Ray Boas, Bookseller

FIRST EIGHT ISSUES — THE POSTCARD COLLECTOR ANNUAL & PRICE GUIDE – A STANDARD REFERENCE FOR TODAY’S DELTIOLOGIST

Included as a lot are these one owner (from my own library) first 8 issues of this publication starting with the first edition in 1991. I have an extensive postcard reference book library, and over 30,000 postcards that I need to thin out and let others enjoy. From the front cover of the first issue, included are: Directory of clubs, dealers, shows, suppliers; Feature Articles; Postcard Collector Index. Basically looking new, and unread (few faint bumps lower corner):

1991 – First Edition – 80 pages
1992 – Second Edition – 90 pages
1993 – Third Edition – 106 pages -Commemorating 100 years of the postcard
1994 – Fourth Edition – 90 pages
1995 – Fifth Edition – 90 pages – The Marketplace for Postcard and Paper Collectibles
1997 ANNUAL – Sixth Edition – 90 pages – Preserving the Past – Standard Reference to the Postcard Hobby
1998 ANNUAL – Seventh Edition – 106 pages
1999 ANNUAL – Eighth Edition – 98 pages

and below some sample interior pages

PRICE – $80 for the eight – Order Number 72299
Shipping – $7.95 packed in cardboard and with tracking
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1965 – ECCLESIASTES OR, THE PREACHER 
DRAWINGS BY BEN SHAHN – LIMITED EDITION

ECCLESIASTES OR, THE PREACHER IN THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE with drawings by BEN SHAHN, engraved in wood by STEPHAN MARTIN, calligraphy by DAVID SOSHENSKY – Printed and Published at The Spiral Press, New York, 1965 – One of 285 numbered copies, and signed by the artist, engraver, calligrapher, and printer (Ben Shahn, Stephan Martin, David Soshensky, and Joseph Blumenthal).

Very good, vellum style spine, black covered boards, protected in fold over boards that then slides into a slipcase. Measures about 10 inches by 13 14/ inches. Only detraction is some old soiling on the white “vellum” probably from hand oils and then storage in the slipcase – UNCOMMON

Price: $285 — Order Number – 71323
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Even if you did not live in the Philadelphia area in the mid-20th century and remember this iconic store, as a book lover you have probably heard of the store. When I used to buy estates when my shop was in Haddonfield, NJ, across the river from Philadelphia, I often also acquired some wonderful memorabilia from the store. Well, I finally posted a page that you may enjoy visiting to read of the store and its history, see some memorabilia and maybe even buy something.

Main thing is enjoy by clicking this link

Have fun, and stay safe and warm, yours, RAY

c1766 – 14 ORIGINAL ENGRAVINGS – MOST DESIGNED BY GUISEPPE ZOCCHI

An interesting assortment of engravings, ten of which come from the Four Volume Set – Serie di ritratti d’uomini illustri toscani con gli elogj storici dei medesimi consacrata a Sua Altezza Reale il Serenissimo Pietro Leopoldo published between 1766 to 1773. Italian title translates to – “Series of portraits of illustrious Tuscan men with historical praise of the same consecrated to His Royal Highness the Most Serene Pietro Leopoldo”

These clipped engravings from the book(s) were stored with a collection of Grolier Club ephemera, thus probably a “well-healed” collection – hopefully not the person who clipped these out. Using the initials engraved on the head-pieces, and the wording on the back side of those pieces, I was able to narrow down the publication and learn that both the Allegorical head-pieces and the Decorative Initials come from this set published in Florence. Engraved by Francesco Allegrini (initials also on the head-pieces) and published by Guiseppe Allegrini. Included in the lot are:

1 – Three Allegorical head-pieces – these were clipped from the top of the pages, and also trimmed horizontally since I learned the pages are wider (with wide margins) at the top. You can see this from the back side image – these three are trimmed to about 8 7/8 inches wide to about 3 3/8 inches and the larger about 4 inches.

