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Aldus Society NotesAugust, 2014 Volume 14, No. 3
September 11, 2014: Rare Books about Early Ohio Archaeology - Presented by Dr. Jarrod Burks, Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc.
WhenEuropean-AmericantravelersandpioneersfirstsetfootinOhio,theycouldnothelpbuttonoticethemassiveearthenconstructionsthatdottedthelandscape,signsofacivilizationlongsincepassed.Thedebateaboutwhocreatedtheseearthworksragedforacentury,untilitwasfinallyputtorestbytheBureauofEthnologyattheSmithsonianin1894.Inalandmarkbook,withtheno-nonsensetitle“ReportontheMoundExplorationsoftheBureauofEthnology,”archaeologistCyrusThomasconcludedthatthemoundsandearthworksofOhioandinmanysurroundingstates,thosethatwetodayseeinparks,alongroads,andinourverybackyards,aretheproductofNativeAmericaningenuityandeffort.Todayweknowthatnearlyalltheseancientmonumentswereconstructedbetween400B.C.andA.D.400. Informulatinghisconclusionsandillustratinghisarguments,Thomasreliedonmapsoftheearthworksandmoundsthatwerepublishedinmanybooks,folios,and
articlesfromthe100yearsprecedinghisefforts.Evenbythe1880sand1890s,whentheSmithsoniancrews
wereoutinthefieldcollectingnewdata,manyofOhio’searthworkshadalreadydisappearedfromthesurface.Lessthanonehundredyearsofplowingandlandlevelingdidwhatnearlytwothousandyearsofnaturalweatheringanderosioncouldnot.NineteenthcenturyfarmingandlanddevelopmentflattenedmanyofOhio’sgrandancientmonuments.Andtothisday,themapsofseveraldozennineteenthcenturybooksandarticlesareallthatremainoftheearthworks…orsomanypeoplethought. TheworkofDr.JarrodBurksandothersintheregionseekstore-discovertheancientmonumentsthatsurroundus.Relyingontheoldpublishedmapsanddescriptionsasguides,Jarroduseshigh-techgeophysicalsurveyinstrumentstosearchforthefoundationsofflattenedearthworksandmoundsoncethoughttobedestroyed.HispresentationtotheAldusSocietywill
Aldus Society MeetingsRegular meetings of the Aldus Society are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month between September and May.
Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OhioSocializing at 7:00 p.m.
Free parking behind Thurber House and at State Auto rear parking lot (between 11th St. and Washington)
Map of the Junction Group site in Ross County, Ohio published in Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley by Squier and Davis (1848).
Magnetic survey results from the Junction Group; note the many similarities and the one major difference (the quatrefoil!) between the Squier and Davis map and the new magnetic map. CONTINUED on page 4
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AsIlookforwardtoAldusSociety’s15thyear,IhavebeenreflectingonourpersonalintroductiontotheAldusSocietyandtheworldoffolkswithbibliographicinterests.CarolandIwereatthesecondmeetingoftheAldusSocietyonarainynightattheThompsonLibrary.WehadseenanarticleintheDispatch announcingtheformationandmeetingofthisneworganizationofbooklovers.(IhadonlyrecentlylearnedoftheRowfantClubandwonderedifColumbushadsuchanorganization.) Carolwasn’tparticularlyinterested,butagreedgowithme.BobTaubertalkedaboutthehistoryandpublicationsofOSU’sLoganElmPressandtherewasadrawingforitspublication,A Tale Told Twice.Carolwasawinneranduponseeingthepublicationsaid,“Well,Iguessweshouldjoin.”Wedidandhaven’tlookedback. UndertheleadershipofGeoffSmith,RonRavneberg,GenieHoster,BillEvans,andEdHoffman,supportedbydedicatedTrusteesandmanyvolunteers,wehavebeenblessedovertheyearswithinterestingbook-relatedpresentationsandfieldtrips,specialworkshops,GeoffSmith’s“FirstSaturdays,”holidaydinners,bookauctions,andsummerpicnics. Thisyear’sprogramming,plannedbyMarilynLogueandlastyear’sProgramCommittee,willbringusanotheryearofqualityprograms.We’llhearpresentationsfromacollectorofearlyArchaeologybooks,BowlingGreenUniversity’spopular-culturebooksandotherpopular-cultureitems,theownersofjustAjar Design+Press,theauthorofThe Archimedes Codex,thehistoryofThe Kenyon Review,theheadoftheUniversityofKansas’sSpencerResearchlibraryandtheAldusmemberstalkingabouttheirpersonalcollectinginterestsatthepopularAldusCollectsprogram. Theyearwillbehighlightedwiththemembers-onlyHolidayDinnerandBookAuction,afieldtriptoDaytontoviewtheStuartRoseexhibition,Imprints and Impressions: Milestone in Human Progress,andFirst SaturdaysatOSU’sRareBooksandManuscriptsLibrary.Otherfieldtripsandperhapsworkshopsand“BookCrawls”arelikelytobeaddedduringtheyear. DetectiveCyrusBarker,inWillThomasVictoriannovelSome Danger Involved,observedthat“Toabibliophile,thereisbutonethingbetterthanaboxofnewbooks,andthatisaboxofoldones,”asentimentsharedbymanyofus. - Emerson
Insidethisoverstuffednewsletter,you’llfindarticlestodelighteverybookloverandcollector.BillRichwritesaboutswashbucklersandheroes.GeorgeCowmeadowBaumanwillsurprisereaderswithhiswonderfularticleaboutBeatrixPotterandheranimalfriends.YouwilllaughatDonRice’sclerihewsandmarvelatMatthewSchweitzer’s1495bible.Ifthatisnotenoughfoodforthebibliophile,therearearticlesaboutlibraries,pulpfiction,andmorelibraries.That’safancywayofsaying,thereissomethingforeveryone. Ifyouarestilllookingforagoodbooktoreadthissummer,pickupMichaelBlanding’sThe Map Thief.HewritesaboutE.ForbesSmileyandhiscareerasmapcollectorcumthief.Bestofall,thebookrecountsthehistoryofmapmaking,printing,andpublishing.ThisreadablehistoryisverydifferentfromMilesHarvey’sIsland of the Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime whichrecountsthelifeandtheftsofGilbertBlandandothernotoriousmaptheftsthroughouthistory. Asalways,thankstotheAldineswhowritearticles,longandshort,forthenewsletter,andDonRicewhodoesthecopyediting.Icouldnotdothisjobwithoutyou. Untilthenextissue, MiriamKahn,Editor(amongotherthings).
The Aldus Society
Board Members
PresidentEmersonGilbert
SecretaryJ.WesleyBaker
TreasurerAmyBostic
RonaldBeachNancyCampbell
EdHoffmanCraigJohnsonDebraLewis
HelenLiebmanDonRiceLoisSmith
Photographer at LargeGeorgeCowmeadowBauman
AldusSocietyNotesispublishedthreetimesa
year.Forarticleideasandsubmissionscontactthe
NewsletterEditor,[email protected],
or614-239-8977.
NewsletterdeadlinesareAugust1,December15,
andApril1.
Contact InformationP.O.Box1150
Worthington,[email protected]
President’s Message
Editor’s Note
AldusSocietyNotes,Volume14,No.3waspublishedinAugustof2014.BodycopyissetinGaramond,andheadlinesaresetinFranklinGothic.
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TheRayandPatBrowneLibraryforPopularCultureStudieswasfoundedin1969,withthemissiontoacquireandpreserveresearchmaterialsonAmericanpopularculture.Oneofthemajorfocusesofthecollectionhasalwaysbeenpopularfiction.Todaywehavearound70,000catalogedbooksthatfallintosomepopularliteraturegenre:western,sciencefiction,fantasy,romance,detectivefiction,andmore.Thepopularfictioncollectionalsoincludessuchformatsasnickelweeklies,dimenovels,pulpmagazines,vintagepaperbacks,comics,andcurrentpaperbacksandhardcoversbyavarietyofpublishers.ThecollectioncanbesaidtotellthestoryofAmericanpopularfictionfrom1870stothepresent,notonlybystorycontentsbutalsothephysicalformatsandmarketingstrategiesofpopularfictionpublishers.Forinstance,thepulpmagazinescouldbesaidtohaveaninfluenceonthedevelopmentofaspecificAmericanversionofsciencefictionandtheinventionofthe“weirdtales”genre.Inanotherexample,thecollectionreflectshowseriesromanceshavebeenmarketedovertime. ThepopularfictioncollectionshowshowparticularcharactersandmotifsdevelopandthenbecomepartofanAmericanmythology.Themaskedsuperheroappearsinthepulps(theSpider,BlackBat,theShadow)beforethecomicsfeaturedsuchheroesasBatman.NickCarterappearedfirstinnickelweekliesandnowincomics.Asthecharacterschangeintheirdifferentmanifestations,sohavethehistoricalsituationsthatcreatedthem.TheBrownePopularCultureLibrary’sfictioncollectionisauniquecollectionthatreflectstherolesuchliterarycharactersplayinourliteraryhistoryandhowtheyreflectourhistoricalcircumstances.NancyDownisHeadLibrarianoftheBrownePopularCultureLibrary.ShehasanMLSfromIndianaUniversityandaPh.D.inEnglishLiteraturefromDrewUniversity(NJ).Herresearchinterestsincludepopularculturearchivesdetectivefiction,andpulpmagazines.Inhertwenty-fiveyearsatBowlingGreenStateUniversity,Nancyhasbeenacataloger,referencelibrarian,andnowheadsthePopularCultureLibrary.
October 9, 2014: Popular Fiction as Popular Culture - Nancy Down, Librarian at Bowling Green State University
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juxtaposeoldandnewimagery,revealingtheskillsofearlycartographersandallofthemanyancientwondersthattheymissedforlackofmoreadvancedmappingequipmentandknowledgeaboutwhatliesbelow.Fromfindingssuchassmall
newenclosuresatwellknownsitestonewlyrevealedearthworkcomplexes,andanew“lostcoil”atSerpentMoundtoboot,geophysicalsurveyisheraldinginaneweraofremarkableearthworkdiscoveries.
Nov. 13, 2014: Designing and Printing Using Old Types by Bobby and Sara Rosenstock, justAjar Design Press, Marietta, OH
ARCHAEOLOGY from page 1
Magnetic survey results from the Snake Den Group in Pickaway County, Ohio. First mapped by the Ohio Historical Society in 1897. The large outer enclosure (ditch) surrounding the mounds and hilltop detected in the magnetic data is a new find, the small square with rounded corners was originally recorded as a circle.
SaraandBobbyRosenstockwillspeakaboutletterpressprintinganddesign.OwnersofjustAjarDesignPressinMarietta,Ohio,theRosenstocksspecializeinletterpressandgraphicdesign.Bobbycreatescustompostersfromwoodcutsandsetstypeontheirhandcranked&foottreadlepoweredpresses.SaraheadstheGraphicDesigndepartmentatMarietta
CollegeanddoesarangeofcommercialdesignworkforjustAjarhttp://justajar.com/. Theirtalkwillfocusonthereemergenceofletterpressprinting,anditsroleasatool
forartistsanddesignersinthe21stcentury.Intheageofshoppingonline,theyareinterestedinthelocalrolethatgraphicdesignandprintingcanhaveontheircommunity.Whetherhostingatypesettingworkshopforcubscouts,workingwithlocalbusinessesandschools,orcreatingpostersfortownevents,theyseethepositiveaffectthatattractive,well-crafteddesignhasonacommunity.Visitorsandworkshopparticipantsgainanappreciationforage-oldcraftsandequipment. Sara,fromMountVernon,Washington,holdsaBFAfromAlfredUniversityandanMFAinGraphicDesignfromTylerUniversity.Bobby,fromMarlboro,NewJersey,holdsaBAFAfromAlfredUniversityandanMFAinBookArts&PrintmakingfromtheUniversityoftheArts.TheyresideinMarietta,OhiowiththeirdaughterElle.
