Hubb – H – U – B – B
… or Helping Ukrainian
Books and Booksellers
Donations of rare books, artworks, manuscripts, photographs and ephemera are being sought for an auction aimed at raising funds for Ukrainian booksellers and publishers affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Authors are also being invited to donate signed first-edition copies of their books. The proceeds of the auction will go to Helping Ukrainian Books and Booksellers (Hubb), a group formed shortly after the war began, when thousands of publishing professionals suddenly found themselves out of work.
The libraries are on the frontline. The Russians targeted them from the beginning. In the initial invasion, Russian forces demolished the state archives in Chernihiv, a target containing sensitive NKVD and KGB information about Soviet-era repressions that the Russians wanted erased from the historical record. They ransacked the archives in Bucha just as they looted every cultural institution they conquered. They gutted the archival department in Ivankiv for no good reason. “Those who burn books will eventually burn people,” the German poet Heinrich Heine said. But in the Ukrainian war, the Russians burn books and people together.
The call for submissions is open until 10 October. Those interested in contributing to the sale are asked to send images of up to 10 items to hubb@catalog-sale.com.
From the articles Rare book donations sought for auction to help Ukraine booksellers by Ella Creamer and ‘Our mission is crucial’: meet the warrior librarians of Ukraine by Stephen Marche.
No Haiku For You 