What to do with Mein Kampf?!

[Bannedcontent]

My late DF was a history buff and after he died we gave a lot of his books to charity but kept a few.

Among them was an English translation of Mein Kampf. It’s a first edition from 1939.

I held on to it as a historic artefact but would now like to move it on.

I can’t sell it on Amazon or eBay as it’s banned.

So the question is: do I bin it? (YABU)
Do I donate it to a library or something? (YANBU) Where?!

I would donate to a university or college. My A level history teacher recommended I read it but I couldn't get hold of a copy at the time so didn't, I then needed to read it at Uni and luckily my lecturer had a copy that she let people borrow so I'm sure someone would be happy to take it off your hands.

Don’t burn it, it is a historic artefact. Contact Imperial War museum and offer to donate. Or if you want to sell it, Bonhams or Sothebys auction houses should be able to value it free of charge.

Please don't destroy it.

Try a local second-hand bookshop or auction house - you could look online. It may be worth a lot of money. Alternatively, maybe donate it to a local university or library.

museums, universities etc. Somewhere where it can be studied. Rather than approach the deans I would approach the history departments directly.

Don't throw or burn.

Sigh. Putting aside the utter irony of this comment, the idiocy of destroying historical artefacts that offend blows my mind. We should learn from history so as never to repeat it. Just knowing the holocaust happened isn’t enough, we need learn about the mindsets and ideology that led to it, and be sure that future generations are also aware.

'Burn it'.

FFS, really?

First edition is a museum job or possibly British library. Try museums specialising in Second World War stuff.

I think the idea of asking the local Shul is a good one. Or presumably there are organisations who could help with disposing of things like this?

I wouldn't destroy it. I bought a copy 20 odd years ago purely to try and get insight to why someone could get to a place that they would follow the path and decisions that Hitler did.
Turns out that Hitler wasn't a great author and I struggled to get headway into it but the sentiment remains.
I would go the museum route. If its a rare edition it'd be sought after by the wrong kind of collector and it should be in the hands of people who think nazism is a bad thing.

Museum

What a delicious irony, you’re suggesting the same approach to books as the third reich did.

It’s a piece of shit for many different reasons, but burning it does seem ironic.

If a historian is interested in the content, they can get it, as it's now in the public domain and you can find it online in three minutes. You can buy a copy of it right now on Blackwell's website for about £12.

The one and only reason anyone would be interested in an old copy like yours is either a prurient interest in the original version of something so controversial, or because they love Hitler and want to proudly display it next to their original SS medals or whatever. I'd personally tear it up and throw it in the compost bin to rot.

My gfather had two revolvers he took off a German officer who he’d taken prisoner. When the gun licensing laws tightened up he threw them in the river.

Definitely contact your local university. I had a copy and books about detailing the polices of nazism, as well as looking into the psychology behind the public information films, media etc. They took what I had because a lot of the content wouldn't be allowed to be published now. I'd inherited them from someone who studied sociology. The intricate details set out about every aspect of life was fascinating.

If it really is a first edition from 1939 I would have a conversation with a secondhand/antique book dealer about it and ask whether it's actually a rare thing as a historical artefact. It may well be that there are loads of first editions knocking around and that a museum or educational establishment wouldn't want it anyway because they're ten a penny. If a book dealer thinks it has historical value, then donate it. If it doesn't, then bin it.

Worth noting that modern editions of the book in translation are readily available, so history students don't need original copies like yours if they need to study it. Some sellers won't sell it or allow others to sell it on their platforms (eg eBay) but it's not banned in this country. It is banned in some other countries, including (as you would expect) Germany.

I would talk to the imperial war museum and see what they say

Also- it's not banned, except in Germany and maybe Latvia and a few other places? It's certainly not banned in the UK. You can buy it right now at almost any new or used bookshop- probably online only, as they might not want it on their shelves upsetting casual punters, but still it's easily available in several different editions.

Ebay or Amazon choosing not to sell it is not the same as banning it. They are private companies choosing not to profit off of it. Perhaps the only moral decision either of them have ever made. You should definitely make the same decision and donate it (though I imagine the sorts of organisations who might be interested have all the copies they need) or destroy it.

Interesting hobby!

Can't believe Hitler's been cancelled.

You can buy copies in Blackwells and can buy it in German on Amazon. ? try second hand book sellers in Hay on Wye or near by. I wouldn't destroy it.

Donate to a local uni or library.

You do agree with censorship then

Cancel Culture gone mad!

Don’t destroy it, FFS! As for the burning suggestion, we’ll, that just highlights the importance of learning from history rather than ignoring (or destroying) it.

First, find out the value. Contact antiquarian booksellers and an auction house.

Bin it. It's not something that deserves posterity.