How attracted are you to old books? The older the better? I must confess I love books in general, but I am fascinated by old books.

This fascination has gone on for a long time. Yes, I will stop and look at any (attractive) book, but if it is old I will really relish it. I have a handful of old books, which I enjoy, but part of the thrill is in discovering them: at garage sales, old bookstores, who knows where one is going to see an old book.

Our library has an antique book collection which I sometimes visit. Obviously, the old books are very delicate, so we limit their viewing, but it is still a pleasure to be surrounded by such treasures. Unfortunately, it is difficult to read old books, precisely because they are brittle and fragile so just being in the presence of them and even being able to handle them is a thrill.

In my striving for a simpler life, I am committed to only having 100 books at home, the oldest one is not particularly old, a 1944 edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy. In my office I have a handful of technical/professional books, and in Spain I have another handful. For someone as passionate about books as I consider myself to be, I think I own remarkably few books.

What old books do you have? Or have seen? Tell me in the comments below.