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Forum Title: LIZZIE BORDEN SOCIETY
Topic Area: Archives
Topic Name: Yet another book

1. "Yet another book"
Posted by adminlizzieborden on Jan-19th-02 at 3:26 PM


Arborwood Private Forums: Lizzie Borden Society: Second Street Second-Hand Shop: Yet another book on ebay from Lizzie Library
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By stefani on Wednesday, 11/21/2001 - 12:26 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Check this one out! It is book sold with this description:
"Early childrens book from Lizzie Borden's Library dated 1875 and titled 'The Childrens Prize'. The book measures 5&5/8" X 7&3/4" and is a softcover with 14 pages, probably one of a series of this type. The book comes with a Certificate Of Authenticity which reads "THIS CERTIFIES THIS ARTIFACT IS FROM THE LIZZIE BORDEN COLLECTION GEORGE E. QUIGLEY PRESIDENT, THE INTERNATIONAL LIZZIE BORDEN ASSOCIATION CURATOR, MAPLECROFT MUSEUM (1995-1999) CURATOR, MAPLECROFT MUSEUM (1999-2001) NOTED AUTHORITY, EDUCATOR, AUTHOR, LECTURER-AUGUST 4, 1999 GEORGE E QUIGLEY (hand signed) THE CHILDREN'S PRIZE DATED MAY 1875 WAS BOUGHT FROM THE ESTATE OF ERNEST JERRY, LIZZIE BORDEN'S PERSONAL CHAUFFER AND NEIGHBOR. IT WAS FROM HER LIBRARY ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF HER MANSION, MAPLECROFT". Certificate measures 11" X 8&1/2", some small puncture marks on the left side but none on the printing. The book itself is in fair condition at best but is an early piece and hard to find in any condition."



 
By stefani on Wednesday, 11/21/2001 - 12:31 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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for some reason the link did not go hot to ebay. cut and paste it instead to go there. sorry.

 
By kashesan on Wednesday, 11/21/2001 - 09:43 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Hey I got a book signed by Lizzie too. Yeah-thats the ticket-its "The Bridges Of Madison County-signed by Lizzie. Any takers?

 
By stefani on Thursday, 11/22/2001 - 01:37 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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What a great idea for a humor thread: Books you would NOT find in Lizzie's library.

I'll start:
How to Win Friends and Influence People

 
By kat on Thursday, 11/22/2001 - 04:44 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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June Bride Magazine

 
By kashesan on Friday, 11/23/2001 - 10:13 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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The Joy Of Sex

 
By stefani on Friday, 11/30/2001 - 03:06 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Well, to update, the book sold for 133.06. Anybody here purchase it?

Oh, another title not to be found on Lizzie's shelves:
What Color is Your Parachute?

 
By augusta on Friday, 11/30/2001 - 09:34 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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I'm surprised that item got such a high bid. It didn't look like it was in good condition to me. I wonder if these bidders think her actual signature is on these things. I hope the buyer got it for his/her own personal collection and enjoys it in that way - I wouldn't think it'd get that much in reselling.

 
By kashesan on Wednesday, 12/05/2001 - 10:59 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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From the Maplecroft library-NOT:
"When Bad Things Happen To Good People"

 
By stefani on Thursday, 12/20/2001 - 02:04 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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It is on sale again. Wonder why?


 
By raystephanson on Thursday, 12/20/2001 - 08:29 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Actually, the book least likely to be owned by Lizzie was E H Porter's "The Fall River Tragedy", given its suppression. Agree?

 
By kat on Thursday, 12/20/2001 - 10:50 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Lizzie probably read every word ever printed about her..She'd be reading this Forum if she knew about it...

 
By harry on Friday, 12/21/2001 - 12:27 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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If the seller is the same one who bought it awhile back then he/she is probably a believer in the "greater fool" theory. There is always one out there who is willing to buy. He may even turn a profit on the deal.

 
By kat on Friday, 12/21/2001 - 08:49 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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To Ray, and all:
In the LBQ, October, 1997 (Vol.IV, #4) beginning page 3 there is an article by William Schley-Ulrich (our own Bill) entitled PORTER'S "Fall River Tragedy"- HOW RARE?
Some excerpts:

"...Porter's book was published privately by subscription and sold for $1.50.

...Mr. Robert A. Flynn, publisher and well-known collector of Lizzie memorabilia, believes the printer made an initial run of 500 or so copies of the original edition. After experiencing a lukewarm reception from the general public, it was decided to discontinue publication. Flynn believes no more than 100 copies are extant.

A popular tale making the rounds tells of Lizzie buying and burning all but 25 subscription copies. No evidence to support this theory has ever surfaced.

...Mr. Patterson Smith, an antiquarian bookseller in Montclair, New Jersey, has specialized in literature on criminolgy for more than twenty-five years. During that period he has handled twenty copies of The Fall River Tragedy. Smith estimates there are still hundreds of copies 'out there', that have yet to see the light of day.

...In September of 1924, Pearson mailed the book to (William) Roughead. 'I had little trouble in getting a copy of the Fall River Tragedy,' he wrote, 'and the cost was inconsiderable.' In a follow-up letter he said, 'Sending Porter's book was a trifle, it was easily obtained, and I still owe you for more than that!' Apparently the volume wasn't quite so rare seventy-odd years ago!"

--Then he does a massive search and lists all positive and probable copies extant.

"Known Total Ownership:
# Reported = 42
# Verified = 36 (which totals comprise Institutional & Private ownership).

MS. Constance Mendes, of the Fall River Historical Society, informs me their Curator has stated there are at least 50 copies of the first edition in private collections in the area. Mr. Edward Thibault, Borden scholar, personally knows of at least 20 people who own the book."

--I'd say Bill has become somewhat of an expert on the subject of the number of copies, previous and now existing, of the book Fall River Tragedy. He has been a gentleman not to interfere, so far, in our un-schooled surmises on the subject. Let us leave that subject with our dignity intact, thanks to Bill's scholarship.

 
By raystephanson on Friday, 12/21/2001 - 03:24 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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How rare is "rare"? I have a relative who has the copy of 'LIFE' from November 1963 with the front page photo of the start of the assassination of JFK.

Maybe people wouldn't own up to owning a book detested by one of the richest and powerful person in town?

 
By kat on Friday, 12/21/2001 - 09:13 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Regardless, the point is that the volume was not suppressed by Lizzie or her "agents" other than in some melodrama.

 
By billu on Saturday, 12/22/2001 - 11:57 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Kat:
Thank you for those kind words. I now have the comfort that at least two people have read my article. You and my mom.

Over the years, for the want of something better to do, I have developed a system that rates the written word. I call it the "Believability factor", or BF for short.

The average book has a BF of nine on a scale from one to ten, while a magazine article only rates an anemic seven. Why this is so I do not know, but it is a fact.

If I had to rate the messages on this board, I'm afraid, in good conscience, I couldn't go higher than a two. The reason for this is the veracity of almost every opinion stated here is challenged by someone.

But I guess that isn't a bad thing. Right? We wouldn't want to get too cocky, would we?
After all, they do say a difference of opinion is what makes life interesting, and I certainly wouldn't want to argue with that!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 
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