Matthew Kollmer
@matthewkollmer.com
PhD student, info sci at UIUC. Research in DH–NLP, AI, cultural analytics. Python enthusiast. Interested in place studies, US lit, creative writing, writing studies: https://matthewkollmer.com
I also own a rare book firm: https://eveninglandbooks.com
I also own a rare book firm: https://eveninglandbooks.com
Turns out, my 84-year old dad—who loathes modernity, technology, & sci fi—loves the Avatar movies. He doesn’t know why, he’s openly surprised by it. But my theory is that it’s because they’re actually westerns, coded with all the ridiculous and offensive stuff of that genre. It’s what he grew up on.
December 27, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Turns out, my 84-year old dad—who loathes modernity, technology, & sci fi—loves the Avatar movies. He doesn’t know why, he’s openly surprised by it. But my theory is that it’s because they’re actually westerns, coded with all the ridiculous and offensive stuff of that genre. It’s what he grew up on.
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
We're at the point where we can accurately assess the impacts of tariffs & trade wars on our business. It's not good. At Evening Land Books, we had 75% fewer international orders this year compared to last year... And that's in a year where we increased the number of books in stock. Thanks, Trump!
Well, I guess now you've got to add "the ability to navigate the uncertainties of an international trade war" to the list of requisite skills and knowledge to be a bookseller
December 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
We're at the point where we can accurately assess the impacts of tariffs & trade wars on our business. It's not good. At Evening Land Books, we had 75% fewer international orders this year compared to last year... And that's in a year where we increased the number of books in stock. Thanks, Trump!
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Signed by Tom Wolfe. First Edition, First Printing. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. New York, 1968.
SOLD
SOLD
December 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Signed by Tom Wolfe. First Edition, First Printing. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. New York, 1968.
SOLD
SOLD
Unpopular opinion: sometimes, small businesses actually suck. Sometimes they're managed by crotchety people with no customer service skills or interest in doing a good job. Yet they still expect the favor of conscientious consumers who want to support small businesses in general. No bueno!
December 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Unpopular opinion: sometimes, small businesses actually suck. Sometimes they're managed by crotchety people with no customer service skills or interest in doing a good job. Yet they still expect the favor of conscientious consumers who want to support small businesses in general. No bueno!
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
A History of Minnesota. By William Watts Folwell. First Trade Edition Set, First Printings. Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, 1921-1930.
SOLD
SOLD
December 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
A History of Minnesota. By William Watts Folwell. First Trade Edition Set, First Printings. Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, 1921-1930.
SOLD
SOLD
We are choosing our Christmas movie lineup for the year. So far, we’ve got:
- Bad Santa
- Die Hard
- Home Alone
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Muppet Christmas Carol
- Bad Santa
- Die Hard
- Home Alone
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Muppet Christmas Carol
December 15, 2025 at 12:46 AM
We are choosing our Christmas movie lineup for the year. So far, we’ve got:
- Bad Santa
- Die Hard
- Home Alone
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Muppet Christmas Carol
- Bad Santa
- Die Hard
- Home Alone
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Muppet Christmas Carol
What a lovely snow today in Champaign—fluffy, bright—making the outside so quiet
December 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
What a lovely snow today in Champaign—fluffy, bright—making the outside so quiet
I’m enjoying Pluribus mainly because it’s just impressive to see a show stick so firmly and seriously to a ridiculous premise
December 13, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I’m enjoying Pluribus mainly because it’s just impressive to see a show stick so firmly and seriously to a ridiculous premise
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
A Book of Days. Signed by Patti Smith. First Edition, First Printing. Random House. New York, 2022.
SOLD
SOLD
December 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A Book of Days. Signed by Patti Smith. First Edition, First Printing. Random House. New York, 2022.
SOLD
SOLD
Sir Francis insisted on taking a selfie, interrupting my writing
December 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Sir Francis insisted on taking a selfie, interrupting my writing
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
Hey #booksky or #rarebooksky, if you want to join @bibsocamer.bsky.social but can't afford it, let me know and I'll try to cover your membership dues.
(I'll do as many as I can afford, but I may not be able to cover everyone if the demand is too high. Thanks for understanding).
(I'll do as many as I can afford, but I may not be able to cover everyone if the demand is too high. Thanks for understanding).
December 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Hey #booksky or #rarebooksky, if you want to join @bibsocamer.bsky.social but can't afford it, let me know and I'll try to cover your membership dues.
(I'll do as many as I can afford, but I may not be able to cover everyone if the demand is too high. Thanks for understanding).
(I'll do as many as I can afford, but I may not be able to cover everyone if the demand is too high. Thanks for understanding).
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
Listen! The Wind. Signed by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh. First Edition, First Printing. Harcourt, Brace, & Co. New York, 1938.
