tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post1703541312239634591..comments2024-03-13T07:34:24.149+00:00Comments on The Age of Uncertainty: Something OldSteerforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-61458015066057130822012-07-14T07:24:01.284+00:002012-07-14T07:24:01.284+00:00Anon - I didn't have time to think about marke...Anon - I didn't have time to think about marketing and brands, but did manage to find an antiquarian bookseller who was very happy to buy the stock off me for a resaonable price. The best of the stock was sold in his shops (for a handsome mark-up), the worst went to furnish the atriums and receptions of country hotels.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-7538685543031541062012-07-14T03:49:39.407+00:002012-07-14T03:49:39.407+00:00Binning an early Tennyson?
You sir - are clearly ...Binning an early Tennyson?<br /><br />You sir - are clearly trying to increase the value of the stock for your exclusive market by dumping those items which you could not bear to release to an appreciative prole for a mere 5 pounds, and cannot stand the thought of another bookseller stealing a march by perhaps buying one of these volumes and achieving what you sir could not - generating an appreciation.<br /><br />Get some good marketing advice and establish a different brand to market these volumes - for goodness sake!<br /><br />/17th century gentlemanly posing..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-3130434574846952272012-07-02T13:30:38.666+00:002012-07-02T13:30:38.666+00:00I used to delight in finding any old book, no matt...I used to delight in finding any old book, no matter the subject or condition. Junk or antique shops often would have a few shelves or boxes of books where a pearl might be found. I am a recovering bookaholic, so I try not to trawl for such things any more. But couldn't you sell a box of them to a curiousity shop somewhere, rather than ditch them? Sell them by the pound if you must (weight, not currency)!Séamas Poncánhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17494376208367219789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-54844119722539184972012-07-02T01:52:09.348+00:002012-07-02T01:52:09.348+00:00You couldn't put an enormous multi-layered ear...You couldn't put an enormous multi-layered early 19th century dress with a ton of frills and embroidered bits in the washing machine, though.helenalexhttp://headsquid.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-27117942064460769472012-07-01T18:02:13.847+00:002012-07-01T18:02:13.847+00:00A very good point, Steerforth. Some wit once poin...A very good point, Steerforth. Some wit once pointed out that when laundry was difficult if not next to impossible, the clothes were elaborate and multi-layered. Now that we have automatic washers and dryers and washing clothes is relatively easy, we all wear tee shirts and jeans. Go figure ....Canadian Chickadeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12995693884248628958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-17885205042354974502012-07-01T09:05:30.629+00:002012-07-01T09:05:30.629+00:00Thanks Luis - a very good idea. Ever the pessimist...Thanks Luis - a very good idea. Ever the pessimist, I worry that our digitised culture will disappear in a puff of smoke one day, so an archive for real books can only be a good thing.<br /><br />Rog - It's bizarre isn't it. I sold a tatty 1950s hardback of 'The Creature From the Black Lagoon' for £500 to someone in New York, but had to bin an early, leatherbound edition of Tennyson because it had no market value.<br /><br />Nell - It's all about market forces and nothing to do with quality. One of the most chilling things I heard recently was that cancer drugs are "priced at a level that the market will bear".<br /><br />Carol - They certainly looked good in those clothes, but I dread to think what they smelled like!Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-76387789812263014812012-06-30T18:29:37.057+00:002012-06-30T18:29:37.057+00:00Ah yes, the 18th Century. Well, as you say, the c...Ah yes, the 18th Century. Well, as you say, the clothes were wonderful. I'd love to wear a dress that actually allowed me to twitch my hem and flounce -- not easy to do in a pair of crop pants and a tee shirt! But of course I would want to be the Lady of the Manor, not one of the 'tween maids (a far more likely proposition!).Canadian Chickadeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12995693884248628958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-62648760544812443672012-06-30T15:11:55.592+00:002012-06-30T15:11:55.592+00:00It’s all right I googled him - David Garrick. Now ...It’s all right I googled him - David Garrick. Now I understand your reference to him owning that book.Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-13768678172639743382012-06-30T15:09:54.907+00:002012-06-30T15:09:54.907+00:00We could open a debate on the question of worth I ...We could open a debate on the question of worth I suppose. Something is only worth a certain amount if someone is prepared to pay that amount. This is why the price of rare books, paintings etc. have escalated in modern times. There are far too many rich people with more money than sense who have pushed up the prices. BTW who is the charming be-wigged gentleman in the picture?Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-54904857768628310702012-06-30T06:45:03.198+00:002012-06-30T06:45:03.198+00:00This age/value thing has always puzzled me. Why ar...This age/value thing has always puzzled me. Why are 2000 year old Roman oil lamps worth a fraction of a grotesque plastic 1960's table lamp? Why is Justin Bieber's autograph worth 100 times that of Charles Dickens? Why oh Why?Roghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09430706557035189147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-73124281699518144072012-06-29T23:34:38.183+00:002012-06-29T23:34:38.183+00:00The Internet archive at archive.org preserves phys...The Internet archive at archive.org preserves physical books.