- The Bibliophile interview features author Jack Wajcman discussing a lifetime of collecting
- He began with coins at age six and books at age seven, starting his flying saucer collection at eight
- His "grail" book, Mysteries of the Great War by Harold T. Wilkins, took nearly 35 years to find
- The final copy surfaced online for around $450 — a fair price for its rarity
- Wajcman predicts collecting will shift toward decorative and passion-driven purposes
Inside The Bibliophile Interview
The Bibliophile interview sits down with famed author and lifelong collector Jack Wajcman in his home to talk about collectables, rare books, and the habits that shape a collector's life. The conversation covers everything from childhood coin folders to one of the longest grail-book hunts in modern collecting memory.
Video Highlights:
- Wajcman started collecting coins at age six, when silver dollars were still available at banks
- He began collecting books at seven and flying saucer material at eight
- His grail find, Mysteries of the Great War, took roughly 35 years to locate
- He shares candid views on the decline of physical collecting venues and the future of the hobby
For book collectors, this is a rare first-person account of how a childhood hobby evolves into a decades-long pursuit — including the practical realities of pricing, patience, and online book hunting.
How the Collection Began
Wajcman describes his origins in collecting with characteristic humor, noting that boys with "minimal social skills" tend to start early. His path followed a classic collector's progression, and each stage built toward his adult focus on rare and unusual books.
| Age | Collection Focus | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| ~6 | Coins | Silver coins still circulated; banks exchanged silver dollars for bills |
| 7 | Books | Began the reading habit that later fueled his writing career |
| 8 | Flying saucers | Started the core of his main specialty collection |
He credits book collecting with directly feeding his work as a writer — especially when paired, as he puts it, with a "fairly skewed perspective." The lesson for any collector: early interests are not wasted time. They compound.
Start with what circulates. Older coins, used books, and secondhand paperbacks remain the most accessible entry points for new collectors because supply is still visible in everyday life.
The Grail Book: A 35-Year Hunt
The centerpiece of The Bibliophile interview is the story of Harold T. Wilkins, an English journalist Wajcman calls one of the "greatest if most ridiculous" English writers of the past century. Wilkins wrote intensely on pirate treasure, mysteries, and flying saucers — but his most elusive title was a serious one.
| Book Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Mysteries of the Great War |
| Author | Harold T. Wilkins |
| Length | Roughly 500 pages |
| Character | Serious reference work, unlike Wilkins' wilder saucer titles |
| Hunt duration | About 35 years |
| Found via | Online bookseller listings (early 2000s) |
| Final price | Around $450 |
Wajcman searched since before the internet era. Even after online marketplaces emerged, military bookstores had never heard of the book, and library records suggested surviving copies were likely gone. A copy finally surfaced around 2004–2005 — proof that "unfindable" books rarely stay hidden forever.
A 35-year hunt is not unusual for genuinely rare books. Set expectations accordingly, and never assume a listing will wait — rare copies can sell within hours of appearing online.
Step-by-Step: How to Hunt a Rare Book
The methods Wajcman describes translate directly into a repeatable process for any collector chasing a scarce title.
Define the Target Precisely
Confirm the exact title, author, edition, and publication details. Vague targets produce vague results.
Exhaust Institutional Records
Check library catalogs and bibliographic databases to establish whether copies are documented anywhere at all.
Query Specialist Dealers
Contact bookstores in the relevant niche — military, occult, or genre specialists — and ask them to flag the title.
Monitor Online Marketplaces
Set saved searches and alerts on major book-selling platforms so new listings reach you immediately.
Act Fast and Pay Fairly
When a copy appears, evaluate condition and price against rarity. A $450 price for a near-unique book can be a bargain.
Patience Strategy
- Decades-long mindset
- Low urgency, high specificity
- Best for true grails
Alert Strategy
- Saved searches on marketplaces
- Dealer want-lists
- Best for moderately rare books
Network Strategy
- Collector communities
- Specialist booksellers
- Best for unrecorded titles
The Future of Collecting
Wajcman is candid — and dubious — about where collecting is headed. He points to two converging forces: the internet moving trade online, and rising rents killing physical venues. Record stores, DVD shops, and both new and used bookstores have steadily disappeared, while even small-town antique sellers struggle with declining sales.
| Trend | Driver | Effect on Collectors |
|---|---|---|
| Venues moving online | Internet marketplaces | Fewer in-person hunting grounds |
| Store closures | Rising rents | Loss of community and serendipity |
| Antique mall decline | Weak local demand | More sales, fewer steady shops |
| Decorative collecting | Shifting motivation | Books valued as objects and display pieces |
His forecast: a growing return to collecting for its own sake — books chosen for beauty, presence, and the simple joy of ownership rather than strictly for market value.
Modern Collector Checklist:
- Choose one specialty and learn it deeply
- Set up saved searches on major book marketplaces
- Build relationships with specialist dealers
- Track condition and edition details for every purchase
- Collect what you love, not only what appreciates
Passion-driven collecting is not a downgrade. The collectors who endure market cycles are almost always the ones whose interest survives even when prices do not.
FAQ
Q: What is The Bibliophile interview about?
It is a conversation with author and collector Jack Wajcman, recorded in his home, covering his childhood start in coins and books, his flying saucer collection, a 35-year grail book hunt, and his outlook on the future of collecting.
Q: What was the grail book in The Bibliophile interview?
Harold T. Wilkins' Mysteries of the Great War, a roughly 500-page serious reference work. Wajcman searched for it for about 35 years before a copy surfaced online around 2004–2005 for about $450.
Q: How did Jack Wajcman start collecting?
He began collecting coins at about age six, when silver coins still circulated, then books at seven and flying saucer material at eight — a progression he credits with later shaping his writing career.
Q: Does Wajcman think physical collecting is dying?
He is skeptical about traditional venues, citing internet competition and rising rents closing bookstores and antique shops. However, he expects collecting itself to persist, shifting toward decorative and passion-driven collecting.