- Softcover
- Used





Seller: Temporary Culture, Upper Montclair, NJ, U.S.A.Temporary Culture
AbeBooks seller since August 21, 2025
Condition: Used - As new
£ 46.59
Quantity: 10 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
THE CRITICAL MESS is an illustrated compendium of articles by and about legendary collector of Americana Michael Zinman, with more than two dozen chapters, including "The Book Eater", Mark Singer's profile for the New Yorker ; essays by Bill Reese, James Green ; and much more. From the late 1970s onward, Mr. Zinman's collecting habits evolved into what he has called the critical mess theory of collecting : get enough examples of something and you can begin to see what patterns emerge. As James Green writes, "he set out, quite simply, to acquire every available early American imprint and to build a collection that would surpass all previous private holdings and all but the largest institutions." That extraordinary collection is now at the Library Company of Philadelphia. Mr. Zinman has subsequently formed many other extraordinary collections. Color illustrations throughout. 196 pp., 6 x 9 inches. As new in black wrappers.
Seller Inventory # 310902
Bibliographic details
- Title
- The Critical Mess
- Author
- ZINMAN, Michael
- Publication year
- 2025
- Condition
- As new
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Limited Edition
- Item weight
- 1 pound
- Dimensions
- 6 inches width by 9 inches height by 0 inches depth
Temporary Culture
Upper Montclair, NJ, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since August 21, 2025
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 10 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 5.28 | £ 11.31 |
Payment methods
Store description
Temporary Culture publishes original works in the field of fantastical literature and sells rare and antiquarian books, with emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, and literature, along with other books and ephemeral items that catch our eye.
Specialty
New, used, and rare books.Seller's business information
Temporary Culture
NJ, U.S.A.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Temporary Culture, Upper Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.