Morbid Curiosities: Collections of the Uncommon and the Bizarre

Gambino, an avid collector of Victorian memorial photographs, surveys 17 collectors of some of the most macabre and unsettling items for this fascinatingly gruesome book. Readers are introduced to collectors such as Jessika M., an Indiana realtor whose collection includes a prison shank and the ID of the prisoner it was used to kill as well as correspondence from serial killers such as John Wayne Gacy; Sky G., whose paintings and medical ephemera are museum quality; and father and son collectors Steve and Daniel Erenberg, who have amassed a truly impressive collection of gas masks and medical devices. The book contains shrunken heads, monkey paws, brains in jars, mummies, and lots and lots of skeletons, but Gambino’s goal is to not to shock; he just wants to give his subjects a chance to share their collections, many of which are privately held. All of the collectors and their holdings are treated with respect. The collectors’ passion and approaches to curation are truly remarkable. A massive store of rare Ouija boards and one of the first sets of forensic tools are just two of the gems readers will find. Though not for the faint of heart, this is a stunning survey of some of the rarest (and creepiest!) collections in the world. Color photos. (Oct.)