Antique Price Discrepancies; Dora Hood Canadian Bookseller Parts 3 and 4

July 7th, 1918 entry in the minute book of the Loyal Winchester Lodge # 73, Canadian Order of Oddfellows, Toronto Regarding Brother Snooks stay at the Gravenhurst Sanitarium. Brother Snooks did not survive.

Minute books from the Loyal Winchester Lodge # 73 Circa. 1917 to 1934; Tomorrow I will look at how the books reported on the spread of the deadly Spanish Flu that claimed 50,000 Canadians and about 40 million world wide. The books were found here in Gravenhurst.

I CAN FIND NO PLACE FOR MYSELF IN AN ANTIQUE MALL-

TOO SET IN MY WAYS FOR MY OWN GOOD - I SUPPOSE

     IT WAS A FANTASTIC DAY FOR A MOTOR TRIP. NO SNOW, A SUNNY HORIZON, AND THE TRAFFIC WAS FAIRLY LIGHT. IT WASN'T THE ULTIMATE ETHEREAL EXPERIENCE, BUT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD NONE THE LESS. WE WERE HEADING TO SOME ANTIQUE SHOPS, WITH NO TIME RESTRICTION. WELL, THAT'S NOT QUITE TRUE. SUZANNE SPENT A HALF HOUR, IN TRANSIT, TRYING TO ADJUST THE CLOCK ON THE CAR RADIO, (FOR SPRING AHEAD TIME) AND I THOUGHT SHE HAD GOT IT RIGHT. SO IT EXPLAINED WHY I PULLED UP TO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ANTIQUE SHOPS AFTER HOURS. I THOUGHT IT WAS THREE O'CLOCK BUT IN FACT, IT WAS FOUR P.M., A USUAL TIME FOR SHOP CLOSING ON SUNDAYS. SO I FIGURE I LOST TWO HOURS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR. STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE THE HOUR. IT'S NOW UP TO OUR SONS TO GET US BACK ON TRACK. THEY HAVE HAD TO CONSULT THE MANUAL.
     I USED TO VOLUNTEER AT THE BRACEBRIDGE ANTIQUE SHOW, WHEN IT WAS FIRST LAUNCHED, AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER AT THE TIME, I WAS QUITE FASCINATED TO BE ON THE FLOOR, DURING SET-UP, TO WATCH, LISTEN, AND LEARN FROM THE CONDUCT OF PARTICIPATING VENDORS. WHAT I WITNESSED, WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE AMOUNT, OF WHAT I CAN ONLY CALL, "SHARING" OF INFORMATION AND ARTICLES. THERE WAS A LOT OF BUYING GOING ON, AS WELL, (BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SHOW PATRON) AND WHAT I THINK WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT PRICING. WHEN WE ACTUALLY JOINED A NUMBER OF ANTIQUE SHOWS, OURSELVES, I WITNESSED THIS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. IN FACT, WE SOLD THESE PARALLEL ITEMS TO DEALERS, WHO SPECIALIZED IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA, OF ANTIQUE OR COLLECTABLE. SO INSTEAD OF CORRECTING OR NEGOTIATING FAIR MARKET VALUE BETWEEN OUR BOOTHS, THEY WOULD SIMPLY PURCHASE THE SUBJECT ITEMS FROM US, WHICH YES, WAS ALWAYS THE LOWER OF THE TWO. IN A SALE OF FORTY OR SO VENDORS, IT WOULDN'T TAKE LONG FOR A CUSTOMER, TO NOTICE A DISCREPANCY IN THE PRICING OF SIMILAR ITEMS, AND THAT WOOD NOT BE GOOD FOR BUSINESS. VENDORS AT THESE THREE DAY SALES, KNEW (AND KNOW TODAY) THE IMPORTANCE OF PRICE COMPARISONS, AND HOW UNFORTUNATE IT WOULD BE, IF THEIR CUSTOMERS CAME BACK TO THEM COMPLAINING, THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED SOMETHING FOR TEN, TO THIRTY DOLLARS MORE (AT THEIR BOOTH), THAN A COMPETING BOOTH HAD THE SAME ARTICLE PRICED. WHY THEN, IS THIS NOT A MORE COMMON PRACTICE, OF FAIR MARKET VALUE PRICE COMPARISONS, BETWEEN ANTIQUE SHOPS AND MALLS? IF, AS A VENDOR YOURSELF, YOU HATE THIS DISCREPANCY OF PRICING, WHEN IT HAPPENS BETWEEN GROCERY STORES, AND OTHER CONTEMPORARY RETAILERS, WHY IS IT WIDELY PERPETUATED IN THE SECOND HAND TRADE. I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD DEALERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICES OF BREAD, IN SHOP SMALL TALK, AND WHICH GROCERY STORE HAS THE BEST PRICES, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE EXTRA AMOUNT. BUT THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH DOING IT THEMSELVES, IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE. THEY ARE DELUSIONAL IF THEY THINK CUSTOMERS AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION. FROM WHAT I HEARD, AS SCUTTLEBUT YESTERDAY, FROM CUSTOMERS AROUND US, MANY WERE FEELING THE SAME AS US. WHY THE HUGE DIFFERENCES IN PRICES?
     OUR FAMILY SUPPORTS ANTIQUE MALLS. WE DON'T SPEND MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, BUT IT IS SUBSTANTIAL WHAT WE CAN INVEST, WHEN WE FIND ITEMS OF INTEREST. WE OF COURSE, PREFER MOM AND POP OPERATIONS, BUT WE HAVE TO GO WHERE WE HAVE MOST OPTIONS, TO SATISFY THE WANTS OF OUR CUSTOMERS ON THE OTHER END. WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR CERTAIN PIECES, OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE REQUESTED. WE VISITED A HALF DOZENS SHOPS AND MALLS YESTERDAY, ON A LOW-KEY, ENJOYABLE (ANTI-WINTER-HELLO-SPRING) ANTIQUING ADVENTURE; AND ANDREW AND ROBERT FOUND A NUMBER OF VINTAGE MUSIC COLLECTABLES TO HAUL HOME. SUZANNE AND I WALKED OUT OF TWO MALLS, AFTER FIVE HOURS INVESTMENT, FEELING WE'D HAD A GOOD WALK-ABOUT, AND A TRIP THROUGH A SORT OF INFORMAL MUSEUM, BUT NOT MUCH MORE. IN ALL FAIRNESS, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE COULD AFFORD ANY OF THE ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, WE'RE MOST INTERESTED IN, FROM LARGE SCALE ANTIQUE MALLS ESPECIALLY. WE VISIT THEM FOR TWO REASONS; ONE BEING, THE DIVERSITY OF THE VENDORS, AND SECONDLY, THE LARGE VOLUME OF INVENTORY TO SORT THROUGH; THE LADS ALWAYS FIND VINTAGE RECORDS, INSTRUMENTS, AND SOUND EQUIPMENT, AT MODERATE PRICES, TO PURCHASE AND RE-SELL IN THEIR SHOP. SO RIGHT THERE, THE TRIP WAS WORTH IT! THEY CAN'T MEET ALL THEIR INVENTORY DEMANDS, BY ONLY SWEEPING THE FLEA MARKETS, THRIFTS SHOPS, OR SEASONAL YARDS SALES. SUZANNE AND I CAN. WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AS PARTNERS IN ANTIQUES. FOR LONG TIME ANTIQUE VENDORS, DEALING WITH A GENERAL INVENTORY OURSELVES, THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN BUY TO RE-SELL, FROM MOST OF OUR CONTEMPORARY DEALER-ASSOCIATES TODAY. