Red All Over

Seeing one or two examples of a book is a different experience from looking at many. As you look at this grouping, the eye and brain begin to work together, scanning the covers to find repetitions, variations and differences.
Michael Zinman, a renowned book collector and benefactor of the Library Company, uses this kind of visual learning in what he calls the “critical mess” method of collecting.
What do you collect?

First row

Sarah Josepha Hale, Flora’s Interpreter and Fortuna Flora (Boston, 1847). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Imagination and Fancy (New York, 1845). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Henry Tuckerman, Thoughts on the Poets (New York, 1846). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

E.H. Chapin, Discourse on the Lord’s Prayer (Boston, 1850). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Martin Tupper, Proverbial Philosophy (Auburn, 1848). Gift of Todd and Sharon Pattison.                 

Second row

How to Talk (New York, 1857).

Jacob Abbott, Learning to Think (New York, 1857). Gift of the heirs of D.I and Anna S. Maier.

John Whittier, Songs of Labor (Boston, 1850). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Jacob Abbott, Learning about Common Things (New York, 1857). Gift of the heirs of D.I and Anna S. Maier.

Grace Greenwood, History of My Pets (Boston, 1851).

Third row

Emma C. Embury, The Language of Flora (New York, 1854). Gift of the heirs of D.I and Anna S. Maier.

Heart’s-Ease (New York, 1850). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Decorated Paper Collection.

Miss H.J. Woodman, The Language of Gems (Boston, 1845).

The Bridal Keepsake (Rochester, 1848).The Louise Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Fund.

Lydia H.Sigourney, The Voice of Flowers (Hartford, 1848).

Fables of Flora (Lowell, 1844).

The Token of Friendship (Boston, 1844).

A Hand-Book of Etiquette for Gentlemen (New York, 1856).                                        

Fourth row

John James, The Marriage Ring (Boston, 1843).

Lyric Gems (Boston, 1845). Purchased in honor of Helen H. Gemmill and William H. Scheide.

Thoughts among Flowers (New York, 1850). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

The Golden Gift (Boston, 1856). Purchased in honor of Helen H. Gemmill and William H. Scheide.

The Philipena, or, Friendship’s Token (Worcester, 1850).

The Young Man, or, Guide to Knowledge, Virtue and Happiness (Boston, 1848). The Louise Lux-Sions and Harry Sions Fund.

Joel Hawes, Lectures to Young Men (Hartford, 1850).

John James, The Marriage Ring (Boston, 1842).

Fifth row

Alexander Pope, Poetical Works (Boston, 1854). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Daniel Eddy, The Young Man’s Friend (Boston, 1854).

The Rural Annual (New York, c.1856 ). The Michael Zinman Binding Collection.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Poems (Boston, 1849). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Poems (New York, 1854). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Sixth row

Ebenezer Porter Dyer, The Young Maiden’s Mirror (Boston, 1854).

Wm. A. Alcott, Letters to a Sister (Buffalo, 1850). Gift of Renee Betts.

William Mountford, Euthanasy, or, Happy Talk Towards the End of Life (Boston, 1849). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

The Young Ladies’ Offering (Boston, 1848).

Martin Tupper, Proverbial Philosophy (Boston, 1850). The Todd and Sharon Pattison Collection of Signed Benjamin Bradley Bindings.

Seventh row

Isaak Walton, The Lives of Dr. Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, Mr. Richard Hooker, Mr. George Herbert, and Dr. Robert Sanderson (New York, 1848).

Philip Bailey, Festus, a Poem (Boston, 1857). Gift of Todd and Sharon Pattison.

The Token, or Affection’s Gift (Hartford, 1845). The Michael Zinman Binding Collection.

The Young Ladies’ Offering (Boston, 1849). Gift of Todd and Sharon Pattison.

Robert T. Conrad, Alymere, or, the Bondman of Kent (Philadelphia, 1852).