Book Collection: carlosdetweiller

[carlosdetweiller]

As requested in a Calvin's Corner thread titled "Bookcases" here are some photos of my basement. My basement is pretty big, about 38 feet by 19 feet in the main area and a smaller room that is about 10 feet by 14 feet. As you will see it is pretty full of books.

Here is a photo of what I would call the "King wall." I'll post some closer pictures later.



The first bookcases house my King trade editions: starting with CARRIE in the top case of the second stack and going chronologically through JUST AFTER SUNSET. The top two cases of the second stack go through FIRESTARTER and then the sequencing goes to the top case of the first stack with some more FIRESTARTERs and goes left to right through the first three stacks. That's probably confusing but you can see what I mean, I think.

Also in the picture is John Stewart's painting of Nort the Weedeater that was used as the cover for the King issue of Whispers Magazine and an acrylic painting by Michael Whelan from DT 7. Rachel Readman's sculpture named "Constant Reader" and a traycase for "The New Lt's. Rap" manuscript are also there.

[carlosdetweiller]

Starting with the case under the fake plant are King limiteds, starting with FIRESTARTER and occupying fully that stack and the next one. Also in the picture are a couple of paintings by Michael Whelan from DT1: The Gunslinger. Also in the picture are a painted resin model of Carrie, custom traycase for 'SALEM'S LOT with first state dj, a fake plant, custom traycase for THE PLANT, custom traycase for long galley proof of THE SHINING and another small Michael Whelan from DT 7.

[carlosdetweiller]

The next tall stack and the shorter one next to it house UK editions (trade and limited). Above the shorter stack are another Whelan painting from DT1: The Gunslinger and painted resin models of Pennywise and a gothic vampire (it was supposed to be Barlow but I don't think it is).

The next tall stack is Dark Tower books and the last shorter stack is Richard Bachman books. Above that is a Wrightson painting from CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF and a couple of vampire thingys.

You can sort of get a peek into the "back room" there to the right but that will have to wait for another day.

[carlosdetweiller]

This shorter wall has my Charnel House books (lettered and numbered), Michael Crichton in the middle and the smaller of the Centipede/Millipede Press books on the right.

Above the bookcases are paintings by Don Maitz (DESPERATION), Rick Berry (reissued edition of THE TALISMAN), Phil Hale (INSOMNIA), Rick Berry (BLACK HOUSE), Rick Berry (reissued edition of THE TALISMAN) and Alan Clark.

And that'll do it for now. The other two walls and the "back room" as time allows.

[e_taylor]

Only one word comes to mind: wow. I think since about the first week I was on this site I've dreamed of the day you would post more pictures of your collection, Bob.

Merry Early Christmas to us!

[carlosdetweiller]

Probably the least interesting is the back wall where there are some built in bookshelves, cabinets, etc. On the left: top row - miscellaneous hard to classify books (mostly trade editions), middle row - Signet/Plume DT books, proofs, etc., bottom row - later trade editions.

On the right: top two rows - all of George Beahm's books, bottom row - various reference books and some Carl Barks (Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge) books.

On the shelf is the computer where I spend WAY too much time looking for books to buy and talking to you guys.

[Patrick]

Simply amazing! What an incredible collection you've built, Bob. Truly spectacular. Outstanding!

...
On the shelf is the computer where I spend WAY too much time looking for books to buy and talking to you guys.
...

If I had a basement like yours, I'd spend every free minute down there too!

[Sir_Boomme]

Probably the least interesting is the back wall where there are some built in bookshelves, cabinets, etc. On the left: top row - miscellaneous hard to classify books (mostly trade editions), middle row - Signet/Plume DT books, proofs, etc., bottom row - later trade editions.

On the right: top two rows - all of George Beahm's books, bottom row - various reference books and some Carl Barks (Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge) books.

On the shelf is the computer where I spend WAY too much time looking for books to buy and talking to you guys.

Just dropped back by here to drool... lookin' at all that artwork always gets me a bit damp.

anytime I start thinking to much about my little room of books, I just click on your thread and get myself back to reality.

But hey.... this time I think I "might" be able to one up the master...

unless you are holdin' back on us, I think I might have more computer than ya.... (all those high dollar books and art....what the heck is up with that antique tube screen? ---- ah... must be worth a lot as an ANTIQUE, right?)

[carlosdetweiller]

....what the heck is up with that antique tube screen? ---- ah... must be worth a lot as an ANTIQUE, right?)

Long story about that computer. It was the first one I ever bought (in 1996) and a friend talked me into buying a Mac. I bought a custom book collecting program made for Macs from Jerry Parmer of Parmer Books in San Diego. I loved that program and it ran on a Macintosh application called Hypercard.

