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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 either have a 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.
2007-2008 Schedule of Meetings:
November 7. Fabio Troncarelli, Professor of Paleography, University of Tuscia, Italy and former librarian, will speak on “The Vivarium and Its Library”.
December 5. No. 44 Society’s Annual Holiday Party and Book Boasting.
January 9. John Dussinger; “Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) and the Public Sphere”.
February 6. Audrey Niffenegger, best-selling author of The Time Traveler’s Wife. Reading or presentation.
March 5. Travis McDade, “Recent Book Thefts in America.”
April 9. Special time! Special place! No. 44 to visit the reception and awards ceremony for; "Designing a Special Collections Library." 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the First Floor Gallery of the U of I Architecture Building, 608 Lorado Taft Drive, Champaign. Fall semester '07 advanced architecture students offer visions of a new home for special collections at the University of Illinois. Come see what they came up with and the special 'Curator's Choice' awards for various categories of design.
May 7. The Winners of the Thomas Baldwin and Harris Fletcher Book Collecting Contest—Announcement and presentations on their collection
For more information on The No. 44 Society, please call 217.333.3777.
*In the definitive University of California edition based on the original manuscript; Mark Twain Library, 3.
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