The sin of book desecration has a new convert and the outrage has spread through the world of social media like a video of a cute kitten playing with a ball of yarn. We have seen people cut books apart to create “artworks,” or treat them as mere physical objects. People will display them backwards, fore edges exposed, or by color coding. The infamous “books by the foot” enables you to buy them by your favorite color, content be damned. Some people actually buy old books to collect them, ignoring their purpose of being read. Can you imagine?
The latest horror comes through TikTok, the newest favorite social media. The benefit of TikTok is that it enables China to clandestinely learn everything about you. Why they want to know this is unclear. TikTok enables you to create short videos in case you find creating a YouTube video too demanding on your time. This one took only 31 seconds to outrage book lovers. In it, TikTok user rosekaylee transforms three books into something other than they were when she started.
In the wordless video, the unseen Ms. rosekaylee starts by painting a book. She paints the cover of one black, the next white. Next, she paints on a layer of varnish. The final step is unseen as it would take more time than a 31-second video allows. Off camera, she paints the name of high-fashion brands on the spines and covers. At the end, she displays her work, three books, lying on a table, with the names “Chanel,” “Dior,” and “Louis Vuitton” written on their spines.
Why did she do this? Who knows. Remember, there are no words with this video, just some incredibly annoying music. Whatever the reason, a lot of people either love or hate this idea. As of a few days ago, 7.8 million people had viewed the video.
Some people consider the destruction of a book a desecration, the equivalent of book burning. However, assuming rosekaylee is not doing this to rare and valuable books for some incomprehensible reason, these books are likely of little value and easily replaced. The reality is today thousands of books are being trashed probably everyday, as there are just too many unwanted and unneeded books in circulation. Others may be displeased with the sense of crass commercialism, using these books to promote some brand name. That's an understandable reaction, and yet crass commercialism can also be art. Ask Andy Warhol. I can't even imagine how many millions of dollars his Campbell's Soup can is worth. I'm sure rosekaylee would be happy to be recognized as the next Andy.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
