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The Man Who Collected Lovecraft: How R. H. Barlow Built His Vaults of Yoh-Vombis
133 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 21, 2025
Impressive.
It is no exaggeration to say that there are far more books written about HPL than the number of stories he ever wrote, and certainly more than he would have ever envisioned or likely been comfortable with. Add to that this cracking tome, which, in honesty, is more for the likes of me - those fascinated by the man and his legacy, than those who simply enjoy his tales.
Legaria has completed an enviable amount of research to tell the tale of how Robert Barlow accumulated an incredible collection (not just of the Old Gent) and then subsequently what happened to it after his premature death at the age of 32. The book is effectively in two halves - with the detail in the latter quite extraordinary, as he reproduces letters from family, dealers and even the likes of August Derleth over in Arkham House. There then follows a very detailed series of appendices.
One thing that stood out for me was the letter dated 1951 which explained 'waning interest' in HPL and weird fiction in general, which really got me thinking about how much has changed in just the time since I became interested in HPL, and just what his legacy actually is. Cthulhu is a 'brand', Lovecraft has become 'collectable' with huge prices being commanded at auction...but how much of this is commercial, and how much did the 'waning interest' actually change direction outside of the hardcore devotees? Another question for another time.
I was also amused by the Mexican post office only accepting 2 parcels a day - or more if the member of staff was 'feeling happy'!
One for the Lovecraftians (or Barlowians, if such a thing exists), but one very much welcomed to the collection. In a world of vanity publishing, this kind of well written, well researched book is what niche publishing should be about.
It is no exaggeration to say that there are far more books written about HPL than the number of stories he ever wrote, and certainly more than he would have ever envisioned or likely been comfortable with. Add to that this cracking tome, which, in honesty, is more for the likes of me - those fascinated by the man and his legacy, than those who simply enjoy his tales.
Legaria has completed an enviable amount of research to tell the tale of how Robert Barlow accumulated an incredible collection (not just of the Old Gent) and then subsequently what happened to it after his premature death at the age of 32. The book is effectively in two halves - with the detail in the latter quite extraordinary, as he reproduces letters from family, dealers and even the likes of August Derleth over in Arkham House. There then follows a very detailed series of appendices.
One thing that stood out for me was the letter dated 1951 which explained 'waning interest' in HPL and weird fiction in general, which really got me thinking about how much has changed in just the time since I became interested in HPL, and just what his legacy actually is. Cthulhu is a 'brand', Lovecraft has become 'collectable' with huge prices being commanded at auction...but how much of this is commercial, and how much did the 'waning interest' actually change direction outside of the hardcore devotees? Another question for another time.
I was also amused by the Mexican post office only accepting 2 parcels a day - or more if the member of staff was 'feeling happy'!
One for the Lovecraftians (or Barlowians, if such a thing exists), but one very much welcomed to the collection. In a world of vanity publishing, this kind of well written, well researched book is what niche publishing should be about.
September 22, 2025
a very interesting read.
It's a little light in biographic information in areas (probably supposing the reader already has a firm grasp of the people invovef) but very thorough through line of how much of Lovecraft, CAS REH and Barlow's own collections have been disseminated to the collector at large ove the past many decades.
It's a little light in biographic information in areas (probably supposing the reader already has a firm grasp of the people invovef) but very thorough through line of how much of Lovecraft, CAS REH and Barlow's own collections have been disseminated to the collector at large ove the past many decades.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews