David Trutt Gilbert & Sullivan Collection Now Available Online

For the past two decades David Trutt has been collecting books relating to the Victorian operatic pair of William Gilbert (words) and Arthur Sullivan (music). Intrigued by Sullivan’s independent collaboration with librettist Sydney Grundy on the opera Haddon Hall, he added items relating to Haddon Hall, the thousand year-old castle in Derbyshire England. His website (www.haddon-hall.com) contains scarce and unusual material on these two subjects. In general, items on this website are nowhere else on the internet, are probably not on the used book sites, or are expensive if so listed. Items on this website are downloadable PDF files available at no charge.

There are three major sections to the website that the reader may wish to explore.

G & S. Collection: This section provides information on how David formed the Gilbert & Sullivan portion of the collection that has been donated to the Oviatt Library at California State University-Northridge (CSUN). “David Trutt assembled his collection over an eighteen year period from 1988 through 2006 and donated it to the Oviatt Library in 2007 and 2008. It numbers well over 900 items including books, music scores, and ephemera. The collection is on the library’s online catalog under the name The David Trutt Gilbert and Sullivan Collection.”

Gilbert Books: Through diligent search of bookstores, used book websites, and aggressive bidding on eBay, this collector has managed to acquire a number of scarce or practically unknown early editions of William Gilbert related books. New editions have been created, clarifications and commentary added, and all are now available as PDF files that are completely searchable.

There are three Gilbert (without Sullivan) plays, Ought We To Visit Her?, An Old Score and The Princess. There are first edition American and English librettos of Princess Ida and there are significant differences between the earlier American edition which was modified into the later English edition.

Included in this section are items authored by George Grossmith, the famous “patter” singer who created many popular comic roles such as Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore and Ko-Ko in The Mikado—he was a popular entertainer in addition to his prominence in the Gilbert & Sullivan performances. There are other scarce items of interest including James Fletcher's children’s book version of H.M.S. Pinafore and L. May Haughwout's version of Tennyson’s The Princess.

Haddon Hall Books: Haddon Hall is a castle located in the Derbyshire area of England with a thousand year history. Popular interest is in the period starting from the 1560s with the story of Sir George Vernon and the elopement of his daughter Dorothy Vernon.

This section is probably the most complete and comprehensive collection anywhere of literature related to Dorothy Vernon and Haddon Hall. Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall is an original work of scholarship by this collector and provides the origin and growth of the story of her elopement. In researching the book, a number of poems surfaced detailing the romance both of Dorothy and of Haddon Hall itself. These were collected in two books, Poems of Haddon Hall (notable for its many illustrations) and its Afterword.

Of particular interest is the sub-section Haddon Hall - Did Dorothy Vernon Elope? This section contains nine downloadable PDF files, listed in chronological order from the first story of the elopement in 1822, through its development in print, to James Muddock’s conclusion in 1907.

Also, Joseph Waterfall's Poems lay forgotten in the back room of a Matlock (England) library until this collector happened upon them and brought them to light on the website. Three plays of interest are also included: The Warlock by Alfred Smythe is notable for the accusation by Smythe that Sydney Grundy plagiarized from this opera to create Haddon Hall. Dorothy O’ the Hall by Paul Kester is based on the famous Charles Major 1902 novel Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall. Also included is a carefully crafted new edition of the Sullivan-Grundy opera Haddon Hall. Questions and comments are welcome at davettt@verizon.net

Bound for Success: Designer Bookbinders International Bookbinding Exhibition at the Grolier Club until July 31st

The Grolier Club in May welcomed an exhibition of the work of some of the best bookbinders worldwide. Bound for Success features 117 superb bindings that were judged the best out of 240 entries in the 2009 international bookbinding competition, organized by Designer Bookbinders in conjunction with the Bodleian Library Oxford. Binders representing 21 countries offer highly creative and surprisingly diverse interpretations on the theme of ‘water.’

The first prize was awarded to Alain Taral of France, and the second prize was won by Jenni Grey of the UK. Both prizes were given by Mark Getty in honor of his father Sir Paul Getty (1932-2003). In his Foreword to the accompanying exhibition catalogue, Mark Getty says: ‘My father began collecting bookbindings while he was still a young man. I am therefore delighted to have had the opportunity to sponsor this competition and in particular to have sponsored the top prizes in honour of my father. The Sir Paul Getty Bodleian Bookbinding Prize recognises the best current bookbinding in the world, and it is fitting that the Bodleian Library and the Library at Wormsley should add these two prize books to their collections, and that the name of Getty should continue to be associated with the most creative work in one of the most compelling fields of contemporary art and craft.

