Friday, October 01, 2010

Book Collecting Reconsidered

As I mentioned a few posts back, I have never considered myself a book collector, though I have a rather large number of books about books in my personal stash. I guess I’ve been “old school” enough to consider book collecting a rarified activity taken up with clear intent, narrowly focused, and driven by edition and condition. But the other morning I read something in the fall journal of The Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS – I love that!) that has given me cause to rethink my position. I missed the original article which apparently offered “rules” for book collectors. I probably saw it and purposefully passed it by due to the odious “R” word. As soon as rules appear behind austere bullet points or numbers, I am SO gone!

It seems, however, that I actually have company, even in the pages of such a lofty journal whose members belong to bibliophilic societies across the country. Actually I belong to one myself which is why I HAVE the lofty journal – Northern Ohio Bibliophilic Society (NOBS –I like that too) for which am even a board member. But I am also the new kid on the block there and am very acutely aware of it, not only because of my relative inexperience as a bookseller, but because I have always considered myself a serious book amasser, not a serious book COLLECTOR. So when several sentences penned by a reader who took umbrage with the original article vaulted off the page into my consciousness and set up housekeeping I HAD to talk to you about it.

A book collector collects books. They may or may not have fine or interesting bindings.

Beginning or financially strapped collectors could buy less than fine quality books because they are all that such a collector could afford: that does not make them any less bibliophilic.


The writer of the above was identified only as Jerrold M., but I think Jerrold M. is a pretty smart guy. Not long ago we book lovers woke up one morning to find ourselves Strangers In a Strange Land (with homage to Robert Heinlein). The physical book, the object of our desire all of our lives, was under siege and children, the next generation of readers and collectors, clearly preferred a box of electronic games to a shelf of books. In such a world how can we possibly exclude a book lover of any persuasion? How can we make collecting an activity that rules out everyone but the most learned and well-heeled? If book collecting, if books themselves are to continue, it’s imperative that we swing open the door to the wood paneled library and reserve some shelving for what may seem naïve and plebian.

My thoughts go back to the Akron Antiquarian Book Fair sponsored by NOBS last April. Eric and I exhibited there for the first time and if the experience taught me anything it’s that my preconceived notions failed to hold up, at least in Akron, Ohio. I worried that my books weren’t “good enough” and that I would be deemed unworthy of my hard-won space. But none of that turned out to be true. In fact, my notions about antiquarian book fairs tumbled faster than a stack of books disturbed by the less than delicate feline paws of the Late Great Mickey. Aside from one first edition Mark Twain, I sold a lot of regular books. Nice books, but by no means lofty. One collector, towing a gaggle of cute little kids, thrilled to find a Big Little book about Shirley Temple. Another gentleman who’d owned a manufacturing company snapped up two hefty tomes published in the early 1900’s by the Niagara and Bliss manufacturing companies, and was excited to add them to his collection. Does such a collection count for anything? I’m thinking maybe it counts for a very great deal.

So having said all this, I am finally willing to label myself a collector after all. I love books about books and deem them worthy of both my attention and my shelf space. They please me immensely, both for their content and for their very existence. My estate will never make money on their eventual sale, but I didn’t buy them as an investment. I bought them because they bring me immense pleasure and education and so I am offering you a glimpse of a small portion of my collection in the photo above in hopes that you might either enjoy them, or renew your passion for your own books. My collection isn't remotely focused – there’s old books, new books, fiction, nonfiction, magazines, journals, bibliographies, and ephemera, all of which was gleefully assembled for the sheer love of them. Book collecting should be fun. It should be open to anyone who loves books. And it should be free from discrimination by those who don’t share our particular passion.

The potential loss of the physical book is extremely painful to me and I will do whatever it takes to keep books alive. I am more than happy to embrace a world in which children are encouraged to become mini collectors of whatever they love be it Captain Underpants or The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. And I am truly delighted to make their parents feel welcome to attend a book fair whether their passion is Big Little books, manufacturing books, or books about earthworms. If ever there were a time to change the definition of collector that time would be NOW.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You wrote:
"So when several sentences penned by a reader who took umbrage with the original article vaulted off the page into my consciousness and set up housekeeping I HAD to talk to you about it."
I had to cut and paste this sentence to remember to respond. But as I read this blog today, I have to say that every word was deeply felt. Your passion for "the book" is evident and well placed. I am with you on this war to save the printed page. As the Kindle and Nook take off, Barnes and Nobel boodsellers is for sale, and so far there are not takers. The electronic world may soon remove these things we love from our hands. Thank you for this reminder. A joy to read, and full of inisght.
An Elmer Follwer (Elmer was a collector too!)

dawt said...

Your description of book collecting is spot on! I enjoy your blog so very much.

tess said...

Thank you both Elmer Follower and dawt for your comments. It's good to see that I am not alone in my concern for the future of books and book collecting. I'm so pleased that you enjoy the blog. I'm have such fun writing it, but I do want to be sure I'm touching on topics of interest. If you ever have any ideas you would like me to explore please let me know!