19th century literature that you enjoy

[AZReenactor]

It looks like Black Diamonds, Gathered in the Darkey Homes of the South, is currently in print from Dick Press and through the Michigan Historical Reprint Series. It was also reprinted in the 1968 by Negro Universities Press.

While not as much fun as finding it on a shelf at Powells, these links will help find a copy to add to your library.

AbeBooks
Alibris
Amazon

instead of UTC, how about this one, does anyone know it? Black Diamonds, Gathered in the Darkey Homes of the South, by Edward A Pollard. "Presents the slavery question from a sourthern point of view." 1860 I've never found this one in ANY antique bookstore.

[Drygoods]

Mr. Groves,

Oh, I can easily understand why it helps to buy the newer versions of old books. It doesn't really matter what version of the book that you buy, either original or reprint, the point is that people should read. People often wonder how I get so much reading done, the answer is simple if you don't have a TV set. When we were working, we used to buy 4 antique books a week, and I freely admit that I did spend a good time at work reading stuff I liked, but who was going to fire me, I was the boss. The point I'm working into though is that as you get older, you tend to slow down, and don't have as much time to read like when you're younger, consequently, now I simply focus on buying only copies of books that are pre-1870, and indeed a great investment. We find the return far better than any stock investing.

Books today are probably your best, and possibly last, time to afford them. Antique books tend to double or triple in price every five years, consequently, now is the best time to buy, especially if you can afford the larger volume sets. Also, it's always a good idea to check out the antique book sales shows around the country. Often you find great ephemera, journals, pocket bibles, albums for next to nothing. Several of the gems and offerings that I collect, basically annual gift books, I picked up at these shows for as little as $4-$6. The reading material is perfect for our era. Those tiny pocket bibles sell for the same price.

For those wishing to visit some of these antique books shows, here's a list for February:

CA International Antiquarian Book Fair
info@winslowevents.com

Columbus Ohio Book Fair
www.columbusproductions.com

Delaware antiquarian Book Fair
Univ Delaware, Arsht. Hall
302 655-3055

New York Greenwich Village Fair
www.gvabf.org

Westchester Antiquarian Book & Ephemera Fair
Tarrytown, NY 518 861-5478

I admit that I've not been to all of these, but have found some fairs better than others, but that all depends on the vendors. New York, Ohio, and especially Maine tend to have the better books for sale, IHMO. Get out and see them folks, if you can, books are really works of art that are underappreciated today.