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME. BUYING AND SELLING BETWEEN DEALERS WAS A MAINSTAY OF BUSINESS OPERATION, WHEN I WAS APPRENTICING IN THE PROFESSION, BACK IN THE 1970'S. DEALERS BACK THEN, WOULD HAVE TO ADMIT, AT LEAST FORTY PERCENT OF THEIR BUSINESS CAME FROM DEALINGS, INCLUDING REFERRALS, WITH OTHER ANTIQUE PROFESSIONALS. SO IT'S WHY WE STILL ADD THE SHOP CIRCUIT TO OUR TRAVELS, EVEN THOUGH, IT IS MUCH LESS PREVALENT TODAY, THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO BRIDGE WHAT WE SEE, AS A HUGE NEW PRICE GAP, WITH WHAT WE KNOW AS MARKET VALUE. EVEN IF WE BEGGED A DISCOUNT, (WHICH WE REFUSE TO DO) FROM A FELLOW ANTIQUE DEALER, IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH; AS EVEN, AT HALF PRICE, WE COULD ONLY ACHIEVE THE PRICE WE WOULD ASK FOR, IN OUR OWN SHOP. OUR PRICES ARE LOWER BECAUSE OUR OVERHEAD IS MODEST, AND WE DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS. WE OPERATE A BARE BONES BUSINESS, AND CAN AFFORD TO DROP OUR INVENTORY PRICES. BUT IT ALSO MEANS, WE HAVE TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD AT BUYING OUR ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE PIECES AT LOW PRICES. SO I SUPPOSE, YOU COULD SAY BACK TO US, "WHY DON'T YOU INCREASE YOUR PRICES INSTEAD, AND YOU'LL HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON RE-PURCHASES!" IN OUR EXPERIENCE, CUSTOMERS (IN OUR SHOP) INSIST ON FAIR PRICING AS A RULE, NOT THE EXCEPTION. MAYBE WE'VE BACKED OURSELVES INTO A CORNER, IN THIS REGARD, BUT WE SEEM TO BE SATISFYING QUITE A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS, WHO WILL NOT COME BACK ON US, COMPLAINING THAT THEY OVER-PAID FOR THEIR PURCHASES. WE CROSS REFERENCE PRICES REGULARLY, TO MAKE SURE, WE ARE LIVING UP TO OUR OWN COMMITMENT. I'M CONSTANTLY AT ODDS, YOU SEE, WITH UNJUSTIFIED VALUATIONS FOR INVENTORY, THAT IS NEITHER RARE, NOR DRIVEN UP IN PRICE BECAUSE OF MARKET DEMAND. WHAT DISCOURAGES US, IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF PRICE COMPARISON, BETWEEN ANTIQUE SHOPS AND MALL VENDORS. IF IT WAS A MATTER OF WEEKLY OR MONTHLY REGIMEN, THEY'D CERTAINLY DISCOVER SOME OF WHAT WE FIND, AS CUSTOMERS, TO BE BLATANT IRREGULARITIES.
     WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIALITIES, THAT WE HAVE STUDIED AND BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE, FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW, AND THAT DOES GIVE US AN ADVANTAGE WHEN HUNTING-ABOUT IN ANTIQUE SHOPS. EVERY ANTIQUE DEALER ON EARTH, HAS AN AREA OF BUYING AND SELLING, THAT IS WITHIN A HAIR'S BREADTH OF BEING CALLED A SPECIALTY. SO IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE IN A GENERALIST DEALER'S SHOP, AND SPOT SOMETHING THEY KNOW A LOT ABOUT, THERE'S A FIFTY-FIFTY CHANCE OF IT BEING PRICED LOW ENOUGH, FOR THEM TO MAKE THE PURCHASE, AND THEN RE-SELL THE SAME PIECE IN THEIR OWN SHOP; AMONGST THE OTHER ITEMS OF THAT SPECIALTY. ADDED TO THIS, IS THE REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CERTAIN RELICS. WE WILL HAVE AN EASIER TIME SELLING MUSKOKA COLLECTABLES THAN MOST ANTIQUE MALLS, BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE HAVE BECOME WELL KNOWN FOR, DURING THE PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, BUYING AND SELLING IN OUR REGION. I MIGHT BUY A MUSKOKA THEMED PAINTING, OR HERITAGE DOCUMENT, OR NAVIGATIONAL MEMORABILIA, FOR A MODERATE PRICE AT ONE OF THESE MALLS, AND KNOW THAT IT CAN BE RE-SOLD FOR A REASONABLE PROFIT. WE KNOW WHAT THE MARKET CAN WITHSTAND, AND WE HAVE TO APPRECIATE THE SENSITIVITIES OF THE COLLECTORS WHO VISIT HERE REGULARLY. IF WE DON'T MAKE AN ASTUTE PURCHASE, AND PRICE FAIRLY, IT WILL STAY IN THE SHOP UNTIL WE FINALLY CLOSE UP, UPON EVENTUAL RETIREMENT. THE CYCLE OF BUY AND SELLING THUSLY BECOMES FLAT-SIDED, AND CUSTOMERS PICK-UP ON THE ERRORS DEALERS MAKE. YES, THEY WILL EXPLOIT IT, IF THEY CAN.
     WHAT I HAVE COME TO QUESTION, ABOUT ANTIQUE MALLS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IS THE RIDICULOUS DISCREPANCY IN PRICES FOR SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL ITEMS, SOMETIMES ONLY SEVERAL BOOTHS APART. WE SAW PRICE FLUCTUATIONS THIS WEEKEND, AS MUCH AS TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, ON, FOR EXAMPLE, SINGER FEATHER LIGHT SEWING MACHINES, AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER, WHY THIS IS NOT BEING PICKED UP BY MALL PROPRIETORS, OR INDIVIDUAL VENDORS, WHO MUST SURELY PERFORM THEIR DUE-DILIGENCE. WHAT IS FORGOTTEN HERE, AND IT'S A FOLLY IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE, IS CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIS SIDE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, MEANS THERE SHOULDN'T BE MAJOR DISCREPANCIES IN PRICING OF PARALLEL AND IDENTICAL ITEMS, FROM RECORDS TO MIXING BOWLS. IN THE CASE OF VINTAGE VINYL, RECORDS WERE NOT BEING ACCURATELY PRICED, ACCORDING TO CONDITION, WHICH IS OF THE UTMOST CONSIDERATION FOR COLLECTORS; AND VINYL IN POOR CONDITION, WAS PRICED OVER THOSE, (OF THE SAME BAND ETC,) AT ANOTHER BOOTH, IN GOOD CONDITION. AS MAJORITY OF THE BUYERS OF THESE RECORDS, OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH OR YEAR, WILL BE RECORD COLLECTORS, NOT IMPULSE BUYERS, THIS IS A MAJOR SHORTFALL IN MARKETING. GRADING THE CONDITION OF EACH RECORD, TO ESTABLISH MARKET VALUE, IS CRITICAL. THIS BY THE WAY, HAPPENED BETWEEN TWO BOOTHS IN THE SAME AISLE OF THE MALL. A SHORT WALK BETWEEN VENDORS, WHO COULD, IF THEY'D HAD THE AMBITION, HAVE JOGGED THE DISTANCE IN TWENTY SECONDS, TO SEE THE SUBSTANTIAL PRICE DIFFERENCES. WHY WOULDN'T THIS BE THE FIRST CONSIDERATION, BEFORE PUTTING THE PRICES ON THE COVER. HOW IS THE COMPETITION PRICING VINTAGE VINYL? IT MIGHT BE THE TRUE MEANING OF FREE ENTERPRISE, BUT IMBEDDED IN THIS, IS MARKET COMPETITION. SOMETIMES IT JUST SEEMS THE RESULT OF LETHARGY, THAT DEALERS FORGET THIS VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE. THIS WOULD BE PUTTING THE CUSTOMER FIRST. ISN'T THAT RETAILING "101." TELL ME I'M WRONG!      