Michael Popek's Blog, page 118
January 30, 2016
Giveaway winner
This week's winner was Annie Reynolds Gellhorn, who entered over on Facebook.
Thanks to all who entered, see you here next week.
-Click to enlarge photos-
Thanks to all who entered, see you here next week.
-Click to enlarge photos-
January 29, 2016
Friday Giveaway: Ten Antiquarian Classics - contest closed
Contest now closed. Winner will be announced shortly.
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Friday Giveaway: Ten Antiquarian Classics
January 28, 2016
Away Mission
I
posted on Monday
that I was off to check out some books
that had been locked away, unseen, for nearly fifty years. The caretaker in charge was sick on Monday, but I was able to see them yesterday afternoon.
Here's a quick recap of the experience, a chance for you all to walk in my shoes for the day:
The caretaker was nice enough to haul the books out of the dusty and unlit attic down to an upper floor. It was still unheated, however. Good thing I brought my sorting gloves.
Nearly all of the books were from the 1820s to the 1870s. They were part of a private reading library that belonged to a local organization.
About 750 books in all. There were lots of larger sets; Waverly Novels, Dickens' Works, encyclopedias - as well as a good collection of United States history, specifically the western states.
Here are some of the highlights:
Early edition of James Fenimore Cooper's "History of the Navy" from 1847. Published in Cooperstown.
An "Oddfellows" anthology.
There were many different titles on Abraham Lincoln.
A very early printing of Uncle Tom's Cabin from 1852 (25th thousand).
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" in two volumes.
Not particularly valuable, but I liked the cover.
There's nothing like a nice spine lineup.
This is a very early edition, perhaps a first American edition, of "David Copperfield." I was unable to find much information on this particular printing.
An early colorized atlas of the world. I believe there were four volumes originally, I was only able to find two.
There is something about engravings that resonate with me. Here is Grant and Sherman from a Civil War history. Don't stare at Sherman too long... his eyes start looking back at you.
Another shelfie.
A nice and clean two volume edition of Carlyle's "French Revolution" from 1848.
An early Lincoln biography; this book has "Honest Abe" embossed on the front cover, I believe it was one of the first mainstream uses of that nickname.
An early Elizabeth Barrett Browning edition.
Beefy.
Not a first edition, but a very early printing of Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter."
First edition of Washington Irving's "Astoria."
Another early Browning.
And I even found a forgotten bookmark in this history of Massachusetts:
I will probably end up going over to look at them again, do a little more research, then make an offer. I'll be sure to let you know if I bring them home.
-Click to enlarge photos-
Here's a quick recap of the experience, a chance for you all to walk in my shoes for the day:
The caretaker was nice enough to haul the books out of the dusty and unlit attic down to an upper floor. It was still unheated, however. Good thing I brought my sorting gloves.
Nearly all of the books were from the 1820s to the 1870s. They were part of a private reading library that belonged to a local organization.
About 750 books in all. There were lots of larger sets; Waverly Novels, Dickens' Works, encyclopedias - as well as a good collection of United States history, specifically the western states.
Here are some of the highlights:
Early edition of James Fenimore Cooper's "History of the Navy" from 1847. Published in Cooperstown.
An "Oddfellows" anthology.
There were many different titles on Abraham Lincoln.
A very early printing of Uncle Tom's Cabin from 1852 (25th thousand).
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" in two volumes.
Not particularly valuable, but I liked the cover.
There's nothing like a nice spine lineup.
This is a very early edition, perhaps a first American edition, of "David Copperfield." I was unable to find much information on this particular printing.
An early colorized atlas of the world. I believe there were four volumes originally, I was only able to find two.
There is something about engravings that resonate with me. Here is Grant and Sherman from a Civil War history. Don't stare at Sherman too long... his eyes start looking back at you.
Another shelfie.
A nice and clean two volume edition of Carlyle's "French Revolution" from 1848.
An early Lincoln biography; this book has "Honest Abe" embossed on the front cover, I believe it was one of the first mainstream uses of that nickname.
An early Elizabeth Barrett Browning edition.
Beefy.
Not a first edition, but a very early printing of Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter."
First edition of Washington Irving's "Astoria."
Another early Browning.
And I even found a forgotten bookmark in this history of Massachusetts:
I will probably end up going over to look at them again, do a little more research, then make an offer. I'll be sure to let you know if I bring them home.
-Click to enlarge photos-
January 27, 2016
Don't Take Your Teeth To Town
Inscription:
Emma went to hospital October 8 / 34
got glasses 8 Feb 36
Emma went to work the L.I. Jan 35
got teeth 10 Sept 1935
Written in "Improbable Tales" by Clinton Ross. Published by Putnam, 1892.
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January 26, 2016
Hey Fellows
Advertisment for the
Library War Service
of the American Library Association.Found in "Write It Right" by Ambrose Bierce. Published by Union Library Association, 1943.
-Click to enlarge photos-
January 25, 2016
What Lies Above
I'm out of the shop this morning, so I won't be bringing you a new bookmark. I'm off to a neighboring town to check out some books found in the attic of a 200-year-old stone building, an attic that hasn't been explored in at least 50 years. Should be fun! I'll share some photos when I get back.
January 24, 2016
Papa's Daughters
I had an inquiry about this book today, thought I would share it while I had it off the shelf:
-Click to enlarge photos-
-Click to enlarge photos-
January 23, 2016
Giveaway winner
This week's winner was Sheryl Sirkel Patton, who entered over on Facebook.
Thanks to all who entered, see you here on Monday.
-Click to enlarge photos-
Thanks to all who entered, see you here on Monday.
-Click to enlarge photos-
January 22, 2016
Friday Giveaway: Six Matched Volumes of "The World's Greatest Literature" - contest closed
Contest now closed, winner announced shortly.
-Click to enlarge photos-
