Books that you are most happy or proud to have in your collection
Talk Book Collectors
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1booksforreading
I love my library, and there are several books on my shelves that I feel particularly lucky to own. One example is A Modern School for the Violin by August Wilhelmj and James Brown issued in 12 instalments (6 books A and 6 books B) between 1898 and 1908 in England by Novello. I might be the only person in the world to have the complete book - all 12 installments. If not, I am definitely one of very few, including libraries. To me, this is a very useful book that I review often, and I was incredibly lucky to come across it and purchase it (cheaply) some years ago.
An example from a completely different area is "Jealousy" by Robbe-Grillet published by Allen Press in 1959 with pen and ink drawings by Michelle Forgeois. My copy is one of 6 artist copies, inscribed by Forgeois on the colophon page and signed/numbered on every art page. Again, I was not hunting for this book specifically, but came across it by accident. I did read the book, by the way, and enjoyed it. :)
What are some examples of your books that you are very happy to have and feel lucky to own?
An example from a completely different area is "Jealousy" by Robbe-Grillet published by Allen Press in 1959 with pen and ink drawings by Michelle Forgeois. My copy is one of 6 artist copies, inscribed by Forgeois on the colophon page and signed/numbered on every art page. Again, I was not hunting for this book specifically, but came across it by accident. I did read the book, by the way, and enjoyed it. :)
What are some examples of your books that you are very happy to have and feel lucky to own?
2Keeline
I can think of several. But, like yours, it takes some explanation to show why they are important. I'll think about ones to highlight for this thread.
James
James
3Glacierman
>1 booksforreading: Having been interested in Irish/Scots history for many years, I am particularly thrilled to own a copy of the Chronicum Scotorum. A chronicle of Irish affairs, from the earliest times to A.D. 1135; with a supplement, containing the events from 1141 to 1150; edited, with a translation by Duald Mac Firbis. (London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1866).
It is a typical example of Irish annals, replete with war, death, destruction, revenge and murder. Admittedly, it is sometimes difficult to tell one person from another with the same name! But, it is always interesting. Fortunately, it comes with a very useful glossary/index.
On the other end of things, as you say, there is the Nonesuch Dante of which I am pickled tink to own a copy. It is a magnificent edition of La Divina Comedia with illustrations by Botticelli and is a cornerstone of my fine press collection.
It is a typical example of Irish annals, replete with war, death, destruction, revenge and murder. Admittedly, it is sometimes difficult to tell one person from another with the same name! But, it is always interesting. Fortunately, it comes with a very useful glossary/index.
On the other end of things, as you say, there is the Nonesuch Dante of which I am pickled tink to own a copy. It is a magnificent edition of La Divina Comedia with illustrations by Botticelli and is a cornerstone of my fine press collection.
4Mechan1c
One of the great things about book collecting is when things come together in what I like to call serendipity (stolen from Peter Howard Books). This certainly falls in the "happy to have in my collection" area.
I'm a collector of Pacific Northwest Americana. I recently had an opportunity to purchase a 2 volume set that I've been wanting for quite a few years. I met a guy in my book club who also collects similar books, and he said he'd like to sell off his collection, as he's approaching the 80 year mark.
Among a lot of really nice books, he shows me a set of Adventures on the Columbia River : Including the Narrative of a Residence of Six Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains by Ross Cox in unusually nice bindings. Upon inspection i see Zaehnsdorf, on the verso of the front free end papers of both volumes. At this time I had not heard of Zaehnsdorf.
Here's how I cataloged the set: Fine in beautiful Zaehnsdorf custom bindings, half polished calf over marbled boards, gilt decorated spines in 6 compartments, with gilt-lettered red morocco labels, top edges gilt. Signed by Zaehnsdorf on the verso of the front free end papers of both volumes.
Graff 893; Hill pp.71; Howes C822; Reese, Best of the West 58; Smith 2078, Soliday I-648; Streeter VI-3702; Tweney 10; Wagner-Camp-Becker 43:1.
It hit all the marks for me as a book collector: A book I was on the hunt for, great content, great condition, a custom fine binding, and a generous price from an avid fellow collector.
I can add a bio of the Zaehnsdorf family if anyone is interested. I'll see if I can add a picture...