The US Tour of Bound for Success is sponsored by Bonhams Auction House together with the Friends of Designer Bookbinders. Designer Bookbinders is one of the foremost societies devoted to the craft of fine bookbinding. Founded over fifty years ago it has, by means of exhibitions and publications, helped to establish the reputation of British bookbinding worldwide. Its membership includes some of the most highly regarded makers in the fields of fine bookbinding, book arts and artists’ books, each with a passion for presenting the bound text as a unique art object. For further information, visit the Society website: www.designerbookbinders.org.uk. Each competition entrant received a specially commissioned book entitled Water, an anthology of poems in several languages with images that complement the poems. Produced by Incline Press of Oldham England, in a limited edition, this fine press purposely planned the book to give binders maximum flexibility with design and structure. The bindings on display show remarkable ingenuity, technical skill and sophistication in the way binders have responded to the theme of water, and viewing the range of cultural and geographical differences makes this exhibition a fascinating overview of the work of contemporary designer binders in the 21st century.

The bindings were first exhibited at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, as part of their Summer exhibition “An Artful Craft: Historic Bookbindings from the Broxbourne Library and other Collections.” An accompanying catalogue for the Designer Bookbinders International Competition 2009 is available to purchase: Bound for Success: Catalogue for Designer Bookbinders International Competition 2009 by Jeanette Koch (editor), hardcover, 144 pp, ISBN: 978-1851243525.

Bound for Success will be on exhibition at the Grolier Club until July 31, 2010, Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, with the exception of July 3. For more information, visit the Grolier Club website: www.grolierclub.org

Palm Beach Show Group 30th Baltimore Summer Antiques Show & Antiquarian Book Fair

Recognized as the largest indoor antiques show in the United States, the 30th Annual Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will return to the Baltimore Convention Center Labor Day weekend, September 2-5, 2010. Art and antique aficionados from across the country and around the world will have the opportunity to view and purchase from the collections of more than 550 international dealers from the United States, Canada, France, Italy, England, China and Japan. Guests will see aisle after aisle of fine art, furniture, Asian art, American and European silver, jewelry, porcelain, glass, textiles, American folk art and more, ranging from antiquity to the 20th century.

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show was acquired in October 2005 by the Palm Beach Show Group – owners and operators of the prestigious Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, February 18-22, 2011; Fort Lauderdale Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, January 7-10, 2011; and the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, October 28-31, 2011. Since 2005, the Palm Beach Show Group has increased the international promotion of the event, which in turn, has tripled the show’s attendance figures.

On opening day, thousands of top international dealers come to buy items for their galleries and personal collections, and as the show progresses over the weekend, tens of thousands of collectors, interior designers and retail buyers frequent the show.

A highlight of the event will be the 70-dealer Antiquarian Book Fair within the show that will offer rare books, first editions, autographs, fine manuscripts and unusual bibliographical material. In addition, the show will feature an educational lecture series that is free to the public as well as show attendees. The lecture series will include presentations on a broad array of topics by respected dealers and industry experts such as Robert Mintz, Associate Curator of Asian Art for The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Md. and Janet Drucker, founder of Drucker Antiques, a recognized authority on Georg Jensen silver jewelry, flatware and hollow-ware.

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will take place September 2-5, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md. Hours are Thursday, September 2 from 12:00am. – 8:00pm.; Friday, September 3 and Saturday, September 4 from 11:00am. – 7:00pm.; and Sunday, September 5 from 11:00am. – 6:00pm. Tickets are $12.00 and are good for all four show days. For more information, visit www.baltimoresummerantiques.com.

Palm Beach Show Group Presents Inaugural Fort Lauderdale Art, Antique & Jewelry Show and Antiquarian Book Fair

More than 400 top-tier dealers from the United States and around the world will travel to South Florida January 7-10, 2011, to exhibit their outstanding collections at the first annual Fort Lauderdale Art, Antique & Jewelry Show at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, situated on Florida’s scenic Intracoastal Waterway.

The extraordinary assortment of items on display will include fine art, furniture, Asian art, American and European silver, jewelry, porcelain, glass, textiles, American folk art and more, ranging from antiquity to the 20th century. Another highlight of the show will be the Antiquarian Book Fair taking place within the event that will feature rare books, first editions, autographs, fine manuscripts and unusual bibliographical material.

The Fort Lauderdale Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will also feature an educational lecture series that is free to the public as well as show attendees. The lecture series will include presentations on a wide array of topics by respected dealers and industry experts. For more information call (561) 822-5440 or e-mail Chrissy@palmbeachshow.com.

