Hunting for “Buried” Treasure in Old Books

Some books have more than one story to tell

BY KATIE SMALL

Everyone knows that a book tells a story. But what most people don’t realize is that the story printed in the pages of a book is only the first tale the book has to tell. What I’ve discovered, working in the used book section of Bayswater Books in Center Harbor, is that what the owner of a book leaves behind in its pages can be just as fascinating as the book itself.

In 2017, Bayswater Books’ owner Michelle Taft decided (due to popular demand) to devote the entire second level of the store to used and old books. Today, it’s brimming with thousands of books of every genre, and has become a nirvana for customers who enjoy browsing through the stock looking for a well-loved title, something new by their favorite author or simply an interesting book at a bargain price.

With the expansion of Bayswater’s used book section came a steady stream of donated books — each one looking for a new home. And as the Bayswater crew and I began the unpacking and sorting process, we started noticing that many of the books had items hiding inside; they’d float innocently to the floor as we put the books on the shelf. We’d find ticket stubs, letters, political ephemera, dried flowers, bookmarks, test scores, awards, Bible passages, photos and maps — just to name a few. These bits of memorabilia belonged to the book’s previous owner and, to me, were tangible evidence of the owner’s relationship with the book and how they’d actually “lived” in it for a spell. Hence, the book lives on but with a very personal story to tell about its former owner.

Some of these artifacts were so intriguing that the staff and I decided that we should not be the only ones to enjoy them, thus our “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor” blog was born. In each post (currently there are 55), we describe the “find” discovered during the week and the book in which it was hiding, along with insight into the found object and its possible significance. Some of the “finds” are historic, while others are thought-provoking, sentimental, humorous or downright bizarre.

One of our most significant discoveries was a series of letters written by Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1971. Penned in response to a concerned citizen who wrote to him sharing unease about the Vietnam War, Kennedy passionately expressed his understanding of the writer’s concerns and promised action in his return reply. These letters had been hidden for over 45 years before we stumbled upon them, tucked into the pages of a 1970s textbook.

Although “Antiques Roadshow” has yet to invite me or my Bayswater colleagues to appear on their show (most of our discoveries have little monetary value), the artifacts we uncover can still spin a heck of a tale. Some of our favorite finds include: an off-the-chart test score from a 1969 National Engineering Aptitude Search test, a rare fishing fly found in a 119-year-old book and a 1961 map of the Colorado Rocky Mountains with an “X marks the spot.” Sometimes the story lies in the discovered object itself; other times, it’s a date that’s stamped on the object or a long-forgotten address. No matter what the intriguing aspect might be, the found object never fails to provide a look at the previous owner’s life and the events that were taking place at the time they read the book.

As a rule, our research is based on our finds and, for the most part, not about the person who left it. When we come across a discovery with a first and last name on it, as sometimes happens when we find letters and pictures, most often we choose to leave the person in anonymity. There are exceptions to this self-created guideline, as we returned the Kennedy letters to their original owner, and we once wrote about the former poet laureate of the United States, Louis Untermeyer, because we found a 1962 letter written by his wife hidden away in his book of poems. Despite this display of restraint, we are quick to surmise and create possible scenarios that accompany our finds, however, (with glee, I might add) and these are often found in our more humorous blog entries.

See “Review” starting on page 18 for a book recommendation from Bayswater Books owner Michelle Taft, who is pictured above.

Although “Find of the Week” has also become a column in the Meredith News and Laconia Daily Sun and garnered us a segment on the “New Hampshire Chronicle” TV program, it’s truly the character and community importance of Bayswater Books that gives our blog and discoveries any platform at all from which to spring. Visit any day in search of our used book floor discoveries, and you’re likely to find us, the store’s crew, discussing books and gift suggestions with customers or chatting with a shopper who is sharing their latest personal news — and always with a hot pot of tea at the ready. We are consistently seeking to discover not just the interesting info behind our finds, but your story, as well. After all, a bookstore is full of stories — both hidden and in-person.

But, don’t take my word for it. You can catch up with our previous “Finds of the Week on the Used Book Floor” blog posts at bayswaterbooks.com, or better yet, stop by Bayswater Books and check out the used book selection for yourself. The next possible discovery could be yours, but if not, a cup of tea, a world of books and a visit with our amateur book detectives await you.

Editor’s note: As of this issue’s press deadline, Bayswater Books was still closed in compliance with Gov. Sununu’s order intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, though plans may change due to the Stay-at-Home 2.0 order, which does allow shops to reopen starting May 11 (before this issue went to press). Though we can’t wait to once again browse the shelves in person, many bookstores — including Bayswater — are available for curbside pickup, shipping, delivery and, of course, excellent recommendations. See page 18 for pandemic reading suggestions from Bayswater owner Michelle Taft.

Top: The letter written by Louis Untermeyer’s wife the staff found in a book of his poetry.

Above: Bayswater Books in Center Harbor