Show us your Lincoln collectables!

[Gene C]

This interesting and somewhat humorous article about collecting,
"Why Collect Lincolniana" by Gerald McMurtry.

"In the field of Lincolniana bibliomania is
said to be highly infectious. The germ is
usually found to repose in the biography sec-
tions of rare book and manuscript catalogues
of which there are a great number in circula-
tion. The germ in the catalogues from Chi-
cago, New York and Boston is said to be
particularly virulent. Virtual culture beds of
Bibliomania Lincolnia are found in book-
shops. The germ is believed to be air-borne,
and people (men are more susceptible) have
been known to get the mania merely by asso-
ciation with those already infected. It seems
that there is no anti toxin. In fact, the suf-
ferer does not appear to desire a cure."

In spite of this psychiatric complex the
Lincoln collector is to be envied. In other
words, he has found an interest in life, aside
from his work-a-day routine. The very nature
of his specialization lifts him, for a little while,
out of a depressing atomic world of current
affairs into a more colorful and picturesque
period of American life. In no sense should
he allow himself to become simply a mental
recluse; instead, as a student of history, he
should acquire a better understanding of the
stark realities of such a crisis as confronted
Abraham Lincoln when he attained the presi-
dency, and thereby become more capable of
dealing with the problems of his own time."

The full article is here. And just in time for Christmas too!
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16656948...incolniana