Your most obscure book

[M. Robert Gibson]

OK, this has to be posted again, given the direction this thread headed

https://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/560388/page-1093#post-2397311

 

[williamjm]

A few years ago I went to Eastercon (might have been when it was in Manchester) and there was meant to be a book launch of The Best of Ian McDonald. I can't remember the detail of the explanation but there was some mishap when the books were printed that meant they had to be re-done and they didn't have time before the launch. To compensate they printed out these books which contained the first page of every one of the stories in the full collection and handed them out so people could get Ian to sign them.

I feel this is obscure, although given where I'm posting this I wouldn't be hugely surprised if someone else reading the thread had one.

 

[Eclectic Dragon]

I found this book in Stillwater, MN. It was in a bookstore that sells first editions and no-longer-in-prints. First published in 1931, this is definitely the most obscure book I have. It's a recent addition to my library, so I haven't read it yet. But I have a feeling it is a worthy quarantine buddy to have!

The Irish Beauties, by E. Barrington

 

[Vince W]

I don't think I have anything truly obscure, but James Herriot's Yorkshire is probably rarer than some now.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I have a bookstore full of very obscure titles including some Ulster-Scots classics

 

[Luiglin]

I've an old bookcase from my Grandfather full of his and his Father's books. There are some obscure beauties in there. One with the enigmatic title of "Brickwork" being my favourite.

 

[Extollager]

Luiglin, I spot three old Everyman's Library offerings there -- none of which I own. Niiiiiice.

What Is The Oldest Book You Own?

Here are a few oldish books. First, a batch with two items of Tolkienian interest. The Lost Explorers was a boys' book Tolkien donated to his school's library -- maybe because he liked it and wanted to share a copy with boys coming up, or maybe because he wanted to get rid of a copy. The...

www.sffchronicles.com

"The Inklings and King Arthur: Tolkien, Lewis, Williams, Barfield on the Matter of Britain"

Here's a place to discuss a thick collection of academic-style essays on the four authors named -- with plenty of attention having been given to J. R. R. Tolkien. Information about the award-winning essay collection is here: The Inklings and Arthur wins the Mythopoeic Award! The book...

www.sffchronicles.com

 

[Pyan]

 

[Jo Zebedee]

A few years ago I went to Eastercon (might have been when it was in Manchester) and there was meant to be a book launch of The Best of Ian McDonald. I can't remember the detail of the explanation but there was some mishap when the books were printed that meant they had to be re-done and they didn't have time before the launch. To compensate they printed out these books which contained the first page of every one of the stories in the full collection and handed them out so people could get Ian to sign them.

I feel this is obscure, although given where I'm posting this I wouldn't be hugely surprised if someone else reading the thread had one.

View attachment 67668
View attachment 67669

I don’t but damn I want one! Was with Ian today and it was so great to meet with one of my tribe!

 

[Ori Vandewalle]

The most obscure is almost certainly a self-published book written by a friend of mine. But from the traditional publishing side, probably this copy of Francis Bacon's Essays published in 1926:

Given to me by my aunt and uncle after I got my degree.

 

[tinkerdan]

A bit old and worn--I have yet to find my copy of The White Company.

 

[Extollager]

I have a bookstore full of very obscure titles including some Ulster-Scots classics

Do you have Frank Frankfort Moore’s The Ulsterman in your store? I’m not looking for a copy — I have one. But that was the book that Warren H. Lewis felt enabled him to understand his father — who was, of course, also C. S. Lewis’s father, namely Albert Lewis.

 

[Extollager]

I wouldn’t call those “obscure,” Tinkerdan... but niiice books all right.

 

[Extollager]

I've an old bookcase from my Grandfather full of his and his Father's books. There are some obscure beauties in there. One with the enigmatic title of "Brickwork" being my favourite.

View attachment 67677

What’s that St. Elmo book? That might be an obscure one.

Looks like two copies of Sir Walter’s The Talisman there.

 

[Parson]

Well here's something I'll bet no one on this forum has. Probably only a couple of dozen printed.

@Parson, have you been telling pulpit stories again?

Of course. Stories are mandatory from the pulpit.

My best pew story regards a Revolutionary era church in New York I saw where the "Patron" had his pew box in the middle of the church ..... and elevated 18 inches above all of the other pews. ---- In those days in some churches you would rent your pew, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out where the cheap seats were in that church.

 

[Bick]

I can barely play this interesting game, as I have only a few old books, and they are not that obscure. I have a fairly recent book which maybe one few have heard of and therefore be sufficiently obscure to count:

Which tells the story of Ewart Grogan. And if you've not heard of him, (a) that may support the inclusion of the book, and (b) perhaps you should read it, he was quite a character.

 

[Extollager]

Works for me, Bick.

 

[tegeus-Cromis]

Here is an 1881 French translation of Theocritus' Idylls, with some kind of gilt illustrations. It's tiny -- about 5.5" tall.

 

[tegeus-Cromis]

Sorry, I think I'll have to post three. This one's from 1898.

 

[tegeus-Cromis]

And this one's beautifully bound in very thin suede, with I think hand-colored illuminations. (All other copies I've seen online have the decorative patterns in black and white, not color.)