2 – Seven Leading Decorative Initials from the same publication, including: C – D – F (2 copies from different pages) – L – P – V — etching image sizes about 2 inches by 2 1/4 inches each

3 – Four pieces that I could not identify as to engraver or publication – including Decorative Initial I; and, three decorative fillers or tail-pieces.

A nice collection to have for duplication and use in your own publication.

and, below the four miscellaneous pieces

Price — $75 for the lot
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EARLY AVIATION COLLECTION — AUGUST 1, 1938 – COL. CLARENCE CHAMBERLIN LANDS IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY

Ready to win the 1927 prize to be the first to solo across the Atlantic in a plane, the day before Lindberg began his flight on May 21, 1927, in “The Spirit of St. Louis,” Clarence Chamberlin, was all set to take off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, in his plane, “The Columbia.” But due to circumstances beyond his control, Chamberlin was barred from his hangar, which made it possible for Lindbergh to fly off into the history books unchallenged completing the first nonstop flight between North America and the European mainland landing in Paris – You may wish to find the YOUTUBE VIDEO on Chamberlin.

I purchased an amazing estate when my shop was in Haddonfield, NJ, and am still working through some ephemera from this one owner collection. In a small envelope marked “Chamberlain’s Plane – Camden 1938” note the misspelling, there are these original snapshots measuring about 2 1/2 inches by about 4 inches. You can see the plane flying in, on the ground, what appears to be the spectators lined up for autographs or to purchase souvenirs, and some poorly composed interior shots.

Pinning down the date, I found a website titled “Abandoned and Little Known Airfields” and they have a page on Central Airport in Camden, New Jersey, and had the Courier Post article/ad announcing Chamberlin’s visit. See last image below. — In June 4-5, 1927, in a Bellanca monoplane piloted by Clarence Chamberlin, Charles A. Levine, a New York businessman, became the first person to cross the Atlantic by airplane as a passenger when he flew nonstop between New York and Germany. Levine had sponsored the plane. You knew about Col. Lindberg, and now you know about Col. Clarence Chamberlin.

SORRY – SOLD and “Going Home”
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MERRYMOUNT PRESS – BOSTON, MASS. – D. B. UPDIKE LETTERS AND BOOKLET

Offered as a lot I have three Daniel Berkeley Updike items.  Founding his press in 1893, Updike was committed to creating books of superior quality, believing that books could be simply designed, yet beautiful. Updike died in 1941, and the business continued by his partner John Bianchi, shutting down in 1949. Updike is considered one of the most distinguished printers of the twentieth century.

The two letters appear to be the file copies:
1 – April 4, 1929 – Updike is writing that he will be pleased to design a bookplate for the client – SIGNED BY UPDIKE
2 – April 12, 1929 – Updike confirms printing of bookplate and sending proofs and ideas – SECRETARIAL SIGNED for Updike

Also Included is the small ten-page booklet – RECOLLECTIONS OF DANIEL BERKELEY UPDIKE by John O. C. McCrillis – a talk given at the Redwood Library, Newport, Rhode Island, 1991. 

PRICE – $75
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1870 – TWENTY YEARS AMONG THE BULLS AND BEARS OF WALL STREET by MATTHEW HALE SMITH

1870 First Edition – there were later printings – J. B. Burr & Company, Hartford, Conn., 557 pages, 12 black and white full page illustrations – all present. Green cloth with much wear and fraying, hinges were not broken, but I re-glued for a tight book block for long use. Some faults and tears to some pages and signatures. Sold with all faults – WAF.

A corner stone to your Wall Street library. In the 1990s and early 2000s, when I was helping stock certificate collectors build their reference libraries, I could not keep this book in stock. I just located this copy in my storage – not the prettiest but an important book to have.

