The E-Sylum:  Volume 6, Number 20, May 18, 2003, Article 14

SCANNING CHAPMAN CATALOGS

  A related exchange appeared this week in the colonial coins
  email list.  When the subject of scanning photographic plates
  came up, Neil Rothschild attempted "to explain that a Chapman
  catalog ... needs to be treated with respect."  He wrote:

  For the benefit of those that have not ventured into bibliophilia
  but are contemplating such foolishness...

  The original Chapmans were bound in white cloth and boards
  (WCB), as is mine.  The back of the sown signatures are
  heavily glued.  The glue has generally gotten brittle over the
  years.   They generally don't like to lay flat, and attempting to
  lay them flat could damage the binding and the original bindings
  have a lot of value vs a later re-bound copy.  This is especially
  true of the thicker sales, such as Earle and Jenks.   Not to
  mention damaging a plate while attempting to scan or
  photograph it.

  My plated Earle sale is considered to be a nice copy and I
  want to keep it that way. I have another Earle in it's original
  WCB binding, from the Bowers sale of the Champa library
  (not plated).  In a discussion with Charlie Davis, who
  catalogued that library, he told me that that copy was among
  the nicest white cloth and boards he had ever handled.  If
  that is true, then there probably aren't any that CAN be laid
  flat without damage.  Even that copy is very stiff, and, in fact,
  the inner binding has "creased" right at the colonial section
  (prior to my acquisition).  So that copy could possibly be
  laid flat almost anywhere except in the colonial section!.
  I should note that Charlie's comments were not directed
  specifically at the binding, or it's willingness to open, but
  applied to the general condition of the book.

  This is true of most older material in original bindings.  I recall
  a discussion with Dan Friedus about this where he mentioned
  that he had, or was contemplating, building a book stand with
  the sides at about a 90-120 degree angle so a book could be
  opened and supported without damaging the binding.

  There is a conflict between research needs and bibliophilic
  (read: economic) preservation.  The best numismatic
  literature [for research] is the ratty, disbound stuff that can't
  be hurt.  Anyone contemplating building a serious library
  should carefully consider that conflict and what they are
  going to do with that material."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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