The Booth Family Center for Special Collections and the Georgetown University Library are proud to share two collections donated by alum Dave Barbor (C'64); the Dave Barbor Vladimir Nabokov Collection and Dave Barbor Alfred Hitchcock Collection. On collecting, and on the topic of collecting both Nabokov and Hitchcock, Barbor notes:
A friend once questioned the purpose of collecting rare books: “With art you’re able to enjoy it on your walls; with books the work just sits on a shelf, and the thing doesn’t exist until it’s taken down and read.” As a collector of both I answered that the instinct is pretty much the same: the possession of a rare signed work by a maker about whom one is passionate; having at hand such a work enhances one’s connection to the artist or writer.
There’s synchronicity in my two collecting interests: Nabokov and Hitchcock were both born in 1899; in 1925 they each married women who would play inestimable roles in their creative output; they each immigrated to the United States in 1940; their respective masterpieces, “Lolita” and “Vertigo,” both appeared in 1958; while each was widely considered preeminent in his field, they were both denied the ultimate recognition that field bestowed - the Nobel Prize and the Oscar. Nabokov did pre-decease Hitchcock, however, by three years.
The Nabokov collection is made up of 230 items and contains Russian, English (US & UK) and French first editions, contributions to books and periodicals from Nabokov’s years in Europe and America, and other significant editions including Nabokov’s first published novel. Notable provenances and presentation copies include books from Nabokov’s own library; books inscribed by Nabokov with original drawings to publishers and friends; and review copies from the libraries of Graham Greene and John Updike.
In addition to the published material, the Dave Barbor Collection on Vladimir Nabokov includes instances of Nabokov correspondence primarily from Nabokov to his publishers and agents but also includes letters from Vera Nabokov and Dmitri Nabokov, mostly dealing with writing and publishing.
The Hitchcock collection consists of 54 items and includes rare monographs and editions on Hitchcock and his films as well as examples of books with his drawn profile and signature, along with filmmakers’ books about him signed by Guillermo Del Toro, Eric Rohmer and Claude Chabrol, and Francois Truffaut.
As with the Nabokov collection, Dave donated Alfred Hitchcock manuscript items. The Dave Barbor Collection on Alfred Hitchcock includes a lengthy letter written in 1955 by Hitchcock to his associate producer covering details of production, promotion and distribution of five of his major films of the 1950s; a warm and lengthy hand-written letter of 1966 from Francois Truffaut to Hitchcock, mainly about the French publication of “Hitchcock/Truffaut”; postcards and letters with family photos from Patricia Hitchcock, mostly written during the filming of “Strangers on a Train”; and a number of production stills and an original poster for “Vertigo.”
The Nabokov books and manuscripts, along with the Hitchcock books and manuscripts are cataloged, described, and awaiting use in the Booth Family Center for Special Collections. You can make an appointment to study items from the Collection by emailing speccoll@georgetown.edu