Greg,
Good Point! The public library is a great resource for those hard to find furniture and wood working books (Ben Franklin, a library founder, would have said for "All books!") The Cincinnati Public Library has a copy Master Craftsmen of Newport on its reference shelf that I "visited" many times before making the decision to acquire a copy of my own.
I have found that we woodworkers, particulalry those interested in period furniture making have a tendency to be collectors of any number of things. Some collect hollows and rounds, other planes, chisels, saws, antique hardware, old and new patterns, casts, plans and even books.
I have never paid anywhere near $1000 for any book I own, not even for my signed copies of Master Craftsmen.... I do own a fair number of other woodworking/furniture titles and maintain these for my ready reference. I take some pleasure in the collection of quality, scarce books and the fact that they are always readily accessible when I need them. I also own many reprints of woodworking/tools/furniture titles for the same convenience. Some of the titiles I own may not be available for loan at a public or private library.
I pick no argument with your post. I do want to write that there is some satisfaction to be had in the collection of woodworking and furniture books. I would like to own any original piece - and some copies - of Townsend or Goddard Newport style furniture - not very likely I warrant! In the interim, a great book of photos will have to suffice.
Kent Ryan
