LEFT BEHIND IN BOOKS

LEFT IN A BOOK - FIND 3

2008-02-25T08:15:18+01:00

What must it be like to have your photo hidden in the pages of a book, used as a bookmark perhaps, and then to appear when a new person leafs through the pages.

I discovered a photo of Pope Paul VI (I think) amongst a copy of The Boys Own Sea Stories. On the back was the printed inscription, "Please pray for Owen O'Connor. ordained to the priesthood March 19th 1966. God bless you." Was this a favourite bookof his, or had it belonged to a proud family member?

The book itself had been a Sunday School prize in 1909 to a Douglas Yates. Clearly this had been passed from reader to reader, and there, betwen more pages was an order form from WH Smith for a Reverend in 1999 who had requested a book about the Wreck of the Whaleship Essex.

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LEFT IN A BOOK- FIND 2

2008-02-20T08:10:18+01:00

Evie by Lynda Page revealed a postcard of the Victorian School of the 3Rs in Llangollen. A young boy called Ben had written to his grandparents in Cheshire during August 2004 telling them about his holiday in a cottage in Wales. This grandmother must have treasured the card with the child’s handwriting, using it as a bookmarker in a well thumbed novel.The museum itself appears to be one of those places where the Victorian past has been preserved in a living archive.

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LEFT IN A BOOK- FIND 1

2008-02-20T08:04:31+01:00

I bought a copy of Darkness Visible by Walton Hannah at a charity sale. I should have said before- I sell books on the internet to supplement my income, just in case readers think I have an odd taste in books. This book was about freemasonry. Tucked inside was a receipt from the Midland Masonic Depot who had a thriving business in Birmingham during the 1970s. The comany describes itself as "printers to the honourable fraternity of free and accepted masons of England." There was also a leaflet advertising other products from this company, including masonic handbooks, ladies evening menus and a selection of books. This business was situated off the Aston Expressway, however does not appear to be there now as the building has other companies and offices.A small piece of social history.

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LEFT IN A BOOK

2008-02-19T20:00:59+01:00

Have you ever rummaged through books at a sale or a car boot, stumbled upon the book you have been looking for in the charity shop or just browsed the shelves. Sometimes, when you leaf between the pages a piece of that book's past slips out- hidden until you discover it. It could be a scrap of paper, an old bill, an invitation. Used as a bookmark, or even hidden away from prying eyes. Forgotten until the new reader happens upon it.

I have never blogged before,but have found remainders of the past in books and want to record the discoveries as they happen. Anything that might comprimise a living person's identity would not be used.This may prove to be an interesting journey.

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