Ivo Meisner practices law on Martha's Vineyard where he also sells used and rare books from his shop, Book Den East. Ivo is the president of The Manuscript Society. I spoke to him recently about the importance of preserving historical documents and manuscripts.
ephemera: When did your passion for manuscript collecting begin?
Meisner: This question sends me back in time to Elliot's Bookstore in New Haven, Connecticut. I was a high school student at the time, and had just finished a term paper on the Civil War battle of Antietam. General Ambrose Burnside--he of the hairy sideburns--commanded the Union forces. And there in Elliot's display case was a document--signed by Burnside--for sale at the princely sum of $5.
Here was the real thing! The history I'd just been writing about came alive. And it could be possessed! I was hooked. The five bucks, although a good part of my monthly budget in 1961, seemed a small price to pay for the adrenalin hit it provided. The document itself was an official appointment of an officer to the Rhode Island militia, which Burnside commanded. I knew nothing then about the problems associated with replevin. I now wonder whether the document was technically an artifact subject to state seizure at the whim of an aggressive state's attorney.
ephemera: That is a wonderful story. You bring to life the thrill of discovery. Talk about replevin, and other challenges you face as a collector?
Meisner: ...further thoughts on the replevin problem. Although my personal collecting interests rarely involve documents originating with government officials, many collectors are in a quandary. When disposing of collections or individual pieces--or whether to acquire such items-- they fear the items will be set upon by acquisitive officials wanting to develop their own collections, or make names for themselves in the name of a public interest that the officials themselves define. The cost in money, time, and emotional distress to the individual collector confronted by a replevin action can be a major challenge. Fortunately, legal precedent seems to be coming to the aid of collectors. In a recent Supreme Court decision, a lower court's finding for the private owner was upheld. We do not expect the replevin bogeyman to go away anytime soon, however. And such actions tend to be very fact specific.
Since my personal collection consists in large part of manuscripts relating to Arctic and
Antarctic exploration, the main challenge is finding quality material--at a reasonable price. Here it helps to have good connections with dealers who know of your interests, send you catalogs and quotes, and keep you in mind when something special shows up.
ephemera: What advice do you have for someone aspiring to be a successful manuscript collector Meisner: My own experience suggests academic immersion in the topic which is of interest; establishing contact with the community of collectors and dealers in manuscripts; and, of course, joining The Manuscript Society and taking part in its activities around the globe.
ephemera: Congratulations on preserving these wonderful documents, Ivo. Thank you for your thoughtful commentary.
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