Ray Boas, Bookseller

c1910 OLD KING COLE BOOKENDS – GORHAM CO. FOUNDERS – EDWIN E. CODMAN, SCULPTOR

When buying estates of books, I often buy the bookends. This set I purchased probably 25 years ago, and have had it standing guard over some of my personal books, sadly out of sight in a closet. Time for someone else to enjoy this uncommon set from the Gorham Co. Foundry. Sculpted by Edwin E. Codman, this set probably dates from about 1910. Cast most likely in bronze with a lovely patina, this set is Number 10 of the production. The number is separately etched, and not cast. In my research I can only find one other OLD KING COLE bookend by Gorham, but a single only, and Number 7.

These bookends stand 8 inches tall. The base is 5 inches across, and 2 3./8 inches deep.

above, the casting of the maker’s mark – Gorham Co. Founders – 0525 — and etched or stamped to the right is #10. Below you can see E. E. CODMAN on the top of the base of the casting. These markings are on both bookends.

original felt except on one base which I replaced ages ago. At least on the bottom and not really showing.

SORRY SOLD

COLLECTING DELAWARE BOOKS – JOHN P. READ – NEWSLETTER 1992-1995 – 19 ISSUES

Published for a number of years, this newsletter covered a variety of topics related to books published in Delaware, by Delaware authors, or related in some way to the state. Offered as a lot are 19 issues as listed below. Individual issues are still available from a long-time Delaware bookdealer at $12 an issue. This is my own personal collection from when my book shop was in Haddonfield, New Jersey. I am sorry, I cannot locate the one issue to make this a straight run. See list below image:

I will list the issues included, date, and lead article:

Volume 1, Number 1, February 1992, 8 pages – A CHECKLIST OF CLINTON A WESLAGER TITLES

Volume 1, Number 2, April 1992, 8 pages – HENRY BROOKE, GENTLEMAN POET

Volume 1, Number 3, June 1992, 8 pages – GILBERT VALLIANT BYRON (1903-1991)

Volume 1, Number 4, August 1992, 10 pages – DELAWARE’S FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK

Volume 1, Number 5, October 1992, 10 pages – DELAWARE DINES

Volume 1, Number 6, December 1992, 8 pages – DELAWARE IN FICTION

Volume 2, Number 1, February 1993, 10 pages – DIRECTORIES

Volume 2, Number 2, April 1993, 10 pages – WHAT HATH “GATH” WROUGHT”

Volume 2, Number 3, June 1993, 10 pages – DELAWARE’S PIONEER PLAYWRIGHT

Volume 2, Number 4, August 1993, 10 pages – GERTRUDE KRUSE OF THE GREENWOOD

Volume 2, Number 5, October 1993, 10 pages – THREE WRITERS TO COLLECT: HAROLD B. HANCOCK, DUDLEY C. LUNT, AND JOHN A MUNROE

Volume 2, Number 6, December 1993, 10 pages – SUSSEX COUNTY SHIPBUILDING

Volume 3, Number 1, February 1994, 10 pages – DR. LEON deVALINGER, JR.

Volume 3, Number 2, April 1994, 10 pages – BOOKS OF OUR METHODIST PENINSULA

Volume 3, Number 3 — SO SORRY – I CANNOT LOCATE THIS AFTER OVER 20 YEARS

Volume 3, Number 4, August 1994, 10 pages – C. A. WESLAGER, 1909-1994

Volume 3, Number 5, October 1994, 10 pages – RUNK’S HISTORY OF DELAWARE

Volume 3, Number 6, December 1994, 10 pages – THE FOREST OF APPOQUINIMINK

Volume 4, Number 1, February 1995, 10 pages – BOOKS BY CAROL E. HOFFECKER

Volume 4, Number 2, April 1995, 8 pages – THE TOP DELAWARE COLLECTIBLE BOOKS

$125 – Order Number 65088
Click here for ordering information

THE “POP-UP” TERRY AND THE PIRATES IN SHIPWRECKED by Milton Caniff

The Illustrated Pop-Up Edition: A Blue Ribbon Press Book; Please Books, Inc., Chicago, Ill., Copyright 1935 Famous Artists Syndicate. “With 3 Pop-Up Pictures” A tight copy of this harder to find popup book measuring about 7 3/4 inches by 9 1/4 inches. One pop-up is in the centerfold, and the other two on the front and rear boards. The pop-up on the front board of this copy has some breaks, but could possibly be repaired – up to you.

The front and rear boards have the same cover illustration

as you open up this copy, you can see the first pop-up does not open out

but possibly it could be repaired

the title page – all pages and illustrations are black and white, except for the pop-ups

the centerfold pop-up

and the rear pop-up

Price – $70 – Order Number eb815
Click on this link for Ordering Information

EXHIBIT A: THE RABBIT REPORT by Edward H. Hutchins – Number 11 of 20 Made

 A silk-screened parchment scroll that unwinds and retracts from the torso of a painted papier-mâché rabbit, which tells the tale of a city invaded by rabbits. Approximately 6 inches high, 5 inches wide. published by Editions, Chatham, NY in 1989. Comes in its own original custom made box. Hutchins experimented with alternative ways to tell a tale. UNCOMMON.

FROM – Minnesota Center for the Book Arts catalog, 2003 — Only 20 copies. “These papier-mâché rabbits, each containing a screen-printed scroll, eschewed conventions of fine binding and printmaking at a time when editioned artists’ books were largely produced within the province of craft and industrial processes (evolving from private press tradition or commercial offset printing technologies). Hutchins exploration of alternative methods of reproduction . . . including rubberstamping, photocopying, simple relief printing and silkscreen . . . have continued to combine with the playful sensibility and structural variability that define his work” — Swann Auction May 5, 2009 – Sale 2179 Lot 99 – Realized $510 – only sale record found.

included are two postcards (albeit bent from storage in the rabbit’s box). One card illustrates all 20 “Rabbit Reports”, and the other “Do Sit Down, which Hutchins did in 1992.

and here is the box the rabbit lives in.

