The photo above shows some books, but for me they are not just books. The first time I remember seeing these books I must have been around four years old. My paternal grandparents had a very elegant wooden bookcase with windowed doors which locked with a key. Through the glass you could see the books in the case. Somehow it fascinated me as a child to see such books. The titles of the books are 8 volumes History of England, 4 volumes British Battles and 2 volumes History of India, all published by the company Cassells around the turn of the century.
How did they come into the possession of our family? My grandfather worked his whole life as a nightwatchman for Lloyd's insurance in the City of London, being absent only for 2-3 years serving in the 1st World War in the medical corps. His basic hobbies (if you could have hobbies at that time) were drinking (not a problem, but there were no televisions in those days), dog racing, theatre visits, football and taking care of his family which he did very well. He never actually struck me as a man of literature, except for the daily newspaper.
I asked my father how we came into the possession of these books. He told me that my grandfather had explained that it was possible to pay one English penny per week for one of the parts of these books. After time the various parts were put in a binding and all volumes were bought. This I can believe as my grandfather would never have been in a position to pay a larger sum for buying books. Either it was spent on food and clothing for the family, or if anything was left a small bet on a favourite greyhoud would have been made at Hackney Wick, the local racing stadium. Money was not available for buying books.
As time went past and I got older I even looked into these books on various visits and holidays spent at my grandparents house. I cannot say I actually read the books from cover to cover as it was a bit heavy going for an 8-12 year old. They are heavy leather bound books and something to show more than to read.
My grandparents passed away and their belongings came into the possession of my parents. The books complete with the book case. We were then living in our small attached house in Bethnal Green and the bookcase with the books was put in my bedroom. Eventually I moved to Switzerland and my parents moved to another house, and the books went too. The bookcase somehow got mislaid on the way. I have a feeling that due to old age the bookcase may have become the housing of the so-called woodworm, although I am not sure. We had quite a few pieces of furniture with the "utility" mark on it as left overs from the 2nd world war and they were quite prone to such attacks.
The books stayed in family possession and found there new place in my parents' bedroom on a bookshelf, where they stayed many years. My mother died and my father remained in their house, together with the books. At one point over the last 20 years he began to read the books and told me they were very interesting - although old, full of illustrations. Eventually he decided it was time for them to come to my hands. He packed them safely in an old suitcase and said they were ready for transport to Switzerland.
Easier said than done. They weighed around 30 Kg and it would not have been possible to take them as luggage on a plane from London to Switzerland. In the meanwhile my working life had recommenced after my 4 children were old enough to look after theirselves (more or less) and I became an export clerk. The knowledge and connections I had through this work brought the chance of shipment of the books from London to Switzerland much closer, although the books still remained in their suitcase for 10 years until last year.
Once a year I visit my father in London (he is now 91 years old and keeping well). Last year I found a forwarding company near to my father and asked about the shipment. I left London on Wednesday, the books were picked up by a truck on Friday and the following week on Wednesday they were delivered to the company I work for. Putting them in my car and bringing them home was no problem and now they are safe and secure at the top of one of my bookcases in Switzerland.
Over the years their condition has deteriorated although there are no pages missing or torn. Just the leather bindings have suffered and my father "patched" them up with sellotape. I would add that I have found these books on Internet and even for sale on Ebay, but they are not a hidden treasure or valuable. I would never actually think about selling them. I don't think I will ever read them, although they are today still recognised as being a very informative and interesting work. I am sure one day they will be passed down to my son for safe keeping,
How did they come into the possession of our family? My grandfather worked his whole life as a nightwatchman for Lloyd's insurance in the City of London, being absent only for 2-3 years serving in the 1st World War in the medical corps. His basic hobbies (if you could have hobbies at that time) were drinking (not a problem, but there were no televisions in those days), dog racing, theatre visits, football and taking care of his family which he did very well. He never actually struck me as a man of literature, except for the daily newspaper.
I asked my father how we came into the possession of these books. He told me that my grandfather had explained that it was possible to pay one English penny per week for one of the parts of these books. After time the various parts were put in a binding and all volumes were bought. This I can believe as my grandfather would never have been in a position to pay a larger sum for buying books. Either it was spent on food and clothing for the family, or if anything was left a small bet on a favourite greyhoud would have been made at Hackney Wick, the local racing stadium. Money was not available for buying books.
As time went past and I got older I even looked into these books on various visits and holidays spent at my grandparents house. I cannot say I actually read the books from cover to cover as it was a bit heavy going for an 8-12 year old. They are heavy leather bound books and something to show more than to read.
My grandparents passed away and their belongings came into the possession of my parents. The books complete with the book case. We were then living in our small attached house in Bethnal Green and the bookcase with the books was put in my bedroom. Eventually I moved to Switzerland and my parents moved to another house, and the books went too. The bookcase somehow got mislaid on the way. I have a feeling that due to old age the bookcase may have become the housing of the so-called woodworm, although I am not sure. We had quite a few pieces of furniture with the "utility" mark on it as left overs from the 2nd world war and they were quite prone to such attacks.
The books stayed in family possession and found there new place in my parents' bedroom on a bookshelf, where they stayed many years. My mother died and my father remained in their house, together with the books. At one point over the last 20 years he began to read the books and told me they were very interesting - although old, full of illustrations. Eventually he decided it was time for them to come to my hands. He packed them safely in an old suitcase and said they were ready for transport to Switzerland.
Easier said than done. They weighed around 30 Kg and it would not have been possible to take them as luggage on a plane from London to Switzerland. In the meanwhile my working life had recommenced after my 4 children were old enough to look after theirselves (more or less) and I became an export clerk. The knowledge and connections I had through this work brought the chance of shipment of the books from London to Switzerland much closer, although the books still remained in their suitcase for 10 years until last year.
Once a year I visit my father in London (he is now 91 years old and keeping well). Last year I found a forwarding company near to my father and asked about the shipment. I left London on Wednesday, the books were picked up by a truck on Friday and the following week on Wednesday they were delivered to the company I work for. Putting them in my car and bringing them home was no problem and now they are safe and secure at the top of one of my bookcases in Switzerland.
Over the years their condition has deteriorated although there are no pages missing or torn. Just the leather bindings have suffered and my father "patched" them up with sellotape. I would add that I have found these books on Internet and even for sale on Ebay, but they are not a hidden treasure or valuable. I would never actually think about selling them. I don't think I will ever read them, although they are today still recognised as being a very informative and interesting work. I am sure one day they will be passed down to my son for safe keeping,
No comments:
Post a Comment