Deals with the work of Wall Street, language of the stock market, famous stock operators, brokers, bankers, and banks, and the ethics of the market. Interesting chapter on financial journalism. Draws suggestive contrast between business leader ship and finance under mercantile capitalism in the change to industrial capitalism. As a contemporary work it is especially valuable in its anecdotes and its judgments of men and methods. LARSON 1632. (GUIDE TO BUSINESS HISTORY: MATERIALS FOR THE STUDY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS HISTORY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THEIR USE, Henrietta M. Larson,  Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1948)

PRICE – $120
Ordering Information – click here

1797 – THE UNITED STATES AND NEW-HAMPSHIRE REGISTER FOR THE YEAR 1797 BEING THE 21ST-22ND, OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE

Printed at Dover (New Hampshire) For the citizens of the United States by Samuel Bragg, Jr. Well worn, and been resewn, front cover and blank page with 1797 inscription loose. Starts with usual almanac type data, then the United States Register. Next the New Hampshire Register including military information, and ending with society information. I can only find one reference on this almanac type publication that measures about 3 3/4 inches by about 6 inches (pocket size) and that is a digital reference stating it had 92 pages. I did not count the unnumbered pages. The way it is sewn it appears complete. UNCOMMON to say the least. Images of the front and rear covers are at the end.

Below – front and rear covers

PRICE — $125
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1848-1849 – THE NEW ENGLAND OFFERING – LOWELL MILL WORKERS WRITINGS

Harriet Farley, editor and publisher; published at Lowell, 23 Central Street, 1849 (title page with illustration.

The New England Offering was a collection of journal entries that were written by female mill workers in New England mills.^[1]Many of the women who were contributing to the magazine were working in mills in Lowell, Massachusetts. The “Lowell Offering” was a collection of narratives where women shared their works in a intellectual and cultural publication. The contributors took great pride in the magazine. The “Lowell Offering” gained a great deal amount of popularity. It was read by famous writers such as Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and George Sand. The “Lowell Offering” lost momentum after the opinions of the writers moved towards areas that mill owners did not agree with. The “New England Offering” was established after controversy with the Lowell Offering erupted and the editors Harriet Farley and Harriott F. Curtis had to discontinue the “Lowell Offering” and start a new magazine. The magazine’s first issue appeared in September 1847, and Farley ended publication with the March 1850 issue. – WIKIPEDIA

FOLLOWING IS WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THIS BOUND VOLUME
Title page dated 1849
Index – Volume 1 – wholes series Volume 6
April 1848 – MERRIMACK MILLS AND BOARDING HOUSES – 24pp
May 1848 – THE MARKET WAGON – 48pp
June 1848 – SUNSET – p49-p72
July 1848 – ITALIAN PEASANT GIRLS – p73-p96
August 1848 – WIGWAM IN THE FOREST – p97-p120
September 1848 – HAWAIAIN GIRL – p121-p144
October 1848 – no title – native huts on water – p145-p168
November 1848 – no illustration – -169-p192
December 1848 – no illustration – p193-p216

January 1849 – no illustration – p1-p24
February 1849 – no illustration – p25-p48
March 1848 – no illustration – p49-p72
NO APRIL
May 1848 – no illustration, begins saying “behind the times” with regard to day. May issue will arrive nearly June – p97-p120
NO JUNE or JULY
August 1849 – no illustration – p169-192
NO SEPTEMBER
October 1849 – PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE MT. AUBURN – p 217-p240
November 1849 – ISOMETRIC VIEW OF THE BAY STATE MILLS – p241-p265 but continues right on with p266 saying December to page 278

You may find of interest the article, “THE LIFE OF NEW ENGLAND MILL WORKERS” in the magazine, American Ancestors, Winter, 2013. You can google and read the copy on-line.

SORRY SOLD
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As I am enjoying watching a good snowfall begin, I am working on one project that I started over two years ago, but goes back over two decades – illustrating, pricing, and offering for sale the original Sherman F. Denton color plates that I have had put away.

Prepared for the U.S. Fish Commission (later the United States Fish and Wildlife Service) and the Forest, Fish and Game Commission of New York State. Offered are original loose plates (probably never bound in a book) that would have been from one of the separate portfolios of prints published from 1895 to about 1910. Wonderful framed — so, take a look at this link just below, and cast your line my way to order —

ORIGINAL FISH CHROMOLITHOGRAPHIC PRINTS – SHERMAN F. DENTON