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Signed book collectors

Hi. I am just curious if we have any signed book collectors here on AML. I have a few signed books myself: John F. Kennedy, John Lennon, Madonna, and two by Phog Allen (basketball). While collecting signed books is not necessarily my priority, I actually do like owning them. And your autograph is nicely secure and protected in the book...and will not fade! So does anyone else here collect them? Is there any type you collect, and what do you like about having a signed book? Or, on the other hand, if you don't like them, feel free to vent!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 4, 2018 at 5:33pm

Hi James, I have several. Most are connected to my interest in Hiroshima (survivor signed autobiographies etc. from 1945-1955). Others are photo books and memorial books from/by the same, often with local newspaper assistance. Other books signed..there is my Cunard Mauretania reference library - those are all signed 1st editions and/or books with my work or collections illustrated. A few about the 1939 NYWF as well, one with me as editor etc.

I like the Hiroshima books because they (mostly) are by one man who made these and sold them himself from his famous little atomic shop in Hiroshima. He signed more than his name too. Often he wrote out the date, location, a slogan and sometimes more, usually in 2 languages and on two different pages - start of the book and also his portrait. Often with traditional Sumi ink and brush but sometimes in fountain or even ballpoint. And then he would add his personal stamps in vermilion ink.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 4, 2018 at 7:33pm

Here is one of my Hiroshima books, a detail of the signature and a small press photo of the man who signed it along with an excerpt from his autobiography (re the date Feb.) which I also have. It is the earliest signature I have seen from him - still in the Red Cross Hospital as the photo shows. The book is not the first edition but a 1950/51 printing with different cover title font. The first was 1949 and had a cursive title - not this old English look. The second edition and others have a very different cover with printed photographs, not original gelatin silver prints tipped in as the early editions.

Click for full image:

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Permalink Reply by James on March 5, 2018 at 2:01am

Thanks for posting the pics, Eric. Wow...that is truly fascinating. Now those are signatures and writings to treasure. What that man went through not only physically but mentally as well, we have had the good fortune to only be able to imagine. A signed copy of a first account of one the most horrifying events in history is pretty special.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 5, 2018 at 1:00pm

Thanks James.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on March 5, 2018 at 5:24am

That's a great piece of history, Eric! What a prized possession.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 5, 2018 at 1:00pm

Thank you Joe - they are special.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on March 4, 2018 at 6:27pm

I have several. sports, music and Presidential.

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Permalink Reply by James on March 5, 2018 at 2:06am

Terrier, nice to hear you like signed books as well. Any favorites you'd like to mention?

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on March 5, 2018 at 4:03pm

they are all over the place, I have a couple of Don Imus signed books, several presidents (three by Trump, NIxon, LBJ, Clinton, GW Bush,), many baseball (Tony C., Mantle, Yaz, Pedro Martinez, a couple of Jeters, Bouton, Shoeless Joe by William Kinsella, Helter Skelter signed by Bugliosi, a Robert ludlum signed "the bourne ulitmatum", Mick Fleetwood, Bobby Orr, The operator by Robert O'Neill (shot bin laden).

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Permalink Reply by James on March 5, 2018 at 4:52pm

Nice. That's an impressive collection, Terrier. I think I'd especially love to have a signed copy of Robert O'Neill's book. It would be an honor to have a book by the man who took out the devil himself!