Downsizing? We are Upsizing! Always Wanted: Books and letters signed by Famous People, Literary and Historical Figures, such as Einstein....

 RECENTLY ACQUIRED

A Biography of Albert Einstein

published in 1930. 

SIGNED BY EINSTEIN 

 

An authentic signature by Einstein

in the year of publication. 

 

 

Anton Reiser was the pseudonym for Rudolph Kayser, husband to Einstein's stepdaughter Ilse.

Do you have any special treasures, or collections of rare books? We never stop buying great books.  We also purchase special diaries, albums, correspondence and more.

Our date of publication cut off is usually around 1950, with exceptions when books are signed by famous people. 

Give us a call or send us an email. 

The Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair, September 27 and 28, 2025

 

We had a great book fair!  It was great to be with book colleagues and to witness such enthusiasm for old books and paper by a "younger" crowd, which usually means under 35 years old. The fair was well organized, and sales amongst the dealers met expectations or exceeded them.  We bought some terrific items and sold well. 

 

 

At Concordia University

 

One of the more unusual items we exhibited in Montreal.  A large format 'MOVEABLE" Children's book.  Pull the ribbons and the images inside rotate and create a new story.

 

 

China in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The Barry Griblin Collection. Part I, 2, 3 and 4

We are pleased to present our newest catalogue, China in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The Barry Griblin Collection. Part I. This is the first of five parts, encompassing a substantial book and pamphlet collection devoted to Chinese history, culture, travel narratives, view books, and architecture assembled by Barry Griblin. 

Mr. Griblin was an architect based in West Vancouver. A West Coast modernist, he specialized in homes built on difficult, hilly terrain, often on the coast. His influences included Frank Lloyd Wright, Arthur Erickson, and traditional Japanese architecture. He travelled to China, where he developed an appreciation for Chinese temples and architecture, as well as Chinese history and culture. 

The PDF for Part I can be viewed here.

 

The PDF for Part 2 can be viewed here. 

 

The PDF for Part 3  can be viewed here.  Books by Women about China

 

 

 

RARE BOOK HUB published a review of Part I in their September issue of Rare Book Monthly.

 The PDF for Part 4 can be viewed here

 

 

Celebrating Dr. Wallace Chung's 99th Birthday Chinatown Story Telling Centre, Vancouver BC

 

Celebrating Dr. Wallace Chung's 99th Birthday

At the Chinatown Storytelling Centre

On November 30, 2024 Vancouver's Chinatown Storytelling Centre hosted Dr. Chung’s 99th birthday celebration and a tribute. There were three speakers. His daughter Maria, his son Stephen, and I gave talks that shared anecdotes about his personal life, his contributions as a physician and teacher, 

and details of his many decades of passionate collecting.

In my opinion, Dr. Wallace Chung is one of Canada's greatest living collectors of history and culture. His collection at UBC, a rather unique distinction, was entered into UNESCO’s World Register of cultural treasures 

in recognition of its important historical value.

 

 

 

Dr. Chung’s donated collections (and there were many) consist of more than 25,000 artifacts, photographs, rare books, ship models, posters, photo albums including vast quantities of highly elusive documents related to Victoria and Vancouver Chinatowns.  He also collected anything related to the experiences of Chinese people throughout all of Canada and especially the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.  He was also interested in Canadian history, anything to do with British Columbia, maritime history including ocean liners like the Titanic, the Normandie, the Cunard shipping line and anything to do with the Canadian Pacific Railway and Steamship lines. Most of the maritime treasures were donated to the Vancouver Maritime Museum in two stages.

Earlier, on April 19, 2024, a celebratory inauguration took place for a new gallery that highlights some of the treasures in the Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection and Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection which were merged into a dedicated gallery space in the Barber building on the UBC Campus.

Here is UBC’s official presentation.

Although there were many, many booksellers and antique dealers in Canada and the United States who have helped Dr. Chung with his collecting, it was satisfying to see some of the publications, posters and artifacts that I sold him over four decades prominently displayed in the new gallery. 

Bjarne Tokerud

Andreas Vesalius's annotated 1555 masterpiece DE HUMANIS CORPORIS FABRICA LIBRI SEPTEM

How a Defective Book Bought at Auction Became a $1.8 Million Win for a North Vancouver Book Collector

By Bjarne Tokerud

Published in the Rare Book Monthly

March 1 2024

has been removed, not

for technical reasons.

The story of the discovery and sale of Andreas Vesalius's annotated copy:

DE HUMANIS CORPORIS FABRICA LIBRI SEPTEM, published in Basel in 1555.

                

 

Photographs © Bjarne Tokerud. Copyright reserved.

 

For a superb analysis of the historical importance of the annotations, Dr. Vivian Nutton's article can be found by clicking here.

 

 

Dr. Vivian Nutton: "Vesalius, as contemporaries agreed, was a brilliant anatomist, and his book changed the whole development of anatomy. "

Visit us at the Showpiece Art & Antique Fair September 9-10, 2023 at the Croatian Cultural Centre 3250 Commercial Drive Vancouver

 

We are pleased to present a PDF of Catalogue 66: Arctic Exploration, Iceland and Canadiana. Over 200 items.