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Ladies’ Luncheon TenmembersgatheredforlunchonJuly19thattheMCLCafeteria.Theselunchesarescheduledquarterlyandprovidewomenmemberswithanextraopportunityfor“bibliofellowship”-theenjoymentofbooksthatisenhancedbysharingitwithothers. Membersbroughtseveralbookstoshow,includingtheexcellentreadinglistatthebackofThe End of Your Life Book ClubbyWillSchwalbe,The Snow GoosebyPaulGallico,andThe Goat Island Journal 1993 byCarolSchwartzott.
Susan Meyer (left) helped Marcia Preston show members the accordion book about the four seasons on Goat Island, a place in the Niagara River near the falls.
Summer Book Crawls July5thwasthedateforourfirstsummerbookcrawl.Atleast14Aldusmemberscrawledtheirwaytobookstoresandaroundstacks.TheystartedattheVillageBookshop(it’stheoneinthelittlewhitechurch),2424WDublin-GranvilleRd.,Linworth43235.Withtoolittletimetobrowse,intrepidAldusmembersventuredtotheAcornBookshop,1464West5thAvenue,Columbus43212,wheretheyweretreatedtoanicediscountiftheytookbookshomewiththem.ThecrawlendednearbyatMatttheMillersTavern,1400GrandviewAvenue,Columbus43212.Satiatedandwithgroaningarms,bookcrawlersweredeterminedtosaveupforthesecondcrawl. TheAugust2ndbookcrawltraveledtoBillRadloff’sLittleBookshop,58EastMainSt,Westerville43081,whereheprovidedagreatdiscountforallAldusmembers.ThenontoHoffmanBooks,4167NorthHighSt,Columbus43214(withsimilardiscounts!).TheCrawlendedatLavashCafe,2985NHighSt,Columbus43202wherebookcrawlersfeastedonthescrumptiousbuffet.
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Picnic 2014 Arecord48folksgatheredtogetherforourannualinformalpicniconSunday,June22nd.Theweatherwasperfectandsunny;nottoohot,nottoowindy.Thetablesgroanedwithfood.Colorfulsaladsviedwithscrumptiousdessertsforattention.SomeAldinesstartedwithdessert,othersthehealthyfood.Ourregularmeetingroomhummedwithconversationaboutbooks,food,andmorebooks.SeveralmemberstookadvantageoftheThurberCenter’swonderfulwrap-aroundporch,sittingintheshadeandpleasantatmosphere. Ourpicnicwaspunctuatedwithawardshandedoutbyouroutgoingandincomingpresidents,EdHoffmanandEmersonGilbert.TheydistributedbookmarkscarefullycraftedbyChristinetohardworkingvolunteers.Thisyear’svolunteersinclude:GeorgeBauman,HarryCampbell,TomDearing,ErinDeel,ChristineHayes,CarolGilbert,GraznyaGrauer,LaniHeilman,TinaHoffman,GenieHoster,JayHoster,SueJohnson,MiriamKahn,LeahKalasky,SteveMarks,LauraMasonbrink,SusanReed,GeoffSmith,andPaulWatkins.
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EveryyeartheFellowshipofAmericanBibliophilicSocieties(FABS)holdsabooktoursomewhereintheUnitedStates.It’sagreatchancetoseeworldclasscollections,bothprivateandpublic,andenjoythecompanyofbooknerdsfromallover.ThisyearwasCleveland’sturn. Rememberthemovie,If It’s Tuesday This Must Be Belgium?InJuneontheFABStouritwas:If It’s 2:15 This Must Be The Cleveland Institute of Art. RingmasterTerryShockeyofthehostRowfantClubkeptusprancingatasteadyclipaswevisitedatleasteighteen(yes-18)separatemuseums,librariesandindividualhomesoverthethreefullandtwohalfdays.Healsothrewinacemeterybustourwithbookishinterest.Whew!Imaybemissingafewinthecountsinceseverallocationshadmorethanonesignificantrarebookarea.Thelibrariansandcuratorswhogreeteduswerethrilledtohavesuchanattentiveaudience.Attimesexhausting,butalwaysfascinating,thebreadthandqualityoftheselectionsmadeforusbyTerryandhisRowfantFelloweswillbehardtotop. OurhomebasewastheGliddenHotel,aconvertedrobberbaronmansion.ItislocatedonUniversityCircle-theheartofculturalactivityinCleveland-andmostofourtourstopswerewithinwalkingdistance.Manydeservedmoretime,butTerry’srallyingbellwasinsistentandoffwewouldgotothenextvenue.Agreatsampling,butareturntriponaleisurelysummerdayisdefinitelyinorder.
Some highlightsThebehindthescenestourofSeveranceHall,home
oftheClevelandOrchestra,hasacatwalklookatthemorethansixthousandindividualpipesontheconcertorgan.
TheCrawfordAuto-AviationCollectionatthe
WesternReserveHistoricalSocietyLibrarybuildingjustoffUniversityCirclecontainsover50automobilesshowingthehistoryofthecaroverthepast130yearsorso.Myfavoritesincludethe1910Hupmobile–thefirstcartodrivearoundtheworld.(ittookaboutayear).Thebrightred,bigfinned1958Chrysler300Dwhichstretchedoutto220incheswasasighttobehold.Forall
youHondaCivicdriversthat’sover18feetlong!Tryparallelparkingthatinfrontofyourfavoritebookstore. TheClevelandinstituteofArtLibraryhadagreatdisplayofseminalartists’booksincludingEdwardRuscha’sTwenty Six Gasoline Stations,JohnBaldessari’sBrutus Killed CaesarandHeidiNeilson’sAtlas of Punctuation.Fascinating. TheIngallsLibraryintheClevelandMuseumofArthasacompletesetofworksprintedbyWilliamMorrisattheKelmscottPress. OnthetriptoOberlinCollegewewerejoinedbyseveralotherAldusmembers.ItwasabeautifuldayandsinceourdaughterGwengotherundergraduatedegreesfromOberlinitseemedlikeoldtimes.TheAllenMemorialArtMuseumisoneofthefinestinthenationandtheOberlinLibraryhasatremendouscollectionofanti-slaverymaterials. AnannualFABStreatisthechancetovisitthehomesofprivatecollectors.Onthisyear’stourwetooktripsinsmallgroupstohearBobJacksonspeakofhisincredibleRockwellKentcollectionandbooksthatwereimportanttohimthroughouthislife.ThenontomeetJonLindsethwhospokeonhisresearchintoJewishfablesaswellashisBronteandAlicetreasures.Atrulyamazingafternoon. Icouldgoonandon,butthefinaleveningmealattheRowfantClubandtalkbyPaulRuxinwasafittingclosetotheweek’sevents–oralmost.WestillhadaSundaytouroftheLakeviewCemeteryandavisittotheJohnCarrollUniversitylibrarybeforeheadinghome. ThefellowshipofotherbookishfolksandtheexcitementofundiscoveredtreasureswillkeepMarciaandmeontheFABStourforalongtimetocome.Nextstop-Philadelphia.Don’tmissit. NOTE:SusanHanes,presidentofCaxtonClub,puttogetherascrapbookathttp://fabsclubnews.blogspot.com/2014/07/fabs-cleveland-2014-photojournal.html.
The 2014 Cleveland FABS Tour by Bill Evans
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BeatrixPotterandhercharmingEnglishcountryanimalshavehopped(back)intomylife,unexpectedly,afterachanceencounterwithalongtimeAcornBookshopcustomer. StephenHaynescameinlookingformysteriesbySusanWittigAlbert.Iknewwehadseveralandsaidso,leadinghimpastScienceFictionandLiteraturetothelongbackrowofMysterypaperbacks,wherealarge,stuffed,blackgorillasitsinasmallcartatopachest-highbookcaseneartheNaturalHistorysection,watchingovervisitorstothatcornerofthebookshop. “I’mlookingspecificallyfortitlesinherCottageTalesofBeatrixPotterseries,”Stepheninformedmeaswewoundourwaythroughtheneatlyarrangedbookcasesfilledwithbooklovers’temptations. I’dnotheardofthatseries,butwhatIdon’tknowaboutbooksisextensive.Secondhandbooksellingisahumblingprofession;everydaywehearaboutandareaskedforbooksandauthorswe’veneverheardof,nomatterhowmanyyearswe’vebeeninthebusiness.Theoretically,anybookthat’s everbeenpublishedcouldshowupinourshop,andthat’smillionsofbooks.Youwouldthinkthataftermy50yearsofputtingbooksinpeoples’handsthatI’dbequitetheknow-it-all,butI’mconstantlyremindedofthegapsinmybook-awareness. Whenmyignoranceofthesespecifiedmysteriesshowedonmyface,StephenexplainedtomethatAlberthadused,asthebasisofherstories,Potter’sreal-life1905purchaseofHillTopFarmnearLakeWindemereintheLakeDistrictofEngland.SheimaginedhowPotter,inherinteractionswithlong-timevillageresidents,mighthavequietlyhelpedresolvesmall–andsomenot-so-small–mysteriesinthetinyhamletsofNearSawreyandFarSawrey,one-halfmileapart.“MywifereallyenjoysBritish‘cozies,’andtheseareaboutasfarfromnoirasyoucanget!”Stephenlaughed. Britishvillagemysteries?!Ibecamepersonallyinterestedinfindingthesebooks,aswellasprofessionallymotivatedtosatisfyacustomer,asIalsolikethosenon-violent,non-graphiccozies. IfoundAlbert’smysteriesquickly,buttoStephen’sdisappointment,wehadonlythefirstoneintheseries,
The Tale of Top Hill Farm. “She’salreadyreadthatone,”hesaidwithasigh.“I’mlookingfortheothersaboutPotter.”ItoldhimI’dcheckinthehardbacksectionandinthebackroomforhim.HewanderedofftobrowseinFilmasIcontinuedthequestforthosemysteries. ButIcouldfindonlyasecondcopyofthatfirstbook,whichIeagerlypluckedofftheshelftotakehomewithme. IreportedmyfindingstoStephenwithmyapologiesfornotbeingabletofillhisrequest,informinghimthatwe’dcallwhenotherscamein.Ialsogrinnedandtoldhimthathisrequesthadgeneratedinterestonmypartand,holdingupthesparecopy,toldhimthatIwastakingithometoread.Helaughedandsaidhe’dtellhiswifethatshehadinfluencedmyreadinglist.
OnmybedstandathomewasthebookI’dbeenreading,Havana Fever,anoveltranslatedfromCubanSpanishaboutaninformalsecondhandbookdealerwhohadfoundalarge,valuableprivatelibraryinaonce-fabuloushouse.Iwasenjoyingthenovel.Theauthor,LeonardoPadura,wasagoodwriter,whichwasabonus.I’vereadeverybookIcouldfindrebooksellers/bookstores/bookselling,buttherearequiteafewofdubiousliteraryquality.HavanaFeverwasapleasantsurprise. AfterI’dtakentheBeatrixPottermysteryhome,itfounditswayimmediatelytothebedroom–perhapsnudgedtherebylittleLucyLiu-cat,whothinksshe’sinchargeofrunningthehouse,whichiswhyoneofhernicknamesisSgt.Snoopy.LindaandIendourdaysreadingnewspapersandourcurrentbooksinbed,whereLucyandSatchmocurlupwithusuntillights-outaround12:30. Thatnightcamethedilemmaeveryreaderfaceswhenaverypromisingnewtitlepopsuptochallengeone’scurrentbookfortherighttoberead.Ithappensallthetimewhenyouworkinabookstore,whatwithtemptingbooksarrivingeveryday.Forme,now,itwasEnglishvillagecozyvs.anunusualbooksellingstorysetinCubawithgraphicscenesinthepost-revolutionaryera.
