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    Question to people who hate writing/highlighting in their books: what would you think about a book stamp as a gift?

    Hi! So I have a friend whose birthday is coming up. She is a big book reader, has a large physical collection.

    I was looking for what gift to get – I wanted something original, yet not too expensive (I'm on a bit of a budget). I thought a book stamp might be perfect – something personalized like "From [Name]'s library" or "From the library of [NAME]" with a cute book icon in the middle.

    The thing is, I know for sure she doesn't like writing in her books. Whether it is notes, or highlighting quotes, she dislikes it.

    So I'm wondering if this qualifies as the same? Technically it isn't as "messy", but to other people who also dislike writing in books: would you dislike this?

    I do think she likes the thing where you write a handwritten note when gifting a book to someone, as she's gifted me books like that before.

    by flyblues

    View 22 Comments

    22 Comments

    2. Brain_Wrinkled on

      For me, that would go straight in the bin. I know my books belong to me, as they are my books, on my shelves, in my house.

    3. SpikeVonLipwig on

      Someone bought me one of these. I appreciated the thought but ultimately was not planning on sitting around stamping/embossing several hundred books for funsies

    4. ErinPaperbackstash on

      Book stamps are awesome, I had two I invested in years ago for book ownership. Need to look those up sometime

    5. Miserable_Kale_626 on

      Are we talking embosser or an actual ink stamp? As someone who abhors writing/highlighting in my books, I do have a personalized embosser and absolutely love it. I feel it would be the cleaner choice as opposed to ink.

    6. bookant on

      If someone gave that to me I’d appreciate it in a “it’s the thought that counts” sort of way since they were trying for something connected to my love of books. But under no circumstances would I ever actually use it on any of my books.

    7. The_Mythwalker on

      I’m scared that as soon as I press the highlighter onto a page, that it’ll wreck the other side. 😭

    8. Comprehensive-Fun47 on

      I would consider it a nice gift, but I might not use it.

      I don’t have any reasonable explanations! I’m just weird about my books.

    9. Optimal-Ad-7074 on

      I wouldn’t personally mind a stamp – and I *hate* markup in books.   

      but my hate reason may not be the same as hers.   for me annotation is a distraction from the text.  I don’t care very much about the state of my books.  I frequently write my own name in them, same idea a a stamp.

      that doesn’t bother me because there’s no text for me to be distracted from.  but if your friend just likes books to look “clean” then a stamp may be too much for her.  

    10. evngprimrose on

      I think it’s cool to have, but unnecessary. I’m also not sure how well it works on different kinds of paper. Some books have really thin paper.

    12. 34986234986234982346 on

      I am not the most anal person about books (apart from coffee table/art books) but I would not want this or ever use it.

    13. Majestic-Marcus on

      Ask your friend.

      If you don’t want to spoil a surprise then just buy them a nice book mark instead.

    14. Boredombringsthis on

      I’d like it – as in the person obviously thought about my hobbies while choosing a gift. But I wouldn’t use it for books, ever, for me this is the same as writing in them. On the other hand, I like drawing my own bookmarks and even giving them to friends so I’d definitelly use it as a signature for my bookmarks.

    15. lalasworld on

      Get a unique bookmark… I was once gifted a scrimshaw bookmark years ago and it is very cherished. It always goes into my main read.

    16. LolaBean52 on

      I’m 100% against writing and highlighting in books but I use sticky notes and little tabs to mark things I like or want to remember. Maybe you could get them like a variety sticky note package? Maybe you can find some book themed ones somewhere on the internet or at a stationary store!

    17. HorseGirl666 on

      My friend got me a [book embosser](https://thewhisperingpages.com/products/custom-book-embosser?variant=50312837988634&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopNQwP4pDTn1U_NVXsKACkuzVdvN6vYGehVALmNyCVX67Chk7LYnVU) and a roll of removable 2″ circle stickers that I can emboss, then stick in my book. It’s the best of both worlds! But you have to make sure the stickers are removable.

    18. glitter_witch on

      I would appreciate it but probably not use it. Perhaps custom paper bookplates and something like washi tape would be a good similar alternative! Something that can be removed if they ever decide to, that doesn’t mark the book itself. 🙂

    19. Ok-Spite-5454 on

      I hate the trend of annotating fictional books for no reason, but I love my stamp. I like the idea of it going to a secondhand bookshop when I go and someone else seeing my name on it. HOWEVER, I am very picky with the font and design, so if a friend got me one and they haven’t nailed the font and design choices, I will appreciate the thought but will probably not use it.

      A bookmark or a cloth book cover on the hand… ❤️❤️❤️

    20. ThisFatGirlRuns on

      I have close to 900 books. I don’t write in, highlight or dog ear any of them. I don’t even break the spines. Personally I wouldn’t use a stamp or embosser. Book related gifts I enjoy are quirky bookmarks, reading journals or journals in general. I use [this journal](https://www.flametreepublishing.com/bodleian-libraries-bookshelves-artisan-art-notebook-flame-tree-journals-isbn-9781804172940.html) to write about the books I’m reading.

      I also adorebook themed tote bags, especially if they are punny. Irecently got this [cat and book themed bag.](https://www.hodgesfiggis.ie/product/bookish-cats-reusable-shopping-bag/mudpuppy/9780735365650)

    21. macemillianwinduarte on

      I hate writing/highlighting in any of my books, I keep them in great shape, but my one of my favorite gifts my wife ever gave me was one of those book embossers that marks the front page as from my library.

    22. Slight-Signal-2234 on

      If shes already specific about “under no circumstances” writing in a book- then book stamp probably not. BUT some alternatives maybe a reading tracker, a REALLY nice decorative bookmark, a book nook (preferibly a style/series she likes!)

      Or if you want to go SUPER personalized- figure out a book you think she would love- READ IT, and DIY a lil read along (be it letters like “open after reading chapter 3”, slips of paper/sticky note reactions etc or even a mini dollar store journal you made while reading etc) that way she can feel like shes reading with you and the extra thoughtfulness of taking the time to read, alongside the otherwise perfectly preserved physical copy for her collection!

      (Did this for a friend though I did notes/highlights then gifted it- but she was very much a “mark a book to the high heavens” style reader- and loved it!)

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