I’ve spent a half months salary on literature auctions. French, latin, english, swedish, 1700s and up. History, memoires, philosophy, religion, science and math, poetry, stories. Art as well, happened to buy prints of Girodet and Dürer that I enjoy very much.
Did some duolingo for french just recently and already did for latin two years ago. It’s difficult to read them but broad context is enough for an overview understanding and I feel a detailed understanding increase by the chapter from exposure alone.
Apart from the actual books I enjoy bidding, similar to but healthier than gambling on stocks, and “winners curse” of overpaying for stuff I really like eh I’m aware of it but the dopamine is worth it too. Some arbitrage opportunities as well, as in finds on local auctions and selling online internationally, but usually international shipping for heavier stuff like entire œuvres and just the time investment to pack and ship something deters me from doing that. Wouldnt want to damage 1600s books in shipping I suppose as well, they look quite cheap locally but fetch more internationally.
Nice. When cash was more prevalent in my life (ie before kids) I got into buying 1700s and earlier books on eBay. Magnificent things. I couldn’t ever part with them, users shouldn’t be dealers!
I love how many absolutely insanely interesting books from that period aren’t affordable. I have a copy of the book in which Bishop Ussher put forward his theory that the earth was made on "the entrance of the night preceding the 23rd day of October... the year before Christ 4004"; that is, around 6 pm on 22 October 4004 BC.
I use as a cautionary example of data driven analysis. It was all from lineages in the bible and ages mentioned there. Seemed like a solid methodology at the time!
Did some duolingo for french just recently and already did for latin two years ago. It’s difficult to read them but broad context is enough for an overview understanding and I feel a detailed understanding increase by the chapter from exposure alone.
Apart from the actual books I enjoy bidding, similar to but healthier than gambling on stocks, and “winners curse” of overpaying for stuff I really like eh I’m aware of it but the dopamine is worth it too. Some arbitrage opportunities as well, as in finds on local auctions and selling online internationally, but usually international shipping for heavier stuff like entire œuvres and just the time investment to pack and ship something deters me from doing that. Wouldnt want to damage 1600s books in shipping I suppose as well, they look quite cheap locally but fetch more internationally.