Paperback Book Collector Bruce Black Flying High

Bruce Black is a captain at American Airlines. Bruce says he flies Boeing 767’s out of St. Louis, Missouri, "in order to feed my insatiable habit of collecting vintage paperback books." He's been married 35 years to his wife, Ruth, who collects Little Golden Books. In the following interview, we discuss Bruce's boundless passion for vintage paperbacks.

ephemera: I can understand your passion for these great paperbacks. How did you become interested in collecting them?

Black: I started collecting vintage paperbacks about twenty years ago. I suppose I was attracted to the sport for two reasons. First, these were the first non-juvenile books I read in life, and I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for them. Secondly, as with most collectors, I was attracted by the covers. Books’ covers changed during the 1960’s, and they’ve never really been the same since.

ephemera: Yeah, I totally agree with you about the covers. They old ones are excellent. How do you find them? What challenges do you face?

ephemera: The challenges I face in collecting vintage paperbacks are the same as they are for all collectors everywhere. Scarcity of key issues leaves holes in my collection that beg to be filled. As the number of collectors grows, scarcity only increases. There are many volumes that I would gladly pay the price for, but I can’t find them anywhere. Book fairs and flea markets are my hunting grounds. Many times, I’ve found key issues for next to nothing.

ephemera: I've heard similar stories from collectors of other types of ephemera. It's seems like a universal problem. What are some of your favorite paperbacks, Bruce?

Black: My favorite books in the collection are the ones that literally--and literately--define paperback publishing history. Every vintage paperback collector has experienced a heart-stopping moment when he holds a book in his hands that doesn’t look quite … right. And then in a burst of understanding, he realizes he’s found a paperback wrapped in a rare dust jacket. HOW the book came to be that way, and WHY, makes all the difference in the experience. For me, these books are historical mementos. I’ve dedicated my Web site to the understanding of that aspect.

ephemera: I really like your site. You've  done an excellent job with it. What can you tell others who might be interested in paperback book collecting?

Black: Collect what you like … not just because it’s something that everybody else collects. If you like a particular author, collect his or her books. Perhaps go farther and collect the first editions. But as your understanding of the subject grows, you have to expand your knowledge about collecting, as well. How do you tell a first edition from the others? How do you even get a list of the author’s books? You have to study collecting almost as much as you study the person or thing you’re interested in.

ephemera: Any suggestions for how they can learn more about it?

Black: In book collecting, there are lots of resources. I list hundreds of reference books in my web site. Biographies, bibliographies, studies of genres, “How-To” books, fanzines, etc. And now, of course, there are lots of web-based sources, as well. Start in my “Links” section, find a book site you like even more, then check out THAT site’s links. The more you study the various resources, the more you’ll find you NEED to know.

ephemera: Thanks for taking time to tell me about your wonderful collection, Bruce. I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy reading about it.