Long ago and far away in a time near forgotten by me, I once heralded myself as a knowledgeable book collector. Not for my own dusty, brown-edged, white-glove only collection. But for another company. Researching, pricing and selling…

Which included the shriek of packing tape applied to shifting box flaps, as-needed application of bubble wrap (if I could restrain myself from the popping enticement) and copious crushed wads of newsprint paper to secure said treasure in a cocoon of safety until it is opened by its new, happy, though highly scrutinizing, owner.

But hark, say you? Did not-eth you recently state-eth that you did not want-eth to ship out-eth a book-eth yourself-eth? (My Elizabethan accent is a little rusty and seems to be degrading into a 17 ^th century Pig Latin.)

Yes, shrewd and loyal reader, in a previous blog I bemoaned the need to handle a rare and valuable signed book that I could have likely sold for a couple hundred dollars.

But I bemoaned it, caring blog absorber, BECAUSE I had done it before and knew all the ins and out and whirlpools of time drainage and attention quicksand that process would take.

All the one-off bits of packaging needed, the trip to the post office and standing in line waiting, so desperate for distraction, that I’d gaze intently at the random card rack for something to make me chuckle as I waded deeper into the waiting doldrums.

Though I must admit, my post office has a pretty good selection. Though nothing funny or actually wait-time entertaining, I have purchased a couple of cute cards from the rack that have ended up bringing joy to the receiver. I’m not saying to exclusively card shop at your local post office, but if you are in line – check it out! You may be surprised.

But I digress.

Back to it!

So I have a bit more than a smidge of collectible book knowledge and experience, though no true passion for it personally.

I did enjoy that job quite a bit! And would love to share some of that knowledge with you the reader as well.

Why, if this blog is a reader blog, and as per my last blog I proved unequivocally (in my humble opinion) proof that a signed book has value to collectors, not readers. Read that here…

So why would I write future blogs diving into something that inherently not reader focused?

Because as a reader, you may want to know what is in your hand. While the reader in you strolls reverently between packed and stacked used bookshelves, your collector self may want to get in on the action.

Or, as in my case, my reader self needed to know what I had, as I had come across the wrong book, and because it was collectible it was not the book I was looking for.

*Sigh*

Such a gloriously anticipated snuggle/snack/read-fest thwarted by an errant high-valued signature.

*double sigh*

Then see you next week where we discuss signature vs. inscription.

What? There’s a difference?

You bet your bottom-reading-dollar there is!

See you soon…