Sitting on my floor going through some of my older books.
Some are fairly new, from the second half of the 20th cent., but others are 1800s or older.
I love sharing my books—though I’d never ever lend these out—so now I’m considering making a (likely boring) thread hahah hmm

I guess I’ll start with the oldest. This is a copy of I *think* Book 9 of Aristotle’s History of Animals, printed in 1545. All in Latin. This sat on my grandpa’s bookshelf from when he came home from Italy after WWII until 2018, when my grandma gifted it to me. I touch it rarely.

A couple more photos.

This is by far the oldest book I have and I treasure it so much.

A copy of Shakespeare’s works that was owned by my great great grandmother. Her signature is on the inside. I don’t know the exact printing year but it was before 1901, as the preface references a living Queen Victoria. I studied English Lit at uni and so love love Shakespeare

Dr. Chase’s New Receipt Book (Recipe), also previously owned by my gg grandma. Pub date unknown as the first several pages are gone—but im assuming 1880s based on this Project Gutenberg version I found https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/chase-newreceipt/chase-newreceipt-00-h-dir/chase-newreceipt-00-h.html

It covers a whole host of areas, including food, drinks, medical ailments, washroom-related things, animal care, etc.

I find the inclusion of a chapter specific to the care of canaries fascinating.

Our Deportment, published 1882. Also owned by my gg grandparents. All about manners, conduct and dress in refined society. So fascinating honestly. Covers, for ex, dining/table etiquette, courtship, home culture, letter writing, etiquette in Washington and foreign courts, etc.

More photos.

It also has a Language of Flowers chapter!!

(Honestly I may deep dive into this book at some point and share).

Little Women and Little Women Wedded, no given pub date but late 1800s based on the publisher name. *Purchased in this condition at a used book sale years ago.

Jane Eyre, edition printed in 1944. Given to me by my (other) grandma after she found it on her shelf.

Can you tell the quality of the paper used for books decreased? The pages here have really aged.

Copies of Hard Times and Christmas Stories by Dickens. Part of a collection but no pub date listed.

Purchased at a used book store.

A 1958 copy of Pygmalion, complete with notes from the previous owner.

Purchased at a used bookstore.

Sara Crewe, a condensed Scholastic version of A Little Princess, from the printing in 1966.

My mom’s from when she was a kid.

A 1942 edition of Anne of Green Gables, originally my mom’s. I love love love this copy of the book.

(Hi Gilbert and Matthew!)

#renewannewithane

A little newer, but these editions of Jo’s Boys and Andersen’s Fairy Tales from a collection printed in 1972. They have a distinctive 70s vibe I think. Purchased at a used bookstore.

Also super unrelated but did any other Canadians use to watch this filmed ballet version of The (Steadfast)Tin Soldier as a kid??? I have vivid memories of this movie — also narrated by Sally Struthers! Aka Babette.

This is also newer but I love it. A 1978 edition of all three unabridged LOTR books in one volume. My dad’s originally. He and my grandpa were the ones who inspired my LOTR love. We went to see FOTR together in theatres when I was 7, just about a month before my grandpa died.

Another copy of Jane Eyre, this one from 1946

I adore these illustrations so much.

That’s all for now I think haha, though I’ll include these magazines my grandma gave me as well

From 1950 (Time, Churchill), 1952 (Time, Queen’s coronation), 1951 (New Yorker-my grandparents’ wedding day), 1954 (Life, first colour issue), and 1963 (Life, JFK assassination).