<br />http://blog.archive.org/2011/06/06/why-preserve-books-the-new-physical-archive-of-the-internet-archive/<br /><br />I believe they accept everything.luishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08850897265111013261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-19610183060250303022012-06-29T21:51:09.563+00:002012-06-29T21:51:09.563+00:00David - I used to say the same thing to my dad, wh...David - I used to say the same thing to my dad, who entertained a secret fantasy that he was the reincarnation of an 18th century gentleman. If we're going to spoil the fantasy with a sour note of realism, I should add that it's pretty unlikely that I would have made it to adulthood.<br /><br />I often think about the millions of lives that never were, including the Shakespeares, Beethovens and Rembrandts whose lives were claimed by disease and illness before they had the chance to achieve their potential.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-5343394857497014552012-06-29T21:49:52.582+00:002012-06-29T21:49:52.582+00:00Sir/Madam - Are you calling my extensive knowledge...Sir/Madam - Are you calling my extensive knowledge of the 18th century into question? You are a pedant! *Throws gloves onto counter* I demand satisfaction.<br /><br />Cal - £75 is a lot, but a little when you know that someone will be selling it on for a considerable mark-up.<br /><br />Camilla - I had a similar exerience last year. The wild boar burgers were lovely, buy most of the food made me feel slightly ill. Now that we no longer have to eat hearts, tongues and kidneys, they seem far too rich. I suppose people will feel the same way about all meat in the future.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-14605637822395155922012-06-29T21:11:29.585+00:002012-06-29T21:11:29.585+00:00Yes, but... if you did go back to the 18th century...Yes, but... if you did go back to the 18th century, you'd probably not be flinging silk gloves around so much as living on mud and turnip peelings.<br /><br />It's a nice idea going back into history if you can be part of the 1% of the time, but the odds are against you really.<br /><br />(I agree with you that the very idea of throwing away an old book feels wrong. If they must be disposed of I think they ought to be buried - or find someone with an old attic and put them there to gather dust for another century or so.)Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17256244895723910890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-71601508445348075002012-06-29T21:08:45.032+00:002012-06-29T21:08:45.032+00:00A friend of mine has been dealing in secondhand bo...A friend of mine has been dealing in secondhand books for many years. She used to trawl the charity shops for stock. As you say, someone twigged, and now some shops are more expensive than buying from her.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-9951349490423797072012-06-29T20:42:45.743+00:002012-06-29T20:42:45.743+00:00I can't say that I have any great yearning to ...I can't say that I have any great yearning to go back to the 18th century, but the prospect of wearing a wig and tricorn hat would appeal greatly. I would also enjoy throwing my silk gloves onto a shop counter and saying "Sir, I demand satisfaction!"<br /><br />Gentlemen- the only people allowed to duel- didn't challenge shopkeepers to duels. They didn't feel obliged to pay them either.<br />The eighteenth century gentleman may have needed the opium becuase it was the only pain-killer available and the state of medicine and dentistry meant he had a lot of pain to kill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-51951434319201659562012-06-29T19:11:03.966+00:002012-06-29T19:11:03.966+00:00Blast. My current financial status is composed lar...Blast. My current financial status is composed largely of vulgar fractions (obviously I ordered far too many acres of cheese last time), so I can't put my hand up for the 18th century maths and bookkeeping lessons. What a great book though! I do love the insights old books give into daily life in the past. <br /><br />Old cookbooks too - I had a look at Apicius the other day, after we'd been to a Roman festival thing in Xanten and eaten some Roman-style food, and it was fascinating (also, admittedly, sometimes a little stomach churning!). <br /><br />CamillaCamillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11672776221279283290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-35506834947162311712012-06-29T19:09:09.253+00:002012-06-29T19:09:09.253+00:00Oh, I was just thinking I'd take it off your h...Oh, I was just thinking I'd take it off your hands if you couldn't find a buyer. My dad (retired accountant and history lover) would find it fascinating. But if £75's too low then I don't think I'm your customer.<br /><br />But if you do ever get to the stage again of contemplating binning C18 books, let me know.Calhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360878379989903535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-70925860327744049292012-06-29T18:54:23.825+00:002012-06-29T18:54:23.825+00:00Lucy - You'll need to 33 yards of flannel to g...Lucy - You'll need to 33 yards of flannel to go with it.<br /><br />Kid - It's awful isn't it. Someone in the charity shop world twigged that they were massively underpricing certain items, so they reacted by ovepricing everything. <br /><br />Camilla - Someone's offered £75, but they're a dealer so they obviously have a big mark-up planned. I said no.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-76861470799969605672012-06-29T18:41:51.513+00:002012-06-29T18:41:51.513+00:00So ... ummm ... what would a book like that go for...So ... ummm ... what would a book like that go for? <br /><br />CamillaCamillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11672776221279283290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-31084734714452892462012-06-29T18:07:47.466+00:002012-06-29T18:07:47.466+00:00I wish someone would tell that to charity shops. T...I wish someone would tell that to charity shops. They seem to think that anything 'old' is worth a small fortune.Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07224781868125924337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-76817421925637127792012-06-29T17:36:45.987+00:002012-06-29T17:36:45.987+00:00I want a firkin of soap for my birthday.I want a firkin of soap for my birthday.lucy joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863146546863419637noreply@blogger.com