Second Story will be at the Boston Book Fair again, plus we’re taking our spectacular Cubs collection to Chicago, too!

New Photo Contest: PICTURE YOURSELF in front of our beautiful new billboard at the Rockville Warehouse / Bookstore. 


Contest Entry Rules & Prizes available November 13 on our website.

SECOND STORY NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2019 • Volume 18 • Number 11




Allan’s Antiquarian SpotlightSelected by Allan J. Stypeck, Senior Member, American Society of Appraisers

College of William and Mary, memorabilia from the estate of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger • National Park Service Foundation, memorabilia from the Martin Luther King, Jr. family • American Univ., the library of Mary and Eric Weinmann • American Univ., archival papers of the United States Capitol Historical Society • American Philosophical Society, archival papers relating to the book “The Ruin of J. Robert Oppenheimer: the National Security Trial of 1954” • Library of Congress, archival papers of journalist Ann Cottrell Free • Library of Congress, archival papers of Ann Cottrell Free pertaining to animal rights • Radcliffe Institute, correspondence of Rose Standish Nichols and Frederic Garner Ranney.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM ALLAN’S MOST RECENT APPRAISALS

PAUL ET VIRGINIE [AND] PAUL AND MARY, AN INDIAN STORY [THREE VOLUMES TOTAL] [WITH LETTER WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY SAINT-PIERRE] [EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 70 PROOFS BEFORE LETTERS]London; Paris: J. Dodsley; De L'Imprimerie de Monsieur, 1789. A unique collection of both the original French and the English translation of the famed novel, together with an awe-inspiring collection of proofs before letters by esteemed French artists. Three volumes housed in a custom three-part black and red leather box. $42,500


 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE. NARRATIVE OF SOLOMON NORTHUP, A CITIZEN OF NEW-YORK, KIDNAPPED IN WASHINGTON CITY IN 1841, AND RESCUED IN 1853, FROM A COTTON PLANTATION NEAR THE RED RIVER, IN LOUISIANA.
Auburn: Derby and Miller, 1853. First Edition, First Printing. Twelve Years a Slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by American Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. Northup, a black man who was born free in New York state, details his being tricked to go to Washington, D.C., where he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South. He was in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana before he was able to secretly get information to friends and family in New York, who in turn secured his release with the aid of the state. Northup's account provides extensive details on the slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, and describes at length cotton and sugar cultivation and slave treatment on major plantations in Louisiana. $10,000

FREE APPRAISAL DAYS AT THE ROCKVILLE SECOND STORY BOOKS

Allan Stypeck examines and appraises books at the monthly FREE APPRAISAL DAY. 
Next Event: Saturday November 30 at the Rockville Warehouse Store.

FREE APPRAISAL DAYS AT THE ROCKVILLE SECOND STORY BOOKS

HIGHLIGHTS from the October 26, 2019 Free Appraisal Day: Henry Longfellow: 1 page manuscript poem • Theodore Dreiser: 1 page letter regarding H.L. Mencken • Howard: First edition of “Conan the Barbarian” • L. Ron Hubbard: First edition of “Slaves of Sleep” • Leinster: Signed first edition of “Sidewise in Time” • Thomas More: Works, 1565 edition 
• Albert Cook Church: Signed books and photograph.

The first event sponsored by the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and Second Story Books to promote Washington history and support the work of HSW and the DC History Center took place on Thursday, October 3, as a “standing-room-only” crowd listened to Palace of State editor Thomas Luebke describe the 140-year history of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The event was live streamed as well. After a one hour powerpoint presentation, Mr. Luebke answered questions from the audience, then autographed copies of his book for attendees. 
 The Dupont Circle Second Story Books has a limited supply of autographed copies now available.

Book Talk Draws “SRO” Crowd to Second Story Watch & listen at our website under EVENTS / Bookstore Events