Rebecca Jefferson is the Marketing Associate at the University of Nebraska Press and Editor of the Behind the Book blog. Below, she interviews Dave Van Dore, an avid collector of Bison Books with over 500 titles.

Launched in 1961 as UNP’s first trade imprint, Bison Books reflects the Press’s commitment to general-interest books that appeal to the educated reader. Originally published as inexpensive paperbacks, Bisons (as they became known) quickly caught on.

Recently, we received an interesting request regarding our very first editions of Bison Books paperbacks. “The cool part about those first Bisons is that we numbered them – every new title with BB100, BB101, and so on, right on the spine,” shared Rosemary Sekora, Marketing and Sales Manager.

Someone reached out to us about those numbered editions, sharing he had almost the entire collection (over 500 titles), but was missing about 50 and in need of some information. Erica Corwin, our Digital Marketing Manager, went to the archives to see what she could find. She eventually unearthed a catalog from 1985, the final year of the Bison tradition of numbering books. Enclosed would be the last numbered Bison Books and all previously numbered titles.

But, as fellow bibliophiles (the natural state of working in publishing), we were all very curious. How does one come to collect so many Bison Books, what drew this collector to UNP specifically, and where does he store that many titles? So, through the power of email, I reached back out. Dave Van Dore, the collector, was happy to share his journey to collecting Bisons and his secret to storing 500+ books. The answer, I later found out, was custom-built shelves and many, many boxes.

Interview with Dave Van Dore

When did you start collecting Bison editions, and what first sparked your interest in them?

I am 68 years old and started collecting in my late 20s, so 40 years or so ago. I have been living in Colorado since 1962 and western history interested me almost from the start. The UNP trade paperbacks were the perfect books to read and collect as they were readily available and inexpensive. I think I started on biographies and then the fur trade, exploration, etc.

Have you always been a collector? If so, what started you on collecting?

I have been a collector as soon as I became a home owner. Once I had the space I built book cases and started filling them up. What got me started was the urge to read everything an author wrote. My favorite literary person is Wallace Stegner and I have tried to find everything he wrote. It was nice to have UNP editions until I could afford true first editions. The same is true for Mari Sandoz, Willa Cather, Wright Morris, and David Lavender.

How many Bison Books do you have?

I have 820 unique titles and perhaps 100 duplicates of some of the rarer titles.

What is your favorite Bison Book?

My favorite is Cheyenne Autumn by Mari Sandoz. Their incredible thirst for freedom and the courage to attempt it will be unforgettable for me always. I hunted for years in Oberlin, Kansas and their flight for freedom went right through that part of Kansas. That made it more personal for me.

Do you have a favorite Bison author or favorite Bison cover besides the book mentioned above?

Aside from Stegner and Sandoz it would be Frank Linderman. His Lige Mounts is a great book in my opinion. The best covers would be O-Kee-Pa by George Catlin and Bent’s Fort by Lavender.

What would you say to someone looking to start collecting old editions of Bison Books?

I would say as a general statement about UNP and about university presses in general, that one would be safe to buy any title. UNP does not print poor books. The other thing I would add is that many titles have been reprinted with new covers, new introductions or new forewords. Do some research and find the edition that appeals to you the most. I have replaced a lot of later printings with earlier ones because I like the feel and look of those printings. Lastly – good hunting to one and all.

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Dave van Dore can be reached at davevandore@comcast.net for any inquiries about his Bison Books collection.