In an earlier post, I mentioned how wonderful to receive or purchase an antiquated book...how I love their smell...and what a treat to find a signature or note inside those wonderful treasures. Upon reading an entry of Corgyncombe Courant, containing a beautiful photo of Louisa May Alcott's book 'Under the Lilacs', I began a search. As I had loved the book 'Little Women' since I was a girl, I was hoping to add another of Louisa's books to my collection. I was delighted to find this book, along with a copy of 'Little Men' up for auction, and even more excited when I realized they would be mine. They arrived today, and after anxiously retrieving them from the packaging, I laid them on the table to throw away the box and wrapping paper. As I opened the covers and read the inscriptions...I had to sit down, straightaway. Be still my heart!!
I was named after a family friend whose last name was Christie. It is rare to find someone with my name, much less, with the same spelling... I felt these two little books had found their way home.
Christmas of 1978, my request to "Santa" was a sweet edition of 'Little Women'. I had spied it in a bookstore, and I remember thinking, at the time, it was the most beautiful book I had ever seen. The Madame Alexander "Meg" doll had been a gift from my uncle, years before, as he knew I was a collector. She had been left behind in an apartment complex, and I was thankful he knew I would give her a good home. So to unwrap such a wonderful book, that Christmas of 1978, I felt incredibly special. I imagine Ethyl Christie felt incredibly special, too, the Christmas of 1907.