IF YOU WERE TO HAVE THE SAME SITUATION IN NORMAL RETAIL, OR AT GROCERY STORES FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO REMAIN IN THE SHOP WITH THE HIGHEST OVERALL PRICES? HOW MANY WILL DART BETWEEN GROCERY STORES, TO GET THE BEST PRICES. SHOPPERS TODAY? WELL, WE'RE PRETTY ASTUTE WHEN IT COMES TO PRICE COMPARISONS, BARGAIN HUNTING, AND BOY OH BOY HAVE RETAILERS GOT SOME WORK TO DO, TO SATISFY US. WOULD YOU PAY FIVE DOLLARS MORE FOR A LOAF OF BREAD, OR JUST GO TO THE GROCERY STORE DOWN THE ROAD, TO BUY IT AT MARKET VALUE? WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TRADE, THAT HAS WARPED JUDGEMENT IN THAT WAY? HOW ARE WE ABOVE THE NORMAL PRACTICE OF FAIR MARKET PRICING. ON LEGITIMATELY RARE ARTICLES, I COME DOWN OFF MY HIGH HORSE. THIS IS UNDERSTOOD. PRICES, IF THERE IS DEMAND FOR SUCH PIECES, WILL UNDERSTANDABLY HAVE TO RISE. THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, AFTERALL. NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS GOING TO SACRIFICE ON THE PRICE OF A TOM THOMSON ORIGINAL ART PANEL. WOULD YOU? ON A RUN OF THE MILL BAROMETER? I THINK THERE IS SOME WIGGLE ROOM HERE, SEEING AS THEY'RE NOT LIKELY TO BE RARE.
    THE LAST THING I WOULD WANT AS A RETAILER, IS TO HAVE MY CUSTOMERS FIND THESE DISCREPANCIES IN OUR SHOP. WE DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN WITH THE SHOP DOWN THE ROAD, OR DOWN THE STREET, ALONG THE HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE ELSE, WHERE COMPETITION FOR PARALLEL ARTICLES EXISTS.
     THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE FOR THESE DEFICIENCIES, IF A DEALER CROSS REFERENCES ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE ITEMS, BETWEEN SHOPS, VENDORS AND ONLINE. IT SHOULD BE UP TO VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THE PRICES ARE MARKET VALUE, FIRST OF ALL, AND SECONDLY, THAT IF THEY HAVE SIMILAR INVENTORY, TO A DOZEN OR MORE DEALERS IN THE CO-OP, THEY SHOULD ATTEMPT TO FIND A COMMON GROUND. SOME MAY CALL IT PRICE FIXING, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A TEN TO TWENTY DOLLAR DIFFERENCE, BETWEEN YELLOW MIXING BOWLS, IT SENDS THE MESSAGE TO CUSTOMERS, THAT IT CLEARLY IS THE CASE OF "BUYER REALLY BEWARE." AND THE MALL PROPRIETORS SHOULD BE DOING THE ROUNDS REGULARLY, TO CHECK THESE THINGS OUT, AND THEN MAKING IT CLEAR TO VENDORS, WIDE SWINGS IN PRICE FOR THE SAME ITEMS, SHOULD BE RECTIFIED. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE SITUATIONS OF CONDITION, THAT AFFECT PRICING, AND WE UNDERSTAND THIS; BUT THIS WAS, ON OUR JOURNEY THIS WEEKEND, THE CASE FOR ONLY A MINOR NUMBER OF THESE PRICING DIFFERENCES.
     THE OTHER EXCUSE, AND I'VE HEARD THIS A MILLION TIMES FROM ANTIQUE ASSOCIATES, IS "I PAID A LOT FOR THIS PIECE, SO I CAN'T GO ANY LOWER OR I'LL LOSE MONEY." WELL, HERE'S THE THING. YOU'VE GOT TO BE BETTER BUYERS, AND IF THIS HAPPENED TO US, WE'D KEEP THE ARTICLE AT HOME INSTEAD, OR JUST SELL IT FOR THE GOING RATE AND SWALLOW THE LOSS. ANTIQUE DEALERS, THROUGH HISTORY, HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PASS ON THEIR MISTAKES, TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS. IT HASN'T BEEN A PLUME FOR OUR PROFESSION, AND IT STILL GOES ON. A LOT OF THE ITEMS WE FELT WERE OVER-PRICED, WERE NOT RARE WHATSOEVER, AND WE LOOKED UP PARALLEL ITEMS ON EBAY, AND FOUND THAT EVEN WITH SHIPPING ADDED, MANY OF THE "BUY-IT-NOWS," WERE A LOT CHEAPER, THAN WHAT THESE VENDORS WERE OFFERING IN THEIR BOOTHS. I SAW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE CONSULTING THEIR PHONES, WHILE EXAMINING PIECES OF INTEREST. IT'S A CONVENIENT WAY OF CROSS REFERENCING. THESE VENDORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPETE WITH EBAY IN PRICING. IT'S THEIR COMPETITION, SO THEY SHOULD PRICE ACCORDINGLY. IT'S WHY A LOT OF ANTIQUE HUNTERS SHOP ON LINE, AND THAT HURTS ALL OF US IN THE PROFESSION, WHO HAVE TRADITIONAL RETAIL OUTLETS.
     HERE'S AN EXAMPLE. I AM INTERESTED IN FUNERARY HERITAGE, AND WHEREVER I GO, I DO LOOK FOR SUBJECT PIECES. I FOUND QUITE A NICE COLLECTION YESTERDAY, AND ANDREW CAME RUNNING TO TELL ME WHAT HE HAD FOUND. I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA ABOUT PRICES, FOR THESE ANTIQUITIES,AND THERE WERE MANY NEAT EARLY CENTURY ARTICLES, I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED; UNTIL WE BEGAN CROSS REFERENCING WITH WHAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, IN CONTRAST, THAT COULD BE ARGUED WERE PARALLEL IN AGE, PROVENANCE, STYLE AND CONDITION. EVEN WITH THE VENDOR'S SALE INCENTIVE, OF CLOSE TO FIFTY PERCENT OFF, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER, EVEN WITH SHIPPING, TO BUY ONLINE INSTEAD. THEN IT WOULD BE SHIPPED RIGHT TO MY DOOR, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO CRAM IT INTO OUR VAN. WE DID THE SAME WITH PAINTINGS THAT TURNED US ON, AND VINTAGE SEWING COLLECTABLES, INCLUDING OLD CLOTHING. WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO PURCHASE ITEMS FROM THESE MALLS, BUT WE COULDN'T BUY TO RE-SELL, AND FOR THE ITEMS WE LOOK FOR ON OUR ROUNDS, LIKE INTERESTING REGIONAL HISTORY BOOKS, WE COULDN'T EVEN JUSTIFY BUYING THEM FOR OUR PERSONAL COLLECTION EITHER. AS AN APPRAISER OF MUSKOKA PIECES, I COULDN'T BELIEVE SOME OF THE PIE-IN-THE-SKY VALUATIONS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON BOOKS, THAT I SELL FOR A THIRD OF THEIR PRICE. