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Collecting Whims Revisited
It's been awhile since we last revisited a thread on Collecting Whims, and almost three years since I first posted it: http://www.tinyurl.com/5mr62 Collecting Whims, as defined in one of the previous posts, are out-of-the-ordinary collecting interests, odd fancies, off-track booking, or, simply, collecting something other than Modern First Editions. In the previous Collecting Whims threads, I learned that many RCBers had unique collections. Some RCBers even discovered that they had similar interests. This current thread offers the oldtimers the opportunity to review their old posts and provide updates to their Collecting Whims. It also provides the opportunity for new RCBers to let everyone else know what they collect. I, for one, was surprised that I did not identify collecting association books as one of my collecting whim in any of the previous collecting whims threads. I first mentioned my interest in collecting books from the libraries of my favorite authors in an RCB thread on Oct. 28, 2000: http://www.tinyurl.com/3qsjz Although I already had some association books in my library, it wasn't until sometime in 2003 that I started to actively seek them. I even gave a name to this collecting whim: My Sentimental Library. At first, the collection included only books formerly owned by my favorite authors; however, the span of this collection soon exploded to include books formerly owned by aviators, authors, entertainers, book collectors, booksellers, bookbinders, book publishers, one Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and other famous people. I even began to write articles for AB Bookman Magazine about this collecting whim: http://www.tinyurl.com/5y7o5 Today, My Sentimental Library contains more than just association books. Itincludes library catalogues, biographies, bibliographies, collected letters, and autographed letters signed. Recent autographed letters include one from the historian, Henry Hallam, and another from the Johnsonian, George Birkbeck HIll. Tonight, I just paid for two welcome additions to My Sentimental Library. For $15.50, I will acquire a book formerly owned by the actor, Sammy Davis Jr., with an ALS from the authors. For $100.00, I will acquire Harry B. Smith's catalogue of the collection of books that he sold to A.S.W. Rosenbach. Smith called this collection "The Sentimental Library. " Pray tell, what are your collecting whims ? Jerry Morris 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 |
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"Bud Webster" wrote in message
... Huh. A LOT better than any old "convertiana" or stuff like that. At least I got monsters and spacemen on the covers of MY books.... There is something to that--books with interesting publishers' bindings or covers or dust jackets, or illustrations or plates or engravings or prints or illuminations, are seemingly much more collectible than books without. (One field I admire but certainly don't collect--the history of magic, circuses, and show business--clearly illustrates this phenomenon, in which even the most meager ephemeron is often supremely and interestingly illustrated.) One figure I collect devotedly, John Thayer (1755-1815), seems never to have been subject to a portrait, despite a fair amount of renown in his day. I can't help but conclude--a conclusion shared by scholars whom I discussed it with--that Thayer's aniconic status has limited interest in him to this day. But I'm a logophile. I exult in the pure, unadorned, even anonymous word. And to illustrate, I cite a recent brag. I recently acquired, unopposed on eBay (although--don't tell anyone--I would have gone 10x higher than the final price): *An Account of the Conversion of L.T.H. to the Holy Catholic Church in 1832, Written by Herself* (Rome: Salviuggi, 1836). This 20-page pamphlet is in pristine original condition: uncut (i.e., untrimmed) in its plain printer's wrapper. OCLC lists only two copies (Emory and Duke, of all places). The authoress, Louisa T. Hartwell, wrote at least one other book, and there are at least two later editions (one French) of her convert memoir. I don't know of a lot of English-language Catholic religious publications printed at Rome in the early 19/c. For that reason alone this would be interesting. But since it's convertiana and doesn't appear in any major bibliography, well, I considered it essential. William M. Klimon http://www.catholicbookcollector.com |
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I've started collecting in a very casual way-- early books on Scuba and
related technology. Cutoff date is about 1960 but I'm not wedded to that. Some very fun and unusual covers in this-- personal favorite so far is an issue of MECHANICS ILLUSTRATED with a 'BUILD YOUR OWN DIVING APPARATUS' cover. |
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On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 06:40:24 -0500, "William M. Klimon"
wrote: But since it's convertiana and doesn't appear in any major bibliography, well, I considered it essential. Well, yeah, but does it have a MONSTER on the cover? I think NOT. Seriously, nice find. Now you have to make sure its added to the convertiana bibliographies. |
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So we've got the Sentimental Library, saucers, and scuba. (Kinda
reminds me of that Finnish motto: "sauna, sisu, and Sibelius.") Great stuff. Jerry, I'm especially interested in your Sentimental Airman collection. As much as you love your Shakespeare, Dr. Johnson, and books-on-books, I think aviator associations is an intriguingly original "taste" in collecting: it's got aviation--and thus history of science and engineering, military history, and travel--but it's otherwise wide open to whatever interesting books you can find with aviation associations. I think if you really apply some "technique," you will find some amazing things. And of course the more single amazing things you find, the more interesting the collection as a whole becomes. A lot of it depends on focus. Whenever I get depressed thinking that I will run out of convert material, I start to put out feelers to other kinds of collections (some complementary, some not). But then I worry: Am I spreading my resources (time, money, shelf-space) too thinly? Will I have the resources available if a great convertianum comes along? Those anxieties, in turn, make me want to pull back and focus on the center ring, the main attraction, the title fight. I think the great single-subject collections have always been made out of that kind of focus and singularity of purpose. But, of course, you've got to collect what interests you--preferrably what you love. William M. Klimon http://www.catholicbookcollector.com |
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"William M. Klimon" wrote...
wrote: I've started collecting in a very casual way-- early books on Scuba and related technology.... Seriously, that's a very interesting area. It's got history of science, history of exploration, and natural history angles going for it.... Somebody has to ask: Any converts among well-known divers? -- Jon Meyers (whose sister is a convert--and if she writes a book, I'll score you a free copy, but don't hold your breath) (To reply, lose your way) |
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Pray tell, what are your collecting whims ? Jerry Morris My new development is a single author collection of Simon Raven 1sts - little talked about, I found his books after reading a review of his 10 volume 'Alms for Oblivion' series and the specific quote of 'a latter day Waugh report on a new generation' - anyone fathom the Shakespeare quote? I purchased the set in short shrift, and am working to replacing for better condition etc - and am 9/10s of the way through - trashy in places, the earlier, clearly autobiographical volumes show incredible depth of feeling. I also enjoyed 'Close of Play' and his essays on 'The English Gentleman' - but there is still much for me to find, but the cornerstone, a first of 'The Rich Pay Late', signed by the author on the FFEP, is safely tucked away in my bookcase.... On a sidenote, my 20th century poetry collection is improving each week - in Oxford last week for university interview I picked up amongst some Lawrence items, a fine 1st/2nd of Plath's Ariel, this week a first of 'Crossing the Water' and Larkin's 'Whitsun Wedding'. I've also just secured a nice dustwrappered first of one of my favourite novels 'Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man', in the first, anonymous edition! Cheers and a merry Xmas to all, Tom |
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