Delia's Puzzles

[ellenkushner]

We are unpacking the next truckload. Yep, for awhile we nearly had a complete home sweet home - but that was before the truck came with all the stuff from Delia's old house, including hordes of family memorabilia not to mention some truly impressive furniture. And now we're back in Greater Boxland - and its suburbs, Paperbagia and WhatthehelldidIpackthisforistan.

There is a great deal to give away, and even more to sell. The selection process is somewhat grueling. Every box contains many memories. Delia's just found the 3 boxes of jigsaw puzzles that she was aces at as a teenager, doing over and over again (no wonder she can now eyeball a room and know exactly what will fit in it!). She's willing to let them move on, and I'm wondering if they are of any value as collectibles? 2 round and 1 octagonal puzzles, all from England, just cardboard but with all pieces intact. Ca. 1965, Springbok editions. Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze; Romeo & Juliet by Tanya Moiseiwitsch; English Legends. Bless her. Any thoughts? Any personal need to own them or pass them on to kids who love jigsaws?

Comments

[handworn.livejournal.com]

They aren't worth much, I'm sorry to say. Er, rather, I'm happy to say that you are both still so young that they aren't worth much. The eBay results (http://search.ebay.com/Springbok_W0QQbsZSearchQQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfclZ3QQfposZ19125QQfromZR10QQfrppZ50QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsadisZ200QQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZbs) show that the highest results are either those items which have to do with the real springbok (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springbok_Antelope) or which are puzzles of pieces of art by famous artists like Picasso. (Tanya Moiseiwitsch is an unfamiliar name to me, so my guess would be that she isn't as famous as Picasso.)

Our kids are too young and we, as a result, have no time, but that's an awfully generous offer. Thanks anyway.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

That is just fascinating! I'm not too savvy on eBay yet - thanks for showing me the way. Ah, if I only had a real springbok! As for TM:

"Tanya Moiseiwitsch (3 December 1914 - 19 February 2003) is one of the twentieth century's pioneering figures in the area of theatre design. Not only did she emerge as one of a handful of women designers working professionally on an international level in costume design, but also became a leading figure in the male-dominated world of scenic design."
http://www.las.iastate.edu/kiosk/2499.shtml

[pennyhill.livejournal.com]

Given the speculative nature of your & Delia's fiction, I am concerned about her ability to "eyeball" a room. Next time it happens, take pictures.
snicker

[otherdeb.livejournal.com]

Would love to own them. Jigsaw puzzles are one of my favorite things to do, and I belong to an online site that sends me a new puzzle every morning. If we can figure out how to meet to make a transfer, I would love to take them off Delia's hands. If she decides to let that happen, please comment back, and I will send you my email address so we can figure out details.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

We'd love that! Since you're in NYC, maybe we can hook up at Delia's KGB reading on Oct. 18? Or our multiple Books of Wonder reading/signing on Oct. 5th? It would be fun to see you there.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm thinking the 18th would be the better date for me, since I have a standing commitment on Thursdays. Sadly, I would ask if we can hook up mayhbe when you all get there, since I don't stay out on weekdays much at this point (I have to get up at 3:45 am in order to get to work on time these days).

But it would be great to see you again! I would need to know where KGB is, though.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Poor you! Sounds exhausting. I'll write with details to the edress on your User Profile page.

[elswhere1.livejournal.com]

No useful puzzle advice, just sympathy re. the painful culling process. I had a hard enough time just packing up one room this summer to move its contents to another room... the sewing kit someone gave me when I was 9! That biography of M. Carey Thomas that I never did read! The driftwood I gathered ten years ago! It's those uncategorizable bits of flotsam that are hardest to deal with.

Courage to you as you fight your way to the pleasant valley of Everythinginitsplaceville!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

You speak words of wisdom in one so young. (Welcome to LJ, Els! Glad you finally saw the light enough to get a moniker - I assume your LJ page just forwards people to "Travels in Booland"?)

[weelz.livejournal.com]

Okay I'm gonna be reaaaaallly evil....do either you or Delia want a half-done Huuuuuge Doodle art of Heraldry?? *weg*

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wish. But you would not believe the huge piles of art already awaiting placement. Between my dad, who collects 19c fine prints of Paris and 20c ones of NYC (and can be awfully generous), and our several artist friends who think nothing of dropping a new work in the mail around birthday times, we are . . . well, let's just say that we are actually having arguments about whether we are going to sacrifice hanging space to more bookshelves, since we have not enough of either - in spades!

There's evil, and then there's EEEEEEvil, I'm afraid. xx, e

. . . And then there's Awake, and Not Quite Awake - I just realized you're probably talking about a puzzle, not a picture at all! Urk. Anyhow, just to be clear to everyone: Delia hasn't done a jigsaw puzzle in about 20 years, and I never have. So keep it on the table, and get back to work, you!

[weelz.livejournal.com]

Nope, not puzzle...remember Doodle Art?..the intricate colour-em yourself drawings...came in a big tube...I've coloured in most of it...just can't seem to get around to doing all the background boring bits. Anyway..just a tease to add more stuff to the stuff you have stuffed in boxes. A tease that bombed. ;)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

OK, I'm probably showing my age . . . no Doodle Art in these memory banks! Sorry.