Rare Book Monthly
Susan Heller: A Lifetime of Ephemera- for sale
A paper doll handout
By Bruce McKinney
Susan Heller of Pages 4 Sages of Beachwood, Ohio is a young 75+ and looking to wrap up her four-decade career in the book business. As is the experience of most booksellers she developed many categories of inventory, sold some and retained others as favorites. It is hard to let go but she has decided it's time.
That said, while still a few years shy of where Fulton J. Sheen told several generations of Americans life begins, she is preparing for what comes next, whatever that is. So for several months she and her close friend Gerry Farbman have been organizing, into a coherent electronic catalogue, her collection of pamphlets, now titled "A Lifetime of Ephemera." The material was gathered during her decades of bookselling. This month she is putting the collection of 1,300 pamphlets up for sale here on AE.
As the title suggests the thread that connects the material is simply that she came across it; the material generally pamphlets associated with the American experience, slavery, presidential campaigns, 19th and 20th century political issues, election campaigns, political missives and polemics to name only some of the categories. The material tends to be practical, the imprint dates span two hundred years. The electronic catalogue they have prepared makes it easy to parse and browse. The material is not priced.
She would like to sell the entire collection on the basis of a single bid, but will entertain offers on individual pieces or larger portions.
Material can be accessed via this link - A Lifetime of Ephemera. Those wishing to view the material in person may contact Mrs. Heller by email or phone.
She would like to receive bids by July 21st and will extend the deadline a few days for those prepared to view the material in person. She will ship once payment has been received.
She has no idea if the buyer will be a dealer, collector or institution or, if its a dealer, how the material will be sold. The material is already minimally described and includes images. For someone to post they simply need to set a price and choose a venue. This is a collection ready to be relinquished wholesale that will probably soon be offered at retail on a one by one basis.
Those visiting her will have the opportunity to view other collections she is selling -
A collection of signed or inscribed books;
A collection of collectible books including significant first edition literature.
A collection of basic and esoteric reference books, several from the inventory of Van Allen Bradley.
A collection of opera programs, the cast sheets only, signed by some of the performers.
Susan always looked for significant content with a little something added.
The electronic catalogue they have prepared can be transferred, descriptions and images together, to any buyer with an Americana Exchange premium account. A buyer, to put the material up for sale, simply needs to add a price and post to listing sites or eBay. The material is also already organized to be emailed as an electronic catalogue. This capability too will be transferred to the buyer if they wish.
Click here to search through the inventory.
Here is contact information:
Susan Heller
26300 Village Lane
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
216.765.1614
pages4sages@gmail.com
Packing and shipping will be for the buyer's account. Each ephemeral item is in a plastic sleeve.
