Books: Old, Rare, and Antique ~ 8/01 Export

Ginny I think of Old, Rare, and Antique as defining a book of value where I have a few that are old and precious to me because of who the book belonged to and how I received it. And yes they are in tatters or would be if I read them regularly.

I have to start with my mother's prayer book that she used just about every day and had recieved at her First Communion. My mother was born in 1910 and so she probably had the book since about 1918. It was published September 19, 1908 with the Imprimatur of John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York. Because of its frequant use it is very worn and the binding is now loosening as the glue seems to be completly dry.

Then there is the book my Grandmother loved and passed on to me when I was still only in High School. My Grandmother was a proud German Lady although born in this country her parents were both from Germany. Her concept of German pride included a picture of as she would say, "the real Germans" offered the most gentlemanly behavior and courtly manner. Her hero and probably "pin-up man" was Count Felix Von Luckner a ship captain and early submarine captain. The book was Count Luckner, the Sea Devil by of all people Lowell Thoman written in 1927.

I also have her copy of The Third Reader for Primary Schools from 1878 which is the year my grandmother was born.

While living in Kentucky for about 12 years a dear friend gave me a copy of "A Kentucky Cardinal" by James Lane Allen and published in 1900. In Lexington where we lived there was a school, a street and a subdivision named for James Lane Allen.

Another important work to most Kentuckians the Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox, Jr. copywrite in 1908 and my copy appears to be published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1936.

A dear friend game me a copy of Moliere's Le Tartuffe in french and published in 1905.

I have a copy of the Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley the Cambridge Edition published in 1901 also published in 1901 Poetical Works of Henry W. Longfellow

I have several childrens book that were gifts in the 1930s with two especially filled with memories since I was very ill and my mother read Robinson Crusoe and Hiedi to me during those times. I also have her copies of two of the Bobbsy Twin books again with not date.

So as you see no valued first editions or ancient texts but books that are filled with memories of my family and good friends in the books and the memories of those that gave me the books.

I've been collecting books on ghosts and ghost stories since I was about 8 years old.I'll have to admit I've never read some of them--too boring. I have a 1732 edition of a book on ghosts by Daniel Dafoe--never got beyond page 3. I have another book on ghosts published in London in 1725--that's another I haven't read either. Since I'm no kid anymore, and I have no family or relatives, much as I hate to, I want to sell the collecton--otherwise when I die the books will be scattered all over by friends who have no idea of their value.

scooter, http://www.abebooks.com (compilation of many online book stores is great to get prices and they buy I think. I'll check this address to make sure it is correct. Yep its ok. Just type in author or title in the search area.

Gosh what wonderful posts here I'm totally entranced.

Thanks so much, dig girl for that link and here's another good one Bibliofind.

Here one may type in the name and particulars of an old book and find out, due to its condition, what the going rates are and, better yet, who is offering same.

When I saw your post Scootergirl I had to restrain self from immediately writing and saying SELL THEM TO ME! hahahahaha Find out first what they are really going for!!!

Jack, thank you SO much for sharing your new passion in books with us, what do you think changed your mind, what BOOKS you have! Do you set out to find a particular author and where do you look? Are you at all taken up with those Easton editions of signed works? Do you go after a favorite or are you investing with an eye to later returns? That's fabulous, thank you so much for that, who knew?

This discussion is already a success because we're learning more about each other and our love for books!

Which one is your latest acquisition?

Barbara, of course any type of book or collection is welcome here, your own post of treasures has sent me to the barn looking for one of two prized text books I read as a child. I'm so touched by your wondrous collection, too.

What memories those books hold for you. And I find to my shock, as I eagerly perused my own shelves, I have some too!!

I have a set of O.Henry from 1904 which was my parents, and while looking up that date found a leather bound set of different authors with the date 1927, and my father's own signature in them, which I otherwise do not have!

I have an original Mother Goose that my mother born in 1908 used in teaching elementary school signed in her hand with her maiden name.

One of the two textbooks I prized as a child is called Neighbors and Helpers. What a contrast to today's children's books. Printed in 1936, it begins with a father and son in the park (note the clothes dad is wearing) and then a trip to the "North Woods." The illustrations are, as you can see, exquisite, and I used to pour over them. I am sad to see the pages yellowing, I had not noticed that before.

In this book the child learned about how silk is made, the silk worm, Native American Indian customs, the Early Pony Express, how vegetables and produce get to the market, how the pioneers lived, Norway, the "Land of the Midnight Sun," the life of George Washington, the life of the bee and about wild turkeys. Each story had an interesting plot and marvelous illustrations. And we wonder why today our children know less. This was a school text published in 1936.

I collect, as well, Latin texts. I have some very old ones and my prize is Teaching First Year Latin from the 30's. You all have sent me this morning on a treasure hunt, I must find my fourth grade text and maybe thru Bibilofind or another source I can find the sequel to it that I have coveted for more than 50 years, about the changes in America at the turn of the century.

What fun this all is, what do YOU collect or prize in the way of books???????

Let's hear from you!!

ginny

"You did it", I am pleased at the response you are getting so quickley.

I will add my books to your list.

"History of Wars" in 3 Vol.1792

History of the French Revelution,from the commencement of Hostilities. To the Deportation of Naploeon Boneaparte to St Helena.

By Christopher Esq. 1828

"Pictorial History of England" vol.1.1846

"ILLIUSTRATED", with several hundred woodcuts,Monumental Records, coins, civil and military costumes, orniment,Cathederals and other illustrations of manners, magical portraits of Kings and Queens and remarkable historical scenes.

By Goerge L Craik and Charles MacFarlane

Happy reading Folks.

I'm a retired librarian and I have to tell you all that books are not necessarily valuable bcause they are old unless they were printed before 1600.If they are older than 1600 they are known as incunabula. And old bibles are almost worthless as collectors' items unless they have some sort of well known typographical error or other distinguishing feature, as in the vinegar bible. Somewhere in the old testament it mentions the workers working in the vinegar--it should read the workers working in the vineyards.

It is not the age of the book or item.

I have a comic book in almost mint condition that is worth a tidy sum printed in 1940.

Plus a book about the "KING',"Elvis", that I am sure a lot of people would like to have.

Lorne, I like that. I wish I would not have thrown out all the comic books my kids had. But I do have some private print books I value. They may have some monetary value but to me they are good friends.

Welcome, Helen... You so right.. about the books we save.. Their monetary value may not be great... but they are prized possessions.

I hope you will look at some of our other discussions here in Books. Here is the Main Index.

Hello all you participants in this interesting new discussion. I don't collect books (except that they keep mounting up) but I do have two books my father gave me. They are Rabinadrath Tagore books signed by the author. Dad bought them in India on a trip round the world he took on a fellowship. I think they are first editions.

I also have a colleague/friend who collects first editions by American authors. He shows up at virtually every book reading where the author is present and has several copies signed. He has been doing this for years and I imagine has quite a collection by now.

Ginny--Those illustrations are just wonderful. Did Father wear his suit when he went camping in the North Woods?

Maryal

Ginny wrote: Jack, thank you SO much for sharing your new passion in books with us, what do you think changed your mind, what BOOKS you have! Do you set out to find a particular author and where do you look? Are you at all taken up with those Easton editions of signed works? Do you go after a favorite or are you investing with an eye to later returns? That's fabulous, thank you so much for that, who knew?

I guess my collecting guidelines are pretty much like those of the imaginary game: If you could invite anyone to dinner that you wanted to, who would you ask?

