My latest coup!

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I was able to find and purchase a "deluxe" edition of Walke's Naval Scenes and Reminiscences from a seller in California for $950. I'd had my eye on a copy in Toronto for six months or so that's being listed at $1,800; I was hoping the price would come down.

Walke's Naval Scenes appears to have been issued in two versions, although they are both copyrighted 1877 by F.R. Reed & Co. of New York. The "deluxe" version has 31 illustrated plates, whereas the "standard" version (of which I have two already) has just 15 plates. (The Google Books image is one of the "deluxe" versions.) The 15-plate editions usually go in the $300 - $700 range, depending on condition; $950 is cheaper than I've previously seen for a 31-plate edition. It's advertised as in slightly worse condition than the $1,800 copy, but not so significantly to preclude me from opting to purchase...

It's been shipped, and I'll be watching for it!

 

[James N.]

Congratulations! Being a bibliophile myself, I can understand your enthusiasm - BUT, I think the most I ever paid for books was $150 for the entire 7 volume set of Douglas Southall Freeman's George Washington. I'm not a collector of old books, per se, so don't often run into that problem; if I can't find it CHEAP at HalfPrice Books or Amazon, I don't get it.

 

[TinCan]

Mark your library must be the envy of anyone who even has a passing interest in naval matters. And if your that happy about finding a book for that amount can I ask you how you feel about adoption?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The new copy of Naval Scenes and Reminiscences will "officially" be the 300th book in my collection.

(I say "officially" because in reality, I've passed that number already, and because I already have three copies of it-- two original, one reprint-- not counting PDF versions. Also, the definition of what "a Civil War Naval book" is can be a little fluid. Also, I'm counting the Bearss trilogy and Virgil Carrington Jones trilogy as three separate books each, but the ORNs as only one "title." So it's a bit of a shell game.)

I am very proud of my personal library on the subject, yes. I did take a bit of a hit to my pride when I discovered that there are approximately 500 other works on the topic out there that I don't own, so I don't even have half. (Although some of those are ones that I don't have any special interest in having, such as juvenile titles, or books that I've read and decided are not worth re-reading and therefore not worth owning.)

The ORNs, up until this purchase, were my single biggest investment, at $750 for the set (the Morningside reprints). I got them in 1996 after returning from Bosnia, and used my accumulated travel money and hazardous duty pay for them... A year or two later, Guild Press came out with a CD-ROM version (which I also have), which is great for rapid searches, but I still prefer the physical volumes for browsing.

 

[donna]

Mark what an impressive library. You have right to be so proud.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Thank you.

I like to point out that the first one in my collection (Accession #1, if I were tracking accession numbers, which I'm actually not doing), was and is the copy of William C. Davis' Duel Between the First Ironclads, which still has my sixth grade homeroom number written in it (though I'd gotten it at a garage sale maybe a year or so earlier).

It's a good thing I'm not in this deep on a topic like "Land Battles in the East," or I'd never be able to get this kind of coverage of it!

 

[James N.]

I like to point out that the first one in my collection (Accession #1, if I were tracking accession numbers, which I'm actually not doing), was and is the copy of William C. Davis' Duel Between the First Ironclads, which still has my sixth grade homeroom number written in it (though I'd gotten it at a garage sale maybe a year or so earlier).

It's a good thing I'm not in this deep on a topic like "Land Battles in the East," or I'd never be able to get this kind of coverage of it!

I still have MY #1, too - this well-worn 1952 Landmark Gettysburg I got for one Christmas in the mid-50's; so by your standards, I still have a LONG way to go!

 

[TinCan]

Coming to your house must be a treat for Civil War buffs

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Hm. Trying to think if I've ever had any bona fide Civil War buffs over.

I'm not sure I have, at least not at this house. About 15 years ago, there was a friend of mine who would have qualified as a CW buff; there was one memorable afternoon where I demonstrated just about every major gunboat action in the river war on a tabletop using simple miniatures I'd built.

Most of my ACW interaction has been over the Web and in Round Table meetings.

I did give a 20-minute-or-so presentation on the Marine Corps in the Civil War to my wife's Women Marines Association meeting that was well-received.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Ha! So funny. We had Thanksgiving dinner this past year with a kind family of close friends inclusive of a CW buff- they stuck us down at one end of the table together, how funny is that? I guess the planners figured well, contain the tedium. My husband had a peaceful meal, laughing.

Many congrats, what an intimidating library! I suppose you professionals already know this- it also pays to keep an eye on the online auctions, for folks who have no idea what they might be selling. I suppose adult children settling someone's estate, etc, just getting rid of things quickly. I've picked up several treasures this way, including old books I've wanted although I'm sure Walke's would be spotted at the speed of light out there.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I recently snagged an original 1856 Report of the Secretary of the Navy off of eBay for a reasonable amount. I'm not addicted to Congressional documents per se, but this one includes coverage of the Retiring Board of 1855, which is significant.

(My wife's housewarming gift to me when we moved into our present home five years ago was a set of built-in bookshelves.) (I've filled them, though.)

 

[James N.]

I forgot about this little gem, possibly because I DON'T keep it with most of the rest of the CW books: it's in a glass-front cabinet with those Time-Life Collectors Library reprints. Also, I didn't get it from a "usual source", but at a gun show years ago - I think I paid $25 for it. To get this scan I held it open on the scanner - it was a perpect fit! This copy is from PHILADELPHIA: J. G. L. Brown, Printer, and has an introductory page by Simon Cameron, Lincoln's first War Secretary. This was known for obvious reasons as The Blue Book, and in addition to ALL the regulations for running an army, contains examples of all the forms necessary to do so; I'm surprised this one survived in such good condition!