Reach and Spalding Pages on ebay

[bn2cardz]

I have noticed in one of my ebay search emails that an abundance of pages have been showing up the last few days. I finally decided to see who was selling them and if I can track it back to the original books.

I have found this seller:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Vintage-Spor...%7C1918%7C1920

Has bought some books recently. Some of them look like the pages are falling out as in this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage...p2047675.l2557

Another looks like it is still intact, but is missing both the front and back covers:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage...item5b059cba67

But this one seems to have the cover and is intact. Granted the front cover is ripped, but that is the only "structural" flaw that I notice in the photos:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage...item5b059d29ad

Often I see the people that cut these up say that it is better to cut them up then allow them to fall apart. I can see book number one being split up because the pages are falling out anyways, but by book three it seems like the book could have been kept together for some great amount of time. So at what point is the damage enough to say it is beyond keeping it as a historical book and instead split them up into "collectible pictures"?

[ethicsprof]

I hate to see the books used for any purpose other than for being read as a book. I've bought up quite a few of the spalding and reach in recent months to
help save these jewels of baseball of history and for my own personal research needs.

all the best,
barry

[Runscott]

The argument by sellers, any time you see these pages being sold here or on ebay, is that they are only ripping up otherwise worthless books. This may be true for some, but it's also a lie coming from others.

One thing I can tell you with certainty: if you buy a cut out page, regardless of the condition of the book it came from, it encourages sellers to do it to good books.

[glynparson]

however if people keep buying them and the sellers properly identify them I feel they should be allowed to do it. I do not see it as an activity that should be considered illegal. I am not sure if properly disclosed i would even consider it unethical. I would prefer they stay intact but if there is demand for properly identified pages being sold then who am I to stop someone from buying it.

[Runscott]

Glyn, it is certainly not illegal, and it certainly can't be stopped - if you want to personally support the activity, then either buy cut out pages, or, as you have done here, defend others who are doing it.

[Econteachert205]

This type of stuff has gone on with Gustav Dore book engravings etc. forever in the book world. Would never buy one myself.