Episode 269: Ben Abramson Speaks

“my strange old book-collector” [EMPT] Ben Abramson with Vincent Starrett at a signing event for ‘Books Alive’ Circa 1940. Location Unknown / Photographer Unknown (Source: A Road of Intangible Inclinations)There are some Sherlockians we wish we could have interviewed for this program — individuals long gone but fondly remembered — whose unique perspectives would be a boon to our listeners. Unfortunately, most of them are beyond our reach.In this case however, we have one who is available to us but comes to us in a prepackaged interview. Ben Abramson, BSI ("The Beryl Coronet") was a bookseller and the first publisher of The Baker Street Journal. And he sat for an interview on the radio in 1954.We share Ben's background, his early days as a bookseller, his move from Chicago to New York City, his association with some of the Sherlockian greats such as Vincent Starrett, Edgar W. Smith, and Peter Blau, and trace the rise and tragic fall of the BSJ and of Ben himself. The winner of the previous episode's Canonical Couplet is revealed and we share yet another couplet for your identification. The winner will receive a copy of an Old Series BSJ as published by Ben.Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock .com by August 14, 2023 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.Become a Patron!If you become a Patron of the Arts, not only will you help to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and transcription services, but we have thank-you gifts at certain tiers and ad-free versions of the episodes for all patrons.Download [Save As] | File size: 75.2 MB, 57:30Listen to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere anywhereSponsorsWessex Press/Gasogene Books is the premier publisher of books about Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle.MX Publishing brings the best in new Sherlock Holmes novels, biographies, graphic novels and short story collections every month. With over 400 books it's the largest catalogue of new Sherlock Holmes books in the world.Would you care to advertise with us? You can find more information here. Let's chat!LinksThis episode: ihose.co/ihose269The main source for this episode was the blog A Road of Intangible Inclinations: The Chicago Booktrade 1886–1974Irregular Proceedings of the Mid 'Forties from the BSI Archival Series(Abebooks)The Original Series BSJ: Quintessence of Irregular (Phillip Shreffler)A Bookman and His Dealer (Studies in Starrett)Other episodes mentioned:Episode 6: Peter Blau, Part 1Episode 26: A Musical Stroll Down Baker StreetEpisode 61: The Private Life of Vincent StarrettAlso available on Facebook, Tumblr, and TwitterNews about Paxton Whitehead, Worldwide Doyle 2023, and Trifles Episode 27: Rebellion!Previous Episodes mentioned:Episode 144: Historical Sherlock (with Vincent Wright)Many more links, articles, and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at ihose.co/flipsherlock  as well as through our accounts on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.And would you consider leaving us a rating and review? It would help other Sherlockians to find us.Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.TranscriptWe are so grateful for your support on Patreon, which makes our transcripts possible. Every amount helps. A transcript will be here soon.Become a Patron!