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For Book Collectors:
The No. 44 Society—Book Collecting Contest—Book Valuations
The No. 44 Society
In 2006, The Rare Book & Manuscript Library of the University of Illinois established a book collectors’ club for acquisitive book lovers who have a book collection or would like to begin one.
Inspired by the fine collection of American wit and humor, including broad Twain holdings, at the University of Illinois, The No. 44 Society takes its name from the hero of Mark Twain's last novel, No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger, a fantastical, but little-known Twain story set in a 15th-century print shop. The only requirements for membership are to have read Twain’s novel* and to love books.
The club attracts a lively mixture of undergraduates, graduates, faculty members, and local and regional collectors. Members offer advice to beginning collectors, share tips and tidbits about dealers and collectors, and regale one another with tales of the chase. Members also make formal presentations on their collections.
In short, it is a convivial club for mysterious strangers united by a shared affliction called bibliophilia.
The No. 44 Society meets at 3:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month in The Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Room 346 of the Main Library.
2009/2010 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS OF THE
NO. 44 SOCIETY,
A CONVIVIAL CONFAB FOR BOOK COLLECTORS
SEPTEMBER 2, 2009, 3:00PM AT OAK STREET STORAGE FACILITY
Tour of the University Library’s Oak Street remote storage facility.
OCTOBER 7, 2009, 3:00PM IN RBML
Pre-view of the “One in a Million” exhibition and discussion of the Million Book Landmarks at UIUC.
NOVEMBER 4, 2009, 3:00PM IN RBML
Retired UIUC Modern Languages Librarian Tom Kilton will talk about the role spiders play in emblem books: “The Emblematic Spider: Webs of Representation.”
DECEMBER 2, 2009, 3:00PM IN RBML
Holiday Party and Book Boast. No. 44 Society members are invited to bring a sample from their collections for the rest of the club to admire. Stories of the chase are encouraged!
FEBRUARY 3, 2010, RBML
Chatham Ewing, Curator of Special Collections will speak about his responsibilities and new initiatives in Archival management at RBML.
MARCH 3, 2010 AT 3:00PM AT THE LINCOLN BINDERY OF URBANA
Conversation and tour with Lincoln Bindery owner and bookbinder Christopher Hohn.
APRIL 7, 2010, 3:00 PM PRICELESS BOOKS IN URBANA
Visit to Priceless Books and chat with proroprietors Bill Thornhill and Mike Vaillancourt about selling books in the Amazon climate and/or Kindle world.
MAY 5, 2010, 3:00PM IN RBML
Book Collecting Contest Winners Present Their Collections. Undergraduate and Graduate Student Collectors are encouraged to compete!
All are welcome! For more information, contact The Rare Book & Manuscript Library at 217-333-3777, or visit: www.library.illinois.edu/rbx
*In the definitive University of California edition based on the original manuscript; Mark Twain Library, 3.
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