Melville House Books

The tumult over Greg Gatenby‘s attempt to sell off the books he got autographed during his years running the International Readings at Harbourfront Centre continues (see yesterday’s MobyLives news digest). As Rebecca Caldwell reports in a Globe & Mail story, Gatenby held a “testy” press conference over the American holiday “hoping to end the questions surrounding his announcement that he was selling his book collection, about 28,000 volumes worth an estimated $2-million, amassed in part during his time as director” of the IRHC. It did not go well. Reports Caldwell, “Twice an assistant attempted to cut off questions regarding provenance. The issue: When publishers send out free review copies of a book for promotional purposes, are they sending them to the individual or to the institution the individual works for? Gatenby maintained that the publishing industry sends them to the person and that the books then become that person’s property.” Says Gatenby, “One of the perks is that the person to whom the book is given keeps the book.” The IRCH is still not issuing comment. Meanwhile, a book dealer who appraised the collection says, “It is probably one of the largest collections of inscribed books in the world.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.