Books, boxes and even more books

On 19th October I showed you pictures of our study and the work that was being done. After several months of upheaval I had hoped to have all the furniture, books and other bits and bobs back in there by now. Frustratingly chaos continues to reign and our dining room is still a very untidy storeroom piled high with the entire contents of the study.

Heaps of cushions...

 
...and a new cushion nearing completion.

Boxes containing china and glass that I will hopefully return undamaged to...

the the newly painted cupboards.

Here is a sample of the other items that are waiting patiently for their return to the study. Books! Everywhere books!

On window sills...

...on shelves...

...and on more shelves....

...and in more heaps. I adore books and have been buying old and new ones since I was in my teens. Above is a selection of my oldest. All leather bound and all well thumbed by previous owners.

This enormous bible, seen at the bottom of the pile, was printed in 1715

The paper is thick with a texture resembling blotting paper. There are sets of illustrations accompanying each chapter.

Many books from the 17th and 18th centuries concentrated on religious and moral subjects. This is my oldest. It dates from 1689 and is written for 'The Holy, Serious, Diligent Believer'. The owner in 1791 was R Baxter and by time he wrote his name in the book it would have been 102 years old. I wonder if the books printed today will still be in use 102 years from now or will books be obsolete by then? I can't imagine a world without them.

I wonder how many people have owned it over the centuries?

This book is entitled 'The Essays, or Councels, Civil and Moral of Sir Francis Bacon with a Table of Colours of Good and Evil' (what a title!). Date of printing 1691. I particularly like the bookplate which dates from the 1700s and reads 

This book belongs to
JH Hogarth

If though art borrowed by a Friend
Right welcome will he be
To read, to study, not to lend,
But to return to me.

Not that imparted Knowledge doth
Diminish learning's store,
But Books I find, if often lent,
Return to me no more.

Read slowly, Pause frequently,
Think seriously,
Keep cleanly, Return duly
with the corners of the leaves not turned down.

The inscription under the bookplate is written in red and reads
Percy Smith
July 25th 1914
Bought Bradford Market

'The Spectator', which is part of a set that I have, is dated 1767 and like the others in this group has a charming illustration facing the title page.

For fear of boring you with my shabby old books I will make this my last.  'Punch Vol. X' contains bound volumes of Punch magazine January to June 1846.

There are hundreds of satirical illustrations relating to topical subjects of the time, many of them political. Perhaps not surprisingly some of the topics under discussion are still being debated today 162 years later. The following made me smile.


This picture entitled 'Designs for Dwarf Houses' accompanies an article written in 1846 regarding Sir Robert Peel's suggestion to Parliament that England should seriously consider offering asylum to the world's smallest people, namely dwarfs. He had the wonderful idea that a series of tiny homes could be purpose built for these 'shorter than average' people and the dwellings could bear the name 'The Royal Lilliput Quadrangle'. Punch magazine reported this and the article was accompanied by this amusing illustration. Judging by some of the subjects that get debated by today's Parliament I think this ridiculous idea could easily be debated again. I wonder what the result would be!

Comments

[Redwood House]

what a terrific post all those wonderful books especially the old ones. The bookplate words are spot on and I might jot them down I feel it's a nice way of telling the borrower that you really do want the book back. Like you the thought of a world with no books I feel is unacceptable I always ask for books at Christmas and can't imagine a Christmas morning without that heavy little parcel
to rip open and enjoy. I do have one old punch book but the cover is in a very bad condition and your punch reference has made reminded of it and I now feel the need to go and find it, with a cup of tea I think.
Jan

[Martha]

Wonderful, Wonderful books you have! It is amazing, the history of ownership.
Not at all *bored* here!!!!

[clarice]

Wow, can I move in. What an amazing colection. Clarice

[carolyn]

What a smply marvellous collection.

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

I love your cushions!!! The one you are working on is gorgeous!!! You can never have too many cushions or too many books. The newly painted cupboard is so pretty. I look forward to seeing it after you have your china all in place.

You have an incredible and wonderful selection of books. I love to collect books too, old and new. You have some really old and fascinating books!!! The Bible is so beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing all your treasures, there was nothing boring about it!!!

Have a lovely weekend! Love, Paula

[Redwood House]

Hi Eli yes you are right the Christmas balls are covered in orange shaped segment and the joins covered with trim. I love the thought of mice using furniture made of the traps a good little scene in a story!!
Jan

[Karen]

i love old books, too. i am jealous of all yours, though mine are already threatening to consume my tiny apartment.

[Suzanne]

Eli,
I just love your collection of old books! I too collect old ones and am very luck to have a bookshop called the Antiquarian Book Shop nearby that specializes in them. I just found a first edition of "The Vicar of Wakefield" with Hugh Thompson's illustrations! Score!

[sabine]

I think you have an amazing house with amazing things in it!
The books, the cushions!
We are having new windows, new walls and floors in our living and dining room, and since the 1st of September, we are eating in our entrance hall. We have piles of books, furniture, etc... all over the house. I miss my old house!

[Selia]

Dear Eli,
Wow! I so enjoyed this post...what beautiful books. I know you must treasure them! I too, collect old books. You have quite the collection. Your cushions are gorgeous.
Blessings,
Selia