Because Rare Book Hub lives midway between the past and the emerging future, I asked Gemini “What would have Gabby Hays said to an 80-year-old man who just had a knee replacement?
"Well, jumpin’ jehosaphat! Look at you, ya old buzzard!
So they finally went and swapped out that rusted-up, squeaky old knee of yours for a shiny new store-bought one, huh? Consarn it, I bet you’re fixin' to race the jackrabbits now!
Now listen to me, ya stubborn mule—you keep up with that physical therapy and stop grumblin' like a sore-footed bear, or I’ll have to whack ya with my hat! Rest up, take it easy, and before you know it, you’ll be kickin' up dust faster than a runaway stagecoach!”
As to who is the old buzzard, that’s our business partner Michael Stillman. He’s recovering while enjoying poor health.
Feel free to tell him what you’ve been biting your tongue to say about his articles for the past two decades. He’s on Tylenol+. He can take it.
Sotheby’s, Oct. 20: Euclid. Praeclarissimus Liber Elementorum in Artem Geometrie, Venice, Ratdolt, 25 May 1482, first edition of the first substantial mathematical work to appear in print, Durazzo copy.
Sotheby’s, Oct. 20: Galilei, Galileo. Sidereus nuncius …, Venice, 1610, first edition of the foundation of modern astronomy.
Sotheby’s, Oct. 20: Kepler, Johannes. Astronomia nova aitiologitos …, Prague or Heidelberg, 1609, first edition, contemporary vellum, the Chasles copy.
Sotheby’s, Oct. 20: Cellarius, Andreas. Harmonia macrocosmica seu atlas universalis et novus ..., Amsterdam, Jan Jansson, 1661, brilliantly handcolored.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Bible, in English. Fine restoration binding in the style of the Queen’s binders.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Magnus Hundt, the elder. First edition of one of the earliest printed books with anatomical illustrations.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Agatha Christie. Cards on the Table. First edition.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Beautiful and Damned. First edition, first printing.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Isaac Asimov. I, Robot. First edition, presentation copy.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Bible, in English. Geneva-Tomson-Junius. London: Robert Barker, [colophon 1612]/1611.
Gonnelli: Auction 72 Books, Autographs & Manuscripts October 6th-8th 2026
