Now that I got the big book, I need to find a nice copy of the Brown Book. Any ideas on where i can get one or who might have one for sale?
30 Comments |
 | Mike Casey says:
2/11/2015 3:15:59 PM
The one I bought came from Bernunzio's in Rochester, NY. If you leave word with John he would put you on the want list and contact you if he found another one. He and his shop are good about finding things like this. Mike
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 | Reubenv says:
2/11/2015 4:28:44 PM
Great lead! Thank you.
Reuben
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 | RTWhite says:
2/12/2015 8:01:41 AM
That's where I got mine too. I wonder if the price has changed, haha.
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| Mike Casey says:
2/12/2015 8:35:12 AM
If you want to know what we should have invested in I can tell you in a few words: Tsumura Banjo Books, playing cards and associated ephemra. It appears John may have done that.
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| RTWhite says:
2/13/2015 10:01:00 AM
Haha, so true. The best return on investment I've ever had was a book.
I bought a first edition, first printing U.K. copy of John le Carre's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" for $20 at a mystery/thriller book store in Santa Fe, N.M. It was a lucky find, which I wasn't aware of until a few months later.
I eventually had the book signed by John le Carre, and the value has REALLY gone up.
That was pure luck. I don't think investing with luck as your primary tool is wise.
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| Reubenv says:
2/13/2015 11:45:49 AM
RT are you from the Land of Enchantment? Thats where im from originally. Went to UNM too!
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| RTWhite says:
2/16/2015 6:39:42 PM
I had an ex-wife that live in Santa Fe a couple years. I visited often. I liked it. I missed green trees and grass though…. so much brown out there. I also felt sick for about a week when I went to visit…. Santa Fe is so high (2,000 ft higher than Denver…. it's the highest capital city in the U.S.).
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| Reubenv says:
2/16/2015 11:16:47 PM
That's a correct fact. Santa Fe is approx. 7700 ft. I miss the green chile and the breakfast burritos back home in New Mexico. Nothing like it anywhere! Bernunzios is going to try and help me find a copy of the brown book!
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| Reubenv says:
2/20/2015 11:23:19 AM
Mike Casey, that was excellent advice as they called me a couple days ago and found that John had a copy. I just bought today and will have it soon!
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| Mike Casey says:
2/20/2015 2:13:27 PM
I just got my copy and it is a very well done addition to the 1001 Banjos book. Of course the format is not near as large and opulent as 1001 Banjos, but the photos are every bit as nice and the banjos pictured are really the top of the line of the great makers. I know you will enjoy it as much as you do your copy of the 1001 Banjos book. And before I read the posts betwee you and RT regarding Sante Fe I did not realize it was 7700 Ft. above sea level. Dizzying indeed. You might let us know your opinion of the Brown Book when your copy arrives.
Thanks.
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| Reubenv says:
2/21/2015 10:25:03 PM
Hi Mike, to be honest, as much as I love the 1001 Banjos......I have not really flipped through it too much. Ive never owned an $1100 dollar book and I don't really know if I should bend the binding??? Im not normally somebody who doesn't use something just b/c its expensive, but with a book I guess im afraid to bend the binding. I have a banjar in the book, so I looked it up just to see it and then I put it away. I cant afford another, but I wish I had a second book to just flip through!
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| RTWhite says:
2/25/2015 9:31:19 AM
I'm a little scared to get out 1001 Banjos.... its so big and I can just imagine the sick feeling of hearing it tear.
The Brown Book is a bit better in that respect. There doesn't seem to be as much strain on the binding while your flipping through it.
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| Mike Casey says:
2/25/2015 10:30:07 AM
I have had my copy of 1001 Banjos out of its box only a very few times being careful each time to not stress the spine/binding. I also bought some of those white cotton gloves photographers use to handle photographs and photograhic negatives. I thought they would keep finger prints / skin oil from transferring to any page I happened to touch. I handle it with a great deal of care in other words.
I do the same with the Brown Book even though it is not as large and the paper quality is not as fine as the Big Book. I look at 1001 Banjos like Birders look at the old Audubon print books from back in the day. The quality of the paper, the binding, the photography and the sheer number of instruments represented is astounding to me. Books like this one are not only rare because of the quality and rarity, but because the exceptional photographs so completely cover the subject matter: Pre 1940 American stringed instruments.
