I had a banner day at my library branch’s recent book sale.  After I went from shelf to shelf snatching up every British Library Crime Classic I could find (there were three!) I spotted a pretty orange Penguin edition of Umberto Eco’s The Island of the Day Before.  Snagged that too, of course.  And as I stood in the maelstrom of library patrons elbowing each other aside to get to the $2 hardcover new releases, I thought to myself – I don’t have this one, right?

I knew I had The Name of the Rose, Foucault’s Pendulum, Baudolino and The Prague Cematery.  But I was pretty sure I didn’t have this one.  Added it to the pile.

After lugging my haul home – all that for $12.00! – I started shelving and… whoops.  There it was, right with the rest of the Ecos.  The Island of the Day Before.  And I think that would be the first time I’ve ever forgotten that I owned a specific book and bought a duplicate copy – unintentionally, at least.  It goes without saying that everyone needs at least three copies of Pride and Prejudice and that the correct number of editions of Anne of Green Gables for a home library is “one more” – but that’s different.

Oh, well.  An extra $2 for the library is still money well spent.

Have you ever done this?  Please tell me I’m not alone.