When I was very young I was fascinated by my grandfather's books. Some were incredibly old and smelled funny. Years later I learned that the acrid smell was a type of mold often found on old books. Many used book stores reek of it.
Initially, I wasn't allowed to touch "Grampa Bill's" books. After I learned to read when I was four, I was permitted to look through them only if supervised. When it was seen that I took care of the books, I could look at them on my own.
Most of the books were fairly standard. There was a collection of Shakespeare that was very old and rare. They are now in my library and, regrettably, they're in very fragile condition. One book that intrigued me, and that