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| Reubenv says:
2/25/2015 10:52:21 AM
I was thinking the other day.....this book is sooo ultra rare. First, b/c they didnt print too many, but more importantly.....today its impossible to make the book. Nobody will ever assemble a collection like this ever again. From what i understand, at least half the collection was sold off. Regardless of how much money your had, i dont believe a person could assemble this collection today! Its gone forever. Then if you consider the condition of these instruments in the photos! Holey Cow! They are all pristine, almost perfect, catalog specific banjois! All the high end ones, in pristine condition. I still cant believe it when i look at the book. Not very many things wow me! This collection is still incomprehensible to me!
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| Reubenv says:
2/25/2015 10:56:03 AM
Jim Berlile told me that there was a German gentleman who was a competitor of sorts, putting together a massive collection during the same time as Mr Tsumura. I wonder what became of this German Gentlemens Collection?
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| RTWhite says:
2/25/2015 12:38:47 PM
Mike I looked into the white gloves thing. The information I found recommended against it. The thinking is, you lose some sense of touch through the gloves and could catch a page or put extra stress on the material. Also, gloves get dirty. The antique book page I read that on said to just wash your hands with soap before you handle the book. The water and soap will remove damaging oils from your hands and the paper/books will be fine. So.... I ended up not buying the gloves.
Reuben, I shot an email to the American Banjo Museum about them producing a book. They have enough banjos to make it interesting, and many of the banjos are newer too. It seems to me that could make a nice booklet and give folks the option for a book with banjo photos. I know I'd buy it.
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| Mike Casey says:
2/25/2015 12:47:56 PM
RT, Thanks for the information on the gloves and handling of antique books. I'll take it to heart. The Banjo Museum putting out a booklet is a nice idea. They might also include some photos of the inside of their banjos.
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| Reubenv says:
2/25/2015 1:03:17 PM
Would love to see the inside of the banjos and close ups of the grain of wood and ID numbers ect but im a banjo geek so perhaps it wont make for good photography. I really like the photos in Jim Mills book b/c you can appreciate the patina of each of the banjos. This type of photography is what i would like to see. Close ups of rims, necks, tone rings, resonators ect
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 | foxontherun says:
3/14/2015 10:08:08 AM
Good day, gents. I'm also looking to buy a copy of the "Banjo - The Tsumura Collection (1920-1940)" book. I've reached out to Bernunzio Uptown Music but they don't have anything at present. I'm going to place a 'Want to Buy' add on the BHO but I'm not sure what price range is fair for this book. Could you advise as to what you think would be a fair price?
Thanks.
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| Reubenv says:
3/14/2015 10:43:48 AM
Be ready to dig deep! The book book is $1100 to $1400 dollars. The brown book is about 5 big!
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| foxontherun says:
3/15/2015 6:32:29 AM
5 big! Apparently I'm dreaming in technicolor. That's too big for me.
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| RTWhite says:
3/15/2015 6:47:24 AM
$500 sounds about right.
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| RTWhite says:
3/15/2015 9:26:56 AM
Reuben, you mean $500, not $5000, for the brown book, right?
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| Reubenv says:
3/16/2015 9:21:54 AM
Yes. $500 bucks. sorry for any misunderstanding Foxontherun.
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| foxontherun says:
3/16/2015 7:48:01 PM
Thanks, gents. I'm on the hunt.
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| foxontherun says:
5/5/2015 3:12:14 AM
The hunt is over. I purchased an 'as new' copy of the brown book from a gentleman in England. My Tsumura banjo book collection (red book, big book and brown book) is complete.
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| Reubenv says:
5/5/2015 7:46:57 AM
Alright! Nice work! Its not an easy task! Its also a big comitment. Congrats!
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 | dutchtenor says:
5/17/2015 1:04:20 AM
Hello guys,
I am going to post my Brown book on Ebay. It has been here for many years, and I can use the funds for my latest purchase (Epi bandmaster). The transport will be expensive to the USA, but I Will start at a reasonable price.
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| dutchtenor says:
5/17/2015 1:39:23 AM
It's on sale now,starting at $ 150,- including Track and Trace to USA;
ebay.com/itm/171792495335?ssPa...555.l2649
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| dutchtenor says:
5/17/2015 1:43:12 AM
Hello guys,
I am going to post my Brown book on Ebay. It has been here for many years, and I can use the funds for my latest purchase (Epi bandmaster). The transport will be expensive to the USA, but I Will start at a reasonable price.
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