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE, AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. SOMEONE BUYS ONE OF THESE OVER-PRICED MUSKOKA BOOKS, THEN COMES TO ME FOR AN EVALUATION. THAT'S WHEN I BREAK THEIR HEART, BECAUSE MOST THINK THEY MADE A BIG SCORE, AND PAID LESS THAN I WOULD APPRAISE. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. SO I SUGGEST THEY RETURN THE BOOK, AND LET THE DEALER KNOW IT WAS OVERPRICED BY TWO TO THREE TIMES ITS VALUE. TALK ABOUT AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION. BUT THE CUSTOMER HAS EVERY RIGHT TO COMPLAIN. SO WHY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM FIRST, NOT JUST IN RETROSPECT, LIKE HAVING TO REFUND MONEY. WE'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE SHOP IN MUSKOKA. AND WE CAN'T SUPPORT VALUATIONS LIKE THIS.
    SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE, AND CUSTOMERS ARE THE ONES PLACED AT A DISADVANTAGE. ONCE AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO DUE DILIGENCE, MEANING PRICE COMPARISONS, AND THAT, IN MOST CASES, CAN BE INITIATED FIRST, BY SCOUTING 0NLINE, TO MAKE SURE THE PRICES MESH. IT SEEMS WORTH THE EFFORT, TO NOT OVER-CHARGE A VALUED CUSTOMER. IT COMES DOWN TO THIS MAIN POINT. IF A VENDOR, AS A CIVILIAN, COMPLAINS ABOUT THE PRICES DIFFERENCES FOR A CAN OF COFFEE, OR A PACKAGE OF HAMBURGER, FROM A GROCERY STORE, HOW DO THEY THEN FEEL, WHEN A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS, THAT A CROCK THEY BOUGHT, WAS PRICED THREE TIMES HIGHER, THAN THE SAME ONE, FROM OUR SHOP. THIS CAN BE EASILY RECTIFIED BY GOING ONLINE, TO EBAY, AND LOOKING UP THE SAME CROCK, OR ANTIQUE ARTICLE. WHY WOULD ANY DEALER BE UNWILLING TO DO THIS, OUT OF A COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SATISFACTION.
     THE PROBLEM OF AN ONGOING PRICING DIFFERENTIAL IS NOT CONFINED TO ANTIQUE MALLS. IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. MOM AND POP SHOPS INCLUDED. AND IT'S NEVER THE CASE, THAT IT CAN'T BE SOLVED, BY DOING WHAT EVERY RETAILER IN THE WORLD HAS TO CONSIDER....AND THAT'S COMPETITIVE PRICING. THE ATTITUDE, HOWEVER, "THAT IT'S MINE AND I CAN CHARGE WHATEVER I WANT," IS THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HURTS THE PROFESSION. IT HAS KILLED A LOT OF GREAT LITTLE SHOPS IN THE PAST, AND IT WILL IN THE FUTURE.    IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T HAVE SELECT PIECES, THAT ARE PRICED HIGH, ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO REPURCHASE PARALLEL ARTICLES, OR IN SOME CASES, ITEMS WE NEED FOR OUR SHOP FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES. THE REAL ISSUE HERE, IS THE WILLINGNESS, FOR VENDORS LARGE AND SMALL, TO RE-CONSIDER THEIR PRICING POLICIES, TO REMOVE WHAT MANY OF US CONSIDER SERIOUS DISCREPANCIES. A LOT OF CUSTOMERS CAN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND INSTEAD, JUST WALK OUT OF THESE SHOPS SHAKING THEIR HEADS. RUN SOME SURVEYS IF YOU THINK I'M TELLING A FIB.
     IT IS THE JOB OF VENDORS TO JUSTIFY THEIR PRICING, BETTER THAN LAYING DOWN THOSE FAMILIAR WORDS, "IT'S MINE, SO I SET THE PRICE THAT I WANT." IF YOU WERE A VENDOR WHO NEEDED THE MONEY, TO KEEP THE CYCLE OF BUSINESS GOING, THEN THERE WOULD BE A MUCH GREATER FOCUS TO MAKE SURE THESE WIDE MARGINS OF VALUATIONS, AND OVER-VALUATIONS, WERE BROUGHT DOWN TO SENSIBLE PROPORTION. WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WITHOUT QUESTION, IS MAKING MORE HUNTER-GATHERERS; BUYERS WHO LOOK AT THESE HIGH VALUATIONS, AND KNOW THEY CAN FIND THE SAME ITEMS OUT ON THE HUSTINGS, FOR "YARD SALE PRICES" INSTEAD. IS THAT REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AS ANTIQUE DEALERS? SHOWING OUR CUSTOMERS THAT THEY CAN SAVE A BUNDLE, BY ELIMINATING THE MIDDLE MAN. WE ARE THE MIDDLE MAN (WOMAN). SO THE VERY NEXT TIME, YOU MAKE THE STATEMENT, "I CAN CHARGE WHATEVER I WANT, IT'S A FREE COUNTRY," THINK ABOUT THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE THAT'S BEING CAUSED TO OUR TRADE. AND THE FACT, THAT THE YARD SALE AND AUCTION CIRCUIT IS GETTING JAMMED UP, WITH ALL KINDS OF BUYERS, WHO WE MAY HAVE ADDED TO, BY OVER-PRICING AS A TRADITION. IT'S NOT ALL THAT HARD TO COPY THE WAY WE HUSTLE-UP OUR INVENTORIES. HOW MANY ANTIQUE LOVERS HAVE GIVEN UP BUYING AT ANTIQUE MALLS AND SHOPS, BECAUSE THEY CAN SAVE SO MUCH MORE MONEY, BUYING ON THE GROUND FLOOR; JUST BY TAKING AN ENJOYABLE GAD-ABOUT THE RESPECTIVE REGION.
     WHEN OUR FAMILY LEAVES AN ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WE USUALLY HAVE OUR ARMS FULL. NOT BECAUSE WE FOUND GROSSLY UNDERPRICED ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, BUT RATHER, ITEMS PRICED SENSIBLY AND FAIRLY, AS COMPARED TO OUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE, CROSS REFERENCING PARALLEL ARTICLES. THE FACT THE BOYS, THIS WEEKEND, FOUND RELICS OF VINTAGE MUSIC TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, MADE THE TRIP SEMI SUCCESSFUL. HAVING US LEAVE EMPTY HANDED, WELL, IT'S THEIR LOSS BECAUSE WE BUY A LOT OF STUFF. SO WE WENT TO SOME OTHER SHOPS AND THANKFULLY, FOUND NEAT THINGS TO PURCHASE, THAT WERE PRICED COMPETITIVELY.....NOT JUST AFFORDABLY.
     WE ALWAYS ENJOY THE MOTOR TRIP, AND STOPPING FOR A BITE OF LUNCH. EVEN IF WE DON'T COME BACK WITH A LOT OF PURCHASES, WE NEVER RETURN WITHOUT THE SATISFACTION, WE HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THE EXPERIENCE. AND THAT'S MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE.

