Signing off for a summer holiday

It has been quite a year so far! During this extraordinary time, we have been especially thankful for the opportunity to stay connected with you all through our weekly blog posts, and we’d like to say thank you to our friends, clients, and fellow bibliophiles for sustaining such a great international community despite the many challenges and hardships.

The past few months have certainly presented many painful moments, both at home and afar. Globally, we’ve grieved at the ravages of COVID-19, and within the rare book community we’ve mourned the loss of Dennis E. Rhodes in April and, more recently, of Alfredo Breitfeld of Librería de Antaño; doubtless many others have likewise left us far too soon.

We have also grieved the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others who have been the victims of gross inequalities and systemic injustices. This has been an important time for PrPh to reflect on our privilege, impact, and influence within and without of the rare book community, and it is with great urgency that we take up the charge of increasing diversity and inclusion.

As we meditate on our place and role as a rare book store and gallery, our past experiences and future objectives, we couldn’t help but think about how it all began. Thus, for our final post before a brief summer holiday, we look back to the start and present the remarks given by Professor Umberto Eco, Arturo Pregliasco, Vincent Buonanno, Umberto Pregliasco, and Filippo Rotundo at the opening of the PrPh Gallery in 2013. We hope you enjoy!

Until soon,

PrPh Books