Beatrix Potter (Re)Enters My Lifeby George Cowmeadow Bauman
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Itwastimetowelcomegentle,guilelessBeatrixPotterandhercrittersintomylife.LucyandSatchmoapprovedbyrubbingtheirfacesagainstthenewvolume. “It must be a good book,”LucysaidtoBigMoastheysettledontotheirfavoriteblankets.“It has a cat on the cover!”
IbeganreadingThe Tale of Top Hill Farmimmediately,andlovedit.It’sasthoughaCreatorofBookssomewherethrewintoacosmicbook-blenderthe“Mitford”booksofJanKaron,Orwell’sAnimal Farm,JamesHerriot’sveterinariantales,Mother Gooseandthe“SneakyPie”seriesbyRitaMaeBrown. AlbertusessomeofPotter’sanimalcharacters–TomThumb,Mrs.Tiggy-Winkle,andrabbitsFlopsyandMopsy–inherownbook,togoodeffect,linkingtheseriestogether.ThePotterillustrationswerecopyrightedwhenthebookswerepublished,andsodonotappearinAlbert’stext,thoughtheymightdosointhefuture.ThecopyrightexpiredonJanuary1ofthisyear. IevenenjoyedthepartswheretheanimalsconverseabouttheirobservationsoftheBigFolks’behavior.Assomeonewhohaslivedwithanimalsallmylife–dogswhengrowingupandcatsforthelastforty-plusyears--Ifoundthistreatmentfun. ClearlyAlberthadstudiedthePotterbooksclosely,andwasechoingtheauthor’sapproachofgivingself-awarenessandperceptivitytoanimals,whichco-existedwithadultsinAlbert’sfictionalvillageworld.Theyhadopinionsaboutwhatwasgoingoninthesmallcommunity,whereeveryonekneweveryoneelse’sbusiness.Albertsays,“Iconfesstolovingtheanimals,forIfindthattheyofferdimensionsofstorythataresimplynotpossiblewhenthenarrativeisrelayedonlythroughhumancharacters.” Ifhumanswerenearbywhenthecreatureschattedwithoneanother,whattheyheardwasmeowingandbarkingandsqueaking.Theanimalsfeltitwasahumanproblemthattheycouldn’tcommunicatewiththeanimals,nottheirownshortcoming.Thecatsanddogevensolvedoneoftheminormysteriesinthistaleandsubtlyassistedwithothers.Alberthasadefttouch,preventingtheconceitofanimalintelligenceandconversationfrombecomingtreacly. AbouthalfwaythroughThe Tale of Hill Top Farm,I
thoughttofindoutmoreaboutBeatrixPotter.I’dsoldherbooksforyears,butneverthoughtaboutherorthosebooksbeyondputtingtheminthehandsofthosewhowantedthem–aswithmostauthorsIhandleinthebookshop.IlookedheruponWikipedia,andnoticedthattherewasarecentmoviebasedontheauthor’slife. Miss Potter,starringRenéZellweger,cameoutin2006togoodreviews.IdownloadeditfromAmazonandwatcheditoneafternoononadayoff,whileLindawasteachingatOhioState.ThefilmshowedPotter’sprivilegedLondonbackgroundandhowherparentsdominatedherlifeintoherforties,tryingtokeepherathome,inthetraditionalroleofoldestspinsterdaughter,whosejobitwastotakecareofherelderlyparents.Itwassuchagoodarrangementforthemthattheywerestronglyagainsthermarryinganyoneotherthanoneofthewealthyyoungmentheyparadedinfrontofher,allofwhomwereunacceptabletoBeatrix.Shewantedtomakeherowndecisionsaboutmattersrelatedtoherfuture,especiallyahusband,thoughatagethirty-eightsheconsideredherselfaspinsterandhadaboutgivenuponmarriage. Shehadbeentutoredbyasuccessionofcapablegovernesses,receivingnoformaleducationexceptinartatwhichsheexcelled,drawingimagesofgardenflowersandneighborhoodanimals,manyofwhichsheandherbrotherBertramtookuptothethirdfloornursery-frogs,snails,bats,mice,andahedgehogortwo.
Beatrixbeganwritingwhatshecalled“illustratedletters”tothechildrenofaformernanny,correspondencewhichfeaturedillustrationsofherfavoredcreatures.Theyweresowellreceivedthatshebegansellingherimagestocardcompanies.Shealsotried,unsuccessfully,tofindapublisherforherlittleanimalstories.Undaunted-andwithastrongentrepreneurialsense-sheself-publishedtheanimaltalesin1901,withblack-and-whiteillustrations.Theysoldasurprising400copies,andcametotheattentionofFrederickWarnepublishers,whichagreedtopublishPotter’stalesintherapidlygrowingandlucrativecategoryofillustratedchildren’sbooks.Potterinsistedthatthebooksbethatsmallsize,sofamiliartousnow,sotheywouldfitreadilyintochildren’shands.ThefirstwastobewhattheWarnesjokinglycalledher“bunnybook”-The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
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Herbooksbecameinstantbestsellersandwerepublishedtwo-a-year,givingBeatrixfinancial-ifnotemotional-independencefromheroverbearingparents.ShewassmartenoughtoanticipatethedemandforsidelinesandurgedtheWarnestopursuemerchandising,todevelopPeterRabbitproductssuchasstuffedanimals,paintingbooks,teacups,games,andmuchmore.Thiswassurprisinglyperceptiveforthetime.Pottercalledeverythingbeyondthebooksher“side-shows”. NormanWarne,thebrotherwhoencouragedBeatrixandeditedherbooks,proposedwhenshewas39,andBeatrixaccepted.Buttheengagementremainedsecret,forherparentsconsideredhimtobe“intrade”andshewasthedaughterofagentleman.TheyfelthimtobesociallybeneathBeatrix’sfamily,andthusundesirable,breakingBeatrix’sheart. Beforethetwocouldmarry,NormanWarnediedsuddenlyofarareformofleukemiawhileBeatrixwasspendinghersummerholidayinWales.Shewasbereft;hermotherandfatherwerenear-gleeful. Anxioustohaveaplaceofherownwhereshecouldescapeherparents,Beatrixhadboughtafewmonthsearlierthethirty-four-acreHillTopFarmbyLakeWindemere,inthevillageofNearSawrey.Thehousewasaseventeenth-century,two-storyNorthCountryfarmhouse,plainandsimple.Thevillagewasreferredtoas“veryold-fashioned.Noelectriclights,notelephones,noentertainments.”
Herfamilyhadtakenseveralthree-monthvacationsintheLakeDistrictwhileBeatrixandBertramweregrowingup.Theyhadroamedthefieldsandwoodsandhadcometolovethebeautifulcountryoffellsandlakesandfarms.Indelightshesketchedtheanimalsandtreesandtoadstoolsandeverythingshesaw.
Themoviehandlesallthesedetailswellandisquitecharming.Attimeswhenhersketchedanimalsareshown,thereisbriefanimationofPeterRabbit,Mrs.Tiggy-Winkle,andothers.Ienjoyedthecombinationofreal-lifeandanimation. ThisiswheretheThe Tale of Top Hill Farmstarts,
withNormandead,Beatrixmourningandindespair,andinneedofgettingawayfromherparents-evenifitwasforonlyafewweeksatatimeattheWindemerefarm. TheisolationoftheSawreys-250milesandaday’strainridefromLondon-mayhavecontributedtotheirdesirabilitytoPotter.Thevillageswereremoteenoughsothatherparentsweren’tlikelytocome.AsAlbertwrites,thevillages“seemedtoBeatrixtobeunchangingandunchangeable.”Thiswasawelcomethoughtinthefirstdecadeofanewcenturythathadalreadybroughtwithitmorechangesthanmostpeoplewelcomed:“speedingmotorcars,”forexample,whichdroveatanastonishingtenmiles-per-hour,“shrilltelephones,harshelectriclights,titanicsteamships,anewanduntriedking,andaLiberalgovernment.”
Focusingonhernewfarmanditsneededrepairshelpedthechildren’sauthordealwithhergrief–repairingpigstys,rebuildingaherdofsheep,andaddinganadditiontothefarmhousewherethecouplemightlivewhomanagedthefarmwhenshewasbackinLondontakingcareofherparents. Beatrixinsistedonusinglocallabor,localmaterials,anddoingthingsinthetraditionalway,whichreceivedgrudgingrespectfromthevillagers,whowereinitiallyabitputoutthatan“off-comer”–anoutsider–hadboughtoneoftheirdesirableproperties.Sheeventuallyboughtseveraloftheadjacentfarms,havingbecomededicatedtopreservingfromdevelopmentthewildnessandbeautyaroundher. “Theminuteshetookoffhersmartleathertownshoesandputontheleather-and-woodclogs,shebecameawomanborntothecountry,ratherthantothecity,thekindofwomanshelongedtobe,”Albertwrote.Buttryasshemight,Beatrixwouldneverbeabletoescapethelongpullofherparents’poweroverher. “Shewassentencedtolivingadoublelife,shuttlingbetweenthecityandthecountry,untilhermotherandfatherwerebothgone,”Albertadds.Heranimalcharactershadmorefreedomthanshedid. InherAcknowledgments,Albertstatesthatshehasbeenable“towriteafictionthatistruetothefactsofherlife,”thankstotheenormousamountofpreviousresearchintoBeatrixPotterbyothers.
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“Mymemoryhasneverbeenverygood;it’sonereasonwhyI’vekeptajournalforyears,asBeatrixPotterdid.Iwritemystoriestoorganizeandpreservethosejournal-notes.” I’veoftentriedtoremembertheearliestbooksinmylife,butit’sdifficulttopushbackfurtherthantheBobbseyTwinsseries.ThereweretheDickandJaneswestudiedinelementaryschool,butbeforethat-nothing. WhilewatchingMiss Potter,duringoneofthesceneswherePeterRabbitisstrugglingtogetawayfromFarmerMcGregor,asuddenmemoryfloodedmysenses. IinstantlyrememberedhavingtheBeatrixPotterstoriesreadtomebymyAuntPeg(Cowmeadow),theverywomantowhommybookshopisdedicated,thewomanwhosharedherloveofreading,andwhoinspiredmetoalifewithbooks,personallyandprofessionally. Herintonationshavereturned,asthoughI’mlisteningtoherreadingnow-thedaughterofanEnglishmanreadingquintessentialBritishchildren’sstoriestoherreceptiveyoungnephew.ImagesofherapartmentonLaurelAvenueinNewCastle,Pennsylvania,appearedinmyheadasthestoriesranginmyears. Onemomentthatmemorywasburiedsodeepthatithadbeenlostforsixdecades.Butonebook,followedbyonemovie,minedmymindandgavemethatpreciousremembrance,perhapstheoldestIhave.Nowit’shereforgood,storedinmymemory,andinthisstory. SinceseeingMiss Potter andrecallingmyschoolteacherauntreadingtome,memoriesofAuntPegsharing“MotherGoose”withmehavealsosurfaced.Icannowrememberalsofirstgradeatmycountryschool,thrilledtobelearningmyalphabet,specificallythedifferencebetweensmallandcapitallettersandhowtowritethem.TheearlywriterinmewasinawethatIcouldtakethreeoftheselettersandc-a-twouldmagicallyappearonthatlinedpaper. Afterthatfilm,Icouldn’twaittogetbacktoThe Tale of Hill Top FarmwithMissPotterandheranimalfriendsatWindemere,somuchbetterinformedaboutthelifewhichcreatedthebelovedchildren’stalesandblessedwiththememoryofhavingthemreadtome. ThenextdayIbroughthomethePeter Rabbit Giant
Treasurytoenjoyonceagainthewonderfultales.ButIallowedmyselfjustoneoriginalPottertaletoeachofAlbert’stales,drawingoutthepleasureofPotter-world. ThankyouBeatrixPotter,forcreatingyourwonderfulanimalcharacters,andthankyouStephenHaynes,forbringingtomyattentionTheCottageTalesofBeatrixPotterbySusanWittigAlbert,towhomIalsogivemuchthanks.AndspecialgratitudetoAuntPegforsharingherloveofbookswithme.Bibliophiliaafflictedmeearlyandhasneverletgo.Praisebe.