I only collect the signed books of authors whose books I especially enjoyed and whom I think I would have found it interesting to talk with. I prefer a first edition from the first country it was published in, but that's not always possible.

I have no interest in reselling the books, so their market value doesn't matter to me. I'll pay whatever it might take to have treated the same author to a decent dinner in a restaurant.

Anatole France is going to be my next "guest." Quite an amazing man whose work is forgotten today. "Penguin Island" is just one of several of his books worth looking for.

Jack

Now, Maryal, you know better than that! You know Father did not appear in his suit in the woods, but he's a totally snappy dresser, check it out: Father and Joe in the Woods

What shocked me was when I started to go see IF there were a photo of Father in the woods and the very first photo I saw was Joe (the little boy) in knickers. Now THAT stopped me and it kinda looks like Dad has them on too or am I going nuts?

Jack, what a....just fabulous idea, how unique, the dinner party, and how NEAT! Just think, without this new little endeavour, we would never have known that about you, at all!

That's priceless, thank you for that.

That's also some dinner party you've got there, that would make a good game, actually, who would you invite if you could to a dinner party among the giants of literature?

ginny

Ginny----Thanks for the picture. FATHER wears a TIE in the woods! Now that is formal. And I agree, those sure look like knickers. Our casual woodswear is better these days.

If I were a bear, I'd eat these two guys.

maryal

Maryal, does it make you weep for what we've lost or thankful we're more natural now?

ginny

Oh those kind of knickers. Jack

Ginny---There you go again with another tough question. Mostly I don't weep for the past, and as someone who tired of ironing after a couple of blouses, I am thankful for the easy-care clothing we have now. Such choice we have and such colors.

(I'm pretty sure that I was born "casual," as whenever I go somewhere I try to hit the bottom of "formal enough to pass.")

And I don't remember the last time I bought anything that had to be drycleaned. If it says "Dryclean only," it goes back on the rack.

Maryal

Here here - there is nothing like hiking in knickers and in Europe you would be looked at rather odly if you didn't have your knickers on while hiking. Many are cordaroy and a few wool. Hiking in the mountains, especially of Europe, the wool knickers feel great and are not cleaned that often since the socks are knee high and it is the socks that get changed out at least daily and on some hikes more often then that.

Polotech may be the latest but there is nothing like wool for hiking in climbs not as severe as the high alps where every ounce is a burden. And on many a trail jeans are not allowed since they hold rain and do not provide any isulation. Wool comes in lovely checks and the sweaters have wonderful colorful patterns. Since most European hiking trails are dotted with huts where a simple meal can be purchased there are not these 150 lb. backpacks required filled with tents, food and all the gear to live out-of-doors for a week or more. Therefore, a hiker can look the part and not be a pack animal.

And so Father in his knickers would be right at home in the northwoods - it is just which northwoods are we talking about.

The frightening thing is that some of the early very famous climbers were in knickers a lot, including Mallory of "I climb because it's there" fame. It's totally frighteing the clothing they found him dressed in when they recently found his body, it's a miracle he lived to get as high up as he did.

Barb: thanks for that. I have been very surprised this winter to find that a very loose fitting knit sort of pants like a sweat pant but of very light material is totally warm in the outside. I can't figure out WHY, tho? It's very thin material, but I'm warmer in that than in my heavily insulated LL Bean -20 polartec jacket.

Maryal, I wonder how much it had to do with the appearance of prosperity or rightness then?

I bet nobody ran around in tees then.

ginny

I yield on wool--a fine product. However, I am allergic to it. Can wear wool only on top and then only on top of something else. I cannot wear wool slacks--little bumps arrive and itch if I do. Yes, even if they are lined.

Ginny--Of course Father wouldn't have worn a T-shirt, or let Jack wear one either, except, of course, as UNDERWEAR.

Oh my goodness, you are right. Tee shirts used to be underwear. You'd never know it these days by the way kids dress. I bet a lot of them never knew what the tee shirts were originally for.

What about lederhosen in Germany? Are men the only ones who wear them or do women also? They look very uncofortable to me but they seem to very popular.

"Sunday at Home" 1877

The "Sunday at Home Family Magazine for Sabbeth Reading"

A large, thick, hard covered book, with many pictures.

From the "Religiuos Tract Society".

From Books to Leather pant's ?????

Well lets put it this way Lorne and beg the by-pass - a good book covers its spine with leather and a moving body hiking, hunting or going to a German festival covers its boomp with leather.

Boomp?????? I'm not at all sure that I have a boomp. Am I missing something important?

As many books as I have, and I have many, my history of books is mostly about giving them away. Pursuing a Berkeley internship, then staying there for a post-doc, then venturing off to Oregon for 5 years, now back in Austin, I've given away tons of books because I couldn't afford to move them.

Also, and I hate this part, especially when I was in school for so many years, and awakening as a feminist, I gave away my best books---couldn't leave it to chance that someone would go out and buy the book. I loaned the books, that is, and you know what happens when you loan books. I can't tell you how many times I've looked for a book, just knowing I have it, then when I can't find it, remember loaning it.

I've never collected old books, but I've drooled over them enough in the locked cases of used books shops and in the 'locked case' section of Powells.com, the great bookstore in Portland.

Once, when my mother visited me in Cannon Beach, Oregon, we went bookshop shopping, went from one little bookstore to another along the coast. She totally surprised me by paying $110 for a turn of the century book on America (this expert of make-do and frugality!). Lots of maps and details of a country that seemed so undeveloped, compared to today. One chapter was entitled The Negro and the Red Man, can you imagine. That was a wonderful day.

I thought I'd better step in here and mark my place for a return later (when I'm feeling better, and have more time). I have a lot of old, rare, and out of print books. Some were handed down from my grandfather, who was a history professor at Ballard High School in Seattle, WA. Others came from my uncle (his son) and include first editions, numbered editions, etc.

A few years ago, when I was trying to consolidate, I sold a complete set of Joseph Conrad to a book dealer. He also got some of the history books. I had a set of Frances Parkman's History of the West that I gave to Beverly Pratt, because she told me Frances Parkman was a relative of hers.

I also took an extensive set (about 30 copies) of Zane Grey, in paperback, to a friend in Oklahoma. She will read them and pass them on to her daughter-in-law, who will then pass them further.

I just can't see having all these things sitting around where no one can enjoy them. What does one do with old - very old - enclycopedias? I've thought of eBay but.... Well, that was only a thought! I can't get much further than that right now, because I'm just not up to par.

I have marked this discussion and will keep looking in. I only wanted to make sure I had a seat at the table!

A few years ago I started collecting those old books, from about 1865 until the start of World I, that I call tear jerkers. I have one abut the Iroquois theater fire in Chicago on Dec. 26, 1903. Most of the people in the theater were women and children, because it was a children's matinee. All the doors opened inward, so that many people were trapped and died from being crushed by bodies on top of them or suffocation. It was a really tragic event, but every so often the author would wring his hands figuratively and go on and on about those poor husbands who would go home that night to an empty house, their wives and children dead, etc. etc. I have a similar type of book written just 6 months after the Johnstown, pa. flood in 1880 or 1881. It was tragic, but the book is so maudlin, it's hard not to laugh. These old books are not straight forward descriptions of tragic events.

Scooter Lady that's quite interesting because I have one too, called Scalded to Death by the Steam which is not an old book but about accounts, in the press and the popular ballad, of train wrecks.

And I recall my mother's mother (and my mother was born in 1908) singing me the old songs which were always particularly sad. The dog who saved the child but whom the family thought killed the child so was drowned. The...it goes on and on.