I'm a collector of Pacific Northwest Americana. I recently had an opportunity to purchase a 2 volume set that I've been wanting for quite a few years. I met a guy in my book club who also collects similar books, and he said he'd like to sell off his collection, as he's approaching the 80 year mark.
Among a lot of really nice books, he shows me a set of Adventures on the Columbia River : Including the Narrative of a Residence of Six Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains by Ross Cox in unusually nice bindings. Upon inspection i see Zaehnsdorf, on the verso of the front free end papers of both volumes. At this time I had not heard of Zaehnsdorf.
Here's how I cataloged the set: Fine in beautiful Zaehnsdorf custom bindings, half polished calf over marbled boards, gilt decorated spines in 6 compartments, with gilt-lettered red morocco labels, top edges gilt. Signed by Zaehnsdorf on the verso of the front free end papers of both volumes.
Graff 893; Hill pp.71; Howes C822; Reese, Best of the West 58; Smith 2078, Soliday I-648; Streeter VI-3702; Tweney 10; Wagner-Camp-Becker 43:1.
It hit all the marks for me as a book collector: A book I was on the hunt for, great content, great condition, a custom fine binding, and a generous price from an avid fellow collector.
I can add a bio of the Zaehnsdorf family if anyone is interested. I'll see if I can add a picture...
6wcarter
>5 Mechan1c:
That is certainly a gorgeous binding.
That is certainly a gorgeous binding.
7Glacierman
>5 Mechan1c: Yeah, that sure is a Zaehnsdorf binding! Always a treat, they are.
8MsMixte
>5 Mechan1c: That's a beauty!
I live just 30 miles from the Columbia River. A long time ago I picked up a copy of "Down the Columbia" by Lewis R. Freeman (sorry, the touchstone for Down the Columbia doesn't bring up the correct book). Mr Freeman journeyed down the Columbia before 1921, just before it was completely dammed.
I'll have to see if I can pick up a copy of Adventures on the Columbia.
My 'most happy to have' book is a true 1st edition of "Horse conformation as to soundness and performance" by Ben K. Green. He was an old school veterinarian (who seems to have never actually gone to a vet school) in Texas and wrote several books detailing some of his adventures in life (and some of the adventures were probably true!). Touchstones for the book and author don't appear to be working, sadly.
The book isn't much to look at, because it was privately printed for Ben K. Green. He had 1000 copies printed, 944 of which were offered for sale. He sold some copies, gave copies away to friends. He stored the excess unsold copies in his chicken coop, where they were rained upon, sat through heat waves, and generally just tossed into the coop until someone wanted one. Black cloth with titles stamped in imitation gold. Most copies have had the imitation gold turn green, and are a bit..well...grungy. My copy still has the titles their original gold colour and it must not have spent any time in the chicken coop!
It was reprinted by Northland Press, and most booksellers call this the first edition, but it's not.
I came across my copy one day in a Seattle bookshop and instantly recognized it for what it was, and it came home with me that happy day.
I live just 30 miles from the Columbia River. A long time ago I picked up a copy of "Down the Columbia" by Lewis R. Freeman (sorry, the touchstone for Down the Columbia doesn't bring up the correct book). Mr Freeman journeyed down the Columbia before 1921, just before it was completely dammed.
I'll have to see if I can pick up a copy of Adventures on the Columbia.
My 'most happy to have' book is a true 1st edition of "Horse conformation as to soundness and performance" by Ben K. Green. He was an old school veterinarian (who seems to have never actually gone to a vet school) in Texas and wrote several books detailing some of his adventures in life (and some of the adventures were probably true!). Touchstones for the book and author don't appear to be working, sadly.
The book isn't much to look at, because it was privately printed for Ben K. Green. He had 1000 copies printed, 944 of which were offered for sale. He sold some copies, gave copies away to friends. He stored the excess unsold copies in his chicken coop, where they were rained upon, sat through heat waves, and generally just tossed into the coop until someone wanted one. Black cloth with titles stamped in imitation gold. Most copies have had the imitation gold turn green, and are a bit..well...grungy. My copy still has the titles their original gold colour and it must not have spent any time in the chicken coop!
It was reprinted by Northland Press, and most booksellers call this the first edition, but it's not.
I came across my copy one day in a Seattle bookshop and instantly recognized it for what it was, and it came home with me that happy day.
9wcarter
My "precious" is Maps of The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge 1829-1844.
