Mon 6 Dec 2010
COLLECTING PULPS: A MEMOIR, Part Six: Are Pulp Collectors Crazy?, by Walker Martin.
Posted by Steve under Collecting , Columns , Pulp Fiction[15] Comments
PART SIX — ARE PULP COLLECTORS CRAZY?
by Walker Martin
Therapists do not like to hear us use the term “crazy,” but for the most part mental health professionals do often see such collecting activities as being a mental disorder. Maybe I should have titled the subject “Is Collecting a Mental Disorder?”
But if I and some of the other collectors I know are insane, then we probably would use the term “crazy.” In fact I just came across an online article titled “11 Craziest Mental Disorders,” and “Bibliomania: The Collecting of Too Many Books”, was one of the 11 disorders.
What brings all this up is that a long time collecting friend of mine recently called me and said that his wife and a therapist had just blindsided him with an intervention type meeting after dinner. He was still stunned at their treachery and quite upset.
Their attitude was that his book and pulp collection was all junk, clutter, and a waste of money. In fact the therapist said that my friend should be under the care of a professional and under heavy medication due to depression. He evidently saw the collection as a sign of depression and even complained about the collector reading too much.
Now this is funny because I don’t think my friend reads much at all. He’s in his sixties, still working and certainly does not spend his leisure time reading like I do. I read at least a couple hours or more each day and often my friend does not read at all during the day.
I think this “reading too much” theme is the typical non-collecting spouse complaint. For the most part, and there are exceptions, I have found that many women resent it when their husbands or boyfriends read a book.
Reading is a solitary activity and they feel left out or perhaps they feel that the husband is ignoring them or not paying attention to them. I have heard this complaint many times over the years from other readers, and even my wife gripes about me always “with my nose in a book.”
But my friend certainly came to the right guy for a sympathetic ear. Those of you have been reading these memoirs so far might imagine the advice I gave him. I told him in my opinion, as a veteran reader and collector, his wife and the therapist are the ones with a mental disorder.
Too many people just concentrate on their jobs and family. Hell, we all have jobs and family, but what makes life even more interesting is reading and collecting. Many of our friends and relatives go through life really not interested in much at all. At least reading and collecting shows that you have some interest and passion in some subject, other than the routine of working and family matters.
The above is a true story and actually happened. By the way, I am not talking about myself, but such scenes have happened to me over the years. A serious reader/collector will not get sympathy from the non-reader/collector. And these people make up the majority of our friends and relatives.
If you talk to me during Windy City or PulpFest, I’ll be glad to discuss this in more detail including the name of the collector. In fact, he will probably be in attendance.
So as Shakespeare once said, if you are a collector, “get thee to a nuthouse.” Or come to think of it maybe he was talking about a nunnery.
Previously on Mystery*File: Part Five — Remembering Mike Avallone.
December 6th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
The answer, of course, is Yes. But in most cases, it’s a benign madness.
December 6th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
How many books do you have to have to have biblomania? I’d better start counting.
I find these pulps articles fascinating, though I’m not a collector of them (books take enough effort!).
December 6th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Evan: Yes a benign madness which can turn nasty and cause havoc in some families. As an addiction it cannot compare with other vices because it does have a good side. Such addictions like drugs, alcohol, gambling, will ruin your health and finances. Collecting pulps can be enjoyable and profitable as we both know.
Curt: A long time ago I used to collect only books also. Then bibliomania set in and I expanded to include digests, pulps, vintage paperbacks, slicks, literary magazines. It’s a long and slippery slope that once started has only one end according to mental professionals like the above therapist. Madness and financial ruin!
But I’ve been doing it for over 50 years and so far I’m still managing to stay reasonably sane. Every book collector should have some sample digests and pulps because so many books start off in the magazines as serials and complete novels.
How many books do you need in order to qualify as a bibliomaniac? Once you have a house crammed with books and magazines, I think you are on your way. I shudder to think what my life would have been like without my collection…
December 7th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Once your house is crammed full, there are options. Self-storage units, for example.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:42 am
But Steve, I’ve always felt that self storage units are the very last resort because once the books are out of the collector’s house and into storage, it’s almost like not having the books anymore. It’s a hassle to go into the storage area and dig out books plus I’ve heard more than one horror story about water and climate damage to books in storage. Often the damage is not noticed right away, etc. In fact, I remember you talking about some storage damage awhile back.
An example of storage out of control is someone we both know, Digges La Touche. He has an enormous collection but because he refuses to move out of his apartment and into a larger dwelling, most of it is in storage and he’s really not sure where anything is anymore. I guess storage is ok for a temporary period but it often becomes permanent.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I could debate you, yea or nay, Walker, on the wisdom of self storage units, and quite rationally, too, but I don’t think that’s the question.
It’s rather how many self storage units you’re allowed to have before the men in the white jackets come and give you a quick but thorough once-over.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Someone on the Yahoo PulpMags group, where Walker first posted this essay, looked up the definition of “bibliomania” on Wikipedia, and it’s worth repeating here:
“One of several psychological disorders associated with books, bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a genuine book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.
“The term was coined by Dr. John Ferriar, a physician at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.[1]”
Uh-oh.
December 7th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I’ve only recently found places to display about one quarter of my collection in my new home. The rest remain boxed and stowed in various closets. Four bookcases in the livign room, two bookcases in the “book room”, and some shelving in closets (meant for guests’ clothing but probably will never will be moved). Whenever I have guests over I get the same question:
“Have you READ all these books?!”
I astound them with the answer. “Yes.” And then I have to add after a brief pause. “Well, nearly all of them.”
It’s a work in progress. The amassing and the reading go hand in hand. For me at least.
