Shiny new books, as well as being a rather fabulous website here, are things likely to bring pleasure to any bibliophile. There’s nothing like picking up a brand new volume, with clean white page block, unmarked cover, and sniffing inside the smell of freshly printed pages. So why is it that I often find myself just as thrilled by an older book??
It’s not that this is a new tendency, as I’ve always had a thing about old books – from the time I used to borrow battered old volumes from the school library, to picking up cheap paperbacks from jumble sales, and then discovering second-hand bookshops in my teens. This of course was partly driven by necessity, as we had very little money to spare for books when I was young, and we made good use of the local library. However, I do always seem to have had that nagging feeling that *somehow* an old, preloved book has, well – more character!!
Old Penguins are a case in point; I come from the school of thought that believes you can’t go wrong with a Penguin, and my shelves are stacked with fragile old paperbacks. Yet in many cases I could get a brand new version for the same cost, or possibly less.Yet I’m drawn to dated covers, funny illustrations and designs, frayed dust jackets and the whole history of ownership of the book.
A good example is the second Nancy Spain book I’ve obtained recently. It’s a lovely old green crime Penguin (and they’re another type that’s a reliable bet for a good read) – it’s browning, got foxing, but it has a lovely map of the crime scene in the front, a cast of characters and a hint of its past. And when I picked it up, out fluttered a small black and white photograph…
This was intriguing to say the least. I’m used to finding old receipts, shopping lists, advertising flyers etc in second-hand books – I tend to use whatever’s nearest as a bookmark myself, so I sympathise with previous owners! But a photograph? It appears to be of the Eiffel Tower and if I read the date properly is from 1956 – when the book was published. I can’t read all of the inscription, but the photo sets me thinking. Did the book owner receive it from a friend or relation or lover? Did they stay together or part in sadness? Did the photo sit there all that time, on someone’s shelf, till time took its toll and their book collection was sold?
Well, not all second-hand books come with a mystery; and I will always love receiving a shiny new book, or picking up the latest in a series I’m reading, or flicking through the latest Pelican (how happy I am that they’ve relaunched the imprint!) But preloved books, with a history and a story of their own will always have a special place in my heart.
May 10, 2014 @ 22:56:02
How do you treat new books? Sometimes I actually like leaving my mark on it (creasing the spine, folding the corners) but others I try to keep in pristine condition – they’re usually the ones that fade badly and fall apart on their own. 😦
May 11, 2014 @ 11:19:24
I try to treat them nicely – but it doesn’t always work. And I guess the signs of use, the creases and bumps, prove how much we love them and how much time we spend with them!
May 11, 2014 @ 00:17:58
I’ll always love new books but when in doubt I veer towards the older copy because I hate to think of a book being lost or discarded. It maybe comes from living in a small town but I’ve seen books I’ve left on shelves months – and in a few cases years later and wondered if anyone would ever find and love them,
May 11, 2014 @ 11:19:54
I think I’m like you – I hate to see unloved books and want to give them a home even if I think I won’t read them for ages!!
May 11, 2014 @ 06:35:07
Old books, new books – it’s like how I feel about cats – love them all promiscuously!
May 11, 2014 @ 11:20:09
:)))) That’s a good way of putting it!
May 11, 2014 @ 13:14:35
What a lovely find!
I’m lucky, financially at least, that I prefer secondhand books to new books. I really don’t like the plasticky smell of new books, for one thing, and I always feel a bit pressurised to read them if I’ve bought them new… whereas secondhand books can contentedly nestle down among the others.
May 11, 2014 @ 13:53:45
Yes, it does help a little not having to pay full price for everything you buy! And there’s something special about the feel of a preloved book with all its history, knowing that someone else has enjoyed it before you. And you were right about how good Tove is, BTW!
May 14, 2014 @ 01:10:52
Yes, old books just have that special charm. Many a time I’ve wanted a particular book and would wait and hunt out an older edition with a look to it or cover art that was more appealing, and I LOVE vintage Penguins!
May 14, 2014 @ 09:32:48
They are irresistible, aren’t they? 🙂
Apr 06, 2017 @ 06:23:39
Aug 03, 2021 @ 07:00:49