LovelyMay
Stories
93
Chapters
1,516
Words
3.4 M
Comments
0
Reading
11 d, 19 h
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The chapter discusses the fascination with Elzevirs, a type of collectible books printed by the Elzevir family in the Netherlands from the late 16th to early 18th centuries. The narrative starts with an anecdote highlighting the craze for collecting Elzevirs, mentioning a countryman who starves himself to afford these books, emphasizing his obsession with owning editions of poets printed by the Elzevirs, particularly those with red letters and of correct dates. It then introduces a dialogue from a 1699…-
25.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 14 of "Books and Bookmen" titled "Curiosities of Parish Registers" delves deeply into the evolution, significance, and oddities observed in English parish registers over centuries. Parish registers, essential historical documents, began to be systematically kept following Cardinal Ximenes' initiative in 1497 and were later mandated in England by Henry VIII, marking the legal initiation of this practice in 1538. These registers mainly documented baptisms, marriages, and burials, providing invaluable…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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In the quiet corners of Tokyo, amidst the busy streets and bustling markets, there exists a niche world known only to the most dedicated booksmen: the world of Japanese bogie-books. These books, bound in mystery and steeped in eerie legend, were once collected by those fascinated by the supernatural. They were not just ordinary books; they were said to carry within them the dark spirits of ancient folklore, ghost stories, and curses that transcended the page. One such collector was Hiroshi Tanaka, a…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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In the silent depths of the night, imagine the library springs to life with the spirits of its former patrons, those who once claimed the volumes that now rest on our shelves. As the world slumbers, the echoes of the past converge in the narrow confines of the library halls, a gathering of historical figures, each drawn to the whispers of their beloved texts. Napoleon, with a touch, reclaims a controversial pamphlet, a hidden gem of scandal from Frankfort’s shadows, detailing sordid tales linked to…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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In the world of books and booksmen, few things are as intriguing—and dangerous—as literary forgeries. These carefully crafted imitations of famous works have a long history, one that blends the fine line between art, deception, and obsession. Among the most notorious figures in the world of book collecting was Jean-Baptiste Duval, a French bibliophile whose love of rare books led him into the treacherous world of literary forgeries. Duval was known as a booksman of unparalleled taste. His collection…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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In 19th-century France, bibliomania gripped the hearts and minds of the wealthy and intellectual elite. This passionate obsession was not about reading books but about collecting rare books, owning priceless editions, and amassing libraries that would later become legendary. For many booksmen of the era, books became more than just objects—they were symbols of power, prestige, and intellectual superiority. Among the most famous of these bibliomaniacs was Monsieur Dupont, known as "Le Livre Fou" (The…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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In the exploration of "Books and Bookmen," the trajectory from the simplicity of early printed title-pages to the embellished and artistic designs of French title-pages is navigated with both historical insight and illustrative examples. Initially, title-pages were stark, offering minimal information, typified by Guido de Columna's "History of Troy," characterized by its nearly blank title-page aside from the title itself. The evolution towards more ornate title-pages in French literature began around…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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Thomas Blinton, a lifelong enthusiast in the art of book-hunting, prided himself on a hobby he deemed harmless and intellectually stimulating, contrasting it with more bourgeois pursuits like shooting or fishing. Despite the potentially sinister fate that befell famous book-hunters according to tales he dismissed, Blinton cherished his daily excursions through London, beating the paths from the City to West Kensington in search of literary treasures hidden within the countless bookstalls. These excursions…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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In "Lady Book-Lovers," the discussion pivots around the genuine passion for books among women of distinction and royal status throughout history, particularly focusing on French queens and princesses. Ernest Quentin Bauchart's bibliography on the matter reveals that many of these ladies indeed amassed libraries containing exquisitely printed books and manuscripts, yet it begs the question of whether these collections were born out of a true bibliophilic passion or mere adherence to fashionable trends of…
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25.8 K • Ongoing
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At the Hotel de Bourgogne in 1640, the stage is set for an evening of theater. The hall, resembling a tennis court adapted for performance, features a dimly lit, oblong space with a complex arrangement of seats, a stage adorned with royal emblems, and no chairs in the pit area, creating a dynamic and improvised ambiance for the audience. An array of lusters, about to be lit, promises illumination and spectacle. As the curtain rises, the space buzzes to life with a diverse crowd pouring in: troopers…-
69.9 K • Ongoing
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