I wonder what that says about the change in our...sensibilities because surely life was more violent and uncertain in those times?

Or????

Sentimental ballads.

Check this one out:

Jesse James was a lad
Who killed many a man
He robbed the Glendale train.

He stole from the rich
And gave to the poor
He'd a hand, and a heart, and a brain.

Poor Jesse had a wife,
Who mourned for his life,
Three children, they were brave.

But that dirty little coward
Who shot "Mr. Howard,"
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.

That's from memory.

It interests me that Jesse is here brave, smart, handy, full of heart, while all the time killing people, can this BE some sentimental bent in not only fiction or real reporting but reflected in folk lore and ballads of the day?

ginny

Don't the sentiments suit today as well in many respects...life's problems are caused by some big THEM, i.e. the banks, the government, law officers, and today we would add the favorite of "conspiracies" that would include feminists, people who support abortion, homosexuals, environmentalists, etc. etc. And the gun slinger becomes the "good" guy, despite the fact he's a killer. A crazy hotch-potch of emotions caused, I think, in large part by the failure of many of our dreams and the daily difficulties of life, and which are made easier to deal with in this kind of fantasy. Jack

Interesting how today we lionize the gun slinger in movies but abhorr the gun slinger in real life. I do think we have less compassion today for the families of gun slingers - they seem to carry the stigma and are often put to blame for the gun slingers fall from grace.

Ginny have you run across any sites that explain how to identify a collectable or how to take care of old books?

What about those old songs like "old dog Trey" and "oh where Oh where has my little dog gone?" and "The letter edged in black" and "Carry me back to old Virginnie" and so on.

No, Barb, I don't. I have books on book preservation and stuff but don't know of any area, and I bet there are millions, tho and would be interested to see what anybody wants to bring here?

I very much appreciate sites like Bibliofind because there you can get some idea of what a book is worth.

I personally have bought stuff on Sotheby's auctions? But I find that the quality, for instance, of the illuminated manuscript pages I have bought, is not equal to the specialty seller, so the price is not worth the difference. I just got word that I have been outbid on my last bid for a 12 c page from the Bible? But upon looking much closer I can see that the quality of it is not equal to the ones I had been considering which are 10 times its price, so I guess even in antique and collectible things, you get what you pay for?

ScooterLady:

I have an especial fondness for old ballads in America, and many of them are written down. My mother's mother (my mother was born in 1908 and just died last year) used to sing me the old NC Mountain ballads and I'm putting some of them, the train ballads, in the heading of our Nothing Like it in the World Ambrose discussion? There are literally hundreds of ballads about train crashes and books on same, just TRAIN crashes...there is a book called Scalded to DEath by the Steam which is about nothing but....that phrase comes from The Wreck of the Old 97 which is the one about Casey Jones, I believe, I may be wrong there.

Of course I got hung up while putting up the Wabash Canonball with a Johnny Cash fairly new lament and put that up instead, but look in there, each Monday I'm putting up another old American ballad....admittedly tho, on trains.

Did you see the special on the Antiques Road Show last night on 60 Mintues II? I love that show, it's wonderful and it is amazing what people COLLECT?

What makes a person COLLECT anything, do you think?

ginny

I suppose this could qualify as antique (magazine). Back in 1938, shortly before I entered my teens. I would would wait patiently each month for a story that appeared in a monthly magazine The featured story was called G-8 “And His Battle Aces” by Robert Hogan. I’m not sure, but I think the magazine was called “Wings.” The other short stories in the magazine, including G-8, were all tales of World War One air combat pilots and the flying kites known as fighter-planes. All were really good stories, and I was never disapointed reading them. These continued on untill around 1941, when we entered the war and air combat fiction was replaced by the real thing.

Anyway, I was curious to know if there any of these mags still around, and sure enough there was. Some were selling for over a hundered dollars, two for as much as $150 and some were selling for a lot less. I wish I had kept my G-8 magazines. If you’d like to read about these old mags, visit G-8

Bill H

Ginny:I love those old railroad songs--I still like "I've been working on the railroad" the best. My father and his brothers and his father and grandfather all worked on the railroad--I still enjoy riding on trains, too. I don't know if I can manage it, but this spring I would like to take the Amtrtak to California and back. I wouldn't be able to get off the train--I'd just like to sit back, relax, watch the scenery and enjoy the food,which is supposed to be really good. Remember the man they called "the singing brakeman?" I guess he was popular in the 1930's. I think he died quite young, just after WW II.I can just remember hearing him on the radio once or twice. Bill: what I liked to hear on the radio and read was the Shadow. Remember "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows." I think boys liked action comics and girls liked Walt Disney stuff. I know of a few places that sell nothing but old comic books and you better have lots of money in your pocket if you intend to buy any.

Ginny:I just looked at Amazon and they have books on book preservation and repair. I hope I don't offend you by saying this, but as both a librarian and a long-time book collector, it isn't always wise to repair old books too much if you plan to sell them. It's the same with antinque furniture. etc. I have a book of ghost stories published in England in 1800 and it's so fragile every week or so I open it very carefully and turn a few pages just as gently as I can--I'm afraid it will fall apart if not handled very gently.

I love old books. Have several of the old McGuffies(sp?)that my father and his brothers used, even some old school books that my gr-mother used. She was born in New Orleans in 1871 but grew up in MO. I have a book of short stories, L.M.Alcott, have never been able to find it listed anywhere. Picked it up at an estate sale. Have one history of the US that starts out "It has been nearly 20 years since the war between the states ended". Had some of the original Nancy Drews but passed them on to my daughter.

Scootergirl, my father and his father worked for MoPac, each for 50 years. I had my own pass and rode the train all over. Loved them. So many good memories. So many sad ones when I think of going down to see the troup trains.

The Shadow Knows....oh, yes!

tisie: the book by L M Alcott was probably written by Louisa May Alcott--you know she wrote Little Women and a lot of others. Amazon has quite a few of her books for sale.

I've looked through lists of books Louisa May Alcott wrote, it is her book, but also has other short stories. Need to go back and check the date of publication, but think it may be one of the original editions. This one just isn't listed anywhere. I'll take a photo of the cover and get all the details and will post. (Photo in Then 'n Now when I get film developed). Wouldn't it be fun to find a rare one?

Tisie: hope the book is a first edition--but the important thing to photograph is the reverse of the title page--it has all the important information--place and date of publication, edition, name of publisher, etc. photograph that and send it to us--it's more important than the binding.

Why, Tisie, how exciting, just like Antiques RoadShow, as Scooterlady says, do let us know, I love that show and always am rooting for each person to have disovered a rare thing worth a million dollars!

Do you all watch Antiques Road Show on PBS?

ginny

I love the Road Show, all the antique appraisal shows. My grandmother was a packrat so have lots of papers that were being burned but three candy boxes were saved for me by my mother. Inside were letters and clippings that have tied together many people I always heard my folks talk about. Also 3 old 1860s land grants.

The name of the book is "My Little Friend" and Other Stories by Louisa M. Alcott W.B.Conkey Company Chicago NewYork Copyright 1899 by W.B.Conkey Company Publishers Have you ever heard of it? It is just hardback with darling turn of the century boy with a sailboat and girl standing on the cover. Blue binding. The pages are so yellow and brittle I'm almost afraid to turn them.

Tisie: I found on the Internet what is supposed to be the definitive bibliography of the works of Louisa May Alcott. The juvenile short story, My little friend is listed this way:

My little friend (1877?/1879?)First published by T.Y. Crowell (New York?) First published in a collection of L M Alcott's book of short stories, entitled: Sparkles for bright eyes, (1877?/1879?)