Welcome New Members!Lynn Manner isinterestedinilluminatedmanuscripts,collectingandillustration.SherecentlyrelocatedtoColumbusfromGambier(KenyonCollege)whereshewastheCuratoroftheGreensladeSpecialCollectionsatKenyonCollege.
John KirsnerisintobooksaboutWilliamMorris,BenFranklin,Dickens,Sci-Fi/FantasyandHemingway.HelivesintheColumbusarea.
Bob Fleck,2014Ravnebergspeaker,livesinNewCastle,Delaware,andhasastronginterestinDelawarehistory.
The2014/15AldusMemberDirectoryisout.KudostoDebLewisforthegreatjobcompilingandupdatingthedirectory.
Ifyoudidn’tgetyoursinthemail,[email protected].
Check Your Calendar Oct21-22,2014:CaseWesternReserveUniversity’sKelvin Smith LibraryishostinganationalColloquiumonlibraryspecialcollections.GeoffSmithwillbemoderatingapaneldiscussing,“WhereareWeToday?”Aldusmembersareinvited.http://library.case.edu/ksl/collections/special/colloquium/
ShirleyHyattlocatedthiswonderfulfilm,nowanonlinevideoaboutprintingbooks.Shewrites,“backbeforeebooks,printingwasatime-consuminglaboriousprocess.Oncetheauthorfinishedthewritingtasks,teamsofpeopleworkingtogetherwererequiredtoproducejustonebook.AnEncyclopaediaBritannicaFilmsdocumentarycreatedin1947isavailableonYouTubethatshowstheprocesshttp://youtu.be/hBztGX-2i1M.
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On Being Reminded of E. C. Bentley While in Penzance
TheonlythingIknewaboutE.C.BentleywhenIfirstvisitedPenzancetwenty-eightyearsago,wasthathewastheauthorofTrent’s Last Case,amysterynovelpublishedin1913,writtenasareactiontotheinfallibilityofSherlockHolmes.Bentley’ssleuth,PhilipTrent,managestomisinterpreteverycluethatcomeshisway.Inspiteofthat,somecreditthebookwithhavingestablishedtheprotocolsforAgathaChristie,DorothyL.Sayers,et alsomeyearslaterwhentheylaunchedtheGoldenAgeofBritishMysteries.I’dfoundthebookmerelyhigh-mediocre,butIguessithassomesignificance. IfyouknowanythingatallaboutBentleyyou’reprobablyaskingyourselfwhyIwouldmentionhisnameinthesamebreathasPenzance,theCornishtownmadefamousbyW.S.GilbertandArthurSullivan.IthastodowithastatueofSirHumphreyDavy,alocalladwhogrewuptobecomethefamouschemistandinventor. Duringthatfirstvisit,IpassedbyDavy’sstatueonitspedestaloutsidetheMarketHousewithbarelyanod.ButthispastJuneitwasdifferent.Duringtheinterveningyears,I’dlearnedwhataclerihewwasandhadthegoodlucktofindaremainderedcopyinmintconditionofThe Complete Clerihews of E. Clerihew Bentley publishedbyOxfordUniversityPressin1981.Forthoseofyouwhodon’tknowwhataclerihewis,theOEDdefinesthewordas“a short comic or nonsensical verse, professedly biographical, of two couplets differing in length.” SomeofyouareaheadofmebynowandknowwhatI’mgoingtoenterbelow–namely,thefirstclerihewcomposedbyBentleyasasixteen-year-oldschoolboyin1890:
SirHumphreyDavyAbominatedgravy.HelivedintheodiumOfhavingdiscoveredsodium.
Thisrattledaroundinmymindlikeanoldsongfortheremainderofmyvisit.Here’sanotherwell-knownexample:
EdgarAllanPoeWaspassionatelyfondofroe.HealwayslikedtochewsomeWhenwritinganythinggruesome.
Onemore:
SirChristopherWrenSaid,“Iamgoingtodinewithsomemen.IfanyonecallsSayIamdesigningSt.Paul’s.”
Asyouwillhavediscerned,therearerulesforwritingclerihews,justastherearerulesforwritinghaikuandPetrarchansonnets.Aclerihewisaquatraincomposedoftwocoupletsthatneedn’t(andprobablyshouldn’t)scan,withthefirstlineideallybeingthenameofthepoem’ssubject,e.g.SirHumphreyDavy.Afterreadingthethreeclerihewsabove
andknowingtherules,itisalmostimpossiblenottowriteoneyourself.Manywell-knownpoetsandwritershavebeenunabletoresisttheurge,andneitherwillyou. Submityoursinglebesteffort-Aldinesonly,ofcourse-forpossiblepublicationinthenextissueoftheAldusNewsletter. Thewriterofthemostentertainingormostcleverormaybejustthesilliestofthelot,asdeterminedbyaneminentpanelofjudges,willreceiveacopyoftheOxfordUPeditionofTheCompleteClerihews.(Hint:thewinningentrywillalmostcertainlydealwithanindividualassociatedwithbooks.)[email protected],subjectline,clerihew.
by Donald Tunnicliff Rice
C.S.Forester(1899-1966)is,ofcourse,wellknownforhisauthorshipofthe“HoratioHornblower”novels,swashbucklingtalesofseawarfareinthewoodensailingshipdaysofNelson’snavy.Hewasprolific,andwrotemanyothernovels,oftenwithmilitaryornavalsettings,butalsowrotepopularhistoryandbiography,andevenanautobiography(Long Before Forty,MichaelJoseph,1960). Allmylife,IhavefoundForester’sbooksfascinatingandintenselyreadable.IfirstencounteredoneofhisbookswhenIwastwelve,visitingthehomeofolderrelativesbackinKentucky.AnearlyAmericanpublicationofCaptain Horatio Hornblowerwasinthreevolumes.Thenovelwasoriginallypublishedasatrilogy;inretrospect,withthebibliophilicknowledgeofage,IrealizethatwhatIhadmyhandsonwasvolume1oftheBookoftheMonthClubrepublication.Thiscasedsetwaswidelypopular,andcopiescanbeseeninusedbookstorestothisday.Thisfirstvolumewasonatableinthelivingroom,andI,aboredkidwithnoplaymatesmyageandnothingtooccupymytime,startedtoreadit.Iwashooked,readingitallthatdayandthenexttoitsend,andthenIlookedfortheothertwovolumeswhichwerestatedasbeingintheset.But,noluck.MyAuntJosephinekeptthehouseforherelderlyfather.Shesuggestedthatsomevisitorhadlefttheonevolumeinthehouse.Talkaboutcliff-hangers.ItwasalmostayearlaterwhenourfamilyhadsettledintheWashington,D.C.areathatIwashangingaroundthebookdepartmentinWoodwardandLathrop’sDept.StoreindowntownD.C.Thiswasbackinthedayswhenbigdowntowndepartmentstoreswerestillcommon,andallhadextensivebookdepartments.And,ofcourse,there
werealltheHornblowernovels.IboughtthecompleteCaptain Horatio Hornblower andtookithometodevour.IhavereadandrereadForestereversince. MyForestercollectionisspotty,butovertheyearsIhavedonewhatIcan.Fig.1showsthefirstcollectededitionoftheCaptainHoratioHornblowertrilogy,publishedbyLittle,BrowninApril,1939(10,000copies).Thisisthetruefirst,slightlyprecedingthepublicationinEngland–perhapsthegatheringwarcloudstherecauseddelay.ThejacketcoverillustrationshownandrepeatedinthecoloredfrontispiecewerebyN.C.Wyeth;allthedrawingsinthetextareattributedtohim,buttheseweredonebyhisyoungson,AndrewWyeth,underdad’sdirection.SothesedrawingsmightconstituteearlyAndrewWyethfirsteditionprints(thinkstheself-deludingcollector),but,at10,000copies,hardlyalimitededition. Thefirstprintingsoftheseparatenovelsofthetrilogyaremuchhardertocomeby.ShowninFigs.2a,baretheEnglishprintingsofthefirsttwo,The Happy Return,MichaelJoseph,London,February,1937(12,000copies,publishedinU.S.asBeat to Quarters),andA Ship of the Line,MichaelJoseph,London,1938(15,000copies).Well,despitethefairlylargeprintingsforthetimes,copiesingooddustjacketsarehardtocomeby.ThesebookswerereadtodeathinwartimeEngland.Yet,dustjacketsaresomethingofanecessityforacollectorofthese“modernfirsts,”ifyouareaslavetoconvention.And,withtheForesterfirsts,acopywiththeoriginaldustjacketinpresentableconditionsellsforaroundtentimesthecostofacopysansjacket.Increasingly,thesedays,dealersaresupplyingthedustjacketdeficiencywithgoodquality
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Book Hunting notes
Collecting C. S. Forester by Bill Rich
Fig. 1
Captain Horatio Hornblower
Fig. 2a
The Happy Return
Fig. 2b
A Ship of the Line
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photocopies,whichshouldfoolnocollector,butmakethebooklookbetterontheshelf.In2a,thejacketisthe1937original-butin2b,thejacketis“supplied”byaphotocopy.Thedealerwhoadvertisedthisbookdidproperlystateitsillegitimateorigin,however,andthepricewasclosetothatofanunjacketedcopy. ForesterwrotemanyHornblowernovels,sequelsandprequels,tracingthecareeroftheherofrommidshipmantoadmiral.Butonenon-Hornblowernovelsetinthesameperiodisaparticularfavoriteofmine(Fig.3).ThisisThe Captain from Connecticut,astoryofanAmericancommandingoneofthebigfrigates(suchastheConstitution)thatwonaseriesofspectacularship-to-shipbattlesagainsttheBritishintheWarof1812.ShowninFig.3isthefirstEnglishedition,publishedbyMichaelJosephinLondoninAugust,1941(15,000).ThiswasproducedattheheightoftheBattleofBritain;smallwondertheAmericanfirstcameouttwomonthsearlier.Thenoveldescribessomeoftheeventsinthelastwarthetwocountriesfoughtagainsteachother.Atthetimeofpublication,hugeU.S.materialaidwaspouringintoBritain,andbothnavieswerefightingtosafeguardthetrans-Atlanticconvoys,althoughAmericawasnotyetformallyinthewar.ForesterwasamajoradvocateofAnglo-Americanfriendship,andduringthewar,heworkedfortheBritishInformationServiceinAmerica.The Captain from Connecticutisaproductofthisalliance,butitisarousingstory,farfrompropaganda,fortogether,theEnglishspeakingpeoplespulleddownthemosteviltyrannyinhistory.DuringWWII,ForestermovedtotheUnitedStateswhereheworkedforBritishIntelligencewritingpropaganda.Togetherwithhiswife,helivedtherestofhislifeintheU.S. Onemorenovel,whichresonateswithmorereadersthanareHornblowerfans,is,ofcourse,thenever-to-be-forgottenThe African Queen.Fig.4isthefirstAmericanedition,publishedinBostonbyLittle,Brown