Anne Morgan’s War: Rebuilding Devastated France, 1917-1924 on View at the Morgan from September 3 — November 21, 2010

This exhibition of vintage photographs and rare silent film footage brings to life the extraordinary work undertaken between 1917 and 1924 by 350 American women—all volunteers— who left comfortable lives in the United States to devote themselves to humanitarian action in France after World War I. Barred from voting or serving in active combat, these women instead directed their considerable energy toward international relief work to counter the devastation of war. The dynamic center of this group was Anne Morgan, daughter of the prominent financier Pierpont Morgan, who collected private funds and founded the American Committee for Devastated France. In the tradition of Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale, this group of women lived alongside the rural people of Picardy, a region of northern France that had been ravaged during the first World War. At the wheel of their Ford trucks, they directed the reconstruction of buildings and agricultural production; created a network of visiting nurses, libraries, social centers, and kindergartens; encouraged sports and scouting; and organized festive events designed to rebuild social ties. This exhibition illustrates how Anne Morgan and her colleagues cannily employed the media of film and photography to publicize their work and instigate social action.

The exhibition is drawn from the collections of The Franco-American Museum, Château de Blérancourt, France, and The Morgan Library & Museum, and is supported by The American Friends of Blérancourt.

The Genius of Mark Twain, an Exhibition from September 17 through January 2, 2011

In a joint exhibition entitled Mark Twain: At Home and Abroad , the Morgan Library and the New York Public Library, will explore the life, work, and enduring influence of this true American original: novelist, short story writer, fabulist, international celebrity, critic, lecturer, and travel-writer. The exhibition celebrates the 175th anniversary of his birth as well as the centennial of his death. Through manuscripts, typescripts, books, diaries, notebooks, correspondence, photographs, and related materials, the exhibition examines Twain’s ambivalence towards the idea of progress in an increasingly modernizing late nineteenth-century America—in regards to technology, urban development, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, religion, social justice, and literary style.

More on this exhibition and "Anne Morgan's War" will appear in the next issue. For more information call (212) 590-0311.

Vermont Summer Book Fair Finds New Home In Brattleboro

The Vermont Summer Book Fair, inaugurated twenty-nine years ago has found a new home in southern Vermont. The Withington Skating Facility at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro has agreed to host this summer staple of the book fair calendar on August 15, 2010. Just off Exit 2 of I-91, on Rte 9, The park complex is identifiable by the local landmark of the Creamery Covered Bridge. Plenty of parking surrounds this well-lit spacious exhibition space that is home to the Brattleboro Winter Sports Program and events like the “Home Show”. “This move brings the fair closer to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire population centers of Springfield, North Hampton, Greenfield and Keene. We hope to draw heavily from these areas”, said fair manager, Garry R. Austin.

While the location is a new one, the great tradition of this bookish get together will not change. This fair has always moved at a leisurely pace. Plenty of set-up time for dealers and a post set-up dinner at a local VABA member’s home where there will be fine food and drink and wonderful story-telling recounted from the combined experiences of experienced booksellers and new colleagues.

Back at the Arena, the spacious location will give dealers a lot of real estate to display their materials in, at very modest booth rents. This will also allow visitors to enjoy the comfort of pleasant browsing, without over-crowding in the aisles or booths, allowing for a greater range in dealer displays. Browsers will find rarities of course, but there will be many interesting modestly priced items as well. Door prizes will be awarded to visitors, including special VABA tote bags and gift certificates that can be spent on the floor with any bookseller.

At the Vermont Summer Fair there will be names that you recognize from the the New York, Los Angeles, or Boston ABAA shows, however there will also be dealers that exhibit at very few book fairs at all. Some come from as far away as Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and others from New York and the neighboring New England states. They will be bringing fresh material gathered from auctions, attics, barns, book sales, house-calls and from book scouts, including books and ephemera on almost any subject. Whether an experienced or novice book collector, librarian, archivist, independent scholar or academic, or simply interested in books and the book arts in general, people should find something that will appeal to their taste.

As always the fair is sponsored by the Vermont Antiquarian Booksellers Association, with 58 members statewide. The VABA was founded in 1977 with 16 members and was one of the earliest regional antiquarian bookselling organizations in the country. For more information contact Garry Austin at (802) 464-8438.

The Book & Paper Show

The first Book & Paper Show in New York’s south west counties will be held in Westfield, about 10 miles from Chautauqua, on Saturday, July 31, 2010, with 25 dealers representing five states. The show will be held in the Fireman’s Exempt Hall on Bourne St., and runs from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Highlighted will be books, postcards, maps and all varieties of ephemera that relate to western New York and particularly to Chautauqua County as it approaches its bicentennial in 2011. This will be a new venue and a new experience for an area long famous for the summer Chautauqua Institution. For further information please go to www.mcclurgmuseum.org and click on Book & Paper Show.