Bookmarking a Life: Meet Don Baldwin

by

Lauren Roberts

I met Don through the 2010 Bookmark Collectors Virtual Convention, where Don agreed, somewhat nervously, to be one of the presenters. His presentation was excellent, attracting viewers from around the world. Attendees were excited and quite a few, I suspect, were like me, envious of his collection.

Don and I have kept in touch, and he recently sent me some photographs of a library exhibition he had. It intrigued me. And I thought it, and he, might intrigue you as well.

Lauren Roberts: Who is Don? What is he like?

Don Baldwin: I was always curious about almost everything. Plants, bugs, animals and stones. How were things put together, what was inside an old radio, what made it work, could I fix it?  Nothing has really changed except I haven’t enough time or energy to follow all those competing  interests.

My grandmother knew exactly how to amuse a young boy on long cold winter days and nights in Central Michigan. There were always lots of books (nature, science). When my interest in geography began to grow she bought me a little stamp book and a package of stamps and I discovered the world. That was the beginning of my collections and I still have an extensive U.S. stamp collection today. I have been through collections of political buttons and ribbons, antique radios, and minerals. For the past forty years bookmarks have been prime with stamps in second place. Oh, I missed books! They were in first place from the mid 50s until the early 70s. Thousands of books. I was buying and selling by hand-typed catalog to dealers in the old AB book publication. I’d probably still be doing books if I hadn't run out of space.

Lauren: Tell us about your professional background.

Don: I joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 which broadened my perspective as to what a person could do in life. Working as a corpsman in hospitals, training in medical laboratory technique, and running a medical lab on a ship (USS Macon CA-132) developed my interest in medicine. I worked at NIH in Bethesda, MD, as a lab technician from late 1947 until the fall of 1948. That in turn developed my interest in biological research. In the fall semester of 1948 I began premed at George Washington University in Washington DC, graduating in 1953 with a BS degree in Zoology. I also had three young children by then, which discouraged me from attempting medical school. So, I went off to the University of Maryland, College Park for graduate studies in physiology and biochemistry. I supplemented my GI Bill by working in a hospital lab while in undergraduate classes and went back to NIH in Bethesda as biochemist during those three years of graduate study. I then went to work at Dow Chemical in animal health research. Eventually I followed products into development and marketing. After some years in management I graduated into field product development and research working with universities in the northeastern part of the U.S. In 1990, I retired after thirty-three years.

Lauren: How did you get into that profession? What did you like most about it?

Don: What I really loved most about all my years is the orderliness of research. I was much less comfortable in marketing and management.

Lauren: Let’s talk bookmarks. How many bookmarks do you have in your collection?

Don: There are between 400-500 rigid or three dimensional bookmarks in my collection. These are the metal, bone ivory, wood and plastic pieces. There are over three hundred leathers, about 100 ribbons, and uncounted paper. Unfortunately, by accident, a boxful of  unsorted older bookmark were lost in my recent move to Iowa; there were 400 to 500 bookmarks from the 60s through the 80s mislaid. Somewhere in a Goodwill in New Jersey there is a good start for some person to start a bookmark collection.

Lauren: When and how did you get interested in bookmarks?

Don: It was on an afternoon in 1970 when I stopped in a convenience store in New Oxford, PA for a soft drink. Half of the store was old books, antiques, and junk. In a glass case I spied a little gold-colored blade with an American flag that I decided I had to have. When I paid the 75 cents I asked the old man running the store what the blade was used for. He looked at me as if I was a moron and barked, “It's a bookmark!”

Lauren: What was your first bookmark?

Don: That was my first bookmark. At least it was my first metal bookmark. I had several bookmarks in a drawer in my office in Maryland from the old books I'd been buying. I had never thought about a collection until I bought the little gold blade. By the end of that day I had three metal bookmarks. At first I only wanted to collect metal bookmarks that soon changed as I discovered the variety available.

Lauren: What interests you about bookmarks?

Don: I love the design of the three-dimensional bookmarks. Some are so perfect for the use while many others are totally ridiculous in design as bookmarks but may be beautiful objects anyway. The handmade pieces are especially interesting as they are the products of imagination and personal effort. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes a bit ugly, they are still the result of human effort. This is true of hand-woven ribbons, perforated paper embroidery, hand-painted ribbons, and even some metal pieces. Paper, leather and ribbon bookmarks can also have interesting designs too. If and how they are attached to the book is interesting too.

Lauren: Do you have a favorite metal bookmark? If so, what is so appealing about it to you?

Don: Yes. The mechanical bookmark. It is so well designed and constructed.

