Subject: Inscriptions
Posted by: MotherGoose
Date: Feb 20 11
Do you inscribe a book when you give it to someone as a gift? If you receive a book as a gift, do you like (or dislike) the giver to write an inscription? I buy a lot of books secondhand and so many of them carry inscriptions from the giver. I find it hard to bring myself to get rid of a book that someone has inscribed to me. I have a friend who has an extensive collection of books and every single one of them is inscribed. If you give him a book, there is no way he will let you get away without writing in it. If he buys a book for himself, he will inscribe it "To John*, from John*," with the relevant date (*name changed to protect the guilty).
Posted by: MotherGoose
Date: Feb 20 11
Do you inscribe a book when you give it to someone as a gift? If you receive a book as a gift, do you like (or dislike) the giver to write an inscription? I buy a lot of books secondhand and so many of them carry inscriptions from the giver. I find it hard to bring myself to get rid of a book that someone has inscribed to me. I have a friend who has an extensive collection of books and every single one of them is inscribed. If you give him a book, there is no way he will let you get away without writing in it. If he buys a book for himself, he will inscribe it "To John*, from John*," with the relevant date (*name changed to protect the guilty).
14 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
lesley153
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I prefer to give and to receive inscribed books. Perhaps the people who don't like to write in books have been brought up to think it's sacrilege - or they think you might want to give it away! All the new books I've been given have my name inside them, and I thinks it's a bit sad to see lovingly inscribed books on charity shop shelves. A friend gave Jonathan a copy of a textbook he'd written about delta functions. I said I'm sorry, he can't possibly accept it without your autograph! So the author wrote in it: "Jonathan, take what's useful, and disregard the rest." Reply #1. Feb 20 11, 10:08 AM |
Lochalsh 
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A friend of mine was being mentored by a famous author, so I came across the writer more than once. When I finally asked him to inscribe a book, he wrote "to my friend, the second time." (Now I pause to blush, since even in memory he's quite handsome.) I don't collect autographs for bragging rights or resale, by the way. Literature is my life, and I bring out the signed books once in a while just to remember and to swoon over fine expression. As to the OP: I think some people would rather not receive an inscribed book so that they could sell it again. I prefer to sign the ones I give, just to add a personal touch to the inanimate object. Reply #2. Feb 20 11, 11:31 AM |
purelyqing
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I wouldn't write in a book I'm going to give someone. I don't like spoiling a perfectly lovely page with my awful handwriting. I might write something on a card and stick it in the book instead. Reply #3. Feb 24 11, 8:21 PM |
MotherGoose
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"I don't collect autographs for bragging rights or resale, by the way." I don't collect autographs for bragging rights or resale either, but I really like it when a book is signed by its author. I've had some books autographed at books signings but I've also picked up books in second-hand shops that were autographed - Ruth Rendell and Jeffrey Deaver are two that come to mind. I've been told by a book dealer that if a book is autographed by the author, its value doubles. Reply #4. Feb 26 11, 4:44 AM |
| Lochalsh
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MG, the signature does help, but I think the ultimate value depends on the popularity or reputation of the author, whether he or she is dead or alive, and on the content of the signature--is it just the name, or is there something more, especially something personalized? Reply #5. Feb 26 11, 8:29 AM |
| Lochalsh
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I was talking about commercial value, of course. Here's one site that discusses autographs in general: http://tinyurl.com/qe825c Reply #6. Feb 26 11, 8:36 AM |
| lesley153
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My father worked for a company that was represented at the Radio Show. (How long ago is that?) He collected autographs from people whose names I would just gasp at now - Eartha Kitt, Dizzy Gillespie, Gilbert Harding, Stubby Kaye... The autograph book has disappeared. :( My husband worked for a company that at one time owned a publishing company, whose staff would put dumped books in cardboard boxes, for any staff to help themselves. That's how he acquired a book by Anthony Burgess, with a handwritten letter to his publisher tucked inside the dust jacket. He also had a typed thank-you note, signed by Laurence Olivier. There was something from Jean Simmons too but I can't find it. I'm sure it'll turn up. :) Reply #7. Feb 26 11, 9:27 AM |
honeybee4
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I do like old books that have been inscribed. My favorite book that I own is "A Cristmas Carol. It is leatherbound and inscribed "To my dearest friend Marion" Christmas 1908, San Francisco California.. Reply #8. Feb 26 11, 12:20 PM |
guitargoddess
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To me, it depends on the book and who I'm giving it to. I bought a $6 copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for my mom a few months ago and did not feel the need to inscribe that (I'm positive she'll give it away at the United Way booksale next fall anyway). But when I gave my cousin Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret for her 12th birthday, I wrote something along the lines of hoping she likes it as much as I did when I was her age. My aunt writes Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas inside every book she gives me, but no one else has ever inscribed a book for me... I don't really mind either way. It does make me think twice about parting with a book she has given me though! Reply #9. Mar 05 11, 2:29 PM |
blindcat78
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I think that inscriptions in a book that you give or recieve can be very special especially from a special someone who loves you very much. Reply #10. Mar 12 11, 7:04 PM |
Godwit
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Such interesting comments. I have a couple of autographs which I got back in a day when the author had not yet become famous. I was in a book club with August Wilson, for instance (he later won a Pulitzer). He wrote a beautiful personal note. Which I wouldn't dream of selling. I have become concerned about the proper way to preserve it though, and whether I should share it with someone or other. I agree the inscriptions we can find in used books have a sweetness to them. I'm so glad my mom always lovingly inscribed books to me. But...I also love a clean, well tended book. So for books I want in my library, I don't write in them, but use bookplates. Reply #11. Mar 13 11, 4:38 PM |
naerulinnupesa
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I don't inscribe books 'cause I haven't come up with words to use for it. I want inscription to be a part of my personality, not just some manditory phrase. Three years ago a bought a book of poetry from the author. He had several there, already inscribed "from author, to remember him by, *signature, date, place*". He asked my name right away and wrote it there as well. I like this kind of personal touch :) Reply #12. Mar 24 11, 6:51 AM |
Cymruambyth
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Just before we got married, my about-to-be-husband gave me a copy of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 'Sonnets from the Portuguese'. On the fly leaf, he inscribed 'See page 25.', with his name and the date. I immediately turned to Page 25 and found myself reading "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." And they say men aren't romantic. They didn't know my man! When I buy books as gifts, I make sure I buy a book that the recipient will enjoy (I figure books are like perfume, you only give either one to someone you know very well) and I have no hesitation in writing something meaningful on the fly leaf. Reply #13. Jul 02 11, 3:07 PM |
Rowena8482
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My most precious possession is my signed 1st edition Heinlein book :-D I never got to actually meet him (would quite cheerfully give 40% of my children to the inventor of a time machine that would let me go back to do so lol) so it's not signed personally to me, but the thrill I get holding it, and knowing he held it too, and actually signed it, is amazing (and probably quite sad in a nerdy way lol, but I don't care). I have some other signed books, but I don't think anyone has ever bought me a book and written a message to me inside it - not sure what I would think actually. I think if it's not the author/illustrator/someone else really relevant to the book, then it's graffiti and defacing the book. Just not my thing. Reply #14. Jul 05 11, 7:24 AM |
14 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
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