Anyway, I couldn't find a similar program for PCs and even if there was one I wasn't sure how to export Mac data and import it to a PC. I'm not really a computer guy. So I kept that ancient Mac for years solely to keep track of my collection. I had nearly 4000 entries and really didn't want to start over but I was beginning to exceed the memory capabilities of the old Mac when I generated long lists. I thought about buying a new Mac with more memory but the newer Macs do not support the Hypercard application so I was really stuck.

Finally I called Jerry Parmer and he said to get a program called FileMakerPro for my PC. I sent him my book database from my Mac on a Zip disc and he transferred it to a CD formatted for PC and I then imported the data to the FileMakerPro program on my PC and I have been in computer heaven ever since. This was about one year ago. The Mac and the ugly monitor have since been retired.

The solution may have seemed simple to people familiar with computers but I puzzled over the problem of exporting/importing data from different programs and different computer formats for many months/years. I didn't have a CD burner on the Mac and it only took floppy discs. I was worried I might be stuck with that Mac forever. But I finally got it and now think that FileMakerPro is a fantastic program for collections. I was pretty relieved when I got the 4000 entries on my PC running in a very nice new program.

[pickle]

WTF!!! Man you are now my hero lol

That is the best room i have ever seen. Just one question though, why do you have multiple copies of the same books? Is it just for the sake of having them or for a particular reason? For example in the first picture there is what looks like 4 copies of the stand that look exactly the same.

[carlosdetweiller]

Just one question though, why do you have multiple copies of the same books? Is it just for the sake of having them or for a particular reason? For example in the first picture there is what looks like 4 copies of the stand that look exactly the same.

You know, when I first started collecting King all I wanted was a "hardback" edition of each of his books. I didn't know much about first editions, limited editions, proofs, etc. What you see is the result of 25 years of collecting. In the case of the early Doubleday books I do have multiple copies of each. Some are signed or inscribed, some are review copies, some are just regular trade editions. It is also hard for me to pass up what I think is a bargain. Over the years I have seen many books on ABE and eBay that were selling at a fraction of their worth. I bought them and just stuck them on the shelf with the others.

[Letti]

Your basement looks like the king of dream libraries... or heaven.

[Patrick]

Bookshelf question for you, Bob:

Do those shelves have room enough to stand up your taller collectible books? I'm thinking of MY PRETTY PONY, 'SALEM'S LOT S/L, EOTD S/L, etc.

[carlosdetweiller]

Bookshelf question for you, Bob:

Do those shelves have room enough to stand up your taller collectible books? I'm thinking of MY PRETTY PONY, 'SALEM'S LOT S/L, EOTD S/L, etc.

No. They have about 12" of vertical space. I can get the S/L SKELETON CREW and CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF in them but the others are in the "back room."

[Patrick]

Bookshelf question for you, Bob:

Do those shelves have room enough to stand up your taller collectible books? I'm thinking of MY PRETTY PONY, 'SALEM'S LOT S/L, EOTD S/L, etc.

No. They have about 12" of vertical space. I can get the S/L SKELETON CREW and CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF in them but the others are in the "back room."

Thanks. Can't wait to see the back room!

[gsvec]

Bookshelf question for you, Bob:

Do those shelves have room enough to stand up your taller collectible books? I'm thinking of MY PRETTY PONY, 'SALEM'S LOT S/L, EOTD S/L, etc.

No. They have about 12" of vertical space. I can get the S/L SKELETON CREW and CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF in them but the others are in the "back room."

With 12" on the inside, are your shelves the 13 1/8" units or the 15 1/8" units?

[carlosdetweiller]

With 12" on the inside, are your shelves the 13 1/8" units or the 15 1/8" units?

Mine measure about 14 and 1/4" tall on the outside. Standard depth.

Here is the page with my model #314.

http://www.bluehen.com/hale-barriste...l#description1

[gsvec]

I'm dumbfounded at what I'm seeing here, Bob. An absolutely amazing collection with phenominal presentation. The "back room" most definitely has my curiousity piqued - especially with the two glimpses I can see in what you've already posted.

Do you have a spare room you'd consider renting out?

[Tatts4Life]

Oh man those pictures are awesome. I love how you set up your basement.

[Patrick]

That's exactly what I was going to ask, Gretchen.

[blg]

Absolutely amazing collection!

[jhanic]

Bob, I remember seeing these in the other site. They never cease to amaze me!

John

[Nerak]

And it will all be mine when Daddy goes to the clearing at the end of the path!

[carlosdetweiller]

And it will all be mine when Daddy goes to the clearing at the end of the path!

gsvec is asking about renting your room. What do you think?

[bast_imret]

Wow. I knew you had a mighty impressive collection, Bob, but seeing it all there together in those beautiful bookshelves, and with the original Whelan DT art, and the accent lighting . . . words escape me.

Very nice