Last column, I talked about collecting books that related back to the places where I have lived. Such collecting can be tremendous fun, although if Steinbeck or Hemingway happens to be from your hometown, then it might get a little pricey. Another kind of book collecting to pursue is what I call books that tell another tale. These are books that may have not just a signature by the author but also perhaps a note or a doodle. One of my favorites is a copy of an exhibition catalog for the artist Red Grooms. The catalog is pretty normal until about midway through that you stumble on a page where a painting is illustrated. Beneath, in Grooms handwriting, is a note about who he sold the painting to and what it brought. Its the kind of intimate link that connects one to the author. Another favorite of mine is a book by one of the celebrated or infamous (your choice) Weathermen. No, I am not talking about folks who predict rain but rather the radicals who undertook violence to make societal change in the late 1960s. The book is something of a justification for their actions and not particularly well written. However, tucked into the book when I purchased it was an early word processor generated speech by the author. The holes on the edges and the dot matrix printing were clues that it must have been written in the 1980s. In the speech, the author of the book goes on the offensive verbally about what he believes were misstatements quoted to him. It is a nifty little touch of history that ties it all together. People often ask me how I find books with such interesting little notations and nuggets handwritten and hidden in the pages. The answer is lots of perseverance as many were found by simply checking inside a book before buying it. The other secret is that many were found in used bookstores in and around Washington, D.C. There was a time, it seems, that every home in the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. area had a library of books that were frequently signed and inscribed by the author. I recall visits to Second Story Books where I found many a volume with a nifty little dream inscription on the inside. My other source of such books is from friends who are culling down libraries. A dear friend of my wifes gave us a collection of books by John Nichols, who was a friend of hers. Each one has a doodle or quote by Nichols somewhere in the front of the book. I had to find a copy of The Milagro Beanfield War to finish the set of his published works, but otherwise it was pretty complete. So, as you head out this summer to perhaps do some summer reading, maybe you should check out those used bookstores near you and look for some really wonderful treasures with dream inscriptions on the inside. Born to collect should be the motto of Peter Seiberts family. Raised in Central Pennsylvania, Seibert has been collecting and writing about antiques for more than three decades. By day, he is a museum director and has worked in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Virginia and New Mexico. In addition, he advises and consults with auction houses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly about American furniture and decorative arts. Seiberts writings include books on photography, American fraternal societies and paintings. He and his family are restoring a 1905 arts and crafts house filled with years worth of antique treasures found in shops, co-ops and at auctions.