SOLD
SOLD
December 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Listen! The Wind. Signed by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh. First Edition, First Printing. Harcourt, Brace, & Co. New York, 1938.
SOLD
SOLD
He got a trophy AND a medal lol
December 5, 2025 at 9:12 PM
He got a trophy AND a medal lol
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
Alexander Hamilton. Inscribed by Ron Chernow. First Edition, First Printing. Penguin. New York, 2004.
SOLD
SOLD
December 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Alexander Hamilton. Inscribed by Ron Chernow. First Edition, First Printing. Penguin. New York, 2004.
SOLD
SOLD
In the process of buying and trading in vehicles via driveway.com. So far, would not recommend. I've had to coordinate with five different reps. Small details in paperwork have been difficult to clarify, creating delays & confusion. But will reserve final judgement for when vehicles are exchanged.
December 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM
In the process of buying and trading in vehicles via driveway.com. So far, would not recommend. I've had to coordinate with five different reps. Small details in paperwork have been difficult to clarify, creating delays & confusion. But will reserve final judgement for when vehicles are exchanged.
Question is, how many times will I rewrite this proposal before I go back to the first draft and only change a few minor details? Because that's the writing process, baby, that's just how it goes!
December 2, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Question is, how many times will I rewrite this proposal before I go back to the first draft and only change a few minor details? Because that's the writing process, baby, that's just how it goes!
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
The Ego and the Id. By Sigmund Freud. Translated by Joan Riviere. First English Edition, First Printing. Hogarth Press. London, 1927.
SOLD
SOLD
December 1, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Ego and the Id. By Sigmund Freud. Translated by Joan Riviere. First English Edition, First Printing. Hogarth Press. London, 1927.
SOLD
SOLD
Watching Ken burns documentaries before bed bc to date I have found no better sedative
December 1, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Watching Ken burns documentaries before bed bc to date I have found no better sedative
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
dear friends, it's #smallbusinesssaturday
our business is very small and little
promoting it is a lot of hard work!
help us by sharing eveninglandbooks.com with your friends and fellow bibliophiles
Or if you find a cool edition in our shop, of course, please buy!
love ya, thanks a million!
our business is very small and little
promoting it is a lot of hard work!
help us by sharing eveninglandbooks.com with your friends and fellow bibliophiles
Or if you find a cool edition in our shop, of course, please buy!
love ya, thanks a million!
Evening Land Books – Rare & Collectible Books
eveninglandbooks.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
dear friends, it's #smallbusinesssaturday
our business is very small and little
promoting it is a lot of hard work!
help us by sharing eveninglandbooks.com with your friends and fellow bibliophiles
Or if you find a cool edition in our shop, of course, please buy!
love ya, thanks a million!
our business is very small and little
promoting it is a lot of hard work!
help us by sharing eveninglandbooks.com with your friends and fellow bibliophiles
Or if you find a cool edition in our shop, of course, please buy!
love ya, thanks a million!
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
The Bean Trees. Inscribed by Barbara Kingsolver. First Trade Edition, First Printing. Harper & Row. New York, 1988.
SOLD
SOLD
November 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The Bean Trees. Inscribed by Barbara Kingsolver. First Trade Edition, First Printing. Harper & Row. New York, 1988.
SOLD
SOLD
What if, instead of letters of recommendation, we did publicly available reviews? You could solicit former professors, managers, mentors, etc., to post reviews of you and your work and then simply point to those reviews as part of an application process, if asked.
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 AM
What if, instead of letters of recommendation, we did publicly available reviews? You could solicit former professors, managers, mentors, etc., to post reviews of you and your work and then simply point to those reviews as part of an application process, if asked.
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. By Dee Brown. First Edition, First Printing. Holt, Rinehart, Winston. New York, 1970.
SOLD
SOLD
November 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. By Dee Brown. First Edition, First Printing. Holt, Rinehart, Winston. New York, 1970.
SOLD
SOLD
New Ken Burns series on the American Revolution has me srsly thinking that George Washington was overrated
November 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
New Ken Burns series on the American Revolution has me srsly thinking that George Washington was overrated
Every time I’ve traveled since the pandemic, I’ve returned with either a bad cold or Covid. Didn’t used to be this way. I almost never got sick. What’s up with that?
November 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Every time I’ve traveled since the pandemic, I’ve returned with either a bad cold or Covid. Didn’t used to be this way. I almost never got sick. What’s up with that?
Reposted by Matthew Kollmer
Slaughterhouse-Five. With Bookplate Signed by Kurt Vonnegut. First Edition, First Printing. Delacorte. New York, 1969.
SOLD
SOLD
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Slaughterhouse-Five. With Bookplate Signed by Kurt Vonnegut. First Edition, First Printing. Delacorte. New York, 1969.
SOLD
SOLD