SCANNING CHAPMAN CATALOGS 上市 Deposited
The E-Sylum: Volume 6, Number 20, May 18, 2003, Article 14
SCANNING CHAPMAN CATALOGS
A related exchange appeared this week in the colonial coins
email list. When the subject of scanning photographic plates
came up, Neil Rothschild attempted "to explain that a Chapman
catalog ... needs to be treated with respect." He wrote:For the benefit of those that have not ventured into bibliophilia
but are contemplating such foolishness...The original Chapmans were bound in white cloth and boards
(WCB), as is mine. The back of the sown signatures are
heavily glued. The glue has generally gotten brittle over the
years. They generally don't like to lay flat, and attempting to
lay them flat could damage the binding and the original bindings
have a lot of value vs a later re-bound copy. This is especially
true of the thicker sales, such as Earle and Jenks. Not to
mention damaging a plate while attempting to scan or
photograph it.My plated Earle sale is considered to be a nice copy and I
want to keep it that way. I have another Earle in it's original
WCB binding, from the Bowers sale of the Champa library
(not plated). In a discussion with Charlie Davis, who
catalogued that library, he told me that that copy was among
the nicest white cloth and boards he had ever handled. If
that is true, then there probably aren't any that CAN be laid
flat without damage. Even that copy is very stiff, and, in fact,
the inner binding has "creased" right at the colonial section
(prior to my acquisition). So that copy could possibly be
laid flat almost anywhere except in the colonial section!.
I should note that Charlie's comments were not directed
specifically at the binding, or it's willingness to open, but
applied to the general condition of the book.This is true of most older material in original bindings. I recall
a discussion with Dan Friedus about this where he mentioned
that he had, or was contemplating, building a book stand with
the sides at about a 90-120 degree angle so a book could be
opened and supported without damaging the binding.There is a conflict between research needs and bibliophilic
(read: economic) preservation. The best numismatic
literature [for research] is the ratty, disbound stuff that can't
be hurt. Anyone contemplating building a serious library
should carefully consider that conflict and what they are
going to do with that material."- 2003-05-18
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