So what can I do with these old books? Just lately I've been using the book covers as art. I carefully tear off the cover of the book (saving all the old pages) and then do a collage on the back of the cover. Besides old books, I have stacks and stacks of ephemera that can go into the collages.
When I saw the photos of the old bibles, it reminded me of one of the collages I did. You know how people keep track of their births and deaths in the family bible? Well I found an old book (here it is)
So I decided to make a collage incorporating this family information. We looked up all of these people on Ancestry and found all of them. So I used the census listing of the Dukes in the collage. They were all listed - Landis, Charley, Virgie, Winnie and Elvin. Isn't Ancestry wonderful?
Here's the completed collage of the Duke's "family bible".
So that's something you can do with an old falling apart book. It's fun, it's creative and it's recycling. And I thought this was just going to be a hobby. But Barbara posted some of my book cover collages on her blog and one of our local art dealers saw the blog and wanted to purchase four of the collages!! So I guess it's not just a hobby anymore. I'm going to have to get serious.
For other stories about vintage books and bibles see Sepia Saturday.
Great idea Nancy. I don't like to be a party pooper, but I can see one problem. Once sold, and stripped of its context and provenance, the fact that that the photos bear no relationship to the Duke family identified by the census listing and birth dates is lost.
ReplyDeleteYes, I wish I could have found photos of the Duke family. But since I couldn't, I decided to take a little artistic license for the collage.
DeleteThat is so cool, your very own stylish bible!
ReplyDeleteI can't resist old books either. Or old knitting patterns. Don't get too serious now ;)
ReplyDeleteI have lots of old knitting books too. Think I'll incorporate some of them into the collages. The old ones can be pretty funny.
DeleteWe have some old books that we do not know what to do with. I shall have to take a look at them again now. Somehow I don't think I will find a poetry jewel like yours.
ReplyDeleteKeeping old books in good shape is a challenge.
ReplyDeleteI oftentimes buy signed (and dated, located) objects in flea markets, then use Ancestry to locate relatives -- and send the items back to the family of origin...Ancestry is a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteI've sent a few photos back to relatives too. When I can find them.
Delete"Precious Jewels," with its family information, is a precious jewel indeed!
ReplyDeleteRescued from the junk pile and oblivion, your collages elevate the forgotten into art people will treasure for years. I love these.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. That makes me feel great.
DeleteNancy
Gosh, the green book fourth down from the top in the pile of books on the left looks familiar. I can't quite make out the title, but it looks very much like several of the old children's books my husband's family had that were passed on to us to pass on to our children & grandchildren. And you're right - you don't throw old books out no matter how out of shape they are. There's a lovely used book store in Modesto, CA called "Yesterday's Books". When I was growing up, we had a wonderful children's Christmas book which I loved, but when the spine came apart & pages started falling out it was apparently thrown away. When I had my own children I wanted to find that book again, but couldn't remember the exact title of it, nor who published it Years went by & then one day I happened to read an article in the Modesto Bee about the book by a columnist with the Los Angeles Times. The book she wrote about was owned by the family of the actress who played Nurse Kelly on the TV series, "M.A.S.H." who was a friend of the columnist. I called the columnist who called 'Nurse Kelly'- giving her my phone number & she called me! We chatted about the book for several minutes & she gave me all the information I needed to have "Yesterday's Books" find it for me & now my youngest daughter has it for her children. Amazing things happen & I'm not certain at all they happen by happenstance! :->
ReplyDeleteThat is a fabulous story about finding the Christmas book. That would have made a great Sepia Saturday post. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteNancy
I have been winnowing out my old books, but there are some that I just can't bear to take from their familiar stand. The set of children's books that came with the Encyclopedia Americana which we bought when our first daughter was born. We hauled that set of encyclopedias all over two states and our children and their friends scanned the pages for reports for nigh onto twenty-five years. The outdated encyclopedias were easy to part with -- but not so the children's books which I had read to children, brothers, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Now they are patiently waiting for the next generation which is a bit slow in arriving.
ReplyDeleteI hope the next generation will appreciate your treasured books.
DeleteI have boxes of books to get rid of. None are precious. I'm perfectly willing to keep the old textbooks that had belonged to my grandfather and great grandfather. Anything else is fair game for the Friends of the Library sale.
ReplyDeleteSince I work at our Friends of the Library book store, I can applaud you for donating your boxes of books.
DeleteBut I hope you keep your grandparents old textbooks. Those sound like real treasures.
Nancy
I find it so hard to part with old books - so many memories. This is a very creative use of your stockpile and it seems you have a new job!
ReplyDeleteSomehow I don't think my hobby will morph into a real business. But it keeps me entertained.
DeleteI don't buy OLD books, but I do buy a lot of used books. If something looks interesting and cheap, I buy it and often don't really read it. Your post reminded me of a craft book I bought a couple of years ago called "Altered Books 101." You could probably get some ideas from that.
ReplyDeleteAn innocent endeavor that's turning into a serious commitment?
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! May you never run out of old books!!
:)~
HUGZ
there's no way that I will ever run out of old books. I have way too many and the problem is, I keep buying more. It's an addition!
DeleteNancy
Ah! You just cant beat the smell & Texture of Old Books.Something Kindle just cant match (although I'm sure they are working on a new app as we speak!)
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea. An app that you can touch for the texture of old books and scratch for the odor. I think you should get right on that.
DeleteNancy