Books on collecting I enjoyed

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Posted By: Mike H

Like many of you, I enjoy viewing and learning about antiques that aren't sports related. We all love collecting, history, and the thrill of the hunt. Are there books about antiques, collecting, and collectors you enjoy reading? Here are two I believe many of you will appreciate.

http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Treasures-Searching-Masterpieces-Furniture/dp/0756778344/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216576356&sr=1-3

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brimfield-Rush-Thrill-Collecting-Score/dp/1933212047/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216559498&sr=1-2</a" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Brimfield-Rush-Thrill-Collecting-Score/dp/1933212047/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216559498&sr=1-2</a&gt;

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Posted By: Mike H

FYI, the Hidden Treasures book is as much about the Keno's learning how to evaluate antiques, adventures as kids and as they aged, and on finds. It was very entertaining. The Brimfield book is about art dealers, but the adventures are fun to read about.

I don't buy books like this, but inter-library loans are a great way to go.

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Posted By: Alan Elefson

Hi-
There is a great book on book collectors that I believe is titled Bibliomania, but I am not sure. Each chapter discusses more than one collector, ranging from more than a thousand years ago until today (John Larroquette's (sp) collection of modern first editions represent the newest collector). There is also a fascinatingly detailed report on a convicted book/manuscript thief that delves into his methods and what he stole.
I too have read the Brimfield book and I enjoyed it as well. I did fairly well this past Brimfield despite hitting the fields on the second to last day (I picked up an early oddball baseball program, a Reach guide, and some 1950s Yankee wire photos (fax type), as well as Boy Scout memorabilia, all for very good prices). I always hear that it is not how it used to be, but I typically find something that makes it wotrth my while each time I go to the Brimfield shows.
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Alan,

It's called A Gentle Madness . It's incredible! I've read it three times!

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Posted By: Mike H

Thanks guys. The description on Amazon sounds neat. I'll order it from my library in the a.m.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Yes, by all means, order it now! You'll love it--I guarantee it!

Once you receive it, skip forward to the section devoted to the prolific book theif Steve Blumberg. It is one of the most fascinating accounts of deviant human behavior I've ever had the pleasure to read! Kind of a melding of the Collier Brothers/cat burglar/Asperger Syndrome. The author is a wonderful writer.

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Posted By: George Dreher

The story of Mark Hofmann and The Mormon Forgery Murders is chilling. He made millions and then tried to cover up the forgeries by committing murder.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Agreed. There is another great book called "The Poet and The Murderer" which details his exploits. Highly recommended. Nothing like a reading about a Mormon forger who finally gets what he deserves!

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Posted By: Joseph

I just finished reading "Hubert's Freak's", a wonderful (true) story about the storage locker "find" of a suitcase full of an archive of a Times Square freak show that included a large number of Diane Arbus photographs. The book reads like a novel and is as good a description of collecting/art/dealing as I've ever read. AND...after the book was published an auction of the photographs was stopped with their disposition tied up in a court case, so this ain't over yet. GREAT!

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Posted By: Aaron M.

Jodi, I remember seeing a segment on the author of "A Gentle Madness" on an episode of A&E's old Incurable Collector series. I remember he had a rule that he did not loan out his books!

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Posted By: Mike H

Aaron, What happened to your room?!?! We all miss it.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Aaron,

Yes, I saw that episode too. Laroquette hosted that show, and was also featured in Brisbanes' book as a collector of modern-day first editions.

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Posted By: scgaynor

This book is about a stamp dealer and was originally written like 50 years ago, but the lessons and the author's philosophy apply to all area's of collecting. Plus it is an pretty interesting book and a quick read.

http://www.amazon.com/Nassau-Street-Herman-Pat-Herst/dp/0940403064/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216663358&sr=1-3

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Most here already have this book, but Stephen Wong's Smithsonian Baseball is a great book about high end baseball memorabilia collectors.