Michael Popek's Blog, page 73

Pressed

Dried and pressed boutonnière.

Found in "A Child's History of England" by Charles Dickens. Published by Cogswell, no date.

-Click to enlarge photos-

On The Bright Side

Small photograph, no writing on reverse.

Found in "Brightside Children" by E.B. Benjamin. Published by James Pott, 1884.

-Click to enlarge photos-

Giveaway winner

This week's winner was Miranda Coates, who entered via email.

Thanks so much to all of you who entered. See you here next week.

Friday Giveaway: Nine Vintage Classics - contest closed

Contest now closed, winner will be announced shortly.

-Click to enlarge photos-

Friday Giveaway: Nine Vintage Classics

I'm giving away these nine classics today.

To enter, leave a comment below. You can also enter on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram or via email .

I will gather up all the entries and select a winner at random tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM Eastern time.

Good luck!

-Click to enlarge photos-

Bookmarked

Small wooden hand-painted bookmark.

Found in "Maria Chapdelaine" by Louis Hemon. Published by Grosset and Dunlap, 1927.

-Click to enlarge photos-

Giveaway winner

This week's winner was Thomas Huntington, who entered on Facebook.

Thanks to all who entered, see you here on Monday.

Friday Giveaway: Eight Vintage Books - contest closed

Contest now closed, winner will be announced shortly.

-Click to enlarge photos-

Friday Giveaway: Eight Vintage Books

I'm giving away these eight vintage books today.

To enter, just leave a comment below.

You can also enter on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram or via email .

I will pick a winner at random tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM Eastern.

Good luck!

-Click to enlarge photos-

How To Open A Book

I find this little notice often. It must have been printed and distributed far and wide:

NOTICE

How to Open a Book

Hold the book with its back on a smooth or covered table; let the front board down, then the other, holding the leaves in one hand while you open a few leaves at the back, then a few at the front, and so on, alternately opening back and front, gently pressing open the sections till you reach the center of the volume. Do this two or three times and you will obtain the best results. Open the volume violently or carelessly in any one place and you will likely break the back and cause a start in the leaves. Never force the back of a book.

"A connoisseur many years ago, an excellent customer of mine, who thought he knew perfectly how to handle books, came into my office when I had an expensive binding just brought from the bindery ready to be sent home; he, before my eyes, took hold of the volume and tightly holding the leaves in each hand, instead of allowing them free play, violently opened it in the center and exclaimed: 'How beautifully your bindings open!' I almost fainted. He had broken the back of the volume and it had to be rebound." 

Found in "Life Under The Stuarts" published by Falcon Books, 1950.


-Click to enlarge photos-