It sort of looks like your book may not be a first edition. If you want to check the bibliography, log onto the Internet, look under Louisa May Alcott and this is entry no.39. Sorry if I've disappointed you.

Bibliofind has been hacked!! I went to bibliofind to look up Tisie's book and found this!

.......yep....its look like its defaced by InfernoZ and Us3r.....hmmmmm...... by the way.... www.younggirlz.com is redefaced....yep....GreatZ: All m0sad team, Rik0, Laz666, Expl0it, M@n Dr@kE, SlayerZ, MA3, Angst_, DIMENSION - X, z3rG, zLOB, Shaitan, UkR-XblP, Nitr0geaR, aCidfAlz, Xakep.ru, dark-eye, AccessD....ahhh...by the way,admin,mail me to vzlomshik_00@mail.ru ,i will help u to fix the bug.

Honestly, that's a great site, I don't know why these hackers and bug meisters can't leave things alone, but when it comes up, Tisie, we can find out in a heartbeat what the going rate IS for it and who has it or might like to have it, as well!

ginny

Thanks Scootergirl, I really thought the publish date was too late for having been published when she lived, but thought maybe it got published later. Ah, well, it's still a neat looking book on my shelf of old books! I do want to go see if I can find the site and look up some of the other books from my parents/gr-parents.

Ginny, it really is disgusting to find hackers and worm makers messing up the sites and computers for their sick pleasure. Maybe you saw on my "help" to our ICP buddy couple weeks ago when my old computer caught a virus. (No detector on it). Our Whiz found the cure.

tisie: the URL for the website where I got the info is:

http://www.tetranet.net/users/stolbert/alcott/ma_main.html

tisie:ignore the url I sent you. I missed something.

the correct url is: http://www.tetranet.net/users/stolbert/alcott/lma_main.html

this lists all her short stories, novels etc.

Scootergirl, my finger was pouncing just as I noticed your second link. Wanted to get a thank you off before I click on it. I'm getting cut off my internet tonight, every few minutes. Having trouble with e-mail, too. Think it's the server. Want to go click and look, really do thank you.

When I was a kid (in Kansas) I devoured every Oz book I could get my hands on. I loved them then and still remember them warmly. A few years ago, at an antique show, I found a © 1903 edition of "The Wizard of Oz" with the original W.W. Denslow illustrations. I snapped it up, of course. It isn't in the greatest condition but I don't care about that or the monetary value---the sentimental value to me is enormous. And it is VERY different from the movie that we have all grown up with even though the general story line is the same.

Few years back my long time friend(grew up in SE KS, the one that put noodles on her mashed potatoes) and I were talking about childhood favorite books. She started out by saying no one she ever talked to had ever heard of hers. I popped in, "Me, too, mine was Freckles and His Friends". Turned out it was hers as well. I mentioned this to one of the ladies helping with a large used book sale later that week and much to my surprise she said she had just marked one that week for the sale. I managed to be first to ask for it at the sale, and gave it to my friend(after re-reading it first). We agreed that it was a lot different than we had remembered.

Saw a note about the "Singing Brakeman" That was Jimmy Davis who wrote "You Are My Sunshine" and was a governor of Louisiana. He died within the past year and was either 100 or close to it. BUT, I have a nephew who's into old camp-style activities (I'd say "rendezvous" but don't know how to spell the plural of the word.) Anyway, he's looking for a book entitled "31 Years on The Plains and in The Mountains" by a Capt. William E. Drannan. Believe it may have been published by Thos. W. Jackson Publishing Co. of Chicago. Anyone out there ever hear of it? Thanks.

Hi, Aviaqua, what an interesting name, what does it mean?? I love it. anyway, bibilofind is back up and does not know the book, they have a want list that they circulate among all their vendors, you might try that. If you do a search for Capt. Drannan, tho you find some very strange things?

Here is a website where they are discussing him, this may not be the same man:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a book, "Frontier Legend", Texas Finale of Capt. Wm. F. Drannan, Pseduo Frontier Comrade of Kit Carson, based on research, by W. N. Bate, published by Owen G. Dunn Company, Publishers, New Bern North Carolina in 1954, which goes into detail why the Drannan books were not factual.

Conversations on Capt. Drannan

I was trying to find more about his books, here is the hotbot source page there may be a vendor there:

16 matches for Capt. Drannan on hotbot.

Good luck, this seems a very interesting book by a very interesting author.

hahah on the rendezvous plural rendezvouses? hahahahaaa

ginny

Tisie, imagine finding that book and after you all talked about it, too, and then the disappointment when it wasn't quite as remembered.

Two of the books which made SUCH an impression on me growing up were Strawberry Girl, and Heidi. I have wanted to reread both for years but am afraid to. Maybe a book speaks to a reader at a certain point in time and not afterwards, not sure.

Phyll, is that right? Oz is different, and what a find you have there. Am I the only person on earth who has never sat thru the entire movie of the Wizard of Oz nor read the book?

Wonderful find you have, too.

ginny

Aviaqua, your Capt. Drannan reminds me of another military sounding man, Colonel Archibald Gracie, one of the male survivors of the Titanic.

We have a Name That Book Contest here and usually, not always, but usually the books chosen are good and instructive reads as is the contest. Col. Gracie wrote a book about his adventures but our moderator of that discussion talked to the Curator of Gracie Mansion in NYC (the Mayor's home) and discovered that Col Gracie was not as he had represented himself.

I feel sorry for the man, he failed at everything he tried and even in his own heroic one moment of fame, he was shamed by being a survivor when women died on the Titanic, never got over his illness contracted from same and died shortly afterwards. His wife continued to insist on his good name, his entire life was a tragedy.

I don't know, of course, if there's any parallel at all, but the titles made me remember such.

ginny

To Ginny, Tisie and every other lover of old books: I'm very disappointed in Bibliofind--I searched for 6 books with no luck. They were all books on ghosts, one published in London in 1725, one by Daniel Dafoe on ghosts in 1732, and another spooky book published in London in 1738, another published in London in 1660, the fifth published in Chicago in 1899 and the sixth published in London in 1823.These are books I own, and most have bindings in quite good condition. I don't want a search done because I don't want to buy them--I want to know their approximate value. So where do I go from here? There used to be something published annually but none of these titles were in those volumes either.

I just remembered a set of books which listed libraries in the US that had copies of various books and I remember a couple of my books were held only by the Library of Congress, and no library in the US had copies of the others. Alhough I know what I paid for them,that was 10-30 years ago--don't know their present value--Darn it!!! Any ideas folks? I don't have any family and I think it's time to sell them and use the money for my either declining or golden years --whichever!LOL

And I couldn't find auldbooks either, hmmmm, I wonder if....hmmmm let's research this or maybe we could find on bibliofind by category some similar books and write the seller and see if he's willing?

OK, let's take Dafoe? Let's see what a similar book for that year of his is going for, and better yet, who is offering it?

Sothebys online might also be interested but you want first to know the value yourself?

Hang on a mo.

ginny

Aviaqua: if you're looking for books about the plains and Texas look in a directory or on the internet for booksellers who specialize in used and rare books on the plains and the West. Ginny:I have a major in Spanish and a minor in French and vous is always spelled vous where it refers to one person or two or more. If you say in French I have three appointments, it would be trois rendez-vous. I just checked my French dictionary and the singular and the plural are identical--rendez-vous.

