Admiral Collingwood's Diary is up for Auction, and I'm up for a Rant

[joyful_molly]

The traditional October auction over at Charles Miller Ltd. is just around the corner. There’s always a wondrous plenthora of Maritime and Scientific objects and works of art on offer, but this year, one very special object caught my eye:

A PRIVATE AUTOGRAPH JOURNAL KEPT BY ADMIRAL LORD COLLINGWOOD (1750-1810) WHILST COMMANDING THE BRITISH FLEET IN

Comments

[anteros_lmc]

*APPLAUSE*

Hear hear! I couldn't agree more.

[joyful_molly]

Tomorrow's the day of The Big Decision. Keep your fingers crossed, all is not lost yet.

[anteros_lmc]

I've been itching to know how you're getting on. I will cross all my extremities on your behalf. Good luck!

[aletheiafelinea]

Hmmmmmm...
'Did it flash through the owner's mind that his Precious Only Existing Copy is flammable, tasty for worms, and not water-proof?' is a silly question, right? Thought so.

(BTW, wow, looks like people really studied calligraphy in those days. What a 'B'!)

[joyful_molly]

Hah! That actually happened in my country with a rather significant document about the borders and ownership of a castle. Owner refused to have it stored in an archive, house burned down, no copies existed - boom! And now they are arguing for twenty years or so about it. Serves him right. :P

[delaese]

I think that is a VERY valid observation.

[joyful_molly]

Absolutely agree, as I said, it's all about the ownership. Reminds me of that game children play here, where they pretend to have something hidden in their hands. "I've got something you can't see, and I won't show you, but it's mighty fine!"

[julian_griffith]

Yes, PLEASE, collectors, share the information, at least, even if not the artifacts! Though I would adore it if things like this were stored in proper archives with access-by-appointment. Ideally without a huge need for credentials -- just a curator to supervise and hand out white gloves and caution about fragility. (I have no credentials but I want to SEE it, oh yes I do.)

[joyful_molly]

I'd be happy with transcripts; as beautiful and significant as those documents are, it's the content which really counts. So if a private person pays for restoration and preservation of such a document, more power to them, but the content absolutely should be shared. Collingwood's hand is neat to look at, but I'm more interested in his thoughts and observations.

just a curator to supervise and hand out white gloves and caution about fragility

SO MUCH WORD TO THAT! It's not like thousands of people would want to look at some of those documents.

[julian_griffith]

Did you SEE, over on tumblr, how verecunda discovered that I think it was the Royal College of Medicine or something in Glasgow had William Beatty's surgical kit in their collection, and that ANYONE could make an appointment to see their collection? So she did, and she was expecting just maybe to see it in a glass case, but no, they gave her gloves and stood by to supervise, and she got to TAKE THE INSTRUMENTS OUT OF THE CASE AND HOLD THEM? She wrote it all up on her tumblr (just search her tags for "William Beatty") and it was utterly amazing.

THAT is the sort of thing that is REALLY COOL.

[grace_poppy]

Ugh, yeah. I have a friend who has just published some excellent research on a long lost music manuscript attributed to a famous composer but which her research has shown to be by his less famous sister. But the manuscript belongs to a collector just like the type you describe, who doesn't want to be named, who doesn't allow photographs or copies, and who sees that sort of research and use as a depletion of his money investment. He did at least allow her to fly across the world to see it at his house (the first time anyone had seen it in decades) and she was able to authenticate it as the sister's work. And an old transcription exists, so they're now able to study and play the music. But he's hoarding the manuscript away in secret.

[joyful_molly]

Now that's just... words fail me. I'm very glad your friend had at least the chance to see it, but that's absolutely ridiculous. What is he hoarding it for? As Alex wrote above, this reeks of powertrip. Culture and history should be easily accessible, for everybody. Nobody owns our heritage.