Johnson Rare Books & Archives

05/02/2026

His more than 100-year-old Chesterfield coat is currently up for sale at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair for $25,000. How did it get there?

04/13/2026

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Overcoat featured in Women’s Wear Daily

“Fitzgerald was the ‘influencer’ of his time and came to define the Jazz Age”

The coat will be offered for sale at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, April 30 to May 3 at the Park Avenue Armory

04/06/2026

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S OVERCOAT

A 1920s Brooks Brothers overcoat owned by novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) who penned such literary classics as The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender Is the Night. The Chesterfield model Brooks’ Brothers gray wool coat is trimmed on the collar with velvet and lined in black satin.

Fitzgerald and share a strong historical connection. The author is credited with popularizing “Ivy Style” and was known to wear Brooks Brothers polo collar shirts, today called Oxford shirts, as part of his daily retinue. When Fitzgerald dropped out of Princeton and enlisted in the Army in 1918, his dress uniform was tailored by Brooks Brothers.

In This Side of Paradise (1920), the main character, Amory Blaine, personified the new money culture – at one point wearing an overbearing combination consisting of a purple tie, purple pocket square, and purple socks, only to be told, “You must go to Brooks’ and get some really nice suits.”

In recognition of the strong connection between the author and clothier, Brooks Brothers created a “Great Gatsby” collection in 2013 based on the costumes in Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation of the novel. Many of the film’s costumes were inspired by 1920s images or products in the company’s archives, and Brooks Brothers manufactured more than 500 outfits for the film.

The overcoat was purchased in a 1994 Christie’s New York auction and has been held in a private collection ever since. It will be offered for sale by and in Booth A4 at the April 30 - May 3, 2026 at the Park Avenue Armory

Special thanks to .bar for allowing us to showcase the coat in a proper setting.

01/05/2026

RARE BOOKS PASADENA: February 21-22, 2026

Rare Books LA returns to Pasadena and invites booksellers and bibliophiles from around the world to come together and share their love of antiquarian books, fine prints, maps, ephemera, and more!

With support from AbeBooks, more than 70 exhibitors from London, Paris, Vienna, Melbourne, New York, and throughout the United States and Canada will fill the historic Raymond Theatre and a second location at the neighboring Courtyard by Marriott ballroom with a dazzling array of rare books and other historical material.

The new book fair location in Old Pasadena is bustling with cafés and restaurants as well as ample parking. Attendees can also hop onboard Metro light rail for this transit-friendly book fair, located just a half block from the Memorial Park stop on the A Line.

The Raymond Theatre, originally named the Crown Theatre, was built in 1921 and became a prominent entertainment venue known for its elegant design and grand architecture. In the late 1970s, it gained fame as Perkins Palace, hosting rock concerts featuring notable acts like Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Devo, Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Guns N’ Roses, and Black Flag.

For more information and tickets, visit www.RareBooksLA.com (link in profile)

12/23/2025

Visiting with Lynne and James in Tucson 🌵

03/28/2025

01/14/2025

The Rare Books LA family was saddened to see that the fair in Pasadena has been cancelled. As a Los Angeles-based company with many friends and colleagues displaced by the recent wildfires, we understand the impact of the disaster and the long road of recovery that lies ahead.

We hope those who were planning to travel to California will support the rare book community by attending Rare Books San Francisco, February 1-2, 2025

The ABAA announced that all tickets purchased through Eventbrite for its fair will be refunded to the original payment method. We will honor all tickets, electronic and printed, from the canceled show in Pasadena even if you have received your money back.

Many of the booksellers scheduled to exhibit in Pasadena were also planning to participate in Rare Books San Francisco. We are working to create even more space to accommodate additional exhibitors. See the exhibitor list at www.rarebooksla.com (link in profile) and check back at the end of the week for updates.

Our thoughts remain with the victims of these fires, the communities affected, and the first responders.

12/25/2024

May your holidays be merry and bright ✨

-Brad, Jen, Brooklin, Elke, and Champs

The shop will be closed on Christmas Day and reopen on Thursday, December 26 at 11 AM

02/22/2024

For the past five years, has been pleased and honored to support the USC Libraries Research Award, which encourages the exploration and use of resources and services by students in academic pursuits

10/07/2023

BOOK LOVERS UNITE! 📚

The rare book world is gathering in the City of Angels on October 7-8, 2023 for Rare Books LA – Union Station

More than 50 of the world’s leading purveyors of antiquarian books, ephemera, historic maps, Japanese prints, vintage photography, and other fine works on paper are coming together in Los Angeles for this exciting two-day event, which will be held in the historic ticket concourse
 
For more information and a complete list of exhibitors, visit www.rarebooksla.com