[cercamons]

Has anyone here run across "Ghosts of My Friends," by Cecil Henland? It doesn't have a copyright but appears to have been published in the early part of the 20th Century. It is really a delightful concept: a book of somewhat glossy pages creased down the center of each page. Your friends would sign their names along the crease and fold the paper, creating a ghostly inkblot. Each page also had spaces for the name and date.

Of course, all of this is much more ghostly now, when most if not all of the people who signed the book ARE ghosts. I was just curious if other people have run across this. Also, does anyone have a suggestion of a good ink to try and reproduce this effect with? All my inks are too fast drying.

Steve

[Ernst Bitterman]

Just having a gander at the inks forum of late, it sounds like many of the inks meant to avoid feathering would suit the purpose-- I think Private Reserve inks have come under some fire for taking WAY TOO LONG to dry.

[RandyE]

Fascinating idea, but no, I have not seen this book before. I did a quick search and found some copies that were partly used - very neat item I think.

- R

[cercamons]

I started another thread on slow-drying inks in the Ink forum. Xfeather is awesome, although it turns out that it is the AMOUNT of ink that matters when creating ghost signatures. None of the inks works well in a fine or medium fountain pen. But they all blot nicely if applied by even a fine dip pen. I will post pictures here or there.

I found a note purported to be by Mark Twain online. It talks about ghost signatures and includes his own ghost signature as an example. But it is $8,000.

Thanks again for replying. Steve

[cercamons]

 Ghosts_of_My_Friends.jpg (37.89K)
Number of downloads: 2  2008_ghost.jpg (32.83K)
Number of downloads: 2

 1908_ghost.jpg (35.56K)
Number of downloads: 2

Here are pictures of the books I was describing, a ghost-autograph from 1908 (signed and dated) and one from 2008. I generally preserve the antique objects that come my way. But one copy of this book already had autographs from 1912 and 1921. I am adding five autographs from 2008. Then I will put it on my shelf and hope that someone will discover it in a few more decades and add their autographs. In a sense, I feel like I am keeping the book alive for its original purpose.

If you want to try your own ghost autographs, I did discover that the secret is not how fast the ink dries but how much ink in on the page. Dip pens seem to work best.

Steve

This post has been edited by cercamons: 18 April 2008 - 03:50 AM

[RandyE]

Wow! Thanks for posting the images. I may have to buy that copy I found that was half full now. Very cool.

- R

[cercamons]

It turns out there is another book almost identical to "Ghosts" but with no author cited. It is called "Your Hidden Skeleton," and apparently inspired the album name and art for a rock album of the same name. I can only find one reference to the book, for $100 at Optos. Way too much for me.

"Ghosts" was written by Cecil Henland. After extensive internet research, I found out that Cecil was a woman, "a writer of children's books," founder of a nursery school system in England and the widow of Lt. Col. Arthur Jex-Blake Percival, who was killed in battle in November 1914. Nothing else, not even the names of her books. If anyone knows anything more about her or either book, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Steve

[CraigR]

Thanks for posting about these books. What a clever idea. /Craig

[Lozzic]

Of course, all of this is much more ghostly now, when most if not all of the people who signed the book ARE ghosts.

I find that concepts like that really creep me out (for want of a better expression), the idea of history and the marks that people leave behind, I find it to be one of the reasons I am attracted to Calligraphy, historical writing paraphernalia and so on. If I look at an old object, especially writing, in a museum I get mesmerised; weapons in museums also mesmerise me thinking that they may have actually killed someone...

[aussie craig]

Has anyone here run across "Ghosts of My Friends," by Cecil Henland? It doesn't have a copyright but appears to have been published in the early part of the 20th Century. It is really a delightful concept: a book of somewhat glossy pages creased down the center of each page. Your friends would sign their names along the crease and fold the paper, creating a ghostly inkblot. Each page also had spaces for the name and date.

Of course, all of this is much more ghostly now, when most if not all of the people who signed the book ARE ghosts. I was just curious if other people have run across this. Also, does anyone have a suggestion of a good ink to try and reproduce this effect with? All my inks are too fast drying.

Steve

[aussie craig]

gday steve
i have a copy of this book that has some very interesting signatures in its pages. the first date and signature is from 22 jul 1908. signatures include one of australias 5th prime minister and other millitary and political figures of the day. in regards to other books by the same author the book lists 6 others. they are: the mind of a friend, the book of butterflies, the book of the hostess, the christmas book, hand 'o' graphs and the bridge companion. i am actually trying to find a value for the copy of this book that i have. it is so unique that i have been unable to find anything about it

[AndyH]

My father had this book, nearly all filled out. He was born in 1903, and judging from the handwriting, I'd put him at about 10-12 years of age when it was filled out. I do not know its present whereabouts, perhaps my brother has it?

I remember thinking it an interesting concept when I first saw it as a child. Even more interesting now...

[pkh]

I was at an auction this morning and
what should appear but a copy of "Ghosts
of My Friends!" It was even more charming
than I thought it would be -- it was about
half full and the dates were 1912 through 1918.
I was determined to have it, and got the first
bid in, but no matter what I bid there was
another bidder who went five dollars more.
I stopped at $35 as that was all I had with
me, but then another bidder jumped it and it
ended up going to that gentleman for $85.00.
I want to check Abebooks, Alibris, Ebay etc to
see what the online price is. And yes, I think
the writing in this particular copy was all done
with dip pens. Very, very cool.
pkh

[Okami]

I also found this to be very cool, I like the "general" in this photo. One of Amazon's used book sellers has a copy for $45 - don't know what they consider "used - acceptable" though
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...;condition=used

[Okami]

First experiment - my ink dried too fast. Thinking about trying it one name at a time.