Originally from New York City, Rudd has always had ample access to
antique malls and flea markets growing up through her mother and
grandmothers antiques business. When she was younger, she would travel
with them to antique shows across the country to help and to continue
her search. During her college years, she has found a few additions to
her collection locally at Aunt Margarets Antique Mall on Main Street in
Newark.
By collecting what she finds in person, she is always discovering new editions of the series.
In addition to the titles and editions she already collects, Rudd is
interested in collecting foreign editions of the series as well as books
from the turn of the century that served as precursors to these types
of series.
Another avenue she plans to explore is more personal: Her
great-great uncle Julian R. Paul illustrated some of the cover art for
various titles within these series. However, it was common for many of
the authors and artists involved in the production of these books to be
anonymous, making this mission more challenging. While she has one title
in her collection that her great-great uncle designed the cover for,
she plans to delve into research and find others.
I think my collection will never be finished because there are so
many avenues to explore, Rudd said. As her collection continues to
expand, the size and number of bookshelves where she currently keeps her
trove will grow too.
Seth Trotter Book Collecting Contest
Rudd earned second place in the 2019 Friends of the University of
Delaware Librarys Seth Trotter Book Collecting Contest. The other
winners in the book collecting contest were Joseph Nakao and Sean McAllister.
The Friends created the contest to encourage reading and research, the
creation of personal libraries, and an appreciation of printed or
illustrated works for pleasure and scholarship among UD undergraduate
and graduate students. Students can learn more about the 2020 Seth
Trotter Book Collecting Contest, including how to submit their
applications, on this website.
National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest
In addition to being recognized by the Friends of the UD Library,
Rudd won second prize in the 2019 National Collegiate Book Collecting
Contest for her collection. In October, Rudd attended the awards
ceremony at the Library of Congress alongside representatives from the
Friends group and the University. As part of her prize, Rudd received a
years membership to the Grolier Club, Americas oldest and largest
society for bibliophiles, and will receive a mentor from the group.
Article by Allison Ebner; photos by Sean Diffendall
Published Dec. 19, 2019