I don't have any connections with the museum, but have visited it several times during the consturction... I don't have a clue what they will want to put on display or what their real plans are. But you can find Bernd Greisinger on Facebook and contact him if you wish to see if there is any room to aid him out.

Just out of interest, I checked Mark Faith's facebook page. Mr. Faith seems to fancy himself an expert in Tolkien bibliography:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid ... bde71c77b&id=149452046749

Someone hasn't been reading his Hammond.

Why is that every time I read anything posted anywhere by (or about) Mark Faith, I get a sense of mild irritation?

S.

One thing I don't like is MF's emphasis on the cost of a book - 'The Most Expensive Tolkien Book in the World' - that sort of thing. I get the impression we're all supposed to go 'Ooh!' in admiration. Actually, it gets up my nose - anyone can make up a collection of expensive items, if they've got the money.

My own collection contains items of interest, including some original artworks by Tolkien inspired artists, and some items signed by Tolkien. These were not priced in the thousands; only twice have I paid over three figures for any Tolkien item (and neither of these were signed). I collect within my budget; I've never paid more than the equivalent of a month's salary for any item.

I'm not naive; I know that markets are ruled by what buyers will pay. But in the area of Tolkien collecting, we're seeing what happened some years ago in the classic car market, when speculators drove up the prices beyond what enthusiasts can afford. It's a shame; esp. when (as in some cases) the prices are being driven upwards by folk who don't know as much about the topic as the rest of us!

On the other hand - going back to my own collection for a moment - I enjoy showing it to fellow enthusiasts; no matter what their level of interest in 'Tolkien and all that', it never seems to take less than four hours for them to get an idea of what the collection's about.

I'd love to show it to a larger audience, but I worry about security. Now if the proprieters of the Swiss museum were kind enough to stump up the air-fare, I'd consider it. I wouldn't need a fancy hotel; I'd spend my nights kipping down in a sleeping bag next to the display cabinets!

I didn't realise you guys were discussing MF's comment on TolkienLibrary & posted a comment there, just after Pieter's. You can remove this too Beren, since I didn't say anything of great value; just a kind of: why are you posting this comment here Mark?

Anyway, the museum sounds nice enough. However like garm I have little interest (a bit harsh; perhaps "less interest") in people "new" to collecting --who spend massive, seem to care little about finding out about Tolkien (or Tolkien bibliography), and who in 10 years are probably going to be collecting (or doing) something else. I just don't feel there is any substance there; a genuine underlying interest being shown. Now, people who have fabulous collections that cost peanuts: that's more interesting. Especially (unlike you garm! --who probably assembled much of yours decades ago! --only kidding...) those who have assembled a collection on a shoestring budget today. That takes time, patience, and not a little skill & knowledge.

BH

I fully understand what you mean. The only nice thing is that the guy who wants to open the museum wants to open it up and has no problem to have people come there to do research etc. I know walking tree publishers have used his collection several times to do some research... and that alone is a good thing.

As for the rest I believe MF has some personal problems with the guy behind the museum and is picking on me for writing about it.

Agreed. Agreed.

BH

I was just looking at Beren's article again - the building looks huge, doesn't it? Is all that space just for the museum? It's vast!

Plenty of room for you to kip on the floor!

BH