Scootergirl, I believe, the further I go in this that you have some kind of rare books there, they are much rarer than Bibliofind carries, I did find Bauman's Rare Books who say they have books back to the 15th c, and they give an 800 number, they might be interested in giving an estimate. let me look tomorrow in the NY Times, the other sites I found want you to send them money to appraise it, that's ridiculous. There are tons of antique book dealers in both the NY Times and The New Yorker, let me get a list of 800 numbers for you and if THAT doesn't work, by gum, we'll get a book which prices them! There must be a Blue Book for books like there is for cars, but I'll tell you one thing, I would hold on to them till I found somebody who sells them!!!!!!!!

ginny

Thanks Ginny. I got my first book of ghost stories when I was 9 years old and my parents and I went to the 1939-40 New York World's fair. I loved that book so much I read it until it fell apart, and my mother kept patching it up with adhesive tape, but she just couldn't save it, and I cried when she had to throw it out. One problem as some other SNer mentioned is that people will appraise a book or antique at a low price then offer to buy it from you then turn around and sell it for mucho money. I have one early 19th century British book that has an earlier date of publication than the copy in the British Museum Library. I don't know if you're familiar with the British Museum Catalogue, but it's really funny how they distinguish between authors of the same name--it's by status or occupation.For example, several men named Brown had written books and they all had the same initials or first name. Brown, John, gentleman. Brown, John, accountant. Brown,John, convicted forger awaiting execution in the Dublin gaol. Brown, John, chef. Brown,John, surgeon. I think that this is what makes old book hunting and collecting so much fun and interesting. Thanks a lot for your help. The man who was the pesident of the American Booksellers Association a year or two ago lives in my town and runs a book store--but I somehow don't trust him and I'm not sure why. Partly, I guess, because he doesn't know beans about old books on ghosts and the supernatural, although he claims he does.

Well you might ask him and then when you do find out you'll know how accurate he is?

I love the British Library and was not familiar with their catalogue but you might write them, too, they might be VERY interested to have it, and (I think big) they might put your name on it as an exhibit!!!

Likewise I wonder if Sotheby's Online has some sort of appraisal thing?

We shall find OUT!

ginny

Thanks, Ginny & Scooter Girl. I hit this site intermittently so please excuse the delay in my response. I'll check out the sites you all mentioned. Aviaqua is kind of a half-vast corruption/contraction for water bird which came about because roosters don't like to swim. Please don't ask for it to make sense; just accept it. Thanks again.

Ginny: Thanks for all your time and effort--to me this is lots and lots of fun. I sent an e-mail to Amazon.com to see if they would be interested in buying any of my books and I mentioned some of the rarer books--they wrote back and said for $39.95 a month I could post them all and see if I could sell them that way.This is one reason I enjoyed being a librarian--searching for information and using my ingenuity to find stuff, I used to work in my spare time for Gale Research looking for reviews of old 19th century books the company was going to reprint. Tht was a lot of fun reading those old magazines.

Amazon sells used and rare books so what's wrong with my idea????? I know one source I might use--it's supposed to be the definitive bibliography on fantasy and the supernatural. Tells how rare the books are but doesn't give prices but the book was published once. If the author is still alive, might get in touch with him. Thanks again. Have you heard anything about the old time songs? I found on the Internet lists of songs from the North and the confederacy. Then a list of 17 popular songs of the time--and what a surprise--in my 8th and 9th grade music classes we used to sing most of them--I knew 13 by 1st verse, chorus and melody. I always thought one song was so sad--Ole Black Joe--when we sang it I could hardly keep from crying. When I read it the other night, I did cry because it has a lot more meaning now that I'm nearly 70 instead of 13. Aviaqua--nice name--how about Avisaqua--sounds sort of Indian doesn't it?

Ah, Scootergirl, just thought.....Powells, the humongous independent bookstore in Portland, OR., with excellent reputation, has for years carried and sold rare books....the locked room sort. Large assortment. I'll bet they would have some reputable references for you...a New York name or two? www.powells.com

Ginny, I found an old copy of Heidi few years ago and it stands in front of several others on one shelf because of it's neat front. Was also a love of mine, even named our German Shepard Heidi. Haven't even looked to see when it was printed, don't think it's anything special. Don't remember Strawberry Girl, but the name is familiar.

I loved that book and that name, Tisie, I recently signed up for a class in Conversational German and the girl next to me was Swiss and, you guessed it, her name was Heidi, isn't that beautiful? She was gorgeous too and I missed half the lesson thinking of my own youngest unmarried son.

Scootergirl, you and I have hit a rock and a hard place here. I found a book called Old Books (c. 1997) on my shelves, but your Dafoe is more rare than hen's teeth, no go.

I went to Sotheby's and they do have an appraisal service at Sotheby's appraisal but there is a fee.

Wonder if any of the museums might be interested in saying offhand what the value might be? Wonder if the British Museum or Library has an email address you might write?

Locally I have nothing, no person in rare books, but I have one number and one email for you to try.

Here is Phillip Pirages a dealer of rare books and Illuminated Manuscripts with whom I have done some business. He shows 330 pages devoted to "Printed books before 1800," in his 1327 page gorgeous illustrated catalogue, and the books with the 1700 dates on them are not your two for a penny books, not by a looong shot.

You might drop them an email at pirages@onlinemac.com and try to describe the condition and give the particulars and see if they have any interest, or would help you out with the price range?

If he has a Dafoe, I don't see it. Here is their 800 number, as well: 1-800-962-6666

I got this one out of the NY Times yesterday: Imperial Fine Books 1-877-861-6620, don't know them but Pirages knows old books.

Good luck, for heaven's SAKE here, and let us know WHAT on earth those things are WORTH!!!!!!!!

ginny

Ginny---I probably shouldn't intrude on this olde booke by Defoe, but if you and Scootergirl are discussing a work by Daniel Defoe, the spelling might make a difference when you do a search?

Just a thought. Busy grading exams and therefore have not read all the messages.

Maryal

Awhile back, I went thru a few fun years in an "Old Books" phase. Mostly, I then bought turn-of-century books that had wonderous photos and drawings pages. I wish such styles were still used today. Perhaps I'll get around to listing some of my old-book treasures here soon.

Meanwhile, I'm seeing others here sincerely wishing for info on book care, what's collectible, etc. Here's one website about that, maintained by a 1980s-early 90s book-collectibles friend of mine. It's longish, but does have a table of contents one can click on to go straight to one's chapter of interest: Mike Berro's book-collectors website.

Thanks a million Ginny and Jim- I-really appreciate your information.I think I'll call or go to the University of Michigan graduate library rare book room and see about the Pirages catalogue and what else they might have. I wish they would offer to buy the books--of course they might want some but not all and I would like to sell everything to one dealer or collector. Thnks again to you both.

Tisie, every time I see your name I’m reminded of the video that aired on PBS many years ago (lord the years can really go by). The movie title was “Flambards,” and the female star of the movie had the character name “Christina,” but her nickname was Tisie. There was also a very lilting overture before and after the movie called “Christina of Flambards.”

Did you see this video or read any of the “Flambard” books? Of course, this has nothing to do with Antique books. ...just a little aside in life’s passing parade.

Bill H

I saw Flambards! It's still available on video as well, Bill, but I don't remember the Tisie! (Can't remember much about that one)....I remember a plane? I love those British dramas!

JimVA, thank you so much for that link, I think we need to get some of these links in the heading because it may help people and I would love to hear about your books when you have time, some of those old illustrations are to die for. Pirages' catalogue is a delight, if anybody is interested in such things, and the bindings!!!!!

