Rare Book Collection Complements 'Tom Sawyer'

Bob Nelson laughs when he recalls the first rare book he bought by Mark Twain, a first-edition of Puddin’head Wilson.

"It has four or five illustrations on each page. I thought it was so beautiful," he said. “The guy said, ‘Why don’t you just buy one?’ Knowing, of course, I’d be hooked.”

That was in 1975. Twenty years later, Nelson, now 56, owns 200 rare books, all by the iconic American author also known as Samuel Clemens.

"Twain in his time was referred to not just as an American, but as 'The American'," he said. Nelson curated a display of 40 of his 200 books and related items from his Twain collection to support Spotlight on Youth’s production of Tom Sawyer, which has its final public performance Sunday at 2 p.m. A school show is scheduled for Monday morning.

Most of Nelson’s collection became rare books because very few were published. Most were originally given to boys, he said, "and boys don't treat books very well."

Nelson owns an engineering company, which solves fluid flow problems, but is passionate about history and his rare book collection in particular.

"We're talking about leaving (the display) up 'til the end of March," he said Saturday night.

Tickets for Spotlight on Youth's final public Tom Sawyer show, at 2 p.m. today, cost $15 and can be purchased at the box office. Call 734-394-5460 for details.