inFebruary,1935(2,500copies).Thisnotablemodernfirst,scarceinagoodjacket,wasfoundontheshelvesofausedbookstore,atausedbookprice.Thebookhunter’sheartheregaveamightyleap,paidthe$15asked,andlefttheshoprejoicing,hardlybelievinghisluck.ThisAmericanfirstlacksthelastthreechaptersoftheEnglishedition,containingahappierendingwhichForesteraddedattheinsistenceofhisEnglishpublishers.ThisonemightbethehighspotofmyForestercollection,atleast. Finally,thesegreatstorieslendthemselvestomoviemaking,ofwhichtherehavebeenseveralovertheyears.Figs.5a,b,cshowpostersforthreeofthemostfamous.Fig.5aisforThe African Queen(1951),directedbyJohnHustonandstarringKatherineHepburnandHumphreyBogart.Themoviehasthehappierending,BogartandHepburnsurviveandaremarried.ThisfilmwonBogiehisonlyAcademyAward.Fig.5bisCaptain Horatio Hornblower,also1951,starringnolessthanGregoryPeck.Inmyjudgment,PeckmakesabetterheroasHornblowerthanasCapt.AhabinMoby Dick,inwhichhealsostarred.Fig.5cshowsyetanotherwarmovie,The Pride and the Passion(1957),basedonForester’s1933novelThe Gun.ThisisanaccountofthePeninsularWarinSpainfoughtagainstNapoleon’sforcesbytheSpanishandBritish.AforceofSpanishirregulars(theterm“guerillas”originatedinthiswar),ledbyapeasantSpanishcouple,andassistedbyaBritishofficer,aretryingtodragahugeartillerypieceacrossafairhunkofSpaintolaysiegetoaFrench-heldstrongpoint.Thetaleendstragically,unusualforthelaterForesterworks.TheSpanishcoupleareplayedbyFrankSinatraandSophiaLoren;theBritishofficerby
GaryGrant.Talkaboutastar-ladenblockbuster.Itwaswell-received,butdidnothavethestayingpowerofThe African Queen.LibertieswereofcoursetakenwithForester’soriginalnarrative,andamoremajorrole
Fig. 3
The Captain from Connecticut
Fig. 4
The African Queen
Fig. 5a
The African Queen Movie
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assignedtotheguerillagirl,but,comeon,who’ssorry?ThiswasSophiaLoreninherprime. C.S.Foresterwas,Isuppose,adecidedlymiddle-browwriter.OnthissideoftheAtlantic,someofhisstoriesappearedintheSaturday Evening Post,notinHarper’sorThe Atlantic.Literarycriticsdonotgointoecstasyoverhisworks.LookinginThe Oxford Companion to English Literature,InotethatForesterratesonlyashortparagraph.Hisnear-contemporaries;E.M.Foster,AldousHuxley,andEvelynWaughallgettheirnear-full-page.But,forme,Foresterhasprovidedmorereadingpleasurethananyoftheabove.PerhapsIamingoodcompany.OnthedustjacketforCaptain Horatio Hornbloweristhisblurbfromawriter,notacritic: “IrecommendForestertoeveryoneliterateIknow.”-ErnestHemingway
Fig. 5b
Captain Horatio Hornblower Movie
Fig. 5c
The Pride and the Passion Movie
IthasbeensaidthatnobookhasbeenprintedinmoreeditionsthantheBible.BetweenGutenberg’sBibleof1455andtheendofthefifteenthcentury,nolessthan130separateeditionsoftheBiblewereprintedinEurope.Perhapssurprisingly,manyoftheserareincunableBiblessurvivetodayininstitutionsandprivatecollectionsacrosstheworld.MostoftheearliestBiblesweremassivefolios,boundinheavywoodenboards,lavishlydecoratedandrubricated,andinsomeinstanceschainedtotheirowner’sshelves.ThefirstBibles,evenbeing“massproduced”incomparisontotheirmanuscriptcounterparts,werestillrelativelyexpensiveluxuryitemsdestinedforownershipbywealthyaristocrats,universities,orchurcheswhointendedtoputthemtotheworkofbringingsalvationtothemasses.Inaddition,thesehugefolioBibleswereincrediblyheavy,unwieldy,andcumbersometotransport.Thus,manyofthemremainedtetheredtoshelvesorfirmlyplantedonlecterns,makingitdifficultforthecommonpersontoownorevenreadoneofthesetechnologicallyproducedmarvels.Despitetherevolutionaryimplicationsofmechanicalbookproduction,theyremainedoutofreachformost. Howeverin1491,aSwissprinternamedJohannFrobenwouldsoonchangeallofthiswithhispublicationoftheveryfirstpocket-sizedoctavoeditionofSt.Jerome’sLatinVulgateBible.FrobenunderstoodthatthemarketforhugefolioBibleswaslimitedtowell-fundedcustomersandacademicorreligiousinstitutions.Toreallyopenupthefledglingbookmarketandgetbooksintothehandsofthemasses,heneededtocreateamuchmoreaffordableandeasilytransportablebookthatcouldbeownedandreadbythecommonman...oratleastthecommonstudentorclergyman.FromhisprintshopinthecityofBasel,whichwouldsoonevolveintoacenterof
Froben’s “Poor Man’s Bible” by Matthew S. Schweitzer
Froben Bible 1495
The Biblia Pauperum was printed several times as a blockbook in the Rhineland and the Netherlands. This image dates c. 1465. (DeHamel, C. The Book. NY: Phaidon Press, 2001, p163, ill. 111).
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RenaissanceHumanism,Froben’spressesturnedoutwhatwouldbecomeknownastheBiblia Pauperum,orthePoorMan’sBible.Forthefirsttimeever,theaverage(literate)EuropeancouldownacopyoftheBiblefortheirownpurposeswhetheritbestudyorprivatedevotion.Theresultwasprofound,andthebirthoftheoctavoformatwouldhelptorevolutionizebookproductionandsalesingeneral.Thesmallersizemeantlesspaperwasrequiredandthuslowerexpensestoproduceeachprintrun.Theirlowercostandportabilityleadtoanincreaseinbooksalesandtothepublicationofawidevarietyoftitles,religiousandsecular,asbookownershipbegantobecomefeasibletomorethanjusttherich. Thisnewexperimentinbookformathelpedcontribute,innosmallpartitisarguedbysome,totheintellectualrevolutionthatwouldoccurinEuropeduringthesixteenthcentury.Whenbooksbecamesmaller,moreaffordable,andeasiertocarry,hold,andread,thedesireforbooksgrewtremendously.FrobenwouldcontinuetoinnovateandwouldgoontomakenumerousimportantcontributionstotheprintingartduringhistenureasBasel’sleadingscholar-publisher.FrobenwasthefirsttointroduceitalicsandGreekfontsaswellaspopularizingtheuseofstandard(andeasiertoread)Romantypefaces.Froben’sfriendandfellowhumanistErasmuswouldbenefitgreatlyfromFroben’sinnovationsinprintingandwouldeventually
helphimbecomeoneofthefirstbestsellingauthorsinhistory.Erasmus’famousandgreatlyinfluentialGreek-LatinNewTestamentwouldemergefromFroben’sownprintingpressesin1516.FrobenhimselfwouldplayanimportantroleinthespreadoftheReformationthroughthepublicationanddisseminationofmanyofMartinLuther’scontroversialworks,withmanyofthemprintedininexpensivesmallformatsforeasyconcealmentfromunsympatheticauthorities. WiththesuccessofhisfirstoctavoBible,Frobenengagedtoproduceasecondeditionin1495,thistimeevenincluding
anengravedfrontispieceportraitofSt.JeromeexecutedbyAlbrechtDürer.Itisacopyofthisparticularbookwhichhasfortuitouslyfounditswayacrossthecenturiesintomypersonalcollection.TheBibleisboundinbeautifulalumtawedpigskinoverbeveledwoodenboardsandstampedinblind.Thereareremainsofbrassclaspswhichappeartohavebeenstrippedfromthebindingatsomepoint.
TheBibleisrubricatedinredandblue,thoughitappearsnotbythesamerubricatorastheworkisinconsistentthroughouttheentirevolumewithsomesectionsleftincomplete.Inparticular,theopeningpagesofGenesisandthefourGospelsaredoneinafinehand,highlightingthesectionsoftheBibleprobablydeemedthemostimportantandmostreadbyitspreviousowner.ThereareafewmarginalnotesininkwithanownershipinscriptiononthetitlepageindicatingaGermanprovenance. Theoriginalengravedfrontispieceismissing(asiscommonsinceitwasanoriginalDürerengraving!)asistheoriginalprintedhalf-title.InitsplacehoweverisanamazingpenandinkdrawntitlepagedepictingarobedfiguretramplingaserpentunderthebranchesoftheTreeofLife.AroundthetreeisabannerbearingtheLatinmottoVirtus Ad Aethera Tendit(VirtueReachestoHeaven),aquotefromtheBiblicalBookofProverbs.Itisobviousthatsomeonetookgreattimeandcaretocreatethismanuscripttitlepagewhichgivesthisparticularcopyawonderfullyuniquecharacter.TheBibleitselfisotherwisecompletewiththeexceptionofanappendixofHebrewnamesthatwasoftenboundwithit.Thisparticularcopyappearstohavebeenboundwithoutitorperhapsitwasremovedwhenthebookwasreboundlikelyintheearlyseventeenthcentury. BeingabletoholdabookcreatedatthedawnofprintingisawonderfulexperienceandthisparticularBible,beautifulandelegantinitsearlybinding,isatreasure.Aswithanyearlyprintedbooks,itisafragileyetenduringtimecapsulefromadistantageandareminderthatwhiletimeneverceasestopassonintoeternity,wecanstillexperiencealittlepartofhistorythatiscontainedinthepagesofthesebookswhichwereonceturnedandcontemplatedbymenandwomenlongcenturiesintheirgraves.Ashestoashes.Dusttodust.
The Novum Instrumentum of Erasmus prints the Bible Text in Greek beside a literal translation of Latin (DeHamel, C. The Book. NY: Phaidon Press, 2001, p227, ill. 163).