Scooterlady, now DO tell us what they say, we're all agog!!!!

ginny

I have written this message 3 times--hope my luck is better the 4th--thanks to all you wonderful people and your interest and help and Maryal's polite hint that I misspelled his name, the problem is solved. I knew there was something odd about Daniel DeFoe's name but couldn't remember what. I found a website with a lot of info about him and then read and remembered that his father's name was Foe--he was a butcher--and Daniel Foe added De to his name so he sounded more like a gentleman. The book ws published in 1727--An essay on the history of apparitions. He died in 1731 and the book was reprintd in 1732. My copy of the 1732 edition is in quite nice condition considering it's age. Maybe that's because it's so boring probably no one every read it all the way through. Thanks again everybody. Now to get a price. This is the fun of belonging to SN--nice,intelligent, fun people who share some of your interests.

Bill, the "Tisie" was my mother's nickname(born 1903), given to her by her first grade teacher. She never knew why. Her name was Palagie, very French pronounciation,(rhymes with Gigi). I never, ever heard it before until my husband's golf buddy was eating lunch with us and started talking about his mother-in-law "Tisie". I kept listening until I was sure what he was saying, then asked. Turned out it wasn't her real name, either. Yours is the first I've heard of Flambards but will have to check it out! Thanks for the post. (Okay, folks, it's OLD, it's RARE, if not books?)

Scootergirl---Glad to hear that you have found some useful information. If it turns out that the book is really really valuable and you buy a small tropical island, may I come and visit, please?

Maryal

Maryal--if it's really valuable you may certainly come and visit and bring a couple of pounds of milk chocolate from Switzerland. With my luck,it probably will turn out to have been stolen from the bibliotechique nationale in Paris by a kleptomaniac who hated the French and wanted to turn the book over to the I Hate Napoleon Bonaparte Society. And he no doubt is awaiting execution by having liver stuffed into him as they do to make pate de foie gras in the Congo where they hate the French and think he is one of THEM partly because he keeps humming, "Bongo Bingo Bongo, I don' wanna leave the Congo." So the Congolese are going to make sure he doesn't--ever. If it isn't valuable you can come anyway, just bring some coke and chips with the chocolate. Tisie:I thought flambard was a french word referring to the Flemish people who live in Belgium and the Netherlands. I was wrong--it's a french word that means showy or flashy according to my french dictionary. I guess ya learn something new every day.

Scootergirl, you might be interested in a new flyer I got from Phillip Pirages which lists some very nice things for a 2001 Book Fair in San Francisco February 23-25....

Along with his complete manuscript in Latin at $19,000, and a book of hours 1450 for $55,000, there WAS a Defoe, and I ripped it out of the catalogue and saved it for you, but of course can't find it, but it was pricey, none the less, I think in the $750 range, do not give those away!

WAIT! Here it is, under Mineature books, Defoe, Daniel THE LITTLE ROBINSON CRUSOE, ca. 1880, 3x 2 1/2.....a group of particularly attractive volumes, many of them devoted to various aspects of natural history, all of them bound in gilt stamped cloth, undated but published around 1835, and all illustrated with 48 pretty woodcut plates (including frontspiece)....

I have a feeling they are $750 each, but am not sure. If it was 750 for the entire set, I believe it would say how many are in the set.

I guess one could inquire!

I believe I would sent them an email and inquire about my own books.

ginny

thanks so much Ginny for thinking of me and my books--I live alone and have no family and only a few cousins who won't speak to me, so I decided I needed to sell things that have any value--just in case I live to 100--my dr thinks Ill only make it to 86. Right now I'm not sure I'll make it to my next birthday. One interesting 2 volume setI have is in french, on ghosts, published in France in the 1840's--the bookplate in vol. 1 indicts the book belonged to the bishop of the French city of Evereux--in vol 2 he got a promotion--he was the archbishop of Rouen. I looked him up in a dictionary of French biography--he later became a cardinal and was the French representative to the vatican because later,in the 1870's, France had no official representation with the Catholic church.He was also responsible for the building of many secondary schools and colleges. Don't know what it's worth but it's association value might be good--at least in France.

Scootergirl, those books sound fascinating! I love history and have enjoyed reading all my old books, except for one in French. Good luck with getting the most out of them!

Scootergirl!!!!!!!

Now listen, that is "provenance," that bit about the Archbishop.

OK here's what you do, it will take one email.

Write: pirages@onlinemac.com

Tell them I recommended them to you, Pirages himself will be in San Francisco or just returning, but his staff is more than capable unless they're all gone to the big show.

Tell them what you have, the Defoes, the one above, tell them you are interested in selling and would like to know what they might offer and just see how it goes?

What have you got to lose??

Good luck!!!!!!

Love,

ginny

Scooter Girl: I need to correct a statement. I got my Jimmies mixed up. The "Singing Brakeman" was Jimmy Rogers who died in 1932. He yodeled and wrote songs such as "I'm in the Jailhouse Now", hobo songs, and others. Jimmy Davis did write "You Are My Sunshine" and was Governor of Louisiana and lived to be around 100. Good luck.

Ginny--I looked that up and found out that he died in 1932. Some of those old songs from the Civil War were really sad--remember Old Black Joe--if that doesn't make you cry--I cried and cried when I read it a few weeks ago.

I think I still have a Stephen Foster book with all those old songs. Does that ring a bell? Since I spend half my life looking for things, I may just take a day off and see if I can dig it out. My next life I will be organized, no clutter, throw away anything not used. HA! Not in this life or next!

Me too, Tisie, I'm going to be a paragon of organization I can feel it coming, my entire life will be categorized into files and immediately accessible, the barn will not be full like other people's attics are and in general I will walk more lightly on the earth!! (Now nobody hold your breath here! hahahaah)

ScooterLady, yes those old songs really tug at the heart strings altho what I found and posted about Jesse James yesterday in the Nothing Like it in the World discussion would suggest, that in his case, anyway, he was a long way from one who "stole from the rich and gave to the poor/ He's a hand and a heart and a brain" like HIS old song says!

Yeah, right, go read the truth in Nothing Like it in the World.

ginny

Ginny and Tisie--I will never be organized no matter how many times I am reincarnated--I was raised by a woman, my mother, who was a fanatic about neatness--if I was reading a book, laid it on the floor and got up to get some pop from the kitchen or go to the bathroom, she had a fit about the book on the floor--what was I supposed to do with it?Carry it around balanced on my head? My mother dusted 3 times a day--after breakfast, after lunch and before dinner. She cleaned the kitchen floor on her hands and knees because she said a mop didn't get the floor clean enough. And to get any lingering dirt from the corners of the floor, she used some kind of pick to get out any dirt, real or imaginery. Hoo-boy that's not for me and never will be.

Ginny--I think the reason I don't try to find out what those books are worth is because then I won't have you to talk to and I enjoy that a lot. Did Steven Foster write Ole Black Joe? When I sang it at 13 it didn't mean that much--now that I'm a lot older it does.

Found it! My old "Songs of Stephen Foster"(easy arrangements for piano). He did write "Old Black Joe". Also(won't list them all), Jeanine with the Light Brown Hair, My Old Kentucky Home, Oh!Susanna, Old Folks at Home, De Camptown Races....lots more. Sad songs. The book is pretty much in shreds but still has the gold stars my piano teacher put on each page.

