International Antiquarian Book Fair attracts celebs like Johnny Depp

February 25, 2020


NY’s International Antiquarian Book Fair starts March 5. Park Avenue Armory.

There’s Maurice Sendak’s inscribed first edition of “Where the Wild Things Are.” From Paris, in French, 1885’s design for the Louis Vuitton iconic signature look. Booth E17 has Gustave Eiffel’s original 1880 drawings of La Statue de la Liberté. James Joyce signed only 100 copies of his “Ulysses.” One, in its original green wrapper, is for sale.

Autographed 1960’s “Samuel Beckett” letters are gettable. First edition of Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” inscribed with his comments. How about Czarina Catherine, Empress of Russia’s letter ordering a gift for her future husband whom she later deposed.

First edition hardcover of Alexandre Dumas’ “Les Trois Mousquetaires.” Illustrations by Rembrandt. Rare red ink Warhol. A magic how-to from Harry Houdini’s library. Draft typescript of Allen Ginsberg’s landmark poem “Howl.” A Jack the Ripper collection inscribed to one of the lead detectives.

With so much exposure in today’s world, celebrity collectors protect privacy. Johnny Depp shopped one book fair wearing a hoodie with the hood way up, covering nearly all his face.

Come Year 2670 it’ll be a yard sale of anti-Trump paperbacks.

Greed is good for the movies

“Greed” — that’s you not me. The film opens Friday.

Brit star Steve Coogan speaks quickly. I’m American. My ears are slow. He spoke British so I think he said: “It’s based on a true story. A self-made billionaire in my country who ruled the world of retail fashion.

“It’s patterned after a real London storekeeper.” A big name someone, whose company went bust, left pensions in question. “Of course, it’s not exactly him. It’s modeled after his character.

“Like maybe one of those multibillion-dollar companies that pay workers $3.50 a day. Not saying they do. Just that the gap between super-rich and super-poor is the concept. It’s a rollicking, gloriously over-the-top film.”

In it this bully wears fake huge white teeth. “They’re now in a box. I couldn’t even eat with them. Nor did I keep them. They’re not my thing. It was just to depict excess. Maybe in the next film my contract will state that if I wear fake teeth I keep them.

“Listen, in real life my character was an ass. A real complete ­total ass.”

Sanctified by truth

Burnie Sanders despises the United States, honeymooned in Russia, and wants to burn down our traditions. There is little economic difference between him and Havana’s tyrants. If we want to live in Cuba, and have the state determine what we can and cannot possess, we could move there.

The Bible’s James 4:1 and 2 might deal with red-faced burned-up Sanders’ fights and screeches. It reads: “Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have. So you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want. So you quarrel and fight.”

Uptown & upstate

Leslie Uggams made her debut age 9 at the Apollo. Despite a small lapse, she’s back. At the Apollo. April 27. A 16-week run. The show’s “Blue.” The director’s Phylicia Rashad … Question: Is Pawling going to the dogs? Poop in upstate’s high-class historic town, established by Quakers, is that the ASPCA’s putting their paws in Pawling. If so, where and for what — nobody in charge will bark.


Jane Fonda — speaking of hair change, face change and ambition change in her new documentary — looks 10 pounds lighter. Afterward, she put on mascara and was right back to her fighting weight.

Only mentioned in New York, kids, only in New York.

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