THE PROVENANCE OF FOUND BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS - THAT MAKE THE HUNT WORTHWHILE

DORA HOOD WAS A MASTER OF DISCOVERY IN THE FIELD OF CANADIANA

     I HAVE JUST THIS MOMENT, ARRIVED AT MY HUMBLE STATION, MY OFFICE OVERLOOKING THE BOG, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, HAVING SHOVELED THE LANE AND THE TOPS OF OUR TWO OUT-BUILDINGS, WEIGHT DOWN HEAVILY WITH WET SNOW. WITH RAINFALL PREDICTED FOR LATER IN THE DAY, I WAS WORRIED THEY MIGHT COLLAPSE UNDER THE ADDED STRESS. DESPITE THE FACT I DETEST SNOW REMOVAL, AS EITHER WORK OR WINTER RECREATION, THERE WAS NO DENYING THAT THE SCENE IN WHICH I WAS IMMERSED THIS MORNING, WAS ABOUT AS PICTURESQUE AS A ROBERT FROST POEM, IS MINDFUL, OF NATURE'S PRECIOUS ENCHANTMENTS. I SPENT LONGER OUT THERE THAN USUAL, BECAUSE I KEPT PAUSING AT MY LABORS TO LOOK OUT OVER THE FOREST AND LOWLAND ACROSS THE ROAD, WATCHING TWO DEER MOVING FROM EAST TO WEST ON THE FAR RIDGE. WE MOVED TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, IN 1989, BECAUSE OF THIS SMALL ACREAGE OF HINTERLAND, STILL THRIVING AMIDST THE URBAN COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS IT. I CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE HOW PLEASANT AND BRIGHT IT IS HERE NOW, WORKING AT THIS OLD KEYBOARD, IN THE NATURAL LIGHT OF A WINTER MORNING……THE MELT WATER OF SNOW ON MY COLLAR GIVING ME A LITTLE SHIVER FROM TIME TO TIME.

