The Tale of the Rowfant Wallclock
An Historical Narrative Poem
By Russell V. Bleecker, Cary R. Alburn, and Carr Liggett
Wrongfontia: A Semi-Occasional
Publication of The Rowfant Club
Number Two, February 1964
Softcover Booklet
Limited Numbered Edition #142 of 200 copies. Preface by the Rowfant Club's Publication Committee. Printed by Carroll Coleman at the Prairie Press, Iowa City, Iowa.
Near Fine, Excellent Vintage Condition. The booklet is clean, covers attached, secure threaded binding, unmarked, no writing, no highlighting, no fading, no stains, no ripped pages, no edge chipping, no remainder marks, not ex-library. Some very light surface and edge wear from age, use, storage and handling.
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Founded in 1892, The Rowfant Club is a highly active bibliophilic society of Cleveland, Ohio. They are dedicated to the love of books in all their capacities to please the mind of man. This includes their ideas and content, the artistry of their design and construction, and their value as collectibles. Accordingly, they have a library of well-loved books in their house, which is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited residential structure in Cleveland. The club was named for Rowfant, the home of Frederick Locker-Lampson (1821-95), near Crawley, Sussex, England. Locker-Lampson, a writer of light verse, was a leading book collector of his time. In Oct. 1895 the club acquired its present premises, a home designed and built in 1838 for George Merwin Charles Heard who built the First Presbyterian (Old Stone) Church. The Rowfant Club maintains a library with an emphasis on papermaking, printing, and book production. Lectures are a regular part of the club's programs, generally bookish or cultural, in keeping with the interests of the club. In a 1983 volume of "Wrongfontia," containing club parodies and lore, a poem begins by poking fun at the members ("We self-styled Baedekers of books, •/Stuffed shirts led by a stuffed groundhog)," but concludes, "So, if your wives should ever sneer/When they of Rowfant antics hear,/Just turn to them that •old deaf ear,'/With, •This is as we like it, dear.' " Light Seeking Light Doth Light Of Light Beguile is their motto, and is a quote from Shakespeare, in Act I Scene i, of Love’s Labour’s Lost. Those seeking the light of knowledge that books provide will join together in fellowship. “This fellowship of bibliophiles provides us with our core.”
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Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. A bibliophile or bookworm is an individual who loves and frequently reads or collects books. Bibliophiles may have large, specialized book collections. They may highly value old editions, autographed copies, or illustrated versions. Bibliophilia is distinguishable from bibliomania, a compulsive obsession to collect books which can affect interpersonal relationships or health. The term "bibliophile" has been in use since 1820 and has been associated with historical figures like Lord Spencer and J.P. Morgan, who were known for their extensive book collections. The classic bibliophile loves to read, admire and collect books, often amassing a large and specialized collection. Bibliophiles usually possess books they love or that hold special value, as well as old editions with unusual bindings, autographed, or illustrated copies. "Bibliophile" is an appropriate term for a minority of those who are book collectors.
According to Arthur H. Minters, the "private collecting of books was a fashion indulged in by many Romans, including Cicero and Atticus". The term bibliophile entered the English language in 1820. A bibliophile is to be distinguished from the much older notion of a bookman (which dates back to 1583), who is one who loves books, and especially reading; more generally, a bookman is one who participates in writing, publishing, or selling books. Lord Spencer and the Marquess of Blandford were noted bibliophiles. "The Roxburghe sale quickly became a foundational myth for the burgeoning secondhand book trade, and remains so to this day"; this sale is memorable due to the competition between "Lord Spencer and the marquis of Blandford [which] drove the price of a probable first edition of Boccaccio's Decameron up to the astonishing and unprecedented sum of £2,260". J. P. Morgan was also a noted bibliophile. In 1884, he paid $24,750 ($772,130.92, adjusted for inflation for 2021) for a 1459 edition of the Mainz Psalter. Many bibliophiles such as Jay I. Kislak, donate their collections to libraries. In the 20th century, the American tradition of women book collectors begins with the Women's Bibliophile Club in New York City, Hroswitha Club.
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Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given collector. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and a person who collects books is often called a bibliophile but can also be known as an bibliolater, meaning being overly devoted to books, or a bookman which is another term for a person who has a love of books. Book collecting can be easy and inexpensive: there are millions of new and used books which are available in brick and mortar bookstores as well as online bookstores. Large book sellers include AbeBooks, Alibris, Amazon, and Biblio.com, and there are independent booksellers that can be found online by searching key words such as: books, books for sale, bookseller, bookstore, rare books, collectibles, etc. Books traditionally were only printed on paper and then pages were bound together; however, in the past decade or so, books are also available in audio format through websites such as Audible, Google Audiobooks, Librivox, Kobo Audiobooks, and Downpour. Users of these sites can purchase a large library of books that they can access at any time using a phone, tablet, or computer. Just like hard copy books, audio books can be accumulated over many years.
Wealthy book collectors pursue rarities such as the Gutenberg Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio, books which are both famous and extremely valuable. Collectors of lesser means may collect works by a favorite author, first editions of modern authors, or books of a certain genre. Book prices generally depend on the demand for a given edition which is based on factors such as the number of copies available, the book's condition, and if they were signed by the author (and/or editor or illustrator, if applicable) or by a famous previous owner. Some collectors join associations such as The Fine Press Book Association, which is aimed at collectors of modern fine printing. The Private Libraries Association also covers modern fine printing, but is much more general in its outlook.