The 10 Most Popular Fine Books Reads of 2020

While no one is sorry to see 2020 go, we are excited to take one last look at our top ten stories of the year.

#1 Discover the UK’s Historic Books
Take a peek inside a new online resource featuring rare books from the team behind Unlocking the Archive.

#2 How COVID-19 is Affecting Antiquarian Booksellers
In early April, we covered the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers’ online webinar about how the evolving pandemic would affect the trade.

#3 British Library Makes 40,000 Historical Maps Available Online
Stunning maps from the Topographical Collection of King George III, aka “K. Top,” are available for creative reuse.

#4 (and my personal favorite) For Sale: Miniature Replica of a Mid-Century NYC Rare Bookseller’s Gallery
The dollhouse-sized replica of rare book dealer John Fleming’s 57th Street gallery pictured above went to auction in Chicago this past summer. Spoiler alert: I was out-bid; it sold for $11,250.

#5 Summer Reading: Books about Books
Books about books are our jam. This quarterly roundup featured Shaun Bythell’s Confessions of a Bookseller in nonfiction and Fiona Davis’ The Lions of Fifth Avenue in fiction.

#6 Bright Young Librarians: Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty
Our signature Q&A with Evangelestia-Dougherty, associate university librarian at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

#7 Bright Young Librarians: Devin Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald, curator for rare books and the history of printing at the UCLA Library Special Collections in California, takes our questions.

#8 Unrecorded “Paris Journal” by Jim Morrison Heads to Auction
Yes, the Lizard King's literary legacy lives on.

#9 What’s New in Bibliofiction, Fall 2020
We recommend five new novels with bookish themes.

#10 Notable Wodehouse Collection Heads to Auction
Nearly two hundred lots from the P.G. Wodehouse collection of the late William Toplis were sold in Philadelphia.

And … the best of 2019 can be enjoyed again too! Here’s to 2021.