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List 355 – Books About Books
January 6, 2025
Back in the old whaling days, processing the carcass of a mighty cetacean was crude and straightforward. They’d peel the blubber off the whale’s body, separate the head, and extract valuable oils therefrom. If they were lucky, a probe of the whale’s innards might reveal a hunk of ambergris, worth its weight in gold. Other crewmen would chop the blubber into smaller pieces. When they’d finished peeling, chopping, and probing, they’d cut the denuded carcass loose, to be feasted upon by sharks. It was a terrible waste of tons of whale meat, but the economies of the trade and primitive technology left no other option. Then the chopped-up blubber would be boiled in giant pots, producing commercially viable whale oil.
That’s how I’m processing the contents of the Great White Whale parked in my front yard. I’ve identified the few rare books – the ambergris. I’ve stripped out more books for book fairs or catalogs – the head matter. I’ve dug out and identified the internet fodder, books worth $20 or more, which represent the rendered blubber. The rest, about half of the total, is destined to be cut loose. (My son the contractor has a dumpster ready and waiting, but if you want to bring your pickup truck around, you’re welcome to the haul. I’m sure there are valuable mistakes to be found.)
This list, according to that metaphor, represents a cask of rendered blubber – by no means rare, but still of some value. So, read away, me hearties! And buy what you can. I’ve still got 200 cartons to boil down.
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To order a book from this list, simply send an email to tenpound@tenpound.com stating the item number and ID number of the item(s) you wish to purchase. Domestic orders will be sent postpaid and insured, at no cost to you. Overseas and oversize orders shipped at cost. Massachusetts state tax of 6.25% will be added for MA residents. We accept cash, credit card, check, or Paypal.
Bookman’s Log
A weekly blog of news, gossip, recent adventures and acquisitions, and deep thinking about the antiquarian book tradeI Left My Heart in San Francisco… Music by George Cory (1920–1978) and lyrics by Douglass Cross (1920–1975).
Greg Gibson, February 3, 2025
NB: Owing to hardware, software, and wetware issues it was not possible for me to post my 163rd bookfair review on Bookman’s Log. Much to my relief, faithful reader and regular contributor Jeff Elfont of Swan’s Fine Books was able to fill the void on s … More >>