Blackbeard's Reading Habits

[nevadablue]

Some here may enjoy this...
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2018/01/08/incredible-blackbeard-discovery-stunning-find-on-buccaneers-ship-reveals-pirate-reading-habits.html

 

[mso489]

Interesting. I think it is still unclear if the ship was sunk in battle or scuttled to cover the captain's tracks.

 

[nevadablue]

It is interesting for sure. They found a fragment of this book written in 1712. It is a documentary of a voyage. You can get a copy of the book here, in several formats. I got the PDF file. Pretty neat book actually.
https://archive.org/details/voyagetosouthsea01cook

 

[lazar]

This seems to be a better source, with more info and pics: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/blackbeard-pirate-book-cannon-revenge/

 

[brightleaf]

I think this statement from lazar's link is funny. It is as if they have to correct the stereotype of pirates created by Disney and children's shows. They still seem to have no idea of real pirate history.
Historical accounts show that at least some members of a pirate crew were often literate. Officers would have needed to read navigational charts, Kenyon observes. She also points to accounts of buccaneers pilfering books from seized ships, and even a mention of Blackbeard's diary, which was stolen after his death.

 

[indianafrank]

I sold my 1st edition copy of that book about 30 years ago. Today it's worth between $4000-$6500 depending on condition. Argh! :crying:

 

[brightleaf]

Do you have a private collection or are you a dealer indianafrank?

I bet you still have an amazing library if you possessed a copy like that.

 

[indianafrank]

brightleaf -

Do you have a private collection or are you a dealer indianafrank?

I bet you still have an amazing library if you possessed a copy like that.

At one time I had a collection of approximately 5000 books. Many first editions, rare. I sold off about 2000 books in the past few years.
One of my businesses was buying and selling used, rare, and modern 1st editions of certain collectible high value authors. I still buy and sell, but not as much now. Just too many things going on. I have other businesses to keep up with.
I love books. I love reading.

 

[huntertrw]

Blackbeard's Reading Habits

I glanced at the title of this thread and for a moment thought that it read "Blackbeard's Breeding Habits." This made me chuckle, as I recalled that he was purported to have had 14 wives!

 

[brightleaf]

I do a lot of searching for particular books and can find some expensive titles at 5% of their normal value. I don't have duplicates that I could sell because there are always new ones I want to get.

While I do not condone raiding rare book caches, reading about James Shinn or Stephen Blumberg reminds me of how bibliomania can lead book piracy.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/james-shinn-book-thief

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-03-27/news/9001250309_1_rare-books-books-and-documents-priceless-books

Friends say Blumberg, 41, dressed like a homeless street person, seldom bathed and often ate in soup lines. But they also say he was a shrewd trader who roamed the nation`s antique flea markets, carried a leather pouch full of gold coins inside his pants and thousands of dollars more in cash in his pockets

 

[indianafrank]

Brightleaf, I'm well aware of the misdeeds of both men.
It's been rumored that Shinn would sell his stolen books and then buy gold and silver coins. He would then secretly bury, or hide the coins. A massive cache of gold and silver coins of his is supposedly secreted somewhere in the U.S.
It's not unusual for thieves from all walks of life to do so.
huntertrw - yes, the rumors are that Blackbeard had as many as 14 wives. :roll: