David Irving demonstrated a consistent interest in collecting rare and historically significant books, particularly those related to World War II and related figures. This hobby appears to have been both a personal pursuit and a factor in his business dealings, involving sales and acquisitions. The collection was often intertwined with financial considerations and logistical challenges.
Book collecting was a recurring theme in Irving’s life, often linked to his publishing ventures and personal interests. He frequently sought to acquire specific titles, sometimes dealing with scarcity and logistical issues in obtaining them. The collection itself served as a reflection of his historical focus and provided a source of both personal satisfaction and potential revenue.
* 2021: Irving had "one copy of Hitler’s War left" and considered sending it to Mr. Watts. He instructed potential buyers to be patient for 4-6 weeks or be supplied from his location. Diary Keeping * 2022: Irving expressed a desire to "purchase others to complete [his] collection," but encountered issues with a bookstore website. He also had "Hitler's War" available for sale. Bookstore * 2023: A customer ordered Churchill v.3 and "War Path - Hitler's Germany" directly from the publisher. Irving noted he owned copies of most of his published works, acquired from publishers and secondary sources like Amazon and eBay. Publishing * 2023: Irving expressed interest in Mussolini’s papers and inquired about their content. He had previously used Mussolini's diary in his work. Historical Documents * 2023: Mark Weber requested more copies of "Hitler's War" and inquired about price, payment, and shipping. Sales * 2017: Irving acquired a painting with provenance from Mr. Hans O.A. Horvath, who had worked in the NSDAP archive and possessed drawings by Adolf Hitler. Provenance
Irving’s book collecting appeared to evolve from a more casual pursuit to a more structured activity involving direct purchases from publishers and inquiries about rare documents. The logistical challenges of acquiring and distributing books, particularly internationally, remained a constant factor throughout the diary entries. The reliance on secondary markets like Amazon and eBay also suggests a fluctuating availability of desired titles.
Diary Keeping Publishing Sales Historical Documents Provenance Bookstore