Book Collection Auction for Binc Begins August 7

Chuck and Dee Robinson, well-known booksellers long active in the industry, are offering a large collection of first-edition titles, many of which are signed or inscribed; advanced reading copies; and book ephemera in a 10-day auction that will benefit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc).

The auction will run from August 7 through August 16; anyone may participate. All proceeds will be donated to Binc.

Binc is a nonprofit that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling community. Since its inception, the organization has provided more than $9 million in financial assistance and scholarships to more than 9,000 families. Since March 2020, Binc has provided more than $2.7 million to booksellers, bookstores, and comic book stores impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Robinsons, who founded Village Books in Bellingham, Washington, in 1980, were active in the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, where both served on the board and Chuck Robinson served as president. Dee Robinson served on the American Booksellers Association’s Booksellers Advisory Council and taught at a number of ABA bookseller schools. Chuck Robinson served on the ABA board for nine years, with two as president, and taught at ABA schools in the U.S. and the first international school in Singapore.

Over the years, the Robinsons, have collected signed first editions, slipcased signed first editions, advanced reading copies (many signed and inscribed), personally inscribed copies of books, and book-related ephemera. Among the items being auctioned are signed or inscribed copies by John Grisham, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, John Updike, Bob Hope, Cormac McCarthy, William Safire, Salman Rushdie, Condoleezza Rice, Chuck Palahniuk, and many others. There is also a signed letter from Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and a miscellany of book ephemera.

Chuck Robinson currently serves on the Binc board. In an earlier fundraising effort, he embarked on a cross-country bicycle ride that raised more than $22,000, with a portion going to Binc.

For more information about the auction, contact Chuck Robinson. For more information about Binc, contact Executive Director Pam French.