Scootergirl, I met some mothers like yours and was always uncomfortable in their house because I was afraid of messing up. I always admired how nice their houses looked, though. My mother cleaned the windows, cleaned and worked all the time, but she never fussed if we left things laying around. Her mother had died when she was young and think she tried so hard to be the mother she didn't have. When my friends came over, and they were always welcome, she always stopped what she was doing to offer food or just visit with them. My 3 brothers friends and sister's and my friends kept going by to visit with Mom and Dad long after we left home.

Stephen Foster also wrote Florida's State Song. He was looking for a river in the south that had 2 syllables. That turned out to be Swanee River.

It's interesting to me the prices put on some of the more modern books which are actually sometimes of more value than the old rare or antique books. For instance, many of the original volumes of Stephen King are going at astronomical prices.

I'm lucky enough to have, as I've said, the Pirages catalogue, not only does he deal in old books but he deals in fabulous bindings and some of the prices for these books are simply astronomical.

I'll bring a couple in here in the next few days for you to marvel at, maybe I can scan in a cover or two as well.

I saw recently that some duke's entire library recently went at auction for the first time, I guess the heirs sold it off, but he had been quite the collector and each volume went for the most amazing prices. Kind of like the Edward VII (the Duke of Windsor) auction which was interrupted by the death of Princess Diana. When they restarted that thing even the most ignoble volume (apparently the Winsdors were not much on reading) went for unbelievable figures, even the catalogue of the sale at Sotheby's was more expensive than a good book.

All that makes you wonder what makes people collect? Why they collect at all, what good it does and what pleasure it gives?

I collect, too, but not books or first editions, what do you collect?

ginny

spoooooky ghost stories--shiver,shiver!!!!!

Remember me? I used to go by the name of "Spooks". I have a flock of 78 rpm records with Steven Foster Songs. I love his music. Much of my library of old books had to go in the trash. We had nearly 2 feet of water all over the basement (finnished basement) from the winter floods here in New England. Fortunately my copy of the entire year of 1895 Scientific American did not get runied. I paid $5.00 for two hard bound volumes at a yard sale. I have been offered several hundred. Some day I might put them on e-bay. I had a number of very old medical books and technical books from way back when. All were under water. I also lost over 200 recordings (LP's) the jackets all soggy and had to be thrown away including some of the recordings. What a mess.

Erland, that's a terrible loss! My daughter had that happen and some boxes were so bad by the time they got into them they didn't even open to see what was inside. Rains had made the sewer back into the basement so now they have a ball check to avoid that ever happening again! Insurance took care of the cleaning so they just hauled it all up to the garage for her to sort, and most was too far gone and they hauled it off. So sorry for your loss.

Erland--I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I guess men don't cry, but I would if I were in your shoes. We've had several people in my apt bldg let bathtubs run over and ruin furniture on the floor below--my bldg is only open to people over 62-and ssome folks don't think too clearly or remember. I would like to sell my collection of ghost stories. Have a nice weekend and hope the weather's great--it's going to rain everyday here in Michigan until Tuesday.

I have Vol. 2 (The Sea) and Vol. 14 (Enchantment) of Classic Tales of Famous Authors, published by the Bodleian Society of New York in 1905. Since there were 20 Volumes, I have no intention of even trying to complete the set [

], but if anyone out there would like there would like to have Vol. 2 & 14, I could probably be persuaded. ..Babi

Wow, Babi, that's something ELSE, I seem to remember that series vaguely, do you have any idea what it's worth?

ginny

Not the slightest, Ginny. When I got them, there were still some pages uncut. I guess someone bought the set and never got around to reading them all. The binding is a little frayed at the top and bottom of the spine, and was not expensive to begin with. Probably not worth a great deal. The full set might be worth something. Any information anyone has is more than I know now. ..Babi

Babi, I looked them up at bibliofind. Bibliofind has been bought out by Amazon.com, which is why, I guess, their link no longer appears in the heading here, this site is sponsored by B&N.

However I found several offerings and here is the page you can see for yourself.

Check on prices of Classic Tales of Famous Authors

As you can see the prices vary, you can pay $420 for an 8 volume set out of the 20 vol, or $35 for a few volumes that match or $7 per volume for others, it seems to matter what the condition is? They seem to be saying those are morocco leather and half leather bindings, are you sure yours are not expensive?

I am actually very disappointed to find that price on them as I would think that anything that old would or should have a nice hefty price, I mean, let's face it, the things are almost 100 years old!!! I personally love old books, you might inquire of a dealer if you have one nearby.

Hope that helps some,

ginny

Thanks for the info., Ginny. I checked out the site. From your description, my two books must be the half-leather bindings. I'll explore further. I doubt if I have anything really of value, but I have beaucoup books and wouldn't mind clearing out some of them. And it's fun doing the research. ...Babi

I found a great link in the Books Wanted section today and found in it a book I have looked for a long time. Since it is not associated with another bookseller I put the link in the heading, you may want to check it out!

ginny

Looking for information from all you smart people. Back in the 50's an "International Collector's Library" was published, I think by Doubleday, with the American publishing offices in Garden City, N.Y. I bought about two dozen of the books as they were offered, but would like to find more. Can anyone tell me where I might find a listing of all the titles published in that series? If I can find that, I can identify which ones I would like to have, and start looking for them. ...Babi

Babi, I did a search on bibliofind for International Collector's Library and it turned up this List of 850 volumes in the International Collector's Library

Here are a few:

International Collectors Library

 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Ramage, Ken (Editor): Gun Digest 2001, 55th Annual Edition  
Price: $19.95  
Merchant:  Ray Riling Arms Books Co.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Dorsey, Stephen / McPheeters, Kenneth l.: The American Milit...  
Price: $59.95  
Merchant:  Ray Riling Arms Books Co.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Madame Curie - Translated by Vincent Sheean  
Price: $12.00  
Merchant:  The Bookcase.net  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Ramage, Ken (Editor): Gun Digest 2002, 56th Annual Edition  
Price: $27.95  
Merchant:  Ray Riling Arms Books Co.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 T.H.White_THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING  
Price: $19.50  
Merchant:  The Elephant's Foot zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Dorsey/Shaffer: Gun Tools, Vol. 2  
Price: $30.00  
Merchant:  Ray Riling Arms Books Co.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Dorsey/Shaffer/Rutledge: Gun Tools, Vol. 1  
Price: $30.00  
Merchant:  Ray Riling Arms Books Co.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Day, Clarence. LIFE WITH FATHER & OTHER WRITINGS  
Price: $14.00  
Merchant:  StrangeFire Books zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Oursler, Fulton. THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD  
Price: $16.00  
Merchant:  StrangeFire Books zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Three Short Novels of Dostoevsky Translated by Constance Gar...  
Price: $11.25  
Merchant:  Mid-Columbia Books  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Alexandre Dumas_CAMILLE (La Dame aux Camelias)  
Price: $18.50  
Merchant:  The Elephant's Foot zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini by Cellini, Benvenut...  
Price: $7.50  
Merchant:  thirdcoastbooks zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 The autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini--Cellini, Benvenuto  
Price: $10.00  
Merchant:  pscelebrty zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Around the World in Eighty Days by Verne, Jules  
Price: $20.00  
Merchant:  goosecov zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Ivanhoe--Scott, Walter, Sir  
Price: $6.00  
Merchant:  Odyssey Books zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Bulfinch, Thomas: BULFINCH'S MYTHOLOGY: The Age of Fable  
Price: $10.00  
Merchant:  robertcl@earthlink.net zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Maugham, W. Somerset.: Of Human Bondage.  
Price: $7.50  
Merchant:  Cromwell Books  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Buck,Pearl: The Good Earth  
Price: $8.00  
Merchant:  Red Bridge Books  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 The Life of Samuel Johnson--Boswell, James  
Price: $8.00  
Merchant:  cbbook zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Mitchell, Margaret: GONE WITH THE WIND  
Price: $14.00  
Merchant:  popeks zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Chaucer,Geoffrey: Canterbury Tales Rendered Into Modern Engl...  
Price: $10.00  
Merchant:  Red Bridge Books  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Victory--Conrad, Joseph  
Price: $20.00  
Merchant:  pscelebrty zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Byrd, Richard E.: Alone  
Price: $12.50  
Merchant:  Books & Birds zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers  
Price: $30.00  
Merchant:  ftlogan2 zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Carroll, Lewis: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through t...  
Price: $8.99  
Merchant:  insightb zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Best Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant--Maupassant, Guy De  
Price: $5.75  
Merchant:  jonbook zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Dickens, Charles. [Gorey, Edward]: BLEAK HOUSE.  
Price: $82.50  
Merchant:  gkanebks zShop  