Lauren: Where do you find your bookmarks?

Don: At first it was antique stores but when my friends in old book stores found out I was collecting these old metal bookmarks they began to show me beautiful old paper and plastic pieces that I just couldn’t resist. Beautiful celluloid advertising bookmarks for 25 or 50 cents! Today because of my age and responsibilities the internet is my best source. I will say since I have moved to a retirement community everyone seems to have bookmarks they want to pass on to me. Some of them are quite lovely.

Lauren: Do you have a particular sub-interest in bookmarks such as nineteenth century or metal ones?

Don: I’ve moved from metal to the handmade and now I am especially interested in ribbon and leather types. Not that I don’t bid on other kinds as I see them on eBay. The perforated cardstock bookmarks are of special interest right now. Again it is the handmade nature of this Victorian craft that intrigues me so. Some of the very delicate needle work is superb and deserves notice.

Lauren: What is the least and most you’ve ever paid for a bookmark?

Don: Oh boy! Must I answer this? Let's just say ten cents at the bottom and three figures for the highest. I won’t say what these figure were. But If I really want an item I’ll bid to win.

Lauren: What was so important about the most expensive one that made you willing to pay the price?

Don: It was old, it was beautiful and hand crafted in silver and celluloid. It called me by name.

Lauren: Bookmark prices have risen noticeably in the last few years for the more collectible or antique ones. Do you think that’s a good or bad trend?

Don: Some starting bids are out of all reason. You see the same bookmark listed for months. If they are good bookmarks people will bid to get them and there will be more action if the start bid is reasonable. Don’t bid if the start is beyond the value and if the shipping costs are too high too.

Lauren: What are some of your favorite bookmarks?

Don: Naturally my first metal bookmark as described in how I got started collecting bookmarks. I especially like both metal and ribbons that have clips that attach to the cover of the book. Then I like the die-cut paper too.

Lauren: Do you have any preferences in the types of bookmarks you collect?

Don: Not really. If it appeals to me I bid on it. It is always exciting to discover a new  type. Sometimes I get fooled and the item is not a bookmark at all.

Lauren: Tell us about one or two of those. What did they turn out to be if not bookmarks? And what made them look like bookmarks when they were not?

Don: One turned out to be a celluloid pin structure to hold a hair bun in place. Two were actually money clips as were two scarf clips. There was one page turner which I suspected was such and was happy to get it as a page turner!

Lauren: You talked about the different types of bookmarks you collect. Do you have them separated into categories other than by material?

Don: Oh Yes! That has been a major effort over time to categorize my collection. I really need to publish my ideas on organizing a mixed bookmark collection. It's not too difficult if you only collect paper bookmarks but when you have all kinds organization is important.

Lauren: How do you store and display your collection? Would I see bookmarks on the walls or coffee table if I walked into your home?

Don: Paper, ribbon, leather, fabric and thin flat plastic are stored in plastic sheets in albums. Representative metal, wood, bone, ivory, mineral and heavy plastic are in separate hinged cases on cotton backing. I have six of these conveniently located in the sitting room where they draw the attention of visitors. Most people become interested when they see the variety and beauty of many of the bookmarks. These cases cannot be hung on walls but can be held flat in the hands for viewing. I do have a few special items framed for the wall.

Lauren: What does your wife think of your collection? Is it ever a bone of contention between the two of you?

Don: I would say she is tolerant! She is not a collector of anything so has little understanding of the collecting urge.

Lauren: Do you keep a database of information about your bookmarks?

Don: I do not have a good database. I have a few file folders stuffed with notes on some items. But I have been considering database which may be of interest  and use to whomever or whichever place inherits my collection.

Lauren: Ooh, ooh, ooh, me! *laughs*

Don: It has been a bit of a family joke as to was going to be the curator of the bookmark collection. One has now seen the degree of interest and is seriously discussing what might be done with the collection. Golly, it might be you if there is a big battle among my four daughters!

Lauren: Most collectors don’t seem to want to use their collectible bookmarks which, given their fragility, is understandable. Do you use of yours when you read? Are there any you won't use? Why or why not?

Don: I usually use some recent paper bookmark for awhile if it isn’t any thing too special. Many metal bookmarks I would never use because they do terrible damage to the pages. Others are too valuable to use. I have lost some nice bookmarks by their escape to a library or who knows where.

Lauren: Do you ever trade or sell your bookmarks?

Don: I suppose I would but it is the sort of activity is best done in person. It was twenty-five years before I discovered another collector. Remember, most of my collection was built prior to the Internet days. I have never lived close enough to another collector to share our passion. I’ve had some offers through FLICKR but have never followed through.