 

                                         Link to the Catalogue 

 

 

 

Rare books appraised, bought, and sold in Vancouver BC. Professional appraisals. Available by appointment.

 

512 - 470 Granville Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1V5

VISITORS WELCOME.

Are you having to manage an estate where there is a collection of rare books? 

 

Are there old photographs? Signed documents by famous historical figures or musicians?

Are you seeking to dispose advantageously of your own collection of books and related material?

Give us a call at 604 633 0001.

Thanks!  Bjarne Tokerud   Nationally Recognized Appraiser of Rare Books and Related Materials

 

 

Barbarian Press New Arrivals: Click on "Barbarian Press" to get the PDF

Barbarian Press produces some of the finest Private Press publications in Canada, possibly even in North America...

Vancouver Rare Book, Photograph and Paper Show October 12 and 13, 2019

We will be exhibiting a wide range of antiquarian and collectible books, photographs and ephemera at the Vancouver Rare Book Photograph and Paper Show on October12 and 13, 2019 at Heritage Hall at 3102 Main Street.

Saturday, October 12 – 9:00AM to 5:00PM; 

Sunday, October 13 – 10:00AM to 3:00PM


Admission: $10.00 (good for both days)

We will offering several collections of fine leather bindings

We will also be offering--

 

Kane, Paul.  WANDERINGS OF AN ARTIST AMONG THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA From Canada to Vancouver’s Island and Oregon Through the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Territory and Back Again.  London: Longman and others, 1859.  1^st edition.  xvii + 1pp (list of illustrations) + 455pp + 7pp (appendix) + 24pp (advertisements).  8 chromolithograph plates. Folding partly-coloured map, 16 woodcut illustrations.  Publisher’s gilt blind-stamped russet cloth, minor handling.  Text, plates, and map clean and fine.  Scarce in this condition.

Paul Kane (1810-1871) is best known for his paintings and sketches of Indigenous people during the 1840s.  After a short sojourn between Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie in 1845, he secured the support of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and travelled with their canoe brigades to western Canada.  He visited the Red River settlement, and then passed through the Saskatchewan valley, across the Rocky Mountains and down the Columbia River to Fort Vancouver in the Oregon Territory, and thence along the shores of Puget Sound to Vancouver Island where he stopped off at Fort Victoria.  Kane sketched and painted the people he encountered on his travels, and documented their way of life. Upon his return to Toronto, Kane exhibited his work.  The exhibition met with great success.  With the support of Sir George Simpson, his book was published in London. 

SOLD

Another Western Canadian Treasure

that will be exhibited

Dobbs, Arthur. AN ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTRIES ADJOINING TO HUDSON’S BAY, IN THE NORTH-WEST PART OF AMERICA: Containing a Description of their Lakes and Rivers, the Nature of the Soil and Climates, and their Methods of Commerce, &c. Shewing the Benefit to be made by settling Colonies, and opening a Trade in these Parts; whereby the French will be deprived in a great Measure of their Traffick in Furs, and the Communication between Canada and Mississippi be cut off. With An Abstract of Captain Middleton’s Journal, and Observations upon his Behaviour during his Voyage, and since his Return. 
London: Printed for J. Robinson, 1744. 4to (large paper copy: 28.4 cm). 1st edition. 1pp (title page) + ii + 211pp. Large folding engraved map. Early 20th Century signed binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe: three-quarter chocolate morocco and marbled boards, raised bands, gilt. Very clean and wide-margined. 

THE REMARKABLE DISCOVERY OF THE HANNE WASSERMAN WALKER ARCHIVE.

UBC Library acquires the personal archives of Hanne Wassermann Walker which also documents her friendship with Vienna photographer Trude Fleischmann...

One of the most interesting archives of photographs and documents we have ever handled has recently been acquired by UBC Library, Rare Books and Special Collections.

In the near future, we will tell the story of amazing discovery of the Hanne Wassermann Walker Archive 32 years ago.

For a quick summary: 

UBC Library’s Rare Books & Special Collections (RBSC) has acquired the personal archive of Hanne Wassermann Walker (1893-1985), a significant figure of pre-WWII Viennese cultural and social life. Her remarkable story has been relatively unknown until now. Born in Vienna to a Jewish family, Hanne Wassermann Walker left Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938. After living briefly in England, and then in New York, she went on to emigrate to Canada, taking up residence in Vancouver and later North Vancouver with her second husband, George Dickson Walker. She became a resident of British Columbia in 1943. A well-known figure of Viennese society during the 1920s and 1930s, Wassermann Walker was at the forefront of the Weimar-era body culture movement. Her school of gymnastics and health manuals for women brought her international fame and recognition from reputed medical institutions and clinical specialists. Among her correspondents, friends and students were film stars, artists and members of the European aristocracy.

One of the highlights is the collection of documents and photographs tracing Wassermann Walker’s life-long friendship with Trude Fleischmann, ranked among the most significant portrait-photographers of the 20th century. Not unlike HanneWassermann herself, Trude Fleischmann was forced to leave Vienna during the war, to relaunch her career on the North American continent. The archive contains hundreds of photographs taken by Fleischmann during the height of Wassermann Walker’s successful career in Vienna.

For the full UBC Library press release: