Glenn Goldman’s books, up for auction
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They all came to Book Soup -- writers Martin Amis, Hunter S. Thompson and John Updike, former President Bill Clinton, artists Ed Ruscha, Helmut Newton and Andy Warhol. At the West Hollywood bookstore, they signed books for readers who queued up and bought their books; they also signed books to the bookstore’s owner, Glenn Goldman.
Goldman opened Book Soup in 1975 on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. He was devoted to keeping the store open; during one difficult stretch, he told the L.A. Times, ‘I lived in the back of the store. Sold some of my belongings. I just didn’t want to concede to failure.’
In January 2009, Goldman, who had been ill, announced that he was putting Book Soup up for sale. He died the next day. (Book Soup was later bought by Vroman’s.)
Part of Goldman’s personal collection of inscribed books will go up for auction this month at Bonhams & Butterfields. The auction house is down the street from Book Soup’s location on Sunset Boulevard.
The auction will include works signed by Martin Amis, including ‘The Rachel Papers,’ estimated at $300-$500. Books by photographers Helmut Newton and Annie Leibovitz will be on the block, and signed books by Ed Ruscha, estimated at $250-$350, include the inscription ‘Glenn you Rascal!’
Separate books signed by Hunter S. Thompson and illustrator Ralph Steadman will be up for auction; in an earlier auction of works from Goldman’s collection, a copy of ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ signed by both Thompson and Steadman sold for $3,900, exceeding the estimate by more than $3,000.
The latest books for auction from Glenn Goldman’s collection, including inscribed books by Bill Clinton, John Updike and others, will be on view Aug. 20-22 at Bonhams & Butterfields; the auction is Aug. 22.
-- Carolyn Kellogg
