I have now returned home after trips to New York City and Baltimore, and my “Close Encounters of a Poetic Kind” experience occurred while visiting the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street. I was there with one of my daughters while my wife and other daughter were running errands, and we were all going to meet up at the Metropolitan Museum later in the day.
While at the library, we visited the library’s “first-ever permanent exhibition” highlighting items from their world-renowned collections. For example, we saw a First Folio of Shakespeare printed in 1623, music composed in Mozart’s handwriting (from Symphony No. 32 in G Major), and the original Winnie the Pooh and friends (all pictured below).
While at the library, we visited the library’s “first-ever permanent exhibition” highlighting items from their world-renowned collections. For example, we saw a First Folio of Shakespeare printed in 1623, music composed in Mozart’s handwriting (from Symphony No. 32 in G Major), and the original Winnie the Pooh and friends (all pictured below).
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Info on the library’s free exhibit, “Treasures,” is HERE.
When we exited the exhibit on the first floor, I told my daughter that we should run up to the third floor just to take a quick peek at the study and research rooms because they are spectacularly beautiful; however, when we got up there, I saw that the rooms are now roped off and one cannot go in unless conducting research and/or studying (I assume with an appointment). We could look in only from an allocated spot several feet from the entry doorway.
We peered in to see as much as we could see, and then as we were about to leave, I had an idea. I walked up to one of the guards and asked if I could go in. I told her that I published daily posts about Emily Dickinson, and I wondered if the library had a copy of the first edition of Dickinson poem published posthumously in 1890.
I gave a bit of background – about the number of poems Dickinson wrote, how they were discovered after her death, how lucky we are that her sister didn’t burn them, etc. – and the guard was so intrigued that she agreed that I must see a copy of the book – IF the library had one!
She then discreetly ushered my daughter and I into the main study area, and she told me to speak with a reference librarian.
LOL – we were in, and my heart was pounding!
When we exited the exhibit on the first floor, I told my daughter that we should run up to the third floor just to take a quick peek at the study and research rooms because they are spectacularly beautiful; however, when we got up there, I saw that the rooms are now roped off and one cannot go in unless conducting research and/or studying (I assume with an appointment). We could look in only from an allocated spot several feet from the entry doorway.
We peered in to see as much as we could see, and then as we were about to leave, I had an idea. I walked up to one of the guards and asked if I could go in. I told her that I published daily posts about Emily Dickinson, and I wondered if the library had a copy of the first edition of Dickinson poem published posthumously in 1890.
I gave a bit of background – about the number of poems Dickinson wrote, how they were discovered after her death, how lucky we are that her sister didn’t burn them, etc. – and the guard was so intrigued that she agreed that I must see a copy of the book – IF the library had one!
She then discreetly ushered my daughter and I into the main study area, and she told me to speak with a reference librarian.
LOL – we were in, and my heart was pounding!
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I gave a similar spiel to the reference librarian, and she was equally fascinated, so she began her online search. Alas, thousands of entries popped up when she typed in “Dickinson,” so I suggested that she run a more specific search for the name “Mabel Loomis Todd,” and that did the trick.
She showed me her screen as the search narrowed, and I saw a book published by Todd and Higginson in 1890 and whisper-screamed, “That’s it!”
“No,” she said, “this says ‘sixth edition.”
I explained that the first printing of “Poems” had six printings in 1890, and that that book – edited by Todd and Higginson and published by Roberts Brothers of Boston – was indeed a first edition.
She got so excited she looked into this a bit more, and it seemed that the library seemed to have a first edition from the first printing.
She printed the information, handed it to me, and pointed to some doors on the far wall of the research room.
“See those doors?” she said. “Go there. That’s our rare book collection. Buzz to get in, and tell them that I sent you.”
Needless to say, my heart was palpitating wildly, though I tried to exhibit a calm and professional aspect on the outside. Inside, I was doing the Snoopy dance.
My daughter walked to the doors, but we could not figure out how to “buzz” ourselves in, so we returned to the reference librarian to ask.
She looked at the doors and then looked at us, and I could tell by the look on her face that “Houston, we have a problem.”
“Oh, I forgot,” she said. “Today is Monday, and the rare books room is closed on Mondays.”
OOOOOHHHH NOOOOOO!
Alas, I could not return the next day as the hour of our train departure would not allow sufficient time to see the book! Woe was me!
BUT – I have all the info I need for my next visit to New York – so that is something to look forward to!
As my daughter and I exited the study area, the guard came running over to see what I had found out. LOL – she was as disappointed as I was – but I told her I’d stop by to see her on my next visit!
She showed me her screen as the search narrowed, and I saw a book published by Todd and Higginson in 1890 and whisper-screamed, “That’s it!”
“No,” she said, “this says ‘sixth edition.”
I explained that the first printing of “Poems” had six printings in 1890, and that that book – edited by Todd and Higginson and published by Roberts Brothers of Boston – was indeed a first edition.
She got so excited she looked into this a bit more, and it seemed that the library seemed to have a first edition from the first printing.
She printed the information, handed it to me, and pointed to some doors on the far wall of the research room.
“See those doors?” she said. “Go there. That’s our rare book collection. Buzz to get in, and tell them that I sent you.”
Needless to say, my heart was palpitating wildly, though I tried to exhibit a calm and professional aspect on the outside. Inside, I was doing the Snoopy dance.
My daughter walked to the doors, but we could not figure out how to “buzz” ourselves in, so we returned to the reference librarian to ask.
She looked at the doors and then looked at us, and I could tell by the look on her face that “Houston, we have a problem.”
“Oh, I forgot,” she said. “Today is Monday, and the rare books room is closed on Mondays.”
OOOOOHHHH NOOOOOO!
Alas, I could not return the next day as the hour of our train departure would not allow sufficient time to see the book! Woe was me!
BUT – I have all the info I need for my next visit to New York – so that is something to look forward to!
As my daughter and I exited the study area, the guard came running over to see what I had found out. LOL – she was as disappointed as I was – but I told her I’d stop by to see her on my next visit!
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