     SURROUNDING ME NOW, OUTSIDE OF THIS MAGNIFICENT VIEW, ARE MY PRIVATE COLLECTION OF REFERENCE BOOKS. EVEN AS A KID, I LOVED ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND DRINK IN THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE PLACE. EVEN BEFORE I KNEW WHAT HISTORY REPRESENTED, OTHER THAN THINGS THAT HAPPENED "YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE," I KNEW THESE PLACES, SO FRIENDLY TO BOOKS, WERE PORTALS TO OTHER TIMES AND DISTANT LANDS; ADVENTURES AND INTRIGUE. WHAT WAS PRINTED IN THESE NEATLY POSITIONED BOOKS, IN ROWS, ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, CARRIED THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT COULD LIBERATE THE CHILD FROM THE DAY TO DAY DRUDGERY OF SCHOOL. I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME TODAY, AND WITHIN MINUTES, I CAN TAKE A HIATUS FROM WRITING, AND PICK UP A BOOK, AND COMPANION WITH AN AUTHOR WHO WILL TAKE ME GENTLY BUT ENTHUSIASTICALLY, TO A HUDSON BAY POST IN THE EARLY 1800'S; AND ALLOW ME TO DINE, THOUGHTFULLY, WITH THE COMPANY FACTOR, IN THE DINING HALL, ON A MEAL OF MOOSE, BEAR OR DEER. OR I MIGHT PREFER TO TRAVEL ABOARD A STEAMSHIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC IN THE 1870'S, IN THE COMPANY OF MUSKOKA ARTIST ADA FLORENCE KINTON, ON THE WAY TO HUNTSVILLE, FROM LONDON, ENGLAND. I WOULD NOT SURVIVE LONG AS A WRITER IF I DIDN'T HAVE THESE BOOKS WITHIN AN ARM'S REACH. THEY ARE MY COMFORT ZONE. IT WAS THE SAME FOR DORA HOOD, A TORONTO BOOKSELLER, WHO BECAME A LEGEND IN THE CONSERVATION OF CANADIANA…….RESCUING THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND BOOKS, CRITICAL TO THE STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF CANADIAN HISTORY.

     WHEN DORA STARTED OUT AS A BOOKSELLER, IT WAS BY HAPPENSTANCE. A FRIEND OF HERS, PRIOR TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION, HAD DECIDED TO GIVE UP HER SMALL ANTIQUARIAN BOOK BUSINESS. AFTER THE RECENT DEATH OF HER DOCTOR HUSBAND, WITH TWO YOUNGSTERS TO SUPPORT, SHE DECIDED THAT A LOVE FOR BOOKS ALONE, SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO PROFIT FROM THEM IN RETURN. ADMITTEDLY, AFTER TWENTY-SIX YEARS IN THE BUSINESS, NAVIGATING THROUGH THE LEAN YEARS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AS WELL AS SUCCEEDING IN A MALE DOMINATED BOOK TRADE, SHE WOULD ADMIT THERE WAS A LOT MORE TO BEING A BOOKSELLER THAN THE TITLE SUGGESTS. AS I'VE NOTED EARLIER IN THIS BRIEF SERIES, ON DORA HOOD AND HER BUSINESS, KNOWN AS "MY BOOK ROOM," IN TORONTO, WHILE SHE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE A WRITER OF HISTORY, SHE DID BECOME AN ARCHIVIST / HISTORIAN BY IMMERSION. SHE DOESN'T TAKE THIS CREDIT ANYWHERE IN HER BOOK, "THE SIDE DOOR - TWENTY-SIX YEARS IN MY BOOK ROOM," (1958 RYERSON PRESS), BUT ANYONE WHO READS IT, WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN CANADIAN HISTORY IN PARTICULAR, WILL RECOGNIZE THAT HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF NATIONAL HERITAGE WARRANTED MORE SERIOUS CREDIT TO HER NAME. MOST BOOK COLLECTORS TODAY HAVE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF DORA HOOD. MANY HISTORIANS MAY FALL INTO THE SAME SITUATION, AND HAVE NO CONCEPT OF HER WORK ON THEIR BEHALF MANY DECADES EARLIER. I WISH TO GIVE HER THIS BENEFIT NOW, AND OFFER A FEW MORE STORIES FROM HER BIOGRAPHY, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A CRITICAL BOOK OF STUDY FOR ALL COLLECTORS……AND NOT JUST THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN BOOKS. HER ADVICE ON COLLECTING IS WELL PRESENTED, AND BASED ON CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE……AS SOMEONE WHO DEALT WITH A REGIMENT OF SERIOUS, HARD TO PLEASE, AND DEMANDING COLLECTORS.

THE ADVENTURES OF A BOOK HUNTER / BUYER / SELLER IN CANADA

     "It is one thing to buy accumulations of books as I had been doing up to now, and quite another to be offered a collector's library," writes bookseller, Dora Hood. "In the former, as a rule, no one hand and mind have been at work to bring all the books together; they, therefore, yield many unexpected finds, and in truth are rather exciting to handle. But when one person has, perhaps over many years, devoted himself to collecting all he can find on one or more subjects, it is an education itself to sort and catalogue such a library.

     "One such collection came my way, with very little effort on my part. I was asked to look at a library which had been in storage for many years. It filled a good sized room from floor to ceiling and was not very easy to examine. The books were tied up very securely in bundles of about one and a half feet high. The cord with which they were tied was firm, though soft, and did not, fortunately, cut into the books. I took my small son along to help move the bundles so that I could get some idea of the material that was in it. This time it was summer and hot and we toiled at the work for about three hours, and had only managed to examine about a third of it. It looked extremely good. I asked what the owners wanted for it and agreed to their price and the collection was mine. It arrived in two truck loads, and taxed my storage room to the limits. Would that all other libraries were in such good condition, contained so rich a store, and were easily handled. For months I read nothing else than the books and pamphlets of this collection. Night after night I chose a bundle and took it upstairs for bedside reading. I learned more from it than from any other collection of books I ever bought, and I also learned something of the mind and character of him, who had brought together all these records of the past. Charles Canniff James, whose collection it was, died in 1916, in his early fifties due, it was said, to over-work in the organization of Ontario's agricultural contribution during the first Great War.

     "As I sorted and catalogued the books and papers I was saddened to think he did not live to old age, when he could have enjoyed the fruits of his years of collecting. The only consolation one can find on these occasions is the knowledge that they go mostly into the hand of others who value them," noted the Toronto bookseller. "By 1932 I had acquired a really good stock of books, and that spring had issued my seventh catalogue. Among my letters about this time I received a communication from the American Library Association, asking me if I would consider taking a booth at their annual meeting which was to be held that year in Montreal.

