Vintage Book Love

I love books. I have spent countless hours in libraries, thrift stores, yard sales, and book stores looking at books- not looking for anything in particular, just marveling and how many stories have been told, all the imagination and experience there is to share.

I get the appeal of digital readers, I really do- an entire library at your fingertips anywhere you go, and more available for purchase in an instant-great, but I feel like something’s missing. The individuality of the books that comes from the texture of the paper, the chosen font, the cover- you don’t get that with digital readers. Maybe it’s not so important with magazines and periodicals, or throwaway ‘beach reads’, but when I read a novel I develop a relationship with the book that is as much tactile as it is intellectual. When I pick up a book I read years ago, I remember when I read it, I remember the feel of the book in my hands, and I even recall images of the book -in my house, when I read it on a train or in bed, laying on my nightstand.  

That’s why I have kept so many books that I know I’ll probably never read again- they remind me of my history; and that’s why I love collecting antique books. Torn and tattered, I wonder about the people who read them before me.

So, today I’ve decided to share some of my vintage books with you- enjoy!

Ever heard the term "Svengali"? Well, it came from this book-  George Du Maurier's "Trilby". My husband got me this copy for my birthday this weekend and it's lovely cover and illustrations inspired this post. This is an 1894 edition, same year the novel was first published:

These next few are from a 1925 lesson book on music history- a cut and paste book! The language in this book is amusing, note the word 'savages' in the fourth image, second paragraph. Excuse the lopsidedness, I tried to get them as straight as I could without adding any more creases to the bindings.

 

This is one of my favorites- well, they're all my favorites but I like children's books the best. "Water Babies" was written by Charles Kingsley for his youngest son in 1916 and illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith, one of my favorite artists:

I hope you have enjoyed some of these images as much as I have!

Last but not least I will share with you a 1905 edition of "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Anderson. I love fairy tales and the classics never get old. Here is a great website all about fairy tales if you want to dig deeper.