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 Scott, Sir Walter: IVANHOE  
Price: $10.00  
Merchant:  robertcl@earthlink.net zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice  
Price: $7.50  
Merchant:  gbetc zShop  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Cervantes: Don Quixote  
Price: $11.95  
Merchant:  lighthouse_cove zShop  

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There is one more source I might try but it will be later on, that might get you started or indicate some you don't have?

ginny

Wow! Thanks for the list. There must have been more than one "International Collectors' Library", as I'm quite sure the one I subscribed to never went to 850 volumes. Also, there were no books like "Gun Tools". Some I do recognize, and a few on this list I have.

Where can I find this "bibliofind" you referred to? It sound like the sort of tool I was looking for...unsuccessfully...on the public library site. ..Babi

Babi, just type http://www.bibliofind.com and it will come up? I can't put it in the heading any longer as Amazon has bought them out? They are rare and old books dealers and you can deal directly with them, I've gotten two this week, they're very good, I was surprised at that Gun thing, too, and did not click on it, but you may want to, sometimes they slip a ringer in there, you would click on whatever interested you. Let me try another site.

ginny

Here's another one: Search for International Collector's Library

Here's another one: Search for International Collector's Library

Tolstoy, Leo
Anna Karenina International Collectors Library Brown/Gold Leather
WAR AND PEACE; IN AN ABRIDGED TRANSLATION REV.
BY PRINCESS ALEXNADRA KROPOTKIN International Collectors Library 1949 Mitchell, Margaret
International Collectors Library-Gone With The Wind
GONE WITH THE WIND International Collectors Library 1964
Du Maurier, Daphne
Jamaica Inn (international collectors Library)
My Cousin Rachel (International Collectors Library)
Melville, Herman
International Collectors Library-Moby Dick
Catton, Bruce
International Collectors Library-a Stillness at Appomattox
Clark, W. G. And Wright, W. Aldis (Editors)
The Tragedies of William Shakespeare.
Arranged in Their Chronological Order. International Collectors Library. Dana, Richard Henry jr.
TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST International Collectors Library
Dostoevsky, Fyodor
Crime and Punishment (International Collectors Library)
Parkman, Francis.
The Oregon Trail-International Collectors Library Edition.
Proust, Marcel
International Collectors Library: Swann's Way

And many many more?

ginny

Ginny, you are a gold mine of information. I have the bibliofind address tucked away, and I am sure I am going to have a grand old time exploring thru' there. Thank you for going to so much trouble to help me out. ..Babi

PS: I noticed that at least three of the books pictured in your heading have the same style of bindings as those on my Int'l. Collectors' books. Great looking books. ..B

I am so glad to be of help!!

ginny

Welcome back, Ginny! I know you've been back a while from your jaunt in Europe but our paths haven't crossed until now. You cited abebooks in the heading which is my all time favorite bookfinder. I give both abe and bookfinder top marks.

-- Marvelle

HEY there, Marvelle, so good to see you, too!! Yes, they really are a great service unfortunately in this case they were not supplying the International Collector's Series, but normally I love to use them: they are great.

I just got yesterday a book I have looked for for years. I read it to my children from the library and just happened to remember the name. Like many other things from childhood, this one is a bit faded (and it's even a library book, too) but the message is still the same and I'm glad I got hold of it, it's Canticle of the Sun for children. Today's books are much brighter and more garish in color.

There are many editions of this book but I got the right one, the very first thing I did was tear the cover, can you believe that? Should have left the plastic on, it's a first edition.

But if you think that's bad you should see the notch my fingers made in a 700 year old illuminated manuscript page, the good news is it's not the only notch and we now know how they got notches, the bad news is, well....hahahaa obvious..

Honestly!

Makes you want to don a space suit to handle anything!

fumble fingers

Ginny I am green with envy. How ever did you get your hands on such an old manuscript. I assume it was parchment?

The only ones I have ever seen have been in Museums and in some of our Cathedral libraries. Lucky you!

English38, I was as amazed as you are to find that there is actually quite an available market in illuminated manuscript pages, at some quite reasonable prices.

Roslyn Stempel, one of our original SeniorNetters, was the person who first alerted me to this world, and it's been an amazing journey ever since.

It was amazing to me, as well, to find that you can purchase a leaf or even, on rare occasions, an entire volume of, for instance, a Book of Hours? (some people can hahahaha) And it's a thrill, I must say. A bit of history and some of them are really exquisite.

I love the British Library, have you been in their new computer room? They have illuminated manuscripts computerized and you "turn" the pages by computer and listen to the descriptions.

Here is an example from a very reputable source, his huge catalog with color illustrations contains, the one I'm looking at, anyway, 1327 items in the following categories:

Printed Books Before 1800

19th and 20th Century Printed Books

Vellum Manuscript Leaves With Mineatures

Single Vellum Manuscript Leaves

Documents, Leaf Books, Colllections of Printed Leaves

Individual Printed Leaves

I need not tell you that some of these bound books, the bindings are out of this world, but staggering to the mind is the plethora of early vellum (parchment) manuscripts with or without illumination. I've done a bit of reading on the subject and it appears you can't call a page an "illuminated manuscript page" unless it actually contains gold illuminated leaf? And a lot of them don't?

One of the very best writers on this is British! Christopher de Hamel has written many books on the Illuminated Manuscript, one of the best to start with is a paperback called Scribes and Illuminators: ISBN 0-8020-7707-2, it's wonderful, such a sense of humor.

I have a small but growing collection to which I add every year. My last purchase last year (you mentioned parchment, and de Hamel explains that parchment and vellum are interchangeable terms, both are skins,) and his book above shows the process in making the pages! My latest purchase was described this way:

Leaves from an Italian Gradual (Italy perhaps north east) ca. 1490. 24 1/2" x 181/2" . Five lines each of text, written in a fine gothic hand and of music on a red four-line staff. Two large and exceptionally rich decorated foliate initials in many colors and gold, on a highly burnished gold ground, the initials enclosing very charming flowers with convincing leaves and stems, small calligraphic initials in blue or red with contrasting penwork border and infill, other initials with comvoluted foliate surround.

Minor defects, and the hair side of the leaf darker (as always) but generally in fine condition, the large initials especially well preserved and unusually bright.

For those who might be interested in this type of thing, you'd want to go to Phillip J. Pirages

His address is:

Phillip J. Pirages
Fine Books and Manuscripts
PO Box 504
McMinnville, Oregon 97128

1-800--962-6666

The catalog is to die for.

ginny