Froben Bible Pen & Ink Replacement Title Page
Rubricated page from Froben Bible
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TheromantictalesofOhio’shistoric“CoonskinLibrary”havebecomelegendary,buttherealstoryisevenmoreinteresting.TheWesternLibraryAssociation(itsformalname)wasnotthestate’sfirst“social”library;itwasprecededbyfiveotherlibraries,includingtheBelpreFarmers’Library(1796),ashort-livedlibraryatCincinnati(1802),theHudsonlibrary,formedbyDavidHudsonandGeorgeKilbourne(1802),theErieLiterarySocietyinTrumbullCounty(1803),andtheStanberyLibraryinWorthington(1803).ButtheCoonskinLibrarywasuniqueforotherreasons.First,itsmembersshowedunusualcooperation,teamwork,andingenuitytoformaninstitutioninthewildernessinthemiddleofnowhere.Second,theselectionoftheoriginalcollectionofbookswasnothappenstance;well-educatedprofessionalswhopersonallyknewthemembersofthecommunitychosethematerials.Finally,theCoonskinLibrarycirculatedbooksforfifty-sevenyears;thiswasthelongestrecordofserviceofanysubscriptionlibraryinthestate. WheredoestheamazingstoryoftheCoonskinLibraryallstart?Well,itallgoesbacktothatOhioCompanypurchaseandthatfirstsettlementatMarietta.Ifyouremember,EphraimCutlerandIsraelPutnam,Jr.traveledtogetherfromConnecticuttoWashingtonCounty,Ohio,inordertoestablishtheirhomesonlandsthatwerepartoftheOhioCompanyPurchase.Onthisjourney,IsraelPutnamtransportedthebookswithwhichhestartedOhio’sfirstlibraryatBelpre,oneofMarietta’ssatellitesettlements.Cutler,ontheotherhand,movedtoWaterford,Marietta’sotheroutlyingsettlement.Afewyearslater,EphraimlookedatamapanddiscoveredthatheownedconsiderablelandonFederalCreek,abouttwentymilesbyhorsepathsouthwestofhisplaceinWaterford.Hedeterminedtoresettlethere,andconvincedtwoofhisWaterfordneighborstojoinhim.TheseincludedLieutenantGeorgeEwing,whosettledhisfamilyatthenewplaceinMarch1798.EphraimCutlerandCaptainBenjaminBrowneventuallyjoinedEwinginMay1799.SilvanusAmescamefromBelpre(wherehehadaccesstoPutnam’slibrary)inMay1800.ThesenewsettlerspetitionedtheU.S.Congresstonametheirtownship“Ames”asamemorialtotheHonorableFisherAmes,animportantlegislatorfromMassachusetts.ItwasFisherAmeswhohadinfluencedtheUnitedStatesgovernmenttosellthewesternlandstotheOhioCompany.ThetownofAmesremainedinWashingtonCountyuntil1805,whenitbecamepartofthenewlyformedAthensCounty(namedforAthens,Greecewithhighaspirationsforthestate’sfirstuniversity;OhioUniversityhadbeenfoundedin1804by
ManassehCutlerandRufusPutnamaspartoftheOhioCompanyPurchaseagreement). Meanwhile,thesetransplantedNewEnglanderswantedtheirchildrentobeeducated,sotheybeganaschoolinAmesTownshipin1802;classeswereheldatthehomeofEphraimCutler.ThefirstteacherwasCutler’scousin,MosesEverett,followedbyEphraim’sbrother,CharlesCutler.BothteachersweregraduatesofHarvardUniversity.Butitseemedlikethecommunityneededsomethingmoreinthewayofmentalimprovementandculture;perhapsthelibraryatBelprecametothemindofthoseinhabitantswhoknewofitstreasures.Anyway,ataroadmaintenancemeetingin1803,JosiahTruesuggestedthatthelocalresidentsstartalibrary.Sincemoneywasscarceandthesettlersmostlyusedbartertogetwhattheyneeded,TruesuggestedthattheinhabitantscouldsellanimalpeltstotheagentsofJohnJacobAstorandothers,andtherebygaintheneededcashtopurchasebooks. InFebruary1804,theplannersgatheredtoadopttheLaws and Regulations of the Western Library Association, founded at Ames, February 2, 1804.Thepreambletothisdocument,writtenbyteacherMosesEverett,isasfollows:“Consideringthemanybeneficialeffectswhichsociallibrariesarecalculatedtoproduceinsocietieswheretheyareestablishedbothasasourceofrationalentertainmentandinstruction;we,thesubscriberswishingtoparticipateintheseblessingsagreetoformourselvesintoasocietyforthispurposeunderthetitleoftheWesternLibraryAssociationintheTownofAmes.”Thesharesweretobe$2.50eachwithanannualtaxoftwenty-fivecentstohelpbuymorebooks.Subscriberscouldborrowbookstothevalueoftwo-thirdsoftheirshareorshares.Anexecutivecommitteeofthree,oneservingasthelibrarian,wouldbeelectedannually. SamuelBrown,whowasreturningtotheBostonareatobringhisfamilybacktoOhio,agreedtotakethecashandfurswithhimandmakethepurchaseofbooksforthelibrary.OnApril1,1804,fivepersonspaidfortheirsharesincash.TheseincludedEphraimCutler,whowastheonlysubscribertopurchasefourshares,SylvanusAmes,twoshares;BenjaminL.Brown,oneshare;JasonRice,twoshares;andDavidBoyles,oneshare.SoBrownhadat
The Coonskin Library by Marilyn Logue
Fur traders cabin, inside view
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least$25incashandtherestofthepurchasewouldbemadewithproceedsfromthefurs. TheyoungmenhadbeenbusyallthistimecollectingpeltsforEsquireSamuelBrown’stripeast.Fifteen-yearoldThomasEwing,sonofLieutenantGeorgeEwing,laterwrotethatallhisaccumulatedwealth,tencoonskins,wentintothefund.AtthistimeontheOhiofrontiertherewasanabundanceofanimalslivingintheforests.Theseincludedbuffalo,elk,deer,bears,foxes,wildturkeys,wolves,panthers,bobcats,otters,squirrels,raccoons,andothers.Thesettlersespeciallywerefearfulofthewolvesandpanthersandeventuallydrovethemtoextinction.TheMcCuneBrothers,experthunters,weresaidtohavekilledtwelveorfourteendeerandthreeorfivebearsinaday.JosiahTrue,whohadsuggestedsellingpeltstofundthelibrary,keptadiaryinwhichherecordedthefollowing:“October15,1803,killthreeraccoon,panther,1cat;October16,killshebare;February25,1804,wenthuntin’12bares;March15,kill3raccoon;March17,killpanther;March18,killoneshebear,3cubs.” SamuelBrownleftOhiowiththefursandwithlettersofintroductiontotheRev.Dr.ManassehCutler(Ephraim’sesteemedfather)andtotheRev.ThaddeusMasonHarris.BrownarrivedinBostonsometimebeforethemiddleofAugustand,onAugust15,1804,thesetwomostqualifiedmenselectedthebooksforthelibrary.Therewerefifty-onevolumesinthepurchaseandthetotalcostcameto$73.50.Oneoftheseadvisors,authorandUnitarianpastor,Rev.ThaddeusMasonHarris,havingjustreturnedfromvisitinginhabitantsintheOhioRiverValleywroteThe Journal of a Tour into the Territory Northwest of the Alleghany Mountains, Made in the Spring of the Year 1803 With a Geographical and Historical Account of the State of Ohio, Illustrated with Original Maps and Views.HisjournalwasprintedbyManningandLoringin1805andisavailabletodayatTheOhioStateUniversityinmicroformformat.Rev.HarrishadalsobeenateacherandalibrarianatHarvardCollege;infact,MosesEverettandCharlesCutler,thefirsttwoteachersatAmes,hadbothbeenhisstudents.EvenmorevaluabletotheWesternLibraryAssociation,however,wasthefactthatThaddeusHarrishadalreadywrittenoneoftheearliestAmericandocumentsonthetopicofbookselectionin1793.ItistitledA Selected Catalogue of Some of the Most Esteemed Publications in the English Language Proper to Form a Social Library, With An Introduction Upon the Choice of Books.Thistwenty-three-pagepamphletlists277recommendedbookscategorized
intothreeclasses:memory,reason,andimagination.Onlytwooriginalcopiesseemtobeinexistencetoday,oneattheAmericanAntiquarianSocietyinWorcester,MassachusettsandtheotherattheMassachusettsHistoricalSocietyinBostonwhereHarriswasalibrarianthelastsixyearsofhislife.(Thedocument,isavailabletodaybothasanelectronicresource(throughAAS)andinmicroform.)WhileThaddeusMasonHarrisservedasHarvard’slibrarianforonlytwoyears,hisson,ThaddeusWilliamHarris,heldthatpositionfortwenty-fiveyears. Meanwhile,SamuelBrownreturnedtoOhiofromBostoninNovemberof1804withthebooksandyoungThomasEwingwaspresentfortheimportantoccasion.Helaterwrotethat“afteranabsenceofmanyweeks,he(SamuelBrown)broughtthebookstoCaptainBenjaminBrown’sinasackonapackhorse.Iwaspresentattheuntyingofthesackandpouringoutofthetreasure.There
wereaboutsixtyvolumes,Ithink,andwellselected;thelibraryoftheVaticanwasnothingtoit,andthereneverwasalibrarybetterread.This,withoccasionaladditions,furnishedmewithreadingwhileIremainedathome.”WhenThomasEwingturnednineteen,hegotajobasakeelboathandontheOhioRiver;hetraveledontherivertotheKanawhasaltworkswherehelaboredseveralmonthsatatimeonandoffforanumberofyears.ThemoneyEwingearnedenabledhimtoattendcollegeatAthensduringthemonthswhenhewasn’tworking;inthespringof1815,hebecamethefirststudentevertograduatefromOhioUniversity.HethenstudiedlawinLancaster,OhioandwasadmittedtothebarinAugust1816.Ewingbecame
asought-afterlawyer,aUnitedStatessenator,secretaryofthetreasuryunderPresidentHarrison,andsecretaryoftheinteriorunderPresidentTaylor.NotbadforapoorchapfromthebackwoodswhoreadbooksfromaCoonskinLibrary. Butlet’sgetbacktothemainstory.AfterthenewlibrarybookswerecatalogedatSylvanusAmes’shouse,theWesternLibraryAssociationmetonDecember17,1804andelectedEphraimCutlerasthefirstlibrarian.ThefirstannualmeetingwasheldathishouseonJanuary7,1805withDanielWeetheeandBenjaminBrownchosentojoinhimonthelibrary’sstandingcommittee.EphraimCutlerwouldleaveAmesinDecember1806tomovebacktoWashingtonCountyjustsixmilesbelowMariettaontheOhioRiver,wherehewouldfarmandoperateagrindstonequarry.Hecontinued,however,tobeastockholderinthelibraryatAmesuntil1846,eventhoughhenolongerlived
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there.HealsoservedthirtyyearsontheOhioUniversityBoardofTrustees,nevermissingameeting.EphraimCutlerwastrulyagreatman.In1802,asadelegatetotheOhioConstitutionalConvention,hecastthevoteattheStatehouseinChillicothethatpreventedOhiofrombecomingaslavestate.In1814or1815,hehadamajorroleinestablishingtheUndergroundRailroadinthestate;hishomeontheOhioRiverservedasastationthatguidedescapedslavestosafetyinCanada.Asamemberofthestatelegislature,heexercisedalargeinfluenceinestablishingOhio’sjudicialsystem,landtaxsystem,stateschoolsystem,statefundingforcanals,andthepropertytaxtofinancepubliceducation.HewasalsooneofthefirstOhioanstoseekbroadermarketsforthestate’sproduce,drivinghishogsandcattletoBaltimore,Maryland,forthirtyyears. Around1805,thenewOhioStatelegislaturestartedincorporatingsubscriptionlibrarieswiththeSecretaryofState’sofficewithapprovalofthelegislature.ThefirstlibrarytoincorporatebythislegislativeactwastheSocialLibraryofDayton(1805);itwasfollowedbytheGranvilleAlexandrianSocietyLibrary(1807),andalibraryatNewtowninHamiltonCounty(1808).TheWesternLibraryAssociation(CoonskinLibrary),foundedin1804,receiveditspapersofincorporationonFebruary19,1810.ThePolandLibraryintheWesternReserveterritory,whichhadbeenformedin1807,wasincorporatedbythestatein1810.Obviously,manyoftheearlylibraries,suchastheBelpreFarmers’Library,didnotapplyforincorporation,andthuswereoftennotincludedincountsofearlyOhiolibraries.Thereweretwentysociallibrariesthathadbeenincorporatedby1817.TheincorporationdocumentfortheWesternLibraryAssociationsaysthattheCoonskinLibraryisnow“abodypoliticandcorporateinlaw,capableofsuingandbeingsued,pleadingandbeingimpleadedinanycourtinthisstate.” In1830,allthelibrarybooksinAmesTownshipwerecalledinandwereequitablydividedwithDoverTownshiptotheeastwheremanyoftheoriginalstockholdershadmoved.TheDoverbookswerekeptinthehomesofJosiahTrueandhisdescendantsuntil1906,whentheportionofthelibraryremaininginDoverTownshipwasgiventotheAthensCountyPioneerAssociation.SomeoftheDovervolumesarehousedtodayintheSpecialCollectionsattheAldenLibraryatOhioUniversityinAthens.Noneofthesebookswerepartoftheinitialfifty-onevolumepurchasemadeinBostonin1804;toreceivesuchanhonor,thebooksmustbemarkedwithboththe“WesternLibraryAssociation”inscriptionandanumberfrom1to51.WhathappenedtotheoldestbooksfromthecollectionthatwerehousedinDoverTownship?Well,in1876therewasahugeCentennialExpositionatPhiladelphia
andGen.ThomasEwingofYonkers,NewYork,(sonoftheHonorableThomasEwing)andJ.P.WeetheetooksomeoftheoriginalCoonskinLibrarybooksfromDovertoputondisplayinPhiladelphia.Aftertheexposition,thebookswerereturnedtoEwing’sNewYorkhome.Mrs.MaryEwingMartin,agranddaughterofHonorableThomasEwing,wasinterviewedlateratherhomeinNewStraitsville,Ohio,aboutwhathadhappenedtothebooksandshesaid,“In1891,whensomemenweremendingaleakintheroofofmyfather’shouseatYonkers,NewYork,afire-bucketsettheroofafire.Theentireatticwasburnedawaybeforethefamilyknewofitorcouldcallforhelp.Theboxofbooks(notmorethaneightbooks,Ithinkoftheoriginalpurchase)wasintheattic.Althoughtheboxwasnotbadlyburned,thebooksweregreatlydamagedbyfireandthoroughlysoakedbywater.Itookthemoutanddriedthembuttherewasscarcelyenoughleftbywhichtoidentifythem.Ihavewhatremainsoftheminatrunksomewhereintheattic.TheyareinsuchbadconditionthatIshouldbeashamedtopresentthemtoalibraryoramuseum.” ThepartofthecollectionthatremainedatAmesTownshipcontinuedtocirculateuntilabout1861whenthedirectorssoldtheremaining208bookstothreemembersofthecommunityforpreservationpurposes;thesementhenresoldthecollectionthenextyeartoWilliamP.Cutler(Ephraim’sonlyson)for$73.50,thepricepaidfortheoriginalcollectionin1804.ThebooksweretransportedtotheCutlerfamilyhomeinWashingtonCountyonthebanksoftheOhioRiversixmilesbelowMarietta.TheywerelaterinheritedbyEphraimCutler’sgranddaughter,SarahJaneCutler,whotookgreatcareofthem,wroteaboutthem,loanedthecollectiontotheOhioHistoricalSocietyin1917,andfinallyleftthebookstothesocietyinherwill.Thebooksremaintheretoday;tenofthevolumesarefromtheoriginalCoonskinLibrary. Below,Ihaveattemptedtoreconstructalistingofthebooksthatwerepartoftheinitialpurchase.BookspresentlyheldbytheOhioHistoricalSocietyareinboldtype.ExceptfortheoriginalOHSbooks,IhavehadtofindtheapproximatepublicationdatesoftheothertitlesfromavailablecatalogingrecordsontheInternet.OhioUniversitySpecialCollectionshascontemporaneouscopiesofsomeoftheseoriginalbooksintheirCoonskincollection,whichIhavenotedinparentheseswiththeirdatesofpublication.
