Friday 13 January 2012

Added Value; Book inscriptions - to Karolinka Carolyn - The three little sisters

The Three Little Sisters

Many of the books that come into stock contain personal dedications. Often, these are simple to/from messages but sometimes the dedication offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the book.


To Karolinka Carolyn - who can pick flowers, and dance a little, too. Birthday Greetings from the Major. 1st January, 1944.

Something about that note makes me smile each time I read it. I have no idea who Karolinka Carolyn is, I don’t know what her relationship to ‘the major’ is or was, but it doesn't matter. The message speaks volumes.

Further Details here; The three little sisters a story from Poland by Lucyna Krzemieniecka

Have you ever found a book with a sad, sweet or funny dedication?

10 comments:

  1. Don't these just make history come alive? Can't you just read the love in this? Don't you just want to watch her pick flowers and dance? Loved it.

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  2. What a beautiful message! I don't think anybody would write inscriptions like that these days. Reading it made me smile too.

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  3. The Desert Rocks14 January 2012 at 02:42

    The saddest ones are from my dad and grandfather. My dad felt that you cannot give a book as a gift without a dedication of some sort--so I have quite a few books with his signature, but even sadder are the children books I received from my dad's dad who I never met and he also wrote cute little dates and greetings in the books.

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  4. This made me smile, too. Something about little girls, flowers and dances. What a sweet 'Major!'

    I haven't come across any sweet and/or sad dedication, unless it's from the author/artist himself. (Okay, I think this is more of a preface/forward rather than a dedication to anyone in particular, but Bob Dylan's ramblings for Highway 61 Revisited made me quiver and laugh every time I read it.)

    And Barbara, I want to thank you for your dear words on our latest blog post. They mean a lot to me. Your love for our posts means a lot to me. Always.

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  5. barbaraannefisher14 January 2012 at 14:43

    Donna, Yes to each of those questions!

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  6. barbaraannefisher14 January 2012 at 14:56

    I'm going to give a lot more thought to gift inscriptions from now on. To/from, with love will no longer do!

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  7. barbaraannefisher14 January 2012 at 15:02

    I think that’s lovely! Even though you didn’t meet your dad’s dad you have something from him to you. I’ve only got a couple of books that my mum and dad wrote in but those are the ones that are most precious to me.

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  8. barbaraannefisher14 January 2012 at 15:14

    It’s me that should be thanking you I love reading your posts. Now I need to find and read that preface!

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  9. I really liked this! One of my friends is Polish and his wife's name is Caroline- he always calls her Karolinka. It made me think of them. I have never heard of this book- but it looks like a great one. I love the inscription!

    ~Jess
    http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/

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  10. barbaraannefisher15 January 2012 at 13:49

    Hi Jess
    That’s amazing! I didn’t think anyone would actually know a ‘karolinka’ – how lovely. According to Google Karolinka is a variant of Caroline (Old German) and Karolina (Slavic). Is your friend old enough to have owned this book? I would love to return it to the original owner.

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx