Big Book Sale Today

You diehards around here know I lost my husband 3 years ago. Well today I'm selling his books. He was an avid reader. The subject didn't matter, he read about it. I have approx. 2000+ books. It has been quite the journey this summer sorting through, some familiar, some not. Amusing to say the least. I cried this morning because of the seperation of his love of reading and giving away a part of the man I loved . I was told by another loved one that this will bring him joy, sharing the knowledge. Steve should have been a teacher instead of a railroader. I hope it does spread the love of knowledge. Crazy day ahead. I have 15 minutes to gather my thoughts and smile. PC>>>

Mike, what came in the house never left. Saved everything. El Cid, thanks for the understanding. Copperman, way too many for now. I have been checking ebay for a direction on pricing for some of the older books, bibles, collections etc. Egg, you made me laugh. The hunting & muzzleloading books are dedicated to a Muzzleloading Club. The 3 local libraries can only take a few at a time. Probably end up selling in lots of a particular topic. They are all good, hardbacks,educational. The how tos are older but the basic info is the same.

Well now, working on the reloading equipment, fishing rods & some tools. I'm having better luck there. PC>>>

You got me wondering. I never gave a thought to the number so I just looked. I've got eight hundred odd in my office. My wife has just as many in hers. Then there are a hundred cookbooks of all kinds. Then the books we're storing for children and sibs in the basement and attic, another five hundred at least. Then the mother-in-law stash she loaded on us when she moved, another four hundred at least. We've given away hundreds, donated to libraries. I look at them the way I look at tools. They are tools really. There are the reference books that you use frequently even though some might be used infrequently and some might only anticipate a future use. There are the classics you just want around you. The travel books and what they call coffee table books with the large pictures. The light reading you keep around for visitors, kids, whatever (like the Tony Hillerman Navaho mystery collection. The paperbacks all disintegrate eventually, so they have a different lifespan than the hard-bound ones. And of course there are books you just flat-out love and even if you never read them again cover to cover, you could no more part with them than your grandmother's wedding picture still there in the album you rarely look at. If your mom doesn't read to you when you're little, or you don't develop a passion for reading on your own, books never really get into your blood. Once they do, though, they add a whole dimension to your life it's kind of senseless to shed. Still and all, once something becomes a burden, it's best to lighten up. Steering things to a new happy home has become a passion of mine.>>>

Patty Try selling them on Ebay. Open the store to the world!>>>

I have the utmost compassion for what you are going thru. I went thru same thing when I had to clean out wife s things 3 years ago. Also, while cleaning up the house and the huge book collection, there were still several books that I chose to save, cause when I am too lazy to go down to the library, I reread old novels. Authors that were popular post WW II, like Herman Wouk, James Michener, Irwin Shaw, James Longstreet, Leon Uris, were among my favorites. Interesting note about Leon Uris - classmate of mine in college, was classmate of Uris in high school, who quit school in the 11th grade to the join the marines, cause he was failing English. Returned home to become one of the best authors of his generation.>>>

Well, it was a total disappointment. Good choice weather wise, first true weekend totally rain free, no chance of thunderstorms, rain etc. Bad choice of weekends, Labor Day, in my area, Penn State Opener, Rigado Weekend in Harrisburg, Track Racing At Williams Grove, I could go on and on.

Up side, didn't make money but had a great time reviewing all the books my husband collected over the years. I'm speaking of a library within itself. Friends visiting this weekend , since the books are out and no longer stored were amazed at the content. Well anyway just finishing off letting you know it was a bust. Now that most are organized I may set up a small library with in my garage with an ongoing sale until it is reduced to an amount that the local libraries will accept which was his wish in the first place. Have too many for them to accept.

Lesson to be learned: if you are a collector of anything. When you are approaching the age for dispercement, do it, don't burden those you love to do the dealing with it later. Our passion of your collection is not the same, I can respect but have been left with a great burden. Books were not his only passion. I am now selling so much stuff that I have no intimate knowledge of. Key word Intimate, he shared much with me but I do not have the value factor that he had. I swear at him once & awhile. Not fair.

Question: Why do people collect items not wanting to seperate themselves from it because it's worth something. So they gain this worth that they themselves don't get the pleasure of appreciation. The party left behind now has to disperse this collection, not understanding or even appreciating the love and value involved.

Any collectors out there? PC>>>