“The Lincoln ‘OKCC’ (Only Known Copy Club) and Other By-Ways of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum” is a Talk by James Cornelius, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 346 Library, on November 12, 2014 at  3:00 p.m.  (free admission).

Sponsors: The Rare Book & Manuscript Library and The No. 44 Society

If Lincoln is putatively the most-written about person after Jesus, is it fair to expect that lots of copies of all that writing exist?  Fair, but incorrect.  The breadth of Lincoln’s niche in American political and literary history may be great, but the edges of its documentation can be shockingly narrow.  A surprising number of publications about Lincoln (maybe as many as four score and seven?) exist in only one known copy.  There’s even one imprint BY him that seems to qualify for the “OKCC.”

For the November No. 44 Society meeting, The Rare Book & Manuscript Library has invited James Cornelius, the Curator of the Lincoln Collection at the Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois, to deliver an illustrated talk about the collections in the world's largest gathering of “Lincolniana.”  He will explore the mysteries of how so many publications about Lincoln are exceedingly scarce and also provide a general round-up account of the ALPLM's collections.

All are welcome!

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“Real Thing” Reading Group Reads Again!  On November 21 at 4:00 p.m. H.G. Wells’ “Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul.” London, 1905 will be discussed:

Book:  http://www.amazon.com/Kipps-Penguin-Classics-H-G-Wells-ebook/dp/B002RI9JHI

Digital copy:  http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39162/39162-h/39162-h.htm

Audiobook:  https://librivox.org/kipps-by-h-g-wells/

In H. G. Wells’ Preface to the 1925 “Atlantic Edition” of his works, he recalls; “’Kipps’ was written in 1903-4.  It is only a fragment of a much larger and more ambitious design.  The original title was ‘The Wealth of Mr. Waddy.’  It was put aside, and I’m afraid destroyed.”

Fortunately Mr. Wells was mistaken!  The discarded materials of the original manuscript are in the H. G. Wells Papers at the University of Illinois, along with the version published as the utterly charming and beloved “Kipps.”  Charles Blair, who has offered to lead our discussion, informs us that this was Wells’ own favorite.

Thanks to Dennis Sears of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library for these information items.

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