Book One: Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Firstly, oops. I guess I’m not so good at the “update your blog at least once a week” thing. My apologies. I’m a leeeetle bit behind, so I will make up for it this week, I promise.With that, onward and upward, good readers.

The first nugget I want to share with you is one of my prize finds. I stumbled across this treasure in Burton Lysecki Books this past spring, and even though the $20 was quite a bit for me at the time (end of the school year and whatnot, I had to pick it up. I felt compelled for two reasons…

One: Rime is definitely a part of my literary canon, and as such, warranted purchase while I gleefully held it in my greasy little paws, especially because it’s really in beautiful condition. See?

Cover

To Edith In memory of the days when we recited this poem together. Feb. 14th 1906

Title Page

Note the lack of publication/print date. Therefore, I can only go by the inscription to guess the book’s age (1906 or earlier). Darn, should’ve brought it to the Antiques Roadshow at Portage Place this past Saturday.

Two: I knew this would be one book my boyfriend (henceforth known as JG) would appreciate. Being Iron Maiden fans the both of us, I knew he would like to see the work that inspired Maiden’s song. For those who are unaware, see it below! (Sidenote: seeing this performed live was one of the greatest moments of my life, hands down.)

The book is a cherished piece in my collection for another reason. When I’m book-hunting, I first look for known authors and then I look at the book’s condition. The big selling point for me though is what’s inside the book. I love seeing people’s inscriptions, or things the book’s original owner pressed and forgot about.

Rime fit that category! Not only was there that lovely inscription (which is interesting in its own right, because it’s quite the sombre poem to be given as a Valentine’s Day gift…), but I also found a poem, written by a different hand than the inscription, inserted into the book’s pages.

Poem - "Pepys"

“Pepys

There are people, I’m told - some say there are heaps-
Who speak of the talkative Samuel as “Peeps”;
And some, so precise and pedantic their step is
Who call the delightful old diarist, “Peppis”
But those I think right, and I follow their steps
Ever mention the garrulous gossip as “Peps”
–..   –..   –..   –..   –..   –
Yet Wheatley declares that the truth still escapes
For Peps was not “Peppis”, not “Peeps” - he was “Papés”.“

Love that! I assume it was “Edith” who wrote this, but the poem is neither dated nor signed, so it’s only a guess.

Anywho, I have a collection of over 50 books, each one with its own stories to tell, so until next time, keep turning the pages.

Yours,

Laurie