I will proudly call myself a bibliomaniac – nay a biblioholic! One of my friends bought me a very funny T-shirt once for my birthday with this neologism emblazoned on it along with a gag definition. I wear that with pride, too.
December 7th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Steve in Comment #7 quotes one of the definitions of bibliomania. A couple points are of interest to me, one being “The purchase of multiple copies of the same book…” I admit to having done this many times with my favorite books or sets of magazines. For instance I love Charles Dickens and have two different sets of his complete works. The same with Shakespeare’s plays. I must have a half dozen editions of the complete plays. Also with several sets of magazines I have a complete set of the loose individual issues and a set of the same magazine nicely bound. Examples are TS Eliot’s CRITERION, Leavis’ SCRUTINY, Connolly’s HORIZON, LONDON MAGAZINE, etc.
Now why on earth would I have both bound and loose sets of the same magazine title? According to mental health professionals because I’m crazy and suffering from bibliomania. But I only do this with magazine titles and authors that I love and feel enormous respect for. Dickens and Shakespeare are in the running for best English language authors. CRITERION, HORIZON, and SCRUTINY are in the running for best literary magazine.
Another sympton of bibliomania is “…the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment…” Well now, doesn’t this apply to the collecting of complete genres like mystery novels and the collecting of complete sets of pulp magazines? For instance I have had complete sets or almost complete sets of the Big Three or if you include DETECTIVE STORY, the Big Four of detective magazines. Thousands of magazines, many of which I read, but most of which it would be almost impossible to read during a collector’s life.
So obviously, I and many readers of Mystery File, including Steve, fall into the bibliomaniac category. The only problem with this damn straight jacket, the sleeves are tied around me and it’s hard to turn the pages…
February 12th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
[…] on Mystery*File: Part Six — Are Pulp Collectors Crazy?. […]
February 18th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Good Lord, I didn’t know I was crazy until now!
February 18th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
There is a reason I have duplicate copies of my books, though. I live at least fifty miles from the nearest book outlet, so when I’m visiting the big city, I hit thrift stores and used bookstores and buy books that might be of interest to other collectors. So even if I already have the book, I will buy it and hope to swap it with someone else for something they have that I need. I have several thousand duplicates for swap. Now is that crazy or what?
March 1st, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Wonderful series, Walker! I’ve loved it all, and learned quite a bit. I’ve known hundreds, maybe a couple of thousand, pulp,comic and book collectors over the past 55 years, starting when I was 8, and there’s no question each is unique. I’ve been dubbed “Queen of the Book Scouts” for many years (the major Northwest book dealer for whom I’m the scout nicknamed me that long ago. He says I am one of the few good ones he has ever met in many years in the biz, and one of the few who is trusting and not obnoxious to him). I would say book scouts are a heck of a lot more fanatic and even manic than almost any collector, no matter how intense that collector may be. Even pulp fanatics during “feeding frenzies” aren’t anywhere near as difficult as book scouts. I’ve seen a lot of fights and foul words over the years. I’m happy to see I’ve been commplimented by one librarian for being “the fastest yet most polite” book scout she had ever seen.
I’ve always felt that collectors of anything collect, in part, because of the lack of control in their own lives. For example, as a journalist in her 46th year of writing, I’ve had more than 140 different editors (and I’ve been an executive editor, too, when I needed to make sure my highly athletic son, now 35, had a chance to go to the best sports schools and win a baseball scholarship). It’s maddening to realize that your whole career depends on what someone thinks of you, even more than on whatever ability and work ethic you possess. I’ve seen a lot of journalists and other writers go nuts over this. Writers are among the most neurotic people I’ve ever seen. Fortunately, I have a thick skin and a huge amount of confidence (often mistaken for arrogance.
Collecting and being a pop cultural historian has helped keep me sane, because I can’t imagine any other profession being more cruel than journalism, in so many ways. I have 33,000 books, pulps, magazines, and comics, including more than 21,000 pre-1960 items. Not many are highly valuable, but they’re all hand-picked and lots of fun.
Keep up this series. The only drawbook is I can’t read it at my favorite restaurant, because they don’t have wi-fi!
Oh, and Walker, so many people have read your review of my book “Ball Tales.” I’m extremely grateful!
March 2nd, 2011 at 8:35 am
Michelle in the above comment, mentions a very important factor, “Collecting…has helped keep me sane.” On one hand, many therapists would say extreme collections are a sign of mental instability, but on the other hand, a large collection can get you through many of life’s dangerous pitfalls and problems.
Just speaking from my personal experience, the habit of reading and collecting books, magazines, and dvds, has helped me survive all sorts of problems like the death of family members and friends, job related setbacks, health and financial problems.
A good friend of mine told me about how he was worried about one of his parents and spent a couple weeks in a hotel room in New England while dealing with her problems. During this time all he did was eat the wrong food and worry. The result was almost a physical and mental collapse, along with a case high blood pressure.
He did not read anything during this time except for the newspaper. I advised him the next time to take some books and read, especially since so many of these problems are out of our control. Reading and collecting can get you through some difficult times. He said that he was so worried that he could not read but I’ve found that after the first couple hours, the magic of a good book or story will eventually grab hold of you and you can forget your troubles, no matter how extreme. Reading can indeed be The Great Escape.
March 2nd, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Walker, I completely agree with you. I’ve recommended reading to so many friends. I’ve never had a boring day in my life, because of reading. I can remember in childhood not understanding kids who said they were bored.
I have to admit some collectors puzzle me, because they buy so much stuff they couldn’t possibly read it all! But then, some collectors are strictly into cover images and art. I’ve bought a small number items just for the art, but usually it’s also to read. I’d say less than 5 percent of my collection is strictly art-related.
I really love this series and may comment on some of the other entries. I hope you’ll continue the series.