Walter A. Coslet
Encyclopedia
Walter Allen Coslet was a well known science fiction
fan
, collector, and fanzine
publisher as well as a charter member of the International Society of Bible Collectors, writing many articles for the society's publications. He served the National Fantasy Fan Federation
as both a Vice-President (1947) and President (1955).
Coslet was the only child of Arthur Allen Coslet and Bessie Fodushia Pickett; at age four his right arm was injured and a bone had to be removed because it failed to heal. The family moved to Sunnyside, Washington
when he entered 2nd grade, to avoid having to have him vaccinate
d, but returned to Denton, Montana
after Washington also passed mandatory vaccination laws for school aged children. His interest in science fiction began in his early teens and he began collecting in 1937. When his mother objected to his reading science fiction he began reading it in the barn. He graduated from high school in Denton in 1941. The childhood injury to his right arm kept him out of military service in World War II
.
Coslet attended Prairie Bible Institute in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
, Canada
for one year . Among his early jobs he worked as a truck driver on a ranch and spent a few weeks as a shepherd
.
After taking the State Merit Test he moved to Helena, Montana
for his first real job as a clerk in the Department of Labor in 1944. He stayed with this job for 42 years moving up to examiner, determining people's eligibility for unemployment benefits.
Coslet's parents moved from Denton to Helena and took up residence at the Grandon Hotel where Walter already lived. In 1945 He and his mother purchased a house.
Coslet's hobby interests grew, including stamp collecting
. From being a member of Linn's Weekly Stamp News
stamp collector's stamp exchange he met Dorothy Gawne from Amherst, Ohio
. The two traded stamps and corresponded for 2 years before actually meeting in person. By this time Gawne was attending L. I. F. E. Bible College in Los Angeles, California
. Coslet and his father came to Los Angeles to visit. The next summer Gawne visited Coslet's home in Helena. One year later, after she finished her studies graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Theology degree, Gawne and Coslet were married on August 12, 1947 in Helena. The new family began taking in foster children in 1950, eventually having cared for four. In 1957 the first of their three sons was born.
Coslet became well known for his vast knowledge of both science fiction and the Bible. Although he sold his science fiction collection, spanning thirty-five years, in 1972 to a collector in Portland, Oregon
(the fanzine collection is now in the Albin O. Kuhn Library at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County), he continued to accumulate science fiction books and magazines until his death. He had one of the largest private collections of English translations of the Bible
in the world.
The 23 oldest and most valuable items in his Bible collection were auctioned by Bonhams & Butterfields on October 17, 2006http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=14243. Coslet's copy of the Golden Legend
was auctioned on December 4, 2006http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=14038.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
, collector, and fanzine
Science fiction fanzine
A science fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day...
publisher as well as a charter member of the International Society of Bible Collectors, writing many articles for the society's publications. He served the National Fantasy Fan Federation
National Fantasy Fan Federation
The National Fantasy Fan Federation is one of the world's oldest science fiction fandom organizations. The organization was founded in April 1941 when all science fiction, horror, and fantasy literature was lumped into one category called "fantasy." The group actively encourages the development of...
as both a Vice-President (1947) and President (1955).
Coslet was the only child of Arthur Allen Coslet and Bessie Fodushia Pickett; at age four his right arm was injured and a bone had to be removed because it failed to heal. The family moved to Sunnyside, Washington
Sunnyside, Washington
Sunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. As of the 2010 Census the population was 15,858.-History:On September 16, 1902, residents voted 42 to one to incorporate as the town of Sunnyside. By state law a town needed to have 300 citizens in order to legally incorporate...
when he entered 2nd grade, to avoid having to have him vaccinate
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
d, but returned to Denton, Montana
Denton, Montana
Denton is a town in Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
after Washington also passed mandatory vaccination laws for school aged children. His interest in science fiction began in his early teens and he began collecting in 1937. When his mother objected to his reading science fiction he began reading it in the barn. He graduated from high school in Denton in 1941. The childhood injury to his right arm kept him out of military service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Coslet attended Prairie Bible Institute in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is a city in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada on the Moose Jaw River. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are known as Moose Javians. It is best known as a retirement and tourist city that serves as a hub to the hundreds of small towns...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for one year . Among his early jobs he worked as a truck driver on a ranch and spent a few weeks as a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
.
After taking the State Merit Test he moved to Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
for his first real job as a clerk in the Department of Labor in 1944. He stayed with this job for 42 years moving up to examiner, determining people's eligibility for unemployment benefits.
Coslet's parents moved from Denton to Helena and took up residence at the Grandon Hotel where Walter already lived. In 1945 He and his mother purchased a house.
Coslet's hobby interests grew, including stamp collecting
Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
. From being a member of Linn's Weekly Stamp News
Linn's Stamp News
Linn's Stamp News an American publication, is the largest weekly newspaper for stamp collectors, with a paid circulation of just over 46,000 Circulation peaked at almost 92,000 in 1978 and has declined ever since because fewer new collectors are subscribing to replace those who subscribed in the...
stamp collector's stamp exchange he met Dorothy Gawne from Amherst, Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,797 people, 4,459 households, and 3,388 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,646.1 people per square mile . There were 4,603 housing units at an average density of 642.3 per square mile...
. The two traded stamps and corresponded for 2 years before actually meeting in person. By this time Gawne was attending L. I. F. E. Bible College in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Coslet and his father came to Los Angeles to visit. The next summer Gawne visited Coslet's home in Helena. One year later, after she finished her studies graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Theology degree, Gawne and Coslet were married on August 12, 1947 in Helena. The new family began taking in foster children in 1950, eventually having cared for four. In 1957 the first of their three sons was born.
Coslet became well known for his vast knowledge of both science fiction and the Bible. Although he sold his science fiction collection, spanning thirty-five years, in 1972 to a collector in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
(the fanzine collection is now in the Albin O. Kuhn Library at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County), he continued to accumulate science fiction books and magazines until his death. He had one of the largest private collections of English translations of the Bible
English translations of the Bible
The efforts of translating the Bible from its original languages into over 2,000 others have spanned more than two millennia. Partial translations of the Bible into languages of the English people can be traced back to the end of the 7th century, including translations into Old English and Middle...
in the world.
The 23 oldest and most valuable items in his Bible collection were auctioned by Bonhams & Butterfields on October 17, 2006http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=14243. Coslet's copy of the Golden Legend
Golden Legend
The Golden Legend is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Voragine that became a late medieval bestseller. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived, compared to twenty or so of its nearest rivals...
was auctioned on December 4, 2006http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=14038.