Flaw or advantage?

Even if a book is "fine" I am under the impression that the presence of a book-
plate reduces the condition to "near fine." But what about a book that has the
book-plate of a fairly well known author? In this case the author is Paul
Horgan, who, while not exactly a celebrity, did win two Pulitzer prizes. Is
his book-plate a flaw or an advantage?

Thanks, as always, for your thoughts.

Jonathan

On 09 Apr 2004 14:21:36 GMT, (Jbrodie1750) wrote:

Even if a book is "fine" I am under the impression that the presence of a book-
plate reduces the condition to "near fine." But what about a book that has the
book-plate of a fairly well known author? In this case the author is Paul
Horgan, who, while not exactly a celebrity, did win two Pulitzer prizes. Is
his book-plate a flaw or an advantage?

Thanks, as always, for your thoughts.

Jonathan


I'd consider it an advantage. I bought quite a few books from the
collection of Donald Wandrei that I could have picked up elsewhere for
the same or slightly lower price, but I enjoy having several books
from the co-founder of Arkham House on my shelf...

Cheers,

John

(Jbrodie1750) wrote in message ...
Even if a book is "fine" I am under the impression that the presence of a book-
plate reduces the condition to "near fine." But what about a book that has the
book-plate of a fairly well known author?

Then I'd consider it a "Collectible near fine"

In this case the author is Paul
Horgan, who, while not exactly a celebrity, did win two Pulitzer prizes. Is
his book-plate a flaw or an advantage?

It is obviously an advantage in terms of adding collectible
value, but to me any bookplate (no matter how subtle or tasteful or
where they came from) is a physical alteration of the original book
and downgrades its condition.

--
Ht

"Htn963" wrote in message
om...

It is obviously an advantage in terms of adding collectible
value, but to me any bookplate (no matter how subtle or tasteful or
where they came from) is a physical alteration of the original book
and downgrades its condition.



To me that is fetishizing "condition" to a ridiculous degree. What about a
handwritten correction by the author? That too is a "physical alteration of
the original book."

It is also a parochialism because that kind of emphasis on the original
condition pertains almost exclusively to modern first editions. If one
collects material dating before the mid-19/c, those kinds of concerns are
moot. In fact, one is usually quite happy to see a bookplate.


William M. Klimon
http://www.catholicbookcollector.com

"Jbrodie1750" wrote in message
...

Even if a book is "fine" I am under the impression that the presence of a
book-
plate reduces the condition to "near fine." But what about a book that
has the
book-plate of a fairly well known author? In this case the author is Paul
Horgan, who, while not exactly a celebrity, did win two Pulitzer prizes.
Is
his book-plate a flaw or an advantage?



I'd be interested to know which book. I have a modest Horgan gathering
(it's hardly a collection). I got interested in him because there isn't a
lot of other American, prize-winning Church history. I read his CENTURIES
OF SANTA FE when I visited there a year ago. He also edited an anthology of
the writings of Maurice Baring, scion of the banking family, poet,
translator, and convert. Baring is included in a famous portrait by Sir
James Gunn--with his friends Chesterton and Belloc:

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/po...rNo=4&role=art


William M. Klimon
http://www.catholicbookcollector.com

Jonathan,

If one is referring to modern first editions, the presence of a
bookplate could be considered to be a flaw; however, there are some
book collectors, myself included, who collect books from the libraries
of authors, and other famous people. In most cases, the presence of the
bookplate helps to establish provenance, and will increase the value of
a book.

There have been instances, however, where a copy of an author's
bookplate has been pasted onto a book in order to give the false
assumption that the book came from an author's library. In the past,
copies of Jack London's bookplate, for one, have been pasted to books
simply to increase their values. In some cases, knowing who you're
buying from, and relying on their reputation, is the only means one has
of verifying the provenance of a book.

Having said all that, one of my recent acquisitions for MY Sentimental
Library, bought from a reputable bookseller, is the book, Host With the
Big Hat, New York, 1969. It contains the bookplate of Erle Stanley
Gardner on the front pastedown, but it is not from his library! In
fact, I don't know whose library the book is from.

