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Articles - October - 2024 Issue

Four Book Collectors and Sellers Share Their Passion for Collecting

- by Michael Stillman

Everyone is a Collector.

Everyone is a Collector.

The world is filled with readers who love books and who are sort-of collectors in that they place the books they have read on their shelves and keep them there, perhaps forever. Still, they may not think of themselves as book collectors despite the love that makes it hard to part with those treasures. Maybe it's time to become a true collector rather than a de facto one. This is a field where there are knowledgeable people willing to help you share their passion.

 

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the American Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABAA), AbeBooks, the world's largest online book selling website, has put together a group of four short interviews with book people. They will give you a feel for the excitement of intentionally collecting books rather than just accidentally so. One of the great things about book collecting is that everyone can pick their own particular niche in the field. There is no one size fits all. In fact, it isn't limited to official “books,” as many people collect other forms of paper as well, documents, manuscripts, letters, posters, maps, etc.

 

The four booksellers and collectors who share their stories are Lisbet Tellefsen, Rebecca Romney, Obediah Baird, and Walter Reuben. Lisbet Tellefsen is an Oakland-based collector and community archivist. She has been collecting virtually her whole life, with the focus shifting from pop culture to posters, Afro-Cuban culture, and black LGBTQ culture. Rebecca Romney has been involved in the book trade most of her adult life, now as a co-founder of Type Punch Matrix. You may have seen her as the book expert on TV's Pawn Stars. Obadiah Baird is one of the co-owners of The Book Bin. His specialty is science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Walter Reuben, logically, is the proprietor of Walter Reuben, Inc. His specialty is films and old Hollywood ephemera.

 

You can hear their messages and better experience the excitement of book and paper collecting for yourself by visiting AbeBooks.com. Click here.

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Posted On: 2024-10-01 04:39
User Name: keeline

I would say "Everyone CAN BE a Collector."

Not all are. Probably in terms of percentages, fewer members of the post-Baby Boom generations are collectors now.

When I managed The Prince and the Pauper Collectible Children's Books from 1988 to 2000, we had many who came in and claimed emphatically that they were "not a collector." There is one view of a collector that is a person who spends large sums on their books or other items.

But when these non-collectors are looking for something and it has to be a particular format or artist for illustrations, and it is not readily available, they have quietly swerved into the collector classification, even if they are not willing to admit it.

And when a non-collector is trying to find something that admitted-collectors are also looking for, they have to compete with them or accept that they probably won't get what they are looking for unless they have the kind of luck that wins the lottery once every year or two.

The same applies to condition. When the non-collector wants nice copies of books from decades before that are no longer in print, this is also part of the realm of the collector.

We often joke that if you have more than five of some class of something or have spent more than double the price of a new copy available now, you are a collector.

But many are just readers and use libraries and library apps to read what they want. They don't try to keep that which they read because of expense and space considerations. I see others who claim they buy books, read them, and sell or give them away. It seems too expensive to be believed but I have to take them at their word on a claim like this.

Thee are some groupings of books that are accumulations and others that are collections which are curated to achieve a level of completeness from some aspect and upgrade over time.

When universities have book collection contests among students, there is usually both a descriptive bibliography requirement as well as an essay on what ties the components of the collection together.

One of the interesting things about acknowledging that one is a collector is the realization that one is not alone. Suddenly you discover communities and realize that you are not the only one who likes a certain kind of book. These can be the people from whom you can learn but will also compete with when it comes to obtaining the more scarce items.

Sometimes we think about collecting things. But I am also interested in collecting both information and the acquaintances and friendships along the way. These can be from fellow collectors and booksellers. This weekend I'll be in Sleepy Hollow for the Nancy Drew Sleuths convention where about 150 fans of that and similar series will gather for presentations, activities, and books.

