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The Future of Book Collecting

Good Night & Good Morning; 1872; $375

To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of the demise of the book are greatlyexaggerated. Physical, bound books continue to populate libraries, bookstores, and bookshelves. The arrival of the e-book , the Kindle, and other e-book readers is the continuing evolution of a piece of technology, the book, that has evolved over many centuries from papyrus to scroll, codex, and manuscript, to the greater availability of printed books after Gutenberg first used moveable type to print the bible.

How many Gutenberg bibles were printed, how many survive? How much is a Gutenberg bible worth? Similar questions are asked by any book collector searching for their prize book. How

Birds of the Chesapeake Bay; 1992; $20

many are there? Should I buy this one now, or wait, perhaps for a book in better condition. There is a census of the Gutenberg bible. Few are left in private hands but if one became available it would sell for millions.

Extraordinary sums have been spent on books by private collectors whether at auction, through a catalog, online, or through a bookstore. Serious collectors, known as bibliophiles, passionately collect a favorite author, subject, or genre. Bibliophiles I have known include a collector of dictionaries, with over 20,000 dictionaries residing under one roof; or the professor whose house is bulging with books stacked on every surface in every room with floor to ceiling bookcases too; or the collector who collects books about the great explorations and has built one of the foremost private collections on the subject.  When collecting gets out of hand it becomes bibliomania, a

The American Chair; 1983; $30

"gentle madness," according to Nicholas Basbanes in A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes and the Eternal Passion for Books.

Many people simply accumulate books; sometimes so many that they seem to multiply at night, spilling off shelves onto the floor. E-books can be accumulated too, but how will collecting evolve to accommodate the e-book? Is the e-book collectible? Rare book dealers describe a book's condition with the words: good, very good, and fine. What language will emerge to describe a collectible e-book? What will happen to the book when a library can be stored on a thumb drive? In my household we have three Kindles and 15,000 books. For now there is room and a need for both.

The New Yorker Album of Sports and Games; October, 1958; $30

Michael Osborne bought his first antiquarian book in 1977. With a degree in literature he started working in the book business in 1981, received his graduate degree in library science in 1986, and most recently worked for the Maryland State Department of Education in public library development. He attended the Colorado Seminar on the antiquarian book market in 1999 and founded Michael J. Osborne Books in 2003 as a full time rare and used book business. He specializes in city planning, especially early twentieth century planning, but he also works with books about architects and architecture, landscape architecture, Marylandia, Washingtoniana, and irresistible rare books. He works from his home by appointment, appraises books, and consults on collection building and the conservation and preservation of books.  His inventory is online at many of the major sites for finding rare and used books, and now you can also find his books at the Antique Center at Savage Mill.

Vintage Recipe

Pot Roast with Cider

Instructions:

Roll small strips of salt pork or bacon in chopped parsley and minced garlic, and lard pot roast with them.  Combine the cider, chopped onion and spices, and let meat rest in it for several hours, turning occasionally.  When ready to cook, remove meat from liquid, pat dry, season with salt and pepper and dredge with flour.  Melt butter or drippings in a heavy iron pot, and when it is hot, sear meat all over until it is well browned.  Pour over it the cider mixture in which it has soaked, which should be about 2 cups.  Cover pot closely, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, until meat is very tender.  Strain stock and thicken it with flour to make the sauce.

New Event~Complimentary Monthly Appraisals

A Different Expert Every Month!

Join Us...

January 30 ~ Books ~ 1pm-4pm

Michael Osborne

Michael J. Osborne Books, Booth W-5

Member of The Washington Antiquarian Book Sellers Association

February 27 ~ Jewelry ~ 1pm-4pm 

Dan James

Maryland Precious Metals, Booth P-1

Graduate Gemologist

March 27 ~ Watches & Clocks ~ 1pm-4pm   

Tony Kouneski

MAK Antiques, Case SC-15

Member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors; Washinton D.C. Chapter

Dan Paris

Paris Clock Repair, Booth W-4

Member NAWCC

Graduate, School of Horology; Columbia, PA

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Spring 2011

Scripophily Past and Present

Spotlight Dealer~Jerry Neuman

Treasure Trove Antiques