In the Track of the Bookworm

IN THE TRACK OF THE BOOK-WORM
by Irving Browne: thoughts, fancies and gentle gibes on Collecting and Collectors
by one of them.
DONE INTO A BOOK AT THE ROYCROFT PRINTING SHOP AT EAST AURORA, NEW YORK, U. S. A. MDCCCXCVII
Copyrighted by The Roycroft Printing Shop 1897
Of this edition but five hundred and ninety copies were printed and types then distributed. Each copy is signed and numbered and this book is number

The Track of the Book-Worm.
OBJECTS OF COLLECTION.
hilosophers have made various and ingenious but incomplete attempts to form a succinct definition of the animal, Man. At first thought it might seem that a perfect definition would be, an animal who makes collections. But one must remember that the magpie does this. Yet this definition is as good as any, and comes nearer exactness than most
What has not the animal Man collected?
Clocks, watches, snuff-boxes, canes, fans, laces, precious stones, china, coins, paper money, spoons, prints, paintings, tulips, orchids, hens, horses, match-boxes, postal stamps, miniatures, violins, show-bills, play-bills, swords, buttons, shoes, china slippers, spools, birds, butterflies, beetles, saddles, skulls, wigs, lanterns, book-plates, knockers, crystal balls, shells, penny toys, death-masks, tea-pots, autographs, rugs, armour, pipes, arrow heads, locks of hair and key locks, and hats (Jules Verne’s “Tale of a Hat”), these are some of the most prominent subjects in search of which the animal Man runs up and down the earth, and spends time and money without scruple or stint