So yes, Wednesday October 26th, found yours truly boarding a direct United flight, SFO – BSO.\u00a0 My usual [bad] luck took a vacation, and the flight departed [more or less] on time, arriving right around dinner time.\u00a0 Which I had at the conveniently-located restaurant next to my hotel, Rooster Bistro.\u00a0 Totally forgettable.\u00a0 Totally.<\/span><\/p>\n A good night\u2019s sleep suppressed that memory, and when Thursday dawned, I made my way to the North Bennett School in the company of Laurelle Swan [Swan\u2019s Fine Books, Walnut Creek CA], an ABAA scholarship recipient to that day’s ABAA\/RBS Educational Seminar.\u00a0 A joint effort, this year 30 bibliophiles gathered to hear the likes of David Whitesell, Terry Belanger, Todd Pattison, Don Lindgren & Nina Musinsky speak about their respective areas of expertise.\u00a0 I, while there that morning to welcome those 30, was not a seminar registrant this year.\u00a0 So once all had departed for their designated classrooms, I departed for Brattle Book Shop, 9 West Street.\u00a0 On arrival, I immediately headed for the 3rd floor [Rare Books].\u00a0 For those not ever having had the pleasure, Brattle gets lots of books.\u00a0 Lots.\u00a0 And Ken frequently pencils bookseller-friendly prices on the flyleaf.\u00a0 And, this week there was a 50% sale in effect, which began on Monday.\u00a0 [Note to self: fly out earlier next year].\u00a0 Yes, I soon expect parcel(s) to arrive from Brattle [as do, I\u2019m sure, hundreds of other booksellers].<\/span><\/p>\n Thursday night, traditionally, is the night for the meeting of the ABAA Board of Governors.\u00a0 This year was no different, and we convened at the nearby Brasserie Jo.\u00a0 The meeting was filled with typical \u2018governing\u2019 administrative matters, which I only mention here, because as part of the meeting, the board approved 7 new ABAA members, of which 5 will be noted here, for, in the past, I have often crossed paths with these fine folk: Kim Herrick, Laurelle Swan, Andy Langer, Michael Thompson & Abby Schoolman.\u00a0 Congrats to you all!<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"broadside\"](\"http:\/\/blog.tavbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/broadside.jpg\")
<\/a>As is the custom at the Boston fair, Friday night 5 pm rang the opening bell.\u00a0 I, like many others, made my way in & started visiting folks I knew\u2026\u00a0 and quickly realized it was downright hot in the hall!\u00a0 I don\u2019t know the gate, but if ambient temperature reflects occupancy, it was well attended!\u00a0 I recorded but a single purchase that night, but hey, if, as was the case here, it\u2019s an unrecorded 19th C. adventist broadside, I\u2019m [very] ok with that.\u00a0 Thank you John.\u00a0 My book scouting continued the next morning at the Boston Book, Print & Ephemera Fair.\u00a0 As said elsewhere, \u201cthe incomparable Peter Luke snared most of my attention (not to mention funds) with such great items as this 19th C. execution broadside.”<\/span><\/p>\n