September 30, 2005

The Sweet Smell of Provenance

By RICHARD W. ORAM and EDWARD L. BISHOP

A characteristic item found in libraries' special collections is the so-called association copy, a book whose significance derives from its connection with a well-known writer, artist, or historical figure. The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin is legendary for owning no fewer than 34 of the 1,000 copies of the first edition of James Joyce's Ulysses, many of which are association copies.

One copy -- which used to belong to T.E. Lawrence,