The Bibliophiles of Oklahoma

A big THANK YOU to Mr. Lewis Jaffe of Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie for mentioning the Bibliophiles of Oklahoma. I've certainly noticed that Lewis's blog is read not only by bookplate collectors, but bibliophiles of all stripes. I hope those residents of Oklahoma would come on over and help me found The Bibliophiles of Oklahoma. It has been about a year since I decided to put myself out there to start a book collector club. Of course, I need other book collectors. The problem is, I haven't met any. I do have the name of a university librarian who is willing to join once things get off the ground. I've also had an in-state bookseller offer lots of... feedback on the place holder website I threw up. If you've used your eyes at my blog (rather than on google reader or such) or ventured over to the BoOK site, you'll see right away that I'm not very web savvy. Suggestions on improving the BoOK website, or my blog are welcome. Anyone know how to widen the usable area in the middle?

Thanks Lewis!

Belated Introduction

Just what the world needs: Another blog. Hopefully, it won't be just "another" blog, but one that will have stuff at least one other person will think interesting. First of all, I collect books, and that will be the general gist of this blog. And probably whatever else I think is neat. Don't worry, it usually comes back to books. I collect in several areas: 19th Century Book Trade (especially in the Western US), Bookbinding, Letterpress Printing, Book Collectors, Bibliomysteries, the Modern Library Series (yes, I'm a longtime modernlib.com member), and stuff for work. I work for a big museum, so I have books for there too. I like old museum theory stuff too. Every once in a while I also sell books. What book collector these days doesn't? Anyway, I may occasionally post the more interesting stuff I come across as it goes to ebay.

Now, my hobby horses:

1. The US Book Trade Index:

I've been trying for a while to get an American version of the British Book Trade Index (BBTI) rolling no avail. The idea was basically a database searchable, organizable by nearly any field(s). Since I'm not good enough with databases, I came up with another solution. I posted everything I've collected so far into a Flickr group: "Pre-20th Century American Book Trade Ephemera". Catchy, I know. It's searchable, and is based on primary documents, a strength over the BBTI. Why bother? Well, it can be an interesting research tool, not only for bibliographers, curators, archivists, and librarians, but to book collectors, sociologists and those psychos who collect Victorian trade cards. Just kidding about the psycho remark. I have several myself. Why limit to pre-1900s? Well, by my wild guess, there's probably more stuff 1900-2007 as there is 1650-1899. I think 1900-present should be done, but let's document the old stuff before it disappears.

2. The Bibliophiles of Oklahoma

Dear reader, you may have guessed. I live in Oklahoma. The Mrs. and I moved to Oklahoma City, a much larger town than any these country mice had lived in before. I thought that surely a city as large and cultured (remember: country mice) would have a book collecting club of some kind. Nope. I think there is a group in Tulsa, but they don't have much of a web presence, and Tulsa is kind of a drive.... After all, 1,172,339 people live here; there have to be a handful of bibliophiles. Right? More on that later.

So, there you have it. If you hung with me this long: THANKS. Photo: WPA Library poster. Don't worry, I have more. Next month's is very cool.