Coonskin Library
Adams,Hannah.Truth and Excellence of the Christian Religion.1804.---.Views of Religion.1791.(OU—1801ed.,purchased1813)Bayley,John.The Forester; or, The Royal Seat: A Drama in Five Acts.London,1798.
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Bennett,AgnesMaria.The Beggar Girl & Her Benefactors in Three Volumes. 1801ed.Blair,Hugh.Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres.1802.Burgh,James.The Dignity of Human Nature. 1802.Burney,Fanny.Camilla, or a Picture of Youth.1796.(3volumes) ---.Evelina, or a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World. 1778.(2volumes)(OU-1801ed.)Campbell,Alexander.Journey From Edinburgh Through Parts of North Britain. 1802.Chateaubriand,Francois-Renede.Atala: or, The Amours of Two Indians.1801.Clark,John.The Occasional Discourses Preached in Boston.1804. Columbus.(Biography)Cortez.(Biography)Goldsmith,Oliver.Animated Nature.4volumes.1774.(OU-Newed.,1804) ---.The Grecian History from the Earliest State, to the Death of Alexander the Great.1774.2volumes.(OU—1800,2copies)---.The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith.4volumes.1801. Grandpré,Louis.A Voyage in the Indian Ocean and to Bengal Undertaken in the Year 1790.Boston,1803,Harris,ThaddeusMason.Beauties of Nature.1800.---.Minor Encyclopedia.4volumes.1803.(OU—Sep.1803)---.Discourses Delivered on Public Occasions, Illustrating the Principles, Displaying the Tendencies and Vindicating the Design of Free Masonry. 1801.(BookdonatedbyEphraimCutleronJanuary1,1805) Kames,HenryHome,Lord.Sketches of the History of Man.1788.4volumes. Keir,ElizabethandSusannaHarveyKeir.Interesting Memoirs.5thed.Boston,1802.(Originallypublished1785)Lillo,George.The London Merchant: or, the History of George Barnwell.1731.(play)Morse,Jedidiah.The American Gazetteer.2nded.Revised.1804.(OUhassame.)---.The American Universal Geography.2volumes.1801.---.The New Gazetteer of the Eastern Continent or a Geographical Dictionary.1802.(OUhassame.)Necker,Jacques.Of the Importance of Religious Opinions.1791.(OU—1796) Pizarro.(Biography)Playfair,William.History of Jacobism.1796.2volumes.Ramsay,David.The History of the American Revolution.2volumes.1789.(OUhassame.)Radcliffe,AnnWard.Romance of Forest.1792.(OU—1795) Robertson,William.The History of America.Books9and10.1800. Roche,ReginaMaria.Children of the Abbey.1805.2volumes. Winchester,Elhannon.A Course of Lectures on the Prophecies that Remain to Be Filled.2volumes.1800.---.Dialogues.1800.Zimmerman,JohannGeorge.Solitude: The Effect of Occasional Retirement.1798.(OU—1793)AddendumAmes(nowcalledAmesville)hadlongbeenproudofits“mostacclaimedhistoricalevent”andwantedtodosomethingtopublicizeit.Inthemid-1980s,RobertAvery(thenprincipaloftheAmesvilleElementarySchool)formedtheCoonskinLibraryAssociationtopreserveandpromotethelibrary.Hiselementaryschooldonatedasmallstructure(formerlyaone-roomschoolhouse)behinditsbuildingin1994foraCoonskinLibraryMuseum.The
museumhousesexhibitsabouttheearlysettlers,theirlives,andtheirlibrary.Awall-mountedglasscaseholdsadisplayofafewvolumesonceheldbytheWesternLibraryAssociation;thesesacredtomesareonloantothemuseumfromtheOhioHistoricalSocietyonatemporaryrotatingbasis.Mostlylocalchildren,whovisitonschoolfieldtrips,nowusethemuseum;however,anyonemayvisitthemuseumbystoppingduringschoolhoursattheAmesvilleElementaryofficeandaskingtoseethedisplaysinthelockedbuilding.
BibliographyCoonskin Library.Webmaster:RichardDean.1November2013.http://www.ohio.edu/people/deanr/coonskin.htmlCutler,JuliaPerkins.Life and Times of Ephraim Cutler.1890.NewYork:ArnoPress&TheNewYorkTimes,1971.Cutler,SarahJ.“TheCoonskinLibrary.”OhioArcheologicalandHistoricalPublicationsvol.26,no.1(January1917).Hill,Melinda,ed.Best in the Nation: The First Two Hundred Years of Ohio Libraries.WoosterBookCompany,2003.Mayer,VinnieJ.“CoonskinLibrary.”ApaperpreparedattherequestoftheAmericanLibraryAssociationDivisionofLibraryHistory.ReadattheALAConvention.Cleveland,OH.15July1950.O’Neill,ElwinR.“AHistoryoftheCoonskinLibrary.”Amaster’sthesispresentedtoOhioUniversity,MasterofArts,1936.Shera,JesseH.Foundations of the Public Library: The Origins of the Public Library Movement in New England, 1629-1855.1949.TheShoeStringPress,1965.Venable,W.H.Beginnings of Literary Culture in the Ohio Valley.Cincinnati:RobertClarke&Co.,1891.Walker,CharlesM.History of Athens County, Ohio.Cincinnati:RobertClarke&Co.,1869.
NOTE:ThisarticlewasoriginallypublishedinTheTallowLight(WashingtonCountyHistoricalSociety,Marietta,OH)40no.3(Winter2009).
Formoreillustrationsofthelibraryandcollections,http://www.ohio.edu/people/deanr/coonskin.html
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4th Annual Pulp Fest Lecture “Riding the Pulp Trail: The Career of Paul S. Powers” presented by Laurie Powers
August7broughtwithitthefourthannualAlduspulpfictionlecturehostedatThompsonLibraryatTheOhioStateUniversity.Thisyear’sspeaker,LauriePowers,
author,donor,andpulpfictionresearcher,spokeaboutheradventuressearchingforherpaternalgrandfatherPaulS.Powers(1905-1971),aprolificshortstorywriterforbelovedandeverpopularpulpmagazines. Laurie’ssearchforhergrandfathertookheracrossthecountryfromCaliforniatoSyracuseinsearchofrecords,manuscripts,magazines,andbooks.ShejoinedforceswithherauntwhohadsomeboxesofPower’spapers.BeginningwiththecluethatPaulS.Powerwroteabook,andafewstoriesin“LittleBigBooks”,Lauriediscoveredhergrandfatherhadwrittenmorethan420shortstorieswrittenfor“WildWestWeekly.”ItturnsoutPaulS.Powerswrotehorrorstoriesandsciencefictionstories,andmanyothertalesforotherpulpmagazines.Beginningin1925with“MonstersinthePit”forWeird Tales(June1925),Laurie’sgrandfatherwroteweekinandweekout,churningoutstories,tales,andmorestoriesunderthepseudonymWardM.Stevens.TwolongrunningseriesfeaturedSonnyTaborandKidWolfofTexas.Power’snovelDocDillahayisbasedonhisfather’slifeasasmalltowndoctorinKansas. PaulS.Powers’papersincludedunpublishedmanuscripts,correspondence,papers,pay-stubs,andmore,includinga20”recordofaradioprogram.Bestofall,therewasanunpublishedbookmanuscriptentitledPulp Writer: Twenty Years in the American Grub Street whichLaurieeditedandpublished,alongwithanintroductionandbiographicalessaythroughUniversityofNebraskaPress(2007).Thisbiographyalongwithtwocollectionsofshortstories,onecontaining6publishedand6unpublished
westernsentitledRiding the Pulp Trail andasecondHidden Ghostswhichincludeshorror,noir,animal,romance,andhistoricalaccountsbothpublishedandunpublished.AllthreeofthesebooksandothersareavailableforpurchasethroughLaurie’swebsite(seebelow)andAmazon.LauriebroughtnumerousitemsfromhercollectionsandthePowersCollectionforattendeestoexamine. InDecember2013,LauriedonatedthePaulS.PowersCollectiontoOSU’sRareBooksand
ManuscriptsLibrary.Thiscollectionincludeshundredsoforiginalwesternfictionpulpmagazines,manuscripts,editorialandfancorrespondence,photographs,andotherbooksandpublicationsallrelatedtothelifeandworkofPaulS.Powers,oneofthemostprolificwesternfictionpulpwritersofthe1930s-1940s.RexHughes,metadatacatalogerforOSU’sRBMS,showedattendeesthedigitalmaterialsandfindingaidforthePaul S Powers Book and Pulp Magazine Collection.Hereisthelinktothecatalogrecordhttp://library.ohio-state.edu/record=b7557987~S7andtothefindingaidhttp://ead.ohiolink.edu/xtf-ead/. Formorepulpfiction,checkoutLauriePowers’fascinatingbloghttp://lauriepowerswildwest.blogspot.com/.
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For the purpose of this list, summer is defined not in terms of astronomical rotations but as beginning on Memorial Day and ending with our final summer activity - the Book Crawl on August 2nd. (Let the world spin, we’ll measure summer this year!) I asked Aldus members to report the best book they’ve read this summer. Here are their recommendations for you.
