Category Archives: Art

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

As some readers know, much of my time is generally occupied finding and selling antiquarian travel books. Although I focus mostly on 19th and early 20th century travel guidebooks, I am interested in other travel literature and unrelated genres, as … Continue reading →

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Feline Friday

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Vacation in a Box

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us have been forced to postpone our summer vacation plans, but IKEA in Dubai has come up with a clever idea to offer “vacations in a box” to help send customers to far-flung … Continue reading →

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August Everything Is Wrong

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“August” by Mary Oliver Our neighbor, tall and blonde and vigorous, the mother of many children, is sick. We did not know she was sick, but she has come to the fence, walking like a woman who is balancing a … Continue reading →

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Fantastic Fonts

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

  As an antiquarian book collector, I’ve always been fascinated by the astonishing variations in fonts and typefaces. These days we are so overwhelmed by the variety of fonts that we see both in print and online that we often … Continue reading →

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If you want to understand a poem

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Grant Snider  

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You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

A new book called Banksy: You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat and if You Were Not You Would Know About has just been published. The book features a huge collection of photos highlighting some of the most iconic works by … Continue reading →

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It’s really about the coffee

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

These days I spend an inordinate amount of time on my coffee roasting obsession. When I’m not researching green beans to buy, I’m looking for books and articles on coffee in general. I recently stumbled on this unusual artist book … Continue reading →

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NYC: Word on the Street

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The NYC-based street artist known as “Almost Over Keep Smiling” gave a minor update to  slightly reinterpret this 19th century warning poster telling anybody who was Black in a “free” state like New York to stay away from the police … Continue reading →

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We All Have a Touch of Fernweh These Days

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

It’s highly likely that you know Teju Cole for his innovative novels and essays, but he is also a dedicated photographer. This spring he release a photobook called Fernweh. The word in German translates literally to “farsickness”, the opposite of … Continue reading →

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