Author: Benjamin L. Clark

I love books. I don’t think that needs any explanation, because if you’re reading this, you love books too. No doubt, kindred spirits we. One of my largest collections is even Books About Books, which confuses some folks– but not you loyal reader. I’ve noticed a trend too in my reading and collecting too– I’m really interested in other people’s books. I guess it’s that constant search for the next thing that will blow my mind. That obscure author, that forgotten book that needs a champion. And I like knowing there are people much like me, or at least what I imagine myself to be, out there.

That’s why I love books like At Home With Books, and The Library at Night by Alberto Manuel, and others besides. It’s also why I love the Legacy Library project at LibraryThing.com. Being able to virtually browse shelves that usually no longer exist is akin to reading a book. It’s like strolling in the mind of someone else for a moment, especially when we can know what the owner thought of the book– or what they wanted us to believe they thought of the book. If that makes sense.

So, I recently discovered Stacked Up: Writers Show off their Shelves, which is exactly what it sounds like. Short interviews with writers and some of their books. Just wonderful, though a bit too NYCentric to be truly invigorating. I just don’t get that worked up over THE BIG DEAL that is NYC. Give me space, keep your crowds! But, NYC is where a LOT of writers live, so I can’t be too cranky about it. Hopefully the Stacked Up folks will one day be able to get off the little island and out into the real world. Anyway, go enjoy these things Book Folk– you’re not alone.

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Hedderich’s is a… well… I’m not sure what to call it. It used to be a large downtown department store. I think. Now, it’s sort of an antique store, army surplus, model train store. And there’s a book mine.

What is a book mine? I don’t know if anyone has ever endeavored to define one. I’ve seen a few in my time as a collector, but they are pretty rare these days. I find they are rarely advertised, don’t have websites (beyond maybe a placeholder with hours- typically not updated since 2001). Book mines can have weird hours. I knew of one once that was only open Tues. and Thurs. before noon. A book mine is also huge.

I’ve called Larry McMurtry’s Booked Up in Archer City, Texas a book mine, and it is! Almost nil web presence. HUGE inventory. You could spend days, not just hours looking. It seems book mines tend to be in out of the way places too. Maybe it’s just I’m typically in out of the way places.

Hedderich’s is *not* the northern plains version of Booked Up. McMurtry’s store is top quality stock, immaculate buildings and shelving, and knowledgeably priced. Even back when I was selling actively online, I had a hard time finding stock to make up the cost of my trip and purchases they were so spot on.

Hedderich’s is the opposite. There are tens of thousands of books. It is dirty. I could hear something dripping somewhere. Another version of the sign posted above announced these are the NEW prices. It was dated 1992. It was sorted, sorta. Mostly 1940s-1980s, which was a little weird. Nothing very old. Nothing recent. If you’re a Soviet/ Anti-Commie collector, this is the place for you! Do you collect self-help, pseudo-religion, pseudo-health? Have I got a score for you! There were more Reader’s Digest Condensed Books than I’ve ever seen in one place. To a collector, there was a lot of crap. But at these prices, who wouldn’t be tempted to at least dig a little? I thought I had a gorgeous 1930s booklet from Zion Nat’l Park, but someone had cut 25% of the photos out of it.

All was not lost however. I did find a few books for the shelf myself, but mostly roamed and tried to figure out where everything was. I need to review my old list of book club editions worth $20+ and see if it still holds up.

Have you ever moved cross-country? I did this summer when we moved to Montana. From the South to the North. Now, most folks mean swapping coasts when they say “cross-country move”. I started this blog in Lubbock, Texas, moved to Oklahoma City and now am in Sidney, Montana. I’m a solid hour from the nearest bookstore. I’m at least three hours from a decent annual book sale. But, I’m now director of a museum (The MonDak Heritage Center). So, I’ll get to unpack my office books soon, which is pretty exciting, I won’t lie.

So, fair reader, I’ll get back to blogging again as things settle down. In the meantime, please visit my museum’s website: http://www.themondak.org. It ain’t much to look at now, but it has some info there. This new chapter is going to rock, there are tons of opportunities here, and I may even get to do some fun book stuff I haven’t had a chance to in the past.

Gutenberg Press vs. E-Reader
Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

This is the comic for today, 7 May 2010 from The Other Coast. A very nice birthday present for my 30th Birthday!

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1920s, NYPL, bookmobile for night commuters
Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

I’ve discovered another Flickr group that has eaten a chunk of my day: Vintage Readers, found here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1088961@N22/. I think most of the photographs included in the group are actually antique readers, but that’s a tale for another time. Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite book groups on Flickr?

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1889, Bridgeport CT, Youngs Jackson, bookseller, cover
Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

On this day in 1828, Noah Webster published his dictionary. This blurry, but amazing cover was spotted a while ago on eBay, but includes a cut of Webster’s dictionary “The Standard and the Best” and also a wicked cool rotating bookshelf and reading stand.

I wonder where his personal library is today? There’s a couple records online of auction results… but not much. Webster loved the written word, including the Written Word as well. Today, I salute you: Noah Webster, bibliophile.

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Banner day!!
Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

This was last Thursday. I was on the way to the airport for a trip to Montana and it was the icing to a very good day! Heck, it may have even been the cake!

The loss of Fine Books & Collections from my mailbox was a severe blow last year. I hated losing the print edition, even though the e-mag was *Amazing*. And I had the printed annual to look forward to. Even still, I really missed the print edition. It is, by far, one of the finest magazines in production, to say nothing of the drool-worthy content.

If you don’t subscribe to the revived quarterly magazine or the e-edition, right the wrong here: http://finebooksmagazine.com/

Warning bookplate
Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

A brilliant new article from Yale Alumni Magazine explores book ownership through bookplates. Includes a wonderful gallery of plates from their collections, including a new favorite which I share with you. Read article here:
http://yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2010_03/bookplates4249.html

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Chambers, Rob. Rhymes Scotland (1870) domestic scene 1
Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

Fair is your honest happy face
Great chieftain of the pudding race
Above them all you take your place
Stomach, tripe or guts
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm

The groaning platter there you fill
Your buttocks like a distant hill
Your skewer would help to repair a mill
In time of need
While through your pores the juices emerge
Like amber beads

His knife having seen hard labour wipes
And cuts you up with great skill
Digging into your gushing insides bright
Like any ditch
And then oh what a glorious sight
Warm steaming, rich

Then spoon for spoon
They stretch and strive
Devil take the last man, on they drive
Until all their well swollen bellies
Are bent like drums
Then, the old gent most likely to rift (burp)
Be thanked, mumbles

Is there that over his French Ragout
Or olio that would sicken a pig
Or fricassee would make her vomit
With perfect disgust
Looks down with a sneering scornful opinion
On such a dinner

Poor devil, see him over his trash
As week as a withered rush (reed)
His spindle-shank a good whiplash
His clenched fist.the size of a nut.
Through a bloody flood and battle field to dash
Oh how unfit

But take note of the strong haggis fed Scot
The trembling earth resounds his tread
Clasped in his large fist a blade
He’ll make it whistle
And legs and arms and heads he will cut off
Like the tops of thistles

You powers who make mankind your care
And dish them out their meals
Old Scotland wants no watery food
That splashes in dishes
But if you wish her grateful prayer
Give her a haggis!

Thank you, World Burns Club:
http://www.worldburnsclub.com

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