adventures at lunch time

19 years ago

If you promise not to tell my employer, I will relate this story, which could be...could be... considered a cautionary tale for us book collectors.

There was an estate sale today in Atherton, CA, which is 5 minutes from my workplace. Since the notice said "thousands of books" and "plants", I thought I would go on my lunch hour.

I got some nice plants!

But there were more than a thousand books. There were books in every room of the house. Mostly all were hardcover. Books on Art, History, Gardening, Cooking, Travel, etc. Never have I seen so many books in a house. Thousands. In closets. In bookcases. Everywhere. I heard there were more books in the garage!

Apparently the woman who had lived in this house really liked books. When she had to vacate for whatever reason (old age, I presume), all these books were left behind and are now being sold. At quite reasonable prices I might add.

It was quite interesting. My lunch hour became 2 hours. Shhhhhhh!

ps I picked up 4 books....for my house collection.

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Comments (10)

merryworld
19 years ago
Yes, I could easily see that happening to me. But, at least in wasn't cats.

And what four books did you get?
sherwood38
19 years ago
Only four...? (LOL)

Pat
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cindydavid4
19 years ago
Yeah, I wondered the same thing!

Am I the only one who ponders what will happen to your books when you are gone? I love so many of them dearly, and want them to be owned by those who'll love them as well. In my mind (and on paper) I know who will get certain special books. But there are so many...

If DH isn't around, I suspect I'd want them to go to a women's shelter library or such. But who on earth is gonna want to read all of my medieval tomes!
woodnymph2_gw
19 years ago
I've often wondered the same, Cindy. I have such an eclectic collection and so many out of print works. I have more than enough to open up my own lending library. I've told a few close friends they can go through my books, should anything happen, and take what they want....
karalk
19 years ago
First of all, what was the rush?!? You should have called in and said you had an emergency and taken the rest of the day! You couldn't possibly have done justice to this opportunity we all dream of in two hours!
And only FOUR books???? What did you choose?
ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
I have it in the will-seriously-after the children take what they want, the rest go to the library, to be added to the library collection or sold for its benefit.
deep___roots
Original Author
19 years ago
If you must know:

a book on Japanese graphic art, artists like Hokusai, etc.

2 books on the Civil War

Cottage Gardening by Christopher Lloyd

You see, none of the books were priced until you waited in line and got to the lady who was running the sale. Once you got to her, she set the prices and you pay up. So as you waited in line, which had 20+ people in it when I was there, you were amongst books for sale. It was the ultimate impulse shopping tactic. You see, I love books but I had not the time to look at them all and I was there mainly for plants anyway. And to buy plants you had to wait in the line to get to the lady, whereupon you two would retire to the outside to set prices (which departure elicited catcalls from those waiting behind you).

So as I waited in line, I browsed the books surrounding me. By the time I got up to the lady I had found 4 that interested me. No doubt I could've found 400. Probably a good thing I did not. Paid 16 bucks for those 4 books.

Plants (all in nice crockery): sago palms w/trunks, cardboard palm, 2 5 foot tall dwarf alberta spruces, western red cedar paired w/ a japanese maple in a pot. Prices were a steal! Paid 80 bucks for plants.
cindydavid4
19 years ago
Yikes! I am not sure I'd come away with many books either.

>the rest go to the library, to be added to the library collection or sold for its benefit.

I have thought of this, and will probably do it like that. I just need to make sure certain people get specific books I(mainly the collection items), then just let my family and friends have a book fest. Thats what I want, a book lovers wake, where theres music, dance and books galore!
woodnymph2_gw
19 years ago
A "book lovers' wake". I love that idea! Filing that away for future....Thanks, Cindy.
carolyn_ky
19 years ago
I'd love a book lovers wake, too. What a way to be remembered.