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The World of James Bond

The World of James Bond

By Adrienne Raptis | December 17, 2015
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There is perhaps no fictional character more produced in writing and film than the suave, intelligent, and mysterious James Bond. After his time serving in the British Naval Intelligence Division during World War II, Ian Fleming took to Jamaica in 1952 and spent two months distracting himself from his upcoming betrothal to a pregnant fiancé by…

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Rare Book Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Rare Book Gift Ideas for the Holidays

By Adrienne Raptis | December 2, 2015
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The holidays are upon us and this is your last chance to buy meaningful gifts for the loved ones in your life. There are many great gifts for readers, but for the rare book enthusiast in your life, making the right choice can be tricky. Here are some first edition novels, volumes, and autobiographies that…

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The Complete Works of John Locke

The Complete Works of John Locke

By Adrienne Raptis | November 19, 2015
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John Locke, born August 29, 1632, was one of the greatest liberal minds of the Enlightenment. He fathered Classical Liberalism, a school of thought that departed from the idea of society as a family and took on the view of society as a mere mesh of its individuals, all of whom were innately cold, manipulative,…

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The Nature of Lord Byron

The Nature of Lord Byron

By Adrienne Raptis | November 10, 2015
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George Gordon Byron, more commonly known as Lord Byron, was a one of the most flamboyant and fashion forward poets of the Romantic era. He is best known for creating the most popular Romantic hero of all time, Don Juan. Much like his characters, Lord Byron was defiant, melancholy, and had secrets of his own.…

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10 Gifts for Book Lovers in Fall

By Amanda Shepard | October 30, 2015
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Autumn is a special season. The leaves are changing, the cold is coming, and nothing sounds better than curling up near the fire with a mug of hot cider and a good book. If you have any birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions coming up this fall season, here are a few rare finds that…

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10 of the Most Rare Books of All Time

By Adrienne Raptis | October 7, 2015
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1. The Declaration of Independence The original Declaration of Independence, signed by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, is easily one of the rarest, most sought after documents of all time. There were only 200 copies of it printed on July 4th, 1776, and only about 26 copies survive to this day. Fun Fact:…

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Books, Books, Books

Books, Books, Books

By Adrienne Raptis | October 7, 2015
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Books. Am I right?   They help you sleep at night.   They open doors to new worlds.   Doors you didn’t even know were there to be opened.   And sometimes windows too.   They light up the mind.   And create a foundation of knowledge.   And after all, knowledge is power.  …

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Quotes on Collecting Books

Quotes on Collecting Books

By Adrienne Raptis | September 22, 2015
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Your library is your sanctuary filled with the objects you love most in the world – your books. A great book collection can take a lifetime complete, and best of all, it is completely unique and entirely your own. Some refer to the rooms that hold their book collections as their personal “heaven” or “cocoon,”…

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Chronicles of Narnia and the World of C. S. Lewis

Chronicles of Narnia and the World of C. S. Lewis

By Adrienne Raptis | September 17, 2015
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Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C. S. Lewis, was one of the most distinguished writers and intellectual giants of the twentieth century. He spent the first half of his career holding numerous academic positions at Oxford University until he was unanimously elected the Chair of Renaissance and Medieval Literature at Cambridge University, where he…

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20 of Our Favorite Libraries

By Adrienne Raptis | September 4, 2015
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Libraries can be anything from private sanctuaries to ancient halls of knowledge, as long as they’re filled with books. Take a look at the wonder of these 20 beautiful libraries located everywhere across the world. 1. The Uris Library at Cornell University, New York. 2. American Entrepreneur Jay Walker’s Private Library. It was so important,…

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