“Where might you see a need for someone like myself within the American book-collecting world?”
Belle considered her thoughts before answering.
“Well, you know there are a few exciting changes starting to happen for we women over here. Why, Ruth Granniss has been the librarian at the Grolier Club for a few years now, despite them not allowing women as members. And she is a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise. Of course she’s acquiring them for the club, but she’s a sophisticated collector in her own right,” Belle emphasized. “And, just last year, a young woman by the name of Rachel McMasters wrote to me a letter telling me how intrigued she was with my work in the book world.” Belle reached for another sip of tea.
“Then this Christmas, I received a card from her, telling me she had gone to her first book sale and purchased a copy ofJardin d’Hyver ou Cabinet des Fleursby Jean Franeau because she wanted to start her own personal botanical library!”
Ada paused. She wasn’t exactly sure what Belle might be suggesting.
“If I were you, Miss Lippoldt, I would consider cultivating the patronage of female book collectors here. They do exist, I assure you. Many of them come from considerable means and demonstrate nearly as much passion for collecting as men like my Mr. Morgan. I encourage you to do a little digging, and I’m sure you will find at least a few who would benefit from your expertise.”
Ada felt that she’d been given a gift by Belle. No one was focusing on these women and their book tastes. Belle da Costa Greene had the unique job of purchasing books for one of the wealthiest men in America. But what if she could do what Belle had suggested and ingratiate herself with the women who were nowhere near as visible, but still had the knowledge and the means?
It would be something that Quaritch would probably turn his nose up at. But Rosenbach? She had an inkling that he might, like any good American, just see it as an opportunity for expansion. After all, it was a veritable new frontier.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
THE TELEGRAM ARRIVED A FEW DAYS AFTER SHE MET WITHBelle da Costa Greene.
Your idea is an excellent one. Do visit Rosenbach. Suggest that we share the list of books Harry wanted but did not purchase this last trip. In the future, Widener family might want to complete his library as he imagined it. B.A.Q.
She took the telegram and placed it on the desk in her hotel room and then lay down. Her exhaustion always hit her hardest in the middle of the day. When she was out of public view, the crying always started. Just like the nausea and sickness that followed, she had become an expert in hiding it until she was all alone.
The very next morning she sat at her desk, pulled out a sheet of Martha Washington Hotel stationery from the drawer, and wrote to Rosenbach.
Dear Dr. Rosenbach,
My name is Ada Lippoldt and I am an employee of Quaritch Ltd. in London, England.
Sadly, I was on board the RMSTitanicwhen tragedy struck and so many fine and innocent souls were lost, like your friend and patron, Harry Elkins Widener. He mentioned you often and with great fondness.
Although I did not know Mr. Widener long, it was a tremendous joy to have assisted him during the last weeks of his life with some of his purchases made at Quaritch Ltd. I know it was his hope to add them and many others to his personal library at Lynnewood Hall. As I am currently in Manhattan for an extended stay, Mr. Quaritch thought it might behoove me to visit you in your office in Philadelphia to discuss Mr. Widener’s book collection, as well as another idea I thought you might find interesting in order to expand your clientele. Please let me know if you might have availability in your schedule next week.
Sincerely,
Ada Lippoldt
Two days later, she was on a train down to Philadelphia. She hid her grief and her secrets beneath her clothes. She walked into Rosenbach’s store on Walnut Street and inhaled the same scent of paper, ink, and hide that had greeted me every time I stepped inside.
“I’m Ada Lippoldt,” she said as she extended her hand.
“I have been looking forward to finally meeting you,” Rosenbach responded as he ushered her into his private office. “It is a great joy to meet another friend of Harry Widener’s.”
Seated on one of the high-back velvet upholstered chairs, Ada looked across at Rosenbach, who had settled himself down at his large desk.
“I’m still in disbelief that Harry has been lost at sea,” he said. “It is an incomprehensible tragedy. Not just for me, but for the book world in general.”
“Mr. Widener spoke of you not only as a friend but as his mentor,” Ada said.
“Thank you,” Rosenbach sighed. “I miss him. Helping him build his library was a great honor.”
“I can imagine,” Ada said as her eyes pooled. Her stomach twisted. She had forced herself earlier that morning to eat dry toast and black tea to stave off her morning sickness, but still it came in waves.
“You look a little peaked, Miss Lippoldt. Was your journey all right? Typically, it is a rather easy train ride from Manhattan to Philadelphia.”
“Oh yes. It’s just been rather hard sleeping since I got on dry land. I’m just a bit tired now, that’s all.”
“Let me get you some tea,” Rosenbach stood up and left the room, allowing Ada to compose herself.
