartford, Connecticut. 

Stowe is best remembered for her bestseller Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1851-1852), though she was quite a prolific writer who produced 30 books in her lifetime. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was not only a bestseller, it was highly influential in turning readers away from support of enslaving African Americans and others but also energizing anti-slavery movements in both the United States and Great Britain. 

You can learn more about the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center here: https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/ 

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. Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts in Amherst, 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 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com 

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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

Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea: An award-winning treasure to discover at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair

We know the fellow in the image is not Ernest Hemingway and we’re pretty sure it’s not Santiago, the fisherman hero of The Old Man and the Sea. He IS a fisherman and he appears to be on his way to his favorite fishing grounds. When it’s time to pull in the nets, though, we guess he’ll have to come back to the book later. Clearly he’s discovered himself a treasure in Hemingway’s book.

By the time Ernest Hemingway published The Old Man and the Sea (1952), it had been a dozen years since he had had a widely acclaimed novel. That was For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940).

There had been Across the River and Into the Trees (1950) but that had a lukewarm reception, though it was at the top of The New York Times bestseller list briefly.

It took Hemingway about six weeks to write The Old Man and the Sea, when he finally got to it. He’d heard the basic story some 15 to 20 years before from a fishing guide he knew in Cuba. He first wrote about the tale of an old man who battles a giant marlin in an article for Esquire magazine in 1936.

He sent the draft for the novella around to this publisher and his agent, and to close friends and relatives. He got very positive responses. Originally, he had mind for it to be part of a “sea trilogy”  but it soon became clear the novella could stand on its own.

Hemingway’s friend and agent, Leland Hayward, got the editorial board at LIFE magazine interested and Hemingway agreed to let LIFE publish it two weeks before Scribner’s published it in book form.

Heminway’s work went on to be on The New York Times bestseller list for six months. It received the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and there was special mention of it when Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.

You can still find copies of LIFE magazine issue of September 1, 1952 at book fairs and with booksellers. You can also find copies of first editions as well as later printings of The Old Man and the Sea. No promises that there will be any at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in March but it’s highly likely. Other Hemingway works are also likely to be found at the book fair.
 
Come and explore the treasures that abound at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. It’s happening on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.
 
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Just search of the 2025 book fair. You also can visit our website at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com
 
#rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversparadise.