Friday, February 26, 2010

I Love Old Books

I love old antiques and vintage things.  One of the reasons I love them is because someone else loved them, too.  Someone else whom I may never know.  Someone else who led a completely different life, totally separate from mine, and with one object our worlds are suddenly thrust together, tied to one another.  I may never know anything about their life... but it was there, they lived it, and I'm living mine.  It just so happens that something from their life, their world, popped its head into mine and gave me the chance to love it, cherish it, and give it new life.

Books are especially wonderful ... because sometimes there are even more mementos from the many different owners' lives that can be found.  Sometimes it's a scribble, a name, even a date.  A note in the front, or something written on the pages inside.

There are many things a person can do with old books ... right now, I have a stack of them right on my fireplace mantle, next to the bean balls I made, and below the beautiful clock that my father made my husband and me for our wedding.

Old Books


Check out this one - it's called "Useful Information For Business Men; Mechanics and Engineers."  Its copyright is from 1942, and at the time it cost only $1.  I love the information its owner put in the front pages - Nick Mamula, started with Jones and Laughlin Steel in 1936 and was eligible to receive a pension in 1978.

The back page has written "Christian 639,000,000 .34.8 Non-Christian 1,189,000,000 .65.2"  I have no idea what that means, but I like that it's there.

Old BooksOld Books

Then there's my favorite... this tiny hymnal, it stands maybe 5 inches tall.  It's dated 1875.  This is probably the oldest thing I own.  The covers aren't attached anymore, but I don't love it any less.  It was made for the Protestant Episcopal Church, and is full of 532 hymns.  I can't help but wonder how many people held this precious tiny hymn book in their hands, singing praises to our Almighty God.

Old BooksOld Books

Sometimes, though I feel horrible doing it, I'll take pages out of a book and frame them for the wall.  We found this book full of pictures of old cars at a close-out sale at a local bookstore.  It wasn't really much of a book, it was newer, not too old, but we liked the pictures of the cars inside... so we decided to cut them up and frame them on the wall above our computer desk.

Old Books

I wonder how many other people feel the same way I do about antiques or vintage finds, whether books or other.   I'd love to hear from you - do you collect anything special?  Do you feel nostalgic every time you look at your antique dishes?

12 comments:

joeandbridge said...

Hi There! I'm a new follower from Friday Follow! Hope you can come visit my blog!
Have a great weekend!

Bridgette Groschen
The Groschen Goblins
http://www.groschengoblins.blogspot.com/

Sarah Coulsey said...

Happy Friday!!! I am a new follower!!

Sarah

sarahsblogoffun.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Happy Friday Follow! I'm your newest following friend. I'd love for you to drop by my blog sometime & follow me. While you're there, you can enter to win a 10x10 Photographic Print by Red Leaf Photography that is amazing!! I hope to see you around soon!!

http://savingsandstewardship.blogspot.com

Kimberly said...

Here from the Friday Follow. You have a great looking site. Hope to get to know you better soon. Stop on by and follow me so we can comment to each other often.

I love books old or new!

Kelly's Lucky You said...

Love, love, love your blog! You are so creative.

I'm looking forward to doing some etsy shopping, thanks for the great ideas.

I have collected things in the past but not lately, I've become more of an admirer. I am a book lover - new and old.

I found you through Friday Follow - nice to meet you.

Kelly
www.kellysluckyyou.blogspot.com

Darcy said...

I want to start collecting antique dishes...lol haven't done it yet. I have always wanted to!

justanightowl.com

Erin said...

I've never thought about antiques like that before. Following you from Friday Follow. Hope to see you at www.erinamundsen.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I've not had the pleasure yet of adoring vintage items and I appreciate what you have shared.

Thanks for linking up with Friday Follow! I am now your blog follower. It is a pleasure to meet ya and have a great week!

~ Lynn
http://www.middayescapades.com

Katrina said...

I love finding antiques. When my parents remodeled their house they found all sorts of books and papers and even baby shoes in their walls. It was pretty amazing.

Still making rounds from Friday Follow. :)

http://sevinfamily.blogspot.com

Cakeblast said...

I don't collect antiques but my Dad collects (and deals) in Civil War memoralbillia so I understand the feeling. I'm a new follower from Friday Follow (even though I'm late). Hope to get a chance to stop by http://cakeblast.com

Mrs. Sanchez said...

Hi There, I found you through FF as well.

I adore old books. I love to think of an item's story. In some way, they outlive all of us.

Find me at http://jotgiveaways.blogspot.com

Happy to be following. :)

ThinkFeminist said...

I am your latest follower!!!You can also follow my blog at www.safehomehappymom.com.

You can also check out my current Seventh Generation Kit giveaway!

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