Blake, James Carlos. 2004. Handsome Harry: a novel. New York: W. Morrow.AnovelbasedonfactsaboutHarryPiepont,partnerincrimewithJohnDillinger.ThenovelissetintheDepressionEraofthe1930s.Blakebringsthegang’sexploitsaliveinthisgripping,fast-pacednovel.Youmightevenfindyourselffeelingsympathetictowardsthiscolorfulcastofcharacters.-RobertRockenfelder
Burroughs, William S., and Oliver Harris. 2014. The Soft Machine. The Restored Text. New York: Grove Press. Edited and with an introduction by Oliver Harris.Ireadthiswhenitfirstcameoutintheearly‘60’s-itmadeagreatimpressionontheyoungwriterIwasatthetime,anditiswonderfultoreaditagaininthisnewversion/edition.It’sagreatbook,andI’mnowstartedontheothertwotitlesinthis“Cut-UpTrilogy”asrestoredbyHarris,TheTicketThatExploded,andNovaExpress.-JohnBennett
Campbell, Jen. 2012. Weird Things Customers Say. New York: Overlook Press. Thisshortbookisfullofgreatquipsandcommentsaboutbooks.You’lllaugh,you’llcry,andyou’llshakeyourheadatthestrangequestionscustomersask.-Anonymous
Cleave, Chris. 2009. Little Bee. New York: Simon & Schuster.-CatherineBennett
Cramer, C. H. 1972. Open shelves and open minds; a history of the Cleveland Public Library. Cleveland: Press of Case Western Reserve University.Theauthor,ClarenceHenleyCramer,aprofessorofhistoryatCaseWesternReserveUniversity,wonthe1973ClevelandArtsPrizeforLiteraturefor“Twooutstandingbookspublishedwithinasingleyear.”BesidestheOpen Shelvesvolumementionedabove,Cramer’sother1972bookwasAmerican Enterprise: Free and Not So Free.-MarilynLogue
Edsel, Robert M., and Bret Witter. 2009. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History. New York: Center Street. - LoisSmith
Forester, C. S. 1939. Captain Horatio Hornblower.
Boston: Little, Brown and Co.Re-readthisbookforthefirsttimeinseveralyears.Itisstilloneofthemostrousingseastoriesever,Ithink.-BillRich
Gabaldon, Diana. 2014. Written in My Own Heart’s Blood: a novel. New York: Delacorte Press.“InhernowclassicnovelOutlander,DianaGabaldontoldthestoryofClaireRandall,anEnglishex-combatnursewhowalksthroughastonecircleintheScottishHighlandsin1946,anddisappearsinto1743.Thestoryunfoldedfromthereinsevenbestsellingnovels,andCNNhascalledit“agrandadventurewrittenonacanvasthatprobestheheart,weighsthesoulandmeasuresthehumanspiritacross[centuries].” HowcanInotproclaimthisasmybestsummerbookwhenIhaditonpre-orderforatleast10monthsandposteditsarrivaltomyFacebooktimelineasifitwasamajorlifeevent?Thiswasnotmyfavoritebookinthisseries,butI’vespentsomuchtimewiththesecharactersthatthey’vebecomeextendedfamilyformeandeachstoryalongletterfromhome.-DebLewis
Goodwin, Doris Kearns. 2013. The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.Thisisanengaging,wide-ranginghistory,weavingtogethertheintersectinglivesofTheodoreRooseveltandWilliamHowardTaft,alongwithprominentjournalistsoftheera.BeforereadingthisbookIwasn’tterriblyfamiliarwiththiseraormuchabouteitherT.R.orTaftbeyondthecaricaturesofbothmen.AlloftheinformationontheoriginsofinvestigativejournalisminS.S.McClure’sstableofwriters(whobecamebrandedasmuckrakers--atermRooseveltintendedforother,morecarelessimitatorsanddrawnfromacharacterin“Pilgrim’sProgress”)wasanunexpectedbonus.OnespecialnuggetprovidedearlyoninthebookisthefactthatasayounglawstudentTaftgainedapracticalunderstandingofthelegalsystembyworkingasacourtreporterforaCincinnatinewspaper.Notabadexampletofollowforjournalismstudentswhoareplanningtogoontolawschool!IdevelopedamuchgreaterappreciationforTaft,whocomesacrossasa“hailfellowwellmet,”belovedbyallwhoknewhim.HeleftthebenchinOhiotoservehiscountryinanumberofpositions,mostnotablyasGovernor-GeneralofThePhilippinesinthewakeoftheSpanish-AmericanWar.HisgoalallthroughhislifewastobeaJusticeontheU.S.SupremeCourt.YethetwicepassedupappointmentstotheCourtbecauseofhissenseofdutytoothertasksthathewasafraidwouldnotbecarriedthroughtocompletionifhemovedtotheCourt.(EventuallyathirdopportunitycameandhewasappointedChiefJusticebyPresidentHarding,althoughthatcametowardtheendofhislife.)-WesBaker
Aldus Best Books, Summer 2014
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December: Silent Auction ThegrandtraditionoftheAldusHolidayDinnerwilltakeplacethisyearonDecember11.Thisyear’sSilentAuctioncataloguehasastrongvisualandColumbustheme.Wearelookingforsomefabulousbookstobalanceouttheofferings. Alreadylinedupforyourenthusiasticbiddingare: •Abeautifulsetofvintagelinenswithaveryunusual“Buckeye”motif; •AlargeoriginalwatercolorbyColumbus’LelandMcCellandof“GeorgeBellows’BoyhoodHome”; •Agreat“superlimited,”signedprintonaThurberHousethemebytheNewYorker’sGahanWilson; •Oneofthesigned/limitedMarcSimontposterscreatedfortheJamesThurber90thBirthdayCelebrationin1984; •AneatlittlewatercolorbyColumbusartist,BillArteroftheOSUArmoryBuilding,ca.1950; •AcopyofEliotNugent’s,“EventsLeadingUptotheComedy,”signedandwithanautographletterlaid-in; •AEudoraWelty“firstdaypostalcover,”withtheauthor’sautograph; •Twobeautifulvintagemagazineswith“Thurbercovers”:Atlanticfrom1956andTIMEMagazinefromJulyof1951;and •Awonderfullinen-backedOhioRailwayMapfromtheearly20thCentury. Weneedsomemoreunusualitems!Perhapsyouareanartistyourselforhaveaspecialtalenttoshare?OrmaybeabookthatyouhaveenjoyedforalongtimethatyoujustknowyourfellowAldusmemberswouldlustafterorcherish!ContactNancyCampbell,KassieRose,orEdHoffmanwithquestionsaboutpossibledonationsandtoarrangeforpickup!
Heredia, José-María de. 1893 [1937 printing]. Les Trophées. Paris: Librairie Alphonse Lemerre. HerediawasaCubanpoetwholivedmuchofhislifeinFrance,andwroteinFrench.LesTrophéesisreallyhisonlybook,acollectionofwellover100sonnets,writteninFrench.Manypeople,asdoI,considerthesetobesomeofthebestsonnetseverwritteninanylanguage.ConsideredaParnassianbyfolksconcernedwithsuchclassifications,hiswork,inmyopinion,goesfarbeyondanystylisticcategorization.DonotconfusehimwiththeotherJoséMaríaHeredia,alsoCuban,andoneofthegreatRomanticpoets.Hewroteinthelate19thcentury,traveledintheUnitedStates,andspentmuchtimeinMexico.-JohnBennett
Kinney, David A. 2014. The Dylanologists: adventures in the land of Bob. New York: Simon & Schuster.-GeoffSmith
Olson, Lynne. 2010. Citizens of London: the Americans who stood with Britain in its darkest, finest hour. New York: Random House. Thebehind-the-scenesstoryoftherolethreekeyAmericanpersonalitiesplayedasliaisonswithChurchillandRoosevelt,war-shyUSpublicopinion-makers,andallianceforgersstationedinacityperilouslyonthebrinkofsurrender.Theauthorportraysthedetermination,principalsandpassionateloveaffairsofjournalistEdwardR.Murrow,millionaireplayboyAverellHarrimanandUSAmbassadortoBritainJohnGilbertWinantinacity,thoughplaguedwithdangerandintriguewaswhere“everyone”wantedtobein1941throughthewar.-PatriciaGroseck
Owens, Delia, and Mark Owens. 1992. The eye of the
elephant: an epic adventure in the African wilderness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. From1986to1991DeliaandMarkOwnslivedinthewildsofAfricawherethekillingofelephantsfortheirtusksandothervaluablebodypartsbyillegalpoachingwasrampant.WithstubborndeterminationthiscouplebroughtkillingofAfricangametoanearstandstill.Thisremarkablestorygraphicallyportrayshowtwopeoplewhobelieveandhavefearlessrefusaltoquitcan,anddid,makeadifference.-EmersonGilbert
Perry, Anne. 2001. The Whitechapel conspiracy. New York: Ballantine Books.PartofPerry’sVictorianmysteryseriesthatfeatureThomasandCharlottePittandalwaysincludeabitofhistoryorhistoricalfiction.ThisoneweavesintheJacktheRippermurdersandinvolvesthePrinceofWalesandhissontheDukeofClarence.-PatriciaGroseck
Queenan, Joe. 2012. One for the books. New York: Viking. -GeorgeBauman
Richards, Keith, and James Fox. 2010. Life. New York: Little, Brown and Co.-BillEvans
Semple, Maria. 2012. Where’d you go, Bernadette: a novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company. AwackybutrewardinglookatalifeinSeattle.-NancyCampbell
Stevenson, Fanny, R. L. Stevenson, and Charles Neider. 1955. Our Samoan adventure: with a three-year diary by Mrs. Stevenson now published for the first time, together with rare photographs from family albums. New York: Harper. -LaniHeilman
Aldus Program Schedule for 2014 - 2015September 11, 2014: Dr. Jarrod Burks of Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc. - JarrodwillsharehiscollectionofrarebooksaboutearlyOhioarchaeologyandtellushowtheysupporthisjobasaworkingarchaeologisttoday.
October 9, 2014: Nancy Down - Ms.DownistheheadlibrarianattheBrownePopularCultureLibrary,BowlingGreenStateUniversity.Thelibraryhousesbooksandmagazines,vintagecomicbooks,videos,toys,gamesandawidevarietyofotherpopular-cultureitemsthatmakeitthelargestcollectionofitskindinthenation.Nancywillbefocusingonsomeofthelibrary’sinterestingprintcollections.NOTE: If you love pulp fiction and enjoyed Power’s Pulp Fest talk, you don’t want to miss this talk.
Fall 2014: Field trip to Dayton - WewillvisitpartoftheStuartRoseCollectionondisplayattheUniversityofDayton.Watchthelistervfordate,time,andtransportationinformation.
November 13, 2014: justAjar Design + Press - BobbyandSaraRosenstockhavelandedinMarietta,OH,wheretheyarebusydesigning,printing,workingontheirhomeandcollectingoldtypefromlocalantiqueshops.SarateachesgraphicdesignatMariettaCollegewhileBobbyrunstheletterpressshopinthecity.
December 11, 2014: Holiday Dinner
January 8, 2015: Aldus Collects - ContactGeorgeBaumantovolunteertoshareyourfavoritebooksortopics.
February 12, 2015: Tony Clark -TonywilltalkabouttarotcardsandreferencebooksabouttheminTarot’s Transition: Egypt to Connecticut.
March 12, 2015: Ron Ravneberg Lecture - WilliamNoelwillspeakontheArchimedesPalimpsestProject.NoelisDirectorofTheKislakCenterforSpecialCollections,RareBooksandManuscriptsandTheSchoenbergInstituteforManuscriptStudiesattheUniversityofPennsylvaniahttp://schoenberginstitute.org/.Heisco-authorofThe Archimedes Codex.
April 9, 2015: David Lynn - Davidwilldiscussthehistory,mission,andachievementsofThe Kenyon Review,oneofthenation’spremierliteraryjournals.
May 14, 2015: Beth Whittaker - Bethwillshare“StoriesfromtheSpencer.”Wewillhearaboutcollections,collectors,donors,exhibits,classes,lessonslearned,andvariousotheranecdotesfromtheperspectiveofMs.Whittaker’spositionasheadoftheUniversityofKansas’sSpencerResearchLibrary,ararebooksandmanuscriptslibrary.
Join Thurber House for the Fall 2014 season of Evenings with Authors!
Wednesday,August27:SusanElizabethPhillips,Heroes Are My WeaknessMonday,September29:KathyReichs,Bones Never LieTuesday, October 7: Simon Winchester, The Men Who United the States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, IndivisibleTuesday,October21:NicholsonBaker,The Paul Chowder Chronicles: The Anthologist and Traveling SprinklerMonday,November24:GarthStein,A Sudden LightTickets and more information available at www.thurberhouse.org or 614-464-1032 x.11!