     "I had done practically no advertising so far but was quite well known to many of the librarians of the American universities and institutions, and this seemed a good opportunity to meet them as well as some of my clients in Montreal. I had at that time far more collectors in Montreal and Quebec than I had in Toronto. The rent of the booth did not seem high and I suppose I was ready for a new experience outside the Book Room," she noted of her business at the time. "The books were to be arranged all round the large banquet hall of the Windsor Hotel. Publishers from all over the United States and the leading ones in Canada, all from Toronto had taken booths. I was the only antiquarian bookseller in that great company and a very inexperienced one at that. I bought some pretty clothes, for it was to be in May, packed a big carton of my most outstanding books, and notified some of my bookish friends that I was coming to Montreal for a week, and asked them to look me up."

     Dora Hood reports of the book sale, "In spite of the undoubted fact that the depression was getting deeper, a great throng of librarians attended the meeting, chiefly I think from the United States. There were meetings all day in other parts of the hotel and at McGill University and, in between sessions, groups wandered into the banquet hall to examine the displays of the publishers. Each of us had his name on a placard over his booth and I had my share of inquiries. In the evening the book-loving public turned up, for it was a book fair such as Montreal has never before seen. Many of my collectors came to have a talk and I thoroughly enjoyed it, for I am convinced that by and large book collectors are among the most delightful people one can meet. The next booth to mine was occupied by a German firm from New York. I cannot now recall the name but their children's books they displayed were the most attractive I have ever seen. There were three young women in charge who told me they had been in New York a year, and adored it, but they would soon return to Germany as their visas had expired. I asked them if they would continue to work with their firm, but they said unfortunately, being married women, they would not be allowed to work. This was a year before Hitler seized power, so it could not be laid at his door, but Germany was in the throes of distress and only unmarried women were permitted to work. These young women interested me because I knew they had grown up during the decade after the war when the youth of Germany, was struggling to educate itself and teachers in schools and universities were handicapped for want of money to buy books.

     "I had received pathetic letters from a professor (in Germany) who had spent a year in Canada and was anxious, if possible, to build up a working collection of Canadian literature for his students. He was quite frank in telling me that he and his students hoped gradually to pay me for the books I sent. For two years small amounts came by special permits and then suddenly stopped. I wrote it off as a trifling bad debt, though I still felt it could not be the fault of the professor. Two or three years later came a letter from one of his students, telling me that he had died suddenly at the time the money had ceased to come. His former students were heartbroken at losing him and as a memorial were paying the money still owing, and ordering a further lot of books to complete the collection they called after him."

     She notes of the successful show and sale, "At the end of the week I had a note book full of addresses of institutes of learning in United States, all, it seemed, with plenty of funds for book buying. This was a most satisfactory outlook in spite of general forebodings. Before leaving for home I drove out of Montreal for a brief holiday in the lovely Laurentians. I remarked to my host that I hoped nothing would happen to the United States of America. His smile was rather wan. Well, nothing did happen just then and fortunately I was well established when the American banks, one after the other, closed their doors and the appropriations of many of their educational institutions were cut to a discouraging minimum."

     In the year 1579, Francis Bacon took a shot at describing the value of books…..in non monetary terms of course: "We see then how far the monuments of wit and learning are more durable than the monuments of power, or of the hands…..(but) the images of men's wits and knowledges remain in books, exempt from wrong of time and capable of perpetual renovation. Neither are they fitly to be called images, because they generate still and cast their seeds into the minds of others, provoking and causing infinite actions and opinions in succeeding generations."

     A short while ago, I took a break to read the daily newspaper. I found an article about decorating with books. And the way colorful spines positioned together on a book shelf can enhance the ambience of any room. I had to read the article twice. Now folks, I don't want to be a hypocrite here, because my antique business does cater to home decorators every day of the business week; but when we start putting books together on a shelf because of the color of their spines, I can't help but be aghast at how far we've degenerated as a society…….when we care less about reading them, and more about their decorative value and if they can be stacked artistically and made into lamps. When I see and read this tripe, I know I'm far more a purist than I ever thought. But I do have one story about my book collector friend, David Brown, and of all things, "home enhancements."

     Dave came in to my store one day, and asked if I'd like to make a trade. He was always doing things like this, and I really didn't wish to participate…..but the books he wanted to trade for, had been on the shelves for about three years without a single copy being sold. In return I got some sports related books, our boys would enjoy, and a number of art books he didn't particularly care for. After he boxed up what books he wanted, and loaded them in his trademark Ford pickup with the yellow canoe lashed on top, he came down to chat for awhile, before heading back to Hamilton. "Thanks for the books Ted. They're for a friend of mine," he said. "His wife threw him out of the house, and now he's got this big apartment with empty bookshelves. He just wanted some books to fill the open spaces, and these will do just fine." I just stared at him, and honestly, I didn't know whether to throw him out of the store by his shirt collar (which would have been hard, as he was a substantial size), or strike it up to on-the-job training. I had just traded books away as the attractive good graces of home decor. Now it has reared its ugly head again. Well sir, I don't decorate with books. I have books, which I adore, and read daily. Sure they look good on a shelf, and in a cabinet, but if that was all they were worth…..just to look at from the outside, then I would have them all removed from our house……as I am morally against facades, unless they are items that are solely meant for decoration and functional furnishings….art of course for art's sake. The funny thing about Dave Brown, is that he was my book mentor, and here he was, the broker of fashionable design, to stave off the opinion of apartment visitors, that this gentleman friend was out of sorts with the world. God forbid there should be an empty book shelf.

     I will have another chapter on Dora Hood in tomorrow's blog. I hope you have time to visit again. I could write continually about old books, because they have served me well as both a collector and historian for my entire professional life. I would feel I had lost part of my soul, should someone decide I no longer needed them…..clearing my shelves to make room for china ornaments and glass vases. Thanks again for taking some time on this nasty-weather day, to visit my blog-site. Lots more on tap.

