Almost put it in my pocket. . .

While visiting a small Carnegie Library on Friday I checked out the shelves for Sherlock Holmes books.

This library is celebrating it's first one hundred years this summer.

In the old part of the library the shelves are just as old as the building.
And many of the books pre-date the building its self.

We found many copies from the late 1800's

Like I said, I went looking for Sherlock Holmes books, and more specifically any works by Doyle.

I found the four shown copies you see in the picture. (No not the Roddy Doyle one, the one to the right of it.)

While I have seen individual copies of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, The White Company and the Lost World before, I had never seen a copy of Great Shadow.

 I looked inside and found the copyright date on this addition as 1920.

Wow!

While the thought of slipping it into my pocket was only fleeting, I can not fib and say the thought of finding some way to get it home did not cross my mind.

But it still rests on the shelf where I noticed it.

May ask the librarian if I can make a donation some day to acquire it.

We'll see.

I did find another couple of books in the romance section that had Holmes' name in the title.

Life is good, life is great.

Just spotted this today at the newsstand. A little pricey but I got one anyway.

P.S.
Having now had the time to take a look at it;

It is well put together and very glossy.
While not adding any new info for older Sherlockians, it could be considered a good primer for newer Sherlockians just coming on board.
A little pricey, but what the heck.

In this age of 'pay for what you like' , is the hunt over?

As much as I hate to publicly agree with Sherlock Peoria, occasionally he does make some good points, . . . . occasionally.

His points today have made me stop and wonder.

In this age when things are much easier to come by, even for a price, is being a Sherlockian collector as fun as it once was?

I remember one trip when I went to Maine, for a non-Sherlockian reason, if I would pass a barn or old building selling used books I would pull in an search for authors that I really liked. Sometimes coming away with nothing, sometimes adding to my collection.
Many times I was surprised and came away with several Doyle books I had not come across before.

But it was fun looking in these out of the way places and meeting the proprietors.

I use to drive into small towns, when on trips, looking for used book shops, where now I look for mirco-breweries.
(Well, maybe that's a good thing.)

Now we can just search on-line for things we don't have. I must admit, I have done it. EBAY and other places make it so easy. Almost like a virtual hunt.

But what about that hunt? Was the hunt part of the pleasure we got from our collections?
Now it's not the hunter that gets the prize, but the one with the fastest speed-dial or biggest check book, the most time to search the web.
There have always been 'collectables' that have been out of reach for the working class, and there always will be. But we had our small victories when we would climb up into the hay loft of an old barn and come across a Morley we did not have.

I also find myself buying far less pastiches than before because they are to available. I guess that is probably a good thing also.

Oh, well. I guess I better go check my EBAY bids.

In a few years, this generation will be waxing nostalgic for what we have now. And I guess that is the way it should be.

Hadn't seen these before. . .

BBC America shop

If you have a spare $90,000.00

Strand Magazine

For the artistically inclined.. . .

H&V

Speaking of BLUE

EBAY

Had never heard of this place before. . . .

Baker St. Studios

But I like the card.

BBC America shop

Sherlock Holmes Tulip Pub Glasses

Employing observation skills learned from the genius whose profile distinguishes this set, you may correctly deduce that each glass holds an Imperial pint (19 1/4 US oz) of alcoholic beverage and fits perfectly in your hand. Ideal for toasting your powers of deduction. Set of 2.

(1 rating)

Item Number: 17031

Availability: IN STOCK
Reg. Price: $22.98
Your Price: $19.98

BBC AMERICA SHOP

How we do get around. . .

Many years ago, when I was much more involved with the Sherlockian Society 'Harpooners of the Sea Unicorn', I designed a stein for our members, which included their name and membership status, which they could take home and display, or leave at our English Pub meeting place for use during meetings.
While, today, exploring web data on the Harpooners I came across this add on 'ebay'.
I remember the name on the stein, while not remembering the person himself.
The stein has 'C.M.' on it which meant he was a Charter Member, having joined in the first year of the societies founding, 1989.
Having started the stein making in around 1990, it is one pretty old piece of memorabilia for the Harpooners.
Now, I don't remember any scandal in the club that involved the person named on the stein, so I can't imagine why they would want to sell it.
If you look hard enough, it is amazing what you find.

Glass Stein

If I remember correctly, we used the money we made on them (which wasn't much) to help fund the club.
We sold them for $18.95.

So, he isn't making to much on it.

Sorry they need to sell.

This is cool. . . . If you don't want to admit you read your Canon on a kindle.

 From Signals

Looks like fun.
Wonder if they will make one for IPADs?