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About

I’m Rebecca Romney, the Rare Book Expert on Pawn Stars and Manager at the Las Vegas Gallery of Bauman Rare Books.

My blog is named after Aldus Manutius, the 15^th century Venetian printer who supervised the creation of the Italic fount and the octavo format (the format in which most of our books today are published).

Aldus played a major role in the popularization of classics. He printed many of the great Greek authors for the first time, and his octavo format made these books more accessible to a wider public.

Aldus himself was a scholar who befriended the best editors and professors of the day to create these works. His printing press was the hub for scholars, humanists, and anyone dedicated to literature. Aldus is my hero. And my crush. (Though my husband has excellent qualities, as well!)

Aldus’s printer’s device is the famed anchor and dolphin, the allegorical figure for the ancient saying Festina Lente.

Sir Thomas Browne translates festina lente as “Celerity contempered with cunctation.” Since that’s an abomination of alliteration, let’s just translate it as “make haste slowly.” In other words, work really fast, but be thorough and deliberate with your work. Aldus knew the importance of getting out as many works as possible, but he refused to sacrifice quality.

My blog is Aldine because I hope it will make the classics more accessible. I hope it can be a hub for book lovers. And I hope that my random thoughts on books show a bit of quality, here and there.

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188 Comments »

188 Responses

on March 6, 2013 at 11:37 pm | Reply Rudolph

Tim If someone wants to tell Rebecca she’s cute, What’s the big deal;? My wife is just as cute and I don’t mind guys telling me. Just because she’s attractive doesn’t mean someone doesn’t get something else out of her appearances. .
- on April 21, 2013 at 2:44 pm | Reply Rudolph
  
  Rebecca: Does a passion for collecting go hand and hand with a passion for collecting?
  
  Also, I’ve found that an individual’s collection of books does reflect their personality and has helped me retain fond memories of friends and relatives that are no longer around. I have even saved a few of their regular magazine subscriptions. My wife thinks it’s weird but to see their name on the cover and read about something I knew they enjoyed, sometimes I shared is comforting and calming.
on March 7, 2013 at 12:33 am | Reply Tim Whittome

Thanks Alex. There is nothing wrong with finding Rebecca beautiful and intelligent – and I do do – but I still am concerned at how her husband must think of us all. To my knowledge he hasn’t said anything, but we did have a ‘fake’ Mr. Romney who took no one in but me unfortunately. The real Rebecca found it funny and of course, being on television gives you a much higher profile and especially when you are everyone’s favorite expert on the Pawn Stars. I’d just like to spare some thought for the real Mr. Romney and whilst we can all admit he is a very lucky fellow in being married to Rebecca, it probably isn’t fair to her or him to punctuate nearly all of our comments with glowing tributes that don’t have much to do with books but which could be upsetting her family dynamics or homeostasis.
on March 8, 2013 at 2:12 am | Reply Jason Robotham

Hi,
I am looking for an old book about Shmuel Salant. He was a rabbi. Im willing to pay up to $100,000 if I have to if you can find a book on his autobiography. I found a place that has it in a library, but can’t be checked out. I learned I am related to him and want to have family history.
on March 12, 2013 at 3:16 am | Reply pete padilla

Well-put…
on March 14, 2013 at 1:22 am | Reply sloinker

Shmuel Salant? For that kind of coin I’m sure the book will turn up. Good luck!
on March 14, 2013 at 1:28 am | Reply sloinker

Here’s a website that talks of the biography but it requires a login and is in Hebrew I believe. linky-linky below….
http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?100460&amp
on March 14, 2013 at 1:27 pm | Reply Alex N.

I think I have that on our family book shelf. Please send the check and then I will send the book.
on April 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm | Reply bhuwanchand

The series has just started here on Indian Television (History Channel) and I love the show…
on April 21, 2013 at 12:02 am | Reply Steve Mcjuary

I just want you to know that I’m a big fan of yours! I live old books, and I could read them for 15 hours a day, lol. Oh yes I almost forgot, your are the most beautiful women I have ever seen, say sorry to your hubby for me for saying that, but it’s true!!!!!! Ok. Just wanted to say hi, would luv it if you emailed me just to say hi….. God would that be awesome!!!!! Hint-hint.. Lol. Keep up the great work
on May 12, 2013 at 9:19 pm | Reply Warren Fahy

The dolphin/anchor symbol was used by the Emperor Titus Flavius. Did you know that the works of Titus Flavius Jospephus, court historian of Titus, were annotated by Manutius Aldus?
on May 18, 2013 at 11:02 am | Reply Steve

I agree Rebecca you are one of the hottest women I have ever seen and I wish you lived in the uk.
on May 18, 2013 at 1:37 pm | Reply Barry Cantrell

I had a ‘complete work of Josephus’, it was 3”thick 8”x12” dated 18 somthing.. It was given to me by the grandso of Dr Martian Dehaan,founder of Raido Bible Class. I gave it to a Pastor for his Church library. I supose it was an expensive gift.