About 30 years ago my favourite antiquarian book shop in Brisbane was closing, and as a regular customer I was invited to browse the stock on the last day before it all went for auction.
Literally crawling around at floor level in a dark back room I found a volume labelled "Maps". Being a mapaholic, I removed a dozen books from on top and revealed a battered poor binding that contained all 220 maps from the Society, and all in their hand-coloured version, one of very few such complete sets.
When I took this to the front and asked to buy it, the elderly owner exclaimed "You found it! I purchased this decades ago and was saving it as an investment for my retirement, but lost it."
He was reluctant to sell, but I pointed out that he was now retiring and it was time to realise his investment. He did not reveal what it cost him, but I paid A$2000, by far my most expensive book at the time.
I had the book rebound in an appropriate way a decade ago and is now my most treasured book. A set of maps in a poor binding sold at auction a couple of years ago for A$15,000, so it seems I too have made a good investment.
The atlas is reviewed here.
About 30 years ago my favourite antiquarian book shop in Brisbane was closing, and as a regular customer I was invited to browse the stock on the last day before it all went for auction.
Literally crawling around at floor level in a dark back room I found a volume labelled "Maps". Being a mapaholic, I removed a dozen books from on top and revealed a battered poor binding that contained all 220 maps from the Society, and all in their hand-coloured version, one of very few such complete sets.
When I took this to the front and asked to buy it, the elderly owner exclaimed "You found it! I purchased this decades ago and was saving it as an investment for my retirement, but lost it."
He was reluctant to sell, but I pointed out that he was now retiring and it was time to realise his investment. He did not reveal what it cost him, but I paid A$2000, by far my most expensive book at the time.
I had the book rebound in an appropriate way a decade ago and is now my most treasured book. A set of maps in a poor binding sold at auction a couple of years ago for A$15,000, so it seems I too have made a good investment.
The atlas is reviewed here.
10rshart3
>9 wcarter: Wow -- that was worth crawling around in a dark room! The maps are beautiful. And I love the Africa with all that white space in the middle.
11booksforreading
>5 Mechan1c:
These books are gorgeous.
I have just checked, and (sadly) I do not have any Zaehnsdorf bindings in my library; though I have other representations from various binders, including historic American ones, like Henry Blackwell (https://www.bookclubofwashington.org/post/henry-blackwell-bookbinder-bibliophile-and-author) and Jeff Stikeman (https://jeffstikeman.wordpress.com/stikeman-bookbindings/).
>9 wcarter:
This is a great story! Your patience and persistence looking through piles of books in darkness really paid off. What a fantastic find! This is a case of one being in the right place at the right time (and having the right measure of perseverance) to uncover a treasure.
These books are gorgeous.
I have just checked, and (sadly) I do not have any Zaehnsdorf bindings in my library; though I have other representations from various binders, including historic American ones, like Henry Blackwell (https://www.bookclubofwashington.org/post/henry-blackwell-bookbinder-bibliophile-and-author) and Jeff Stikeman (https://jeffstikeman.wordpress.com/stikeman-bookbindings/).
>9 wcarter:
This is a great story! Your patience and persistence looking through piles of books in darkness really paid off. What a fantastic find! This is a case of one being in the right place at the right time (and having the right measure of perseverance) to uncover a treasure.
12varielle
My favorite is Jeanne d’Arc by Marius Sepet from 1887. It’s beautifully bound in I think silk. The cover art and engravings are magnificent. Except for some hinge wear around the spine it’s pristine. I found it in an antique mall.
13cbellia
Esp. to Glaciarman: I also have a copy of the Nonesuch La divina Commedia. It has an orange vellum binding and a faded spine. but it is internally in fine condition.I purchased it at an auction about twenty five years ago. I think it is typical that the boards got warped over the years so that it doesn't close well. I noticed that the vellum is very thick and strong enough to cause the. binding boards to bow outward. I was able to remove the boards and replace them with wooden boards, so that the book closes properly.
It is no longer in mint condition and may have lost some value. But the repair is only noticeable on close inspection. The value does not matter to me, but the book closes well and it is a pleasure to look at to browse through and to own it.
It is no longer in mint condition and may have lost some value. But the repair is only noticeable on close inspection. The value does not matter to me, but the book closes well and it is a pleasure to look at to browse through and to own it.
