At A Loss For Words ...

[picture*books]

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@incunabula
"For the handful of people here who might remember him or have known him: the bookseller Joe Maraglino (of Burt, NY) passed away a few weeks ago after a long illness. Joe was a long-time specialist in medieval books and manuscripts. RIP.
11:13 PM · Sep 22, 2021·Twitter Web App"

https://twitter.com/incunabula/status/1440876913598377985

[imagine.ink]

Here is a list of all fine.books' posts on eBay ... it looks like he "left" eBay on 9/11/2017. 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/4956494

Here is his last post on the Booksellers' Board:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Booksellers/I/td-p/26769157

[wri-8727]

"Michelle:  As far as I was concerned, the bookseller's board was over once finebooks quit posting here."

Not to speak Ill of the dead here because finebooks was a good man but some may feel when finebooks made his first post the Bookboard was over.

[figtree3]

I almost never come to the eBay community any more. Came here today looking for something else, and decided to check Booksellers. I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Joe Maraglino, and his alter ego the Bumping Squirrel. May he/they rest in peace.

[ok-mrs-bee]

After many months (years?) away from the US Bookseller's Board, I decided to take a look in and catch up on which familiar names were still posting.  I am devastated by this news, so long after Joe's passing.  I used to be a contributor to the UK eBay Books Board which enjoyed many very lively threads in years gone by.  Joe joined in and his posts to our ridiculous story thread were highly amusing (and a bit naughty!)  His intellect shone a light across many genres.

[imagine.ink]

I am devastated to inform the Bookseller's Board that another longtime cherished member of this board, Jack, who posted as Adderbolt, passed away yesterday, August 19, 2022.     😪

I know his faith in God was strong and I know he is at peace now, but I feel as though the earth lost someone very special and irreplaceable. 

[bugler1998]

Thanks Michelle for that sad news.  

while there are many criticisms of social media, the one positive is when word gets out about the passing of a friend.  If anybody has a fond memory of adderbolt, please post them here.

[lludwig]

At one time, several of us wrote haiku. Adderbolt (Jack) wrote under the name of Billy O'Kane and he was by far the most prolific. Here are some:

Lives are very short
Fading into a dense fog
Of pure states of thought

Flames for God's candles
Lightning dancing through the clouds
To thunderous cheers

Energy and rage
Shaped as by rushing rivers
Ever so twisted

With no fixed address
Water seeks its own level
As well as it will

Your last days on earth
Between facts and promises
Are gifts with no card

Faded under layers
Of time whispering to you
The plainest of truths

Billy O'Kane

[wri-8727]

We call night the privation of relish

In the appetite of all things

St. John of the Cross 

G*speed, dear Adderbolt

[katiethebooklady]

Breath taking.

Thank you for sharing that. 

[blackandtanbooks]

Thanks for posting this, Stan. Definitely a significant loss to the book trade.  Some of you may recall this piece he did for BookThink years ago >>>

https://www.bookthink.com/0139/139cat1.htm

It's a good example of how dense with meaning and precise his writing was - and of course, by extension, his mind. (My developer had a nightmarish experience coding it, BTW. I knew he would catch the slightest error and blame it on me!) Katie was likely the closest to him. They talked on the phone often. I'm certain he was attracted to her sense of humor. I know I was. It's too bad she's not with us anymore because I'm sure she could've filled in some blanks for us. I talked to him several times on the phone myself, most memorably when he told me about his cat who lived to be well north of 30 years. Some of you may recall photos he posted of her.  Another was to upbraid me for something I wrote on BookThink - imagine that - but then, he didn't suffer fools, and I could certainly sustain that role at times. Eventually, however, I learned that if I could set my ego aside, there was much to learn from him. Safe journey, Joe.

David, I'm sorry to hear about Jack. I know you were good friends. 

Oh - and Michele! We were supposed to meet for lunch sometime, and then COVID hit. We saw a great concert at the Majestic a month or so ago - America - and the dudes can still sing.  Anyway, if you're still up for it, I'll be in touch. 

For now, bless this board and everything it was, and best wishes to all going forward!

Craig

[imagine.ink]

Craig, yes, we'll have to do lunch sometime ... perhaps in the spring when it warms up a little here in Gettysburg.  

Speaking of the Majestic Theatre, do you know that Ken Burns is doing a presentation there in February as part of his Film Festival?  I bought tickets for it immediately when they became available and am really looking forward to it.

https://www.gettysburgmajestic.org/ken-burns

An interesting side note about Joe and Jack ... they died exactly a year apart on the same day in August - Joe in 2021 and Jack in 2022. 

[blackandtanbooks]

Yes, that festival should be wonderful, Michele. Almost always I like what Ken Burns does, but the exception was his recent effort on Ernest Hemingway. It seemed that his focus wasn't on his greatness as a writer but more on clues he "uncovered" about his so-called bisexuality. Right. Again and again it came up. Most of us have been introduced to this decades ago. At best it's old - and questionable - news; at worst just made up crap. He liked women with short hair. So? For some reason he must have had an axe to grind. I couldn't watch all of it. Very disappointed, especially since we live in an age where things like this are more or less accepted. I truly loved one of his early docs (maybe his first?) on jazz.

[lyceumdreams]

Good bye dear friend. You taught me more than anyone I have ever known. We solved mysteries together, did business, talked endless hours on the telephone and altogether had a wonderful experience. I know heavens special collections librarian was elated at the news of your arrival. The many many times you went into your personal safe and pulled out some amazing item, that you did not have time for, but were more than happy to move  to me and allow me to experience the joys of comradery and collegiality and to make a little coin as well.

One of the last of the great old school incunabula booksellers...... His method of book description should be taught at university. Simply amazing. 

Joe spent many years studying The Book of Kells and one of the highlights of his life was actually being able to touch a leaf, in the days when a page was turned everyday. He delighted in this even into his later years and his joy at that moment just shows his passion for his craft. 

Joe spent many many of his final years trying to help other booksellers understand the tradition they represent and was meticulous to his craft to the point where it rubbed off on all those around him. 

Joe was an exemplary human being in every way and the smartest person I have ever known. Rest in Peace old buddy.

You and The bumping*squirrel are alive in the minds of men and will never be forgotten. 

[homers*attic]

My sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Joe, and by extension to all of you who knew him on the old Bookseller board.

Odd that I've been thinking of him lately, and found some of the old squirrel gifs he used to post that I've saved.

Joe was an angel when our beloved cat, Bear, fell ill. He and the community here were overwhelming with their support, and the memory of that time moves me to tears to this day.

God bless you Joe, and thank you.

[wri-8727]

Stunning

Whoever attracted fine.books here was

special so please speak to his hono(u)r