Rare, antique books to be auctioned

MURRIETA -- History buffs, sports and comic book collectors and antique lovers may find something of interest at the Friends of the Murrieta Library bookstore's upcoming rare book auction at the library.

This is the fifth year the bookstore has hosted a silent auction selling rare books that have been donated. The event kicks off March 13 and runs through March 27.

While the bookstore always sells donated books for 50 cents apiece, once in a while the volunteer group receives contributions of antique or rare books that can fetch a great deal more.

The last four auctions raised an average of $1,000 for the library, bookstore General Manager Nancy Dixon said.

Dixon credits the auction idea to bookstore volunteer Maggie Pilotte, who also runs the bookstore's Internet sales.

"Anytime we get something we think has special value, we put it aside for Maggie," she said.

In past auctions, the bookstore sold a Shakespeare collection from the early 1800s, rare cookbooks, a five-volume collection on the Civil War, a 12-volume Charles Dickens set, a book written by Adolf Hitler's physician, classic comic books and a book about Irish literature, which had four very serious bidders, Pilotte said.

"I try to make it a little bit of everything," she added.

The books will be displayed at the library, at 39589 Los Alamos Road, until the auction ends March 27.

This year's auction will offer 37 books, including "The Second World War," a two-volume book and album set by Winston Churchill,bookstore volunteer Pat Farmer said.

"This set is really, really neat because it's rare to find the set complete," she said. "You find some of the books and some of the record, but not usually together."

The books will be displayed under glass at the library with a description of the item, she said. The silent auction bids are recorded in a book that lists the minimum bid and bidding increments, Farmer said.

Pilotte said sometimes it takes all year to find the 35 or so books needed for the auction.

"I have to go through literally hundreds of boxes to find the books," she said, adding that she then researches each book's value on the Internet.

"I check my sources and find a comparable book to set a fair, minimum bid," she said.

Bookstore volunteer Lois Wurtz said that if someone wants to inspect a book more closely, they need to call the bookstore to make an appointment. Appointments and information can be obtained by calling 677-5350.

Contact staff writer Laura Mitchell at (909) 676-4315, Ext.2621, or lmitchell@californian.com.

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