A TLS from Erle Stanley Gardner, in Spanish and in English, is pasted on
the ffep, and provides some information about the circumstances
surrounding the gift of this book:

"...Having just emerged from a four weeks stay in the hospital with
special nurses around the clock, I am too wobbly to personally inscribe
this book to you, but I want you to have it without delay and I want you
to know how much we appreciate the hospitality which was extended to us,
the friendship of our Mexican friends and the cooperation of our friends
north of the border."

With best wishes,

Erle Stanley Gardner

2 Dec. 1969

http://www.tinyurl.com/2hbkv


Hopefully, when I read this book, Gardner will help me identify the
"host" to whom he gave this book to. Of course, if there are any
Erle Stanley Gardner collectors out there who know who this host with
the big hat is......

Jerry Morris


(Jbrodie1750)
Even if a book is "fine" I am under the impression that the presence of
a book- plate reduces the condition to "near fine." But what about a
book that has the book-plate of a fairly well known author? In this case
the author is Paul Horgan, who, while not exactly a celebrity, did win
two Pulitzer prizes. Is his book-plate a flaw or an advantage?
Thanks, as always, for your thoughts.
Jonathan


Welcome to Moi's Books About Books: http://www.tinyurl.com/hib7
My Sentimental Library http://www.picturetrail.com/mylibrary and
moislibrary.com http://www.tinyurl.com/hisn

Even if a book is "fine" I am under the impression that the presence of
a book- plate reduces the condition to "near fine." But what about a
book that has the book-plate of a fairly well known author? In this case
the author is Paul Horgan, who, while not exactly a celebrity, did win
two Pulitzer prizes. Is his book-plate a flaw or an advantage?
Thanks, as always, for your thoughts.
Jonathan


Welcome to Moi's Books About Books: http://www.tinyurl.com/hib7
My Sentimental Library http://www.picturetrail.com/mylibrary and
moislibrary.com http://www.tinyurl.com/hisn


Somewhat subjective. State the genuine condition of the book and the presence
of inscriptions or book plates. Personally, I am interested in the HISTORY of
any book I own... some ranging hundreds of years. I like to know where they
have come from. I can get a virgin paperback anytime.
One set from the collection of the Duke of Montrose is very appealing to me
(1770). Another from Cecil B DeMille's library (some first release of
Mitchell's in May 1936...). But overall? I like to know who I owe the thanks
to for preserving these books for my enjoyment -famous or not.

A previous owner's name is welcome in my library anytime. For what it's
worth...

I'd be interested to know which book.

Actually I have several books with Horgan's book plate. They are all books
about music (Horgan was a voice student at Eastman and a good friend of my
lexographical super-hero, Nicolas Slonimsky.) The book a

Berlioz; Evenings With The Orchestra

Memoirs of Hector Berlioz

Slonimsky: Music Since 1900 ( inscribed by Slonimsky to Horgan)

Memoirs of Lorenzo Da Ponte

My plan is to sit down soon and read one of Horgan's novels. Any suggestions
as to which one?

Jonathan

"Jbrodie1750" wrote in message
...

Actually I have several books with Horgan's book plate. They are all
books
about music (Horgan was a voice student at Eastman and a good friend of
my
lexographical super-hero, Nicolas Slonimsky.)



Interesting. I did not know the bit about Eastman--that is never mentioned
in any of his bio blurbs: see, e.g., the entire back of the dj for CENTURIES
OF SANTA FE is taken up with his bio, including mentions of attending the
Nardin Academy, public schools in Albuquerque, and NMMI. The only related
mention is: "After a period as a member of the production staff of the
Eastman Theater in Rochester, New York, he joined the faculty of NMMI as
librarian . . . ."



My plan is to sit down soon and read one of Horgan's novels. Any
suggestions
as to which one?


I've only ever read his nonfiction: LAMY OF SANTA FE, GREAT RIVER, etc. His
second novel is about a composer, though: NO QUARTER GIVEN.


William M. Klimon
http://www.catholicbookcollector.com

Interesting. I did not know the bit about Eastman--that is never mentioned
in any of his bio blurbs

http://sibley.esm.rochester.edu:8080...ids/horgan.htm

has a brief bio.

Thanks for the suggestion. Since I'm a viola player, I might as well start out
with NO QUARTER GIVEN.

(Which is usally what happens to viola players when they play a gig...!)

Jonathan