As much as I like book fairs and have some conversations with booksellers I know or ones that seem to be handling my field, it is hard to converse with the fellow shoppers. Part of this is that they are busy shopping for the rare find. But another part is that it is considered bad form to converse in someone's retail space lest you take business from the person who paid for that space. There are not as many receptions for collectors to meet. That is where bibliophile societies and book clubs can offer opportunities.

James D. Keeline

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b><center>Sotheby's<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts & More<br>Available for Immediate Purchase</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s:</b> J.R.R. Tolkien. <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> Trilogy. 11,135 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Edgar Allan Poe. <i>The Raven and Other Poems,</i> 1845. 33,000 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. <i>War and Peace,</i> 1886. 22,500 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. <i>Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,</i> 1902. 7,500 USD <b>Sotheby’s:</b> F. Scott Fitzgerald. <i>This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby,</i> and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
    Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
    Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
  • <center><b>Freeman’s | Hindman<br>Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana<br>November 14</b></center> <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> LEROUX, Gaston. <i>The Phantom of the Opera.</i> FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000. <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD, John. <i>A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds.</i> L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000. <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000. <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> ORWELL, George. <i>Nineteen Eighty-Four.</i> Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000. <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD. <i>A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans.</i> L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000. <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> <i>The Federalist.</i> NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000. <b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> SELBY. <i>Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology.</i> Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman
    Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana
    November 14
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.
  • <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE<br>Le Neptune Oriental <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br> CASSAS<br>Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>CASSINI DE THURY<br>Carte générale et particulière de la France. <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>JOUY; GARNERAY<br>Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>LA PÉROUSE<br>Voyage autour du monde <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE<br>Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>LICENT<br>Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY<br>Panorama d’Athènes <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>PEETERS<br>Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>PÉRON; FREYCINET<br>Voyage de découverte aux terres australes <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>STACKELBERG<br>La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques. <b>Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:</b><br>VALENTINER<br>Atlas des Sonnensystems.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE
    Le Neptune Oriental
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    CASSAS
    Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    CASSINI DE THURY
    Carte générale et particulière de la France.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    JOUY; GARNERAY
    Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LA PÉROUSE
    Voyage autour du monde
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE
    Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LICENT
    Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY
    Panorama d’Athènes
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    PEETERS
    Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    PÉRON; FREYCINET
    Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    STACKELBERG
    La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    VALENTINER
    Atlas des Sonnensystems.
  • <b><center>Forum Auctions<br>Online Sale:<br>The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper<br>Ending 7th November, 2024</center></b> <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Christie (Agatha). <i>The Thirteen Problems,</i> first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Christie (Agatha). <i>Dumb Witness,</i> first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Christie (Agatha). <i>Cards on the Table,</i> first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. <i>Drop to his Death,</i> first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Berkeley (Anthony). <i>Jumping Jenny,</i> first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200. <b><center>Forum Auctions<br>Online Sale:<br>The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper<br>Ending 7th November, 2024</center></b> <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Marsh (Ngaio). <i>Overture to Death,</i> first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". <i>The Beast Must Die,</i> first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Brand (Christianna). <i>Green for Danger,</i> first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Christie (Agatha). <i>Murder is Easy,</i> first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000. <b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> Sayers (Dorothy L.) <i>Lord Peter Views the Body,</i> first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Online Sale:
    The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper
    Ending 7th November, 2024
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions
    Online Sale:
    The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper
    Ending 7th November, 2024
    Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
  • <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide<br>ABAA Dealer</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>Specialized in Purchasing<br>Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide<br>ABAA Dealer</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>Specialized in Purchasing<br>Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide<br>ABAA Dealer</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>Specialized in Purchasing<br>Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide<br>ABAA Dealer</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>Specialized in Purchasing<br>Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books</center></b> <b><center>RareBookBuyer.com<br>We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide<br>ABAA Dealer</center></b>
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    ABAA Dealer
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    ABAA Dealer
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    ABAA Dealer
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    ABAA Dealer
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    ABAA Dealer

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