Lauren: Do you own any books, documents, or articles on bookmarks or bookmark collecting?

Don: I had the two books by A.W. Coysh (Bookmarkers and Collecting Bookmarkers)but they were lost in our move from New Jersey to Iowa. However, I have quite a collection of antique articles that talk about bookmarks.

Lauren: Where do you find articles on bookmarks? They are not a large area of collecting.

Don: Old antique books and magazines. A couple from weekly antique papers.

Lauren: Do you think bookmarks are underrated in terms of historical value?

Don: Yes, some are. Some of the old ribbons with celluloid printing remember the death of historical persons. Then there is a common practice in some communities to make a bookmark with an obituary laminated in plastic as a funeral gift. Then there are bookmarks of the Trade Center that are historical since 9/11. While many aren’t historical many are.

Lauren: What do you think bookmarks tell us about history or ourselves?

Don: For the most part those that have historical significance are reminders of the places, events or persons. I may not be introspective enough to answer the latter part of the question. I’ll think about it.

Lauren: When you travel, do you make a point of looking for bookmarks at places you visit?

Don: Yes. I may or may not buy what is offered depending on design and quality.

Lauren: What is one you have found during your travels that has become special to you? Tell us about the bookmark and the place you found it.

Don: I was on a research project in Maine and I noticed an old barn with a Junk and Antique sign on it. I asked the veterinarian with whom I was traveling if we could stop by for a few minutes on the way back from the Research Farm. We stopped and I found a wonderful old celluloid piano bookmark pinned to the wall. It is still one of my favorites.

Lauren: Have you ever gone any place specifically to find bookmarks?

Don: Many visits to old bookstores and antique stores are for bookmarks.

Lauren: In your experience, do foreign-made bookmarks differ from American-made ones? If so, how?

Don: There seems to be more sets of bookmarks in European countries. There were more here in the past but I only find sets by photographers and artists today in the U.S.

Lauren: Tell us about your blog, Bookmark Buzz. Why did you start it? Do you enjoy writing about bookmarks?

Don: There are thing I want to say about bookmarks and collecting. I am really just testing myself right now and hope to make my posts more interesting and thought provoking as I learn to use the medium. Yes, I am surprised that I do enjoy writing about bookmarks. I thought it would be more difficult.

Lauren: Do you hear from other bookmark collectors?

Don: Occasionally. I haven’t advertised my blog much yet as I feel I’m still learning the blogging process. I still make a lot of mistakes with images and location of type.

Lauren: Do you give presentations to places such as schools or retirement homes about bookmarks or your collection?

Don: I did make a presentation at my new location in a retirement community. It was very well received and seemed to have everyone looking for the bookmarks they knew they had somewhere. Some were passed on to me for my collection.

Lauren: You recently had a bookmark exhibit of some of your bookmarks at your local library. How did you get that?

Don: Most libraries of even small size seem to have a display case and are always looking for book related displays. Book people seem to like the idea of bookmark collections. That includes academics as well as librarians.

Lauren: How long did your exhibit run?

Don: Sixty days.

Lauren: Did the librarians share any bookmark horror stories with you like finding bacon in their books?

Don: No. But thanks for reminding me. I’ll ask around in the book return section. It is a very, very organized library so I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t a file of oddities found in the books. I hope so and I’ll share if I discover anything of interest.

Lauren: Has anyone you know of ever taken up collecting bookmarks because your collection excited them about bookmarks?

Don: Yes at least one and maybe a few others in a small way.

Lauren: Tell me anything you'd like that I haven't thought to ask.

Don: I think you have just about covered everything I could think of and a number of thing I had never thought about. There is one thing that has been most helpful to me and that was the Virtual Bookmark Convention that we had in 2010. I had fun presenting even though I made a lot of mistakes using the system but most of all I learned a great deal from the other presenters. I hope we can interest more people in the future. Thank you for all of your effort in that project.

Almost since her childhood days of Mother Goose, Lauren has been giving her opinion on books to anyone who will listen. That “talent” eventually took her out of magazine writing and into book reviewing in 2000 for an online review site where she cut her teeth (as well as a few authors). Stints as book editor for her local newspaper and contributing editor to Booklist and Bookmarks magazines has reinforced her belief that she has interesting things to say about books. Lauren shares her home with several significant others including three cats, nearly 1,300 bookmarks and approximately the same number of books that, whether previously read or not, constitute her to-be-read stack. She is a member of the National Books Critics Circle (NBCC) as well as a longtime book design judge for Publishers Marketing Association’s Benjamin Franklin Awards. Contact Lauren.