OME MORE INSIGHTS ABOUT THE OLD BOOK BUSINESS, ACCORDING TO DORA HOOD

     "What books do Canadians collect? Before launching on this, one of my favorite subjects, I must try to clear up some of the misconceptions on this book collecting game as it is played in Canada," writes legendary bookseller, Dora Hood, in her 1958 biography, "The Side Door - Twenty-six Years in My Book Room," (Ryerson Press, Toronto)

     "Do not expect from me advice on how to become a book collector. The libraries are full of books on this very subject. I have dipped into many of them and remain convinced that you can not make a true book collector out of a person who has to be told how to go about it. In all my long years in the business no one has ever asked me, 'how shall I begin to be a book collector?' It is possible that this independent spirit is characteristic of the collector of Canadiana. I hope it is, and my experience points that way. I can not be quite so dogmatic on the next point. It has pitfalls and is not as simple to explain," writes Dora Hood, of the industry that consumed her, from the period before the Great Depression, through World War II, and into the mid 1950's. "The term book collecting is often considered synonymous with the acquisition of first editions. This is not necessarily so among Canadian collectors for several reasons. One of these may be that we in Canada are far removed from the great book centers where world-famous first editions repeatedly change hands at fabulous prices. This lack of stimulation may have something to do with our indifference. Again, our own literary output as yet, is known scarcely at all beyond our own borders and the books of many of our best writers have never gone beyond their first issues. (This was her opinion circa 1958) Moreover, the collectors of these first editions are few, and they are, therefore, comparatively easy to acquire. This lack of competition gives little impetus to the first-edition quest. Fortunately for posterity, a few far-sighted Canadian collectors have over the years consistently gathered the first fruits of our writers," she notes of bibliophile associates.

     "For the most part, however, the majority of Canadian book collectors who came my way were more interested in the subjects they collected than in first editions in general. And they would probably have agreed with one delightful book buyer who wrote thus on the subject: 'Some of the greatest lovers of letters who ever lived - Dr. Johnson, for example, and Thomas De Quincy and Carlyle - have cared no more for first editions than I do for brussels sprouts.' Augustine Birrell who penned this devastating indictment wrote many diverting essays on book buying and even on antiquarian booksellers. The small edition of his 'Selected Essays,' I have had since 1909; and in reading it again lately, found it had an unsuspected Canadian interest. Birrell wrote in the preface, 'When asked lately by my friend John Buchan to allow a selection (made by him) of my essays be added to this series, I readily assented, for when all is said and done, circulation is an author's life.' The book was published by Thomas Nelson, and probably cost me not more than a dollar. Buchan was then a partner of T.A. Nelson who had been his friend at Oxford. That the editor of essays became our most literary-minded Governor General, and that the author has so much to say about second-hand booksellers doubly endears this book to me. I have read it many times these forty years."

     Dora Hood adds, "Now, having made some statements that may be challenged, it is to be hoped I have left a loophole or two, in case I have to withdraw in the face of an attack. I shall feel on firmer ground if I proceed to describe some of the many fields that have been successfully explored by Canadian collectors. I even may recall some ardent first edition collectors among them! Canadian art as a collector's subject is a comparatively recent development. What makes it interesting is that it has an intense appeal especially to the younger generation. It was William Colgate, an early researcher in this subject, who first drew my attention to the attractive vistas it opened. I soon began to tuck away odds and ends in any way connected with Canadian art in order to have something to show him the next time he dropped in for a talk. I had some early annual reports of the Ontario Society of Artists. The first of these were issued in 1873, when the exhibition was held at Notman & Fraser's Galleries on King Street East in Toronto. There were no illustrations but the names of the exhibitors were given and among them Verner's name appears so often in both the oils and water color sections that it is surprising why examples of his work are now hard to come by. Verner was born in Sheridan, Ontario, and was noted chiefly for his pictures of buffalo. It was not until 1886 that some paintings were reproduced in these little O.S.A. folders; they were the forerunners of many hundreds of pamphlets on the subject that passed through my hands. Mr. Colgate is the author of a number of biographies of the early artists, many of who dwelt here briefly, leaving samples of their work, only to move on perhaps to greener fields. It was in 1944 that The Ryerson Press published Mr. Colgates fine book, 'Canadian Art, Its Origin and Development'."

     "There are two approaches to Canadian art collecting. The purely artistic, 'whose subtle power could stay yon cloud and fix it in that glorious shape,' and the definitely historical side. Both have their devotees and are sometimes combined. My duties to all these collectors were to provide all the literature, old and knew, that would enlarge their knowledge of the subject. It is not possible here to tell of the many delightful avenues I explored with my customers. I content myself with stories of only a few of the collectors. writers and artists who came my way. The great collection of Canadian pictures, known as the William H. Coverdale Collection, gather for the adornment of the walls of the Manoir Richelieu, at Murray Bay, stimulated interest in the art of this country to a high degree. Old prints, engravings, maps, oil and water color pictures were gathered and catalogued under the direction of Percy F. Goldsmith, and by 1930, when the printed list appeared, they numbered 1,598. In the preface of this catalogue we read: 'The deep current of Canadian history moving through three centuries has carried on its flood tide countless diaries, intimate letters, biographies, reminiscences and state documents which were the living chronicles of their time. But the ever-moving tide of generations has swept vast quantities of this rich substance down to oblivion. Diaries, unappreciated by contemporaries, are discarded and lost. Letters, often the richest of historical sources, are put aside and forgotten or crumble with brittle age. Even books, famous in their day, have been literally read out of existence. So, the passing of time has left only comparative fragments of the casual or deliberate writings of those who went before us in the making of Canada. Pictures, unlike the written word, seem to have survived the restless movements of generations'. I was told by Georges Ducharme that after the Coverdale agents had scoured the country there was not a picture of Canadian interest or even an illustrated book to be found. This dearth continued for a few years but in the mysterious way in which the secondhand market works, it has since recovered. The Coverdale collection was a brilliant though somewhat wholesale effort, and the pity of it so comparatively few people see it, and then only in summer months during which the hotel is open.'"

     Dora Hood concludes, "To refresh my mind on the development of interest in this subject, I looked through the volumes of my bound catalogues and found it was not until 1949 that 'Art' appears as a separate section. It had gradually worked its way into the collectors' esteem so that it could no longer be classified with 'Literature and Handicrafts.' Art has in fact now become an important subject in any Canadian bookshop."

     In tomorrow's blog I will share a little insight about Dora Hood, and research that was conducted, with her assistance, regarding the mysterious death of Canadian landscape artist. Tom Thomson, one of my favorite subjects. It's a neat sidebar story in Canadian history, and Dora Hood played a small but interesting role. In my humble experience, booksellers are never just that……and are never too conservative to "tick their oar in," when a subject of interest rolls around. I shared this story with a Thomson researcher recently, and I'd like to think it shed a little light on his research.

     I hope you enjoyed today's study of Canadian bookseller, Dora Hood. I will conclude the brief series in tomorrow's blog. I appreciate your company, and everyone is welcome to join in. I've got lots of antique hunting stories to tell, and a honking big white screen to fill each day. Can you imagine how many trees I would kill, to accommodate my copy output? A whole forest would disappear, and as I love my woodlands, this is a much better use of resources. Thanks again for visiting and please come back again soon.