HitlerвЂ™s Mein Kampf made the cut in 1925, the same year as EinsteinвЂ™s New Theory of Gravitation, which was also included. O.K., so we all knew the canon was formed at a less politically correct time. George Eliot turns up, not for her own work, but as translator of David Friedrich StraussвЂ™ 1835 Jesus without the Myths from German into English in 1840.ДЄmong the most prized books are original edition copies of Charles DarwinвЂ™s вЂOrigin of Species.вЂ™ Waverley, we read, вЂњhas become the progenitor of the historical novel throughout the world,вЂќ while AustinвЂ™s book might only be notable for still being known to this day. So, Jane AustenвЂ™s dedicating her novel Emma to Sir Walter Scott is noted in his inclusion for Waverley, the first of 40 or so of the Waverley novels he published starting in 1814. The only reference to women authors is with reference to males who are included. The PMM is a male club, to be sure-the canon at its most hierarchical and traditional. вЂњWe make special note when we obtain one of those consignments.вЂќ вЂњPMM books, as they are called, have an exalted status,вЂќ said Tom Lecky, head of books and manuscripts at ChristieвЂ™s. The exhibition catalogue and a subsequent 1983 printing have themselves become collectible books, available on Amazon and from rare book dealers. (It includes writings predating Gutenberg, such as those by Aristotle, Dante, Homer and Plato, which were published in book form later.) Among the books that made the cut are AesopвЂ™s Fables, Lewis CarrollвЂ™s Alice in Wonderland, VoltaireвЂ™s Candide, Thomas MaloryвЂ™s Morte dвЂ™Arthur, Thomas MoreвЂ™s Utopia and CiceroвЂ™s Discourse on Old Age.

These are the volumes listed in a publication based on a 1963 British exhibition titled вЂњPrinting and the Mind of Man,вЂќ which identifies 424 books, starting with the Gutenberg Bible and ending with a compilation of Winston Churchill speeches, that are said to have influenced Western civilization. There is a canon of books that is most sought after by the most serious book collectors.

Eric Holzenberg photographed at Grolier Book Club.

Rare book collector