Interview: How do you get rid of over 3,000 sailing books?

Businessman Volker Christmann began his collection of sailing books when he retired in 1990 and sold a large part of it to the Yachting Heritage Centre in Flensburg 25 years later. Now the rest is to go under the hammer

Mr Christmann, why the household liquidation?

Because I now have a house in the Azores and collect stones there (laughs). I used to say: "When I get old, books will be too heavy for me, then I'll stop and collect stamps." And now I dedicate myself to stones (laughs again).

Stones ...

Yes, they are over 200 years old and carved out of rock by hand. Totally crazy, but I really enjoy it. I now have a tractor with a muzzle loader and build barbecue areas, benches and tables in the garden.

And now you're sitting there without anything to read?

Well, nothing has been sold yet.

But you have already sold your collection once, to Oliver Berking in Flensburg.

Yes, but that was a big story in the "FAZ", and then someone called and offered me his collection, and then it went on. After a few years, I had the whole house full again. It's no longer the largest collection of yachting literature, but there are around 3,000 sailing books again - who has that at home? Or the YACHT from issue one to the present day?

Where would you like the collection to go?

In any case, it's not about making as much money as possible from them now. Or to sell individual books. My favourite thing would be for someone to take over the entire collection. Anyone who is interested in this or in acquiring larger quantities can contact me via YACHT. This could also be museums or charitable organisations that can accept donations.

What are your personal favourites among the books?

My favourite is called "Able Yachtsman Interviews Himself on Why Lipton Failed to Lift the Cup" - written by none other than Mark Twain. In just 31 pages, he asks himself why Sir Thomas Lipton never won the America's Cup despite his immense efforts. There are only 109 copies, which are rarely available for less than 1,200 euros. And what I've always really enjoyed are the old magazines. For example, I have the complete issues of the American yachting magazine "The Rudder". But my collection doesn't just include books ...

What else?

Nautical antiques of all kinds. Lots and lots of towed logs, sextants, pictures and even 600 yacht club buttons. But above all, the books have opened many doors for me, and that has been a lot of fun in my life. I would never have joined the New York Yacht Club if I hadn't had the collection. As Volker Christmann, they wouldn't have invited me.

The sale of such a life's work would be emotionally impossible for some collectors ...

It's not difficult for me to part with it. For reasons of age alone, it would be nice if it went into good hands. That's more fun for me than clinging on to it until the end and then it goes in the bin. You also have to be able to let go - I'm 77 now, if the devil wills it, I'll be struck down next year!