SORRY – This Unique Item Sold,
and back to its original home.

THE CONNECTICUT QUARTERLY – AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE – FOUR VOLS. 1895-1898
Devoted to the Literature,History and Picturesque Features of CONNECTICUT

Four Volume Set — Volume I- January, 1895 to December 1895 — 410 pages — Volume II – January to December, 1896 — 404 pages — Volume III – January to December, 1897 — 512 pages Volume IV — January to December, 1898 — 432 pages

Good, tight bindings, 3/4 red leather with cloth boards, EX-LIB with minimal marks – spine of Volume IV has a tear as seen. An unbelievable wealth of information of history of towns, genealogies etc. I kept this set in my collection since it has articles on New Preston and Lake Waramaug (where my bookshop was located from 1995-2002) as well as Washington, CT.  Other towns include (but not limited to on a quick look): Middletown; Salisbury; Norwich; Bridgeport; Enfield; Lebanon; Meriden; Norwalk; Suffield; Simsbury
And there is a wealth of historical articles on various history subject and many, many Black and White photographs. You should not be disappointed with the content. Above shows the tear to spine of Volume IV

Title page of Volume I – typical of all four volumes

article on Lake Waramaug, my shop was around the corner from the photo, on the waterfall

article on Washington, Conn.

I also have a large number of single issues of CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE from the late 1890s to early 1900s. If there are any issues you need, let me know, and I will check to see if I have that issue.

$85 – Order Number eb729
Shipping –  $12 – Very Heavy
packaged in cardboard with tracking
click on this link to order

COLLECTION OF THE LAKESIDE CLASSICS – THE LAKESIDE PRESS – 9 VOLUMES

The Lakeside Press Classics series was started in 1903 by Thomas E. Donnelley, then president of RR Donnelley & Sons Company and son of the founder. Thomas E. Donnelley believed that a simple book, dignified and well designed, would be an appropriate holiday gift. The basic format of the Lakeside Press Classics has remained the same for more than 100 years, testifying to the sound design of the first volume. Every 25 years the cover material is changed and type style adjusted to keep pace with current developments in fine book making. Production methods are updated as book manufacturing improvements are introduced. Current editions use electronic page composition, digital scanning and state-of-the-art computer-to-plate technologies.

New, and unread (with 4 volumes still in their shrink-wrap), I am offering ten inches of these classic books that measure about 6 7/8 inches by 4 3/8 inches, all with TEG (top edges gilt).  Included are:

THE LOGBOOK OF THE CAPTAIN’S CLERK by Sewell
CHILDREN OF OL’ MAN RIVER by Bryant
THE AMERICANIZATION OF EDWARD BOK (two copies) by Edward W. Bok
INAUGURAL ADDRESSES – W.H. TAFT TO G. W. BUSH
FIGHTING THE FLYING CIRCUS by Edward V. Rickenbacker
REVOLUTIONARY DAYS by Princess Julia Cantacuzene
FROM THE DEEP WOODS TO CIVILIZATION by Charles Alexander Eastman
MY LIFE EAST AND WEST by William S. Hart

If there happens to be one, or more volumes you need, I will sell volumes separately for $10 each postpaid. Just email and ask.

$27.50 for nine books – Order Number eb749 – click on “Ordering Information” in menu above, and contact me

Shipping –  $8.75 Media Mail – less than a dollar a book

DELL O’DELL – WORLD’S LEADING LADY MAGICIAN – COLLECTION OF 28 MAGIC ITEMS

“The Queen of Magic’ – Dell O’Dell was the stage name of Odella Newton (20 October 1897 – 5 February 1962) an American magician regarded in her profession as a pioneer who provided a role model for modern female performers. She was noted for being one of the first magicians to appear on television, on her own show. – WIKIPEDIA

In the 1940s and 1950s my grandmother was active in the Bronx Woman’s Club serving as president, and arranging programs for the New York City club’s meetings. Packed in an envelope mailed to her by Dell from 5040 Sixty-First Street, Woodside, Long Island, is this vast collection / archive of Dell O’Dell tricks and booklets. Sadly the postmark is not on the envelope having falling off with stamps. It is my good guess that my grandmother, in arranging a Dell O’Dell program for the club, received this impressive paper collection.

Twenty-eight paper items, many in the original envelopes, and never opened – I will leave that up to you as you wish,  Starting off is the spiral bound 6 by 9 inch MAGICAL MOMENTS: A BOOK OF ENTERTAINMENT by Dell O’Dell

and, inside, Dell inscribed this to my grandmother

the next two booklets are a tad smaller than the above, and include: A BOOK OF ENTERTAINMENT, 1944, and EVERYBODY’S FUN, 1943. The cover of the later is on inferior paper and has chipped with some tape on the spine.

Inside an 8 1/4 by 5 1/2 manila envelope are six tricks still sealed in smaller envelopes, and a magic card. The envelopes include: CROSS OR CRESCENT PROBLEM; INITIAL D PUZZLE; HORSE AND RIDER PUZZLE; SQUARE PUZZLE; STRETCHING STICKS; MYSTIFYING MAGICAL CARD; and a smaller card – LUCKY FOUR LEAF CLOVER

in this next image you can see two unopened business size envelopes with DELL O’DELLS DANCING DOLL – that is two of them. The green card (measuring about 5 1/4 inches square) is WONDERS OF THE WORLD, and finally the “Patter for Heaven and Hell Paper Trick.”

here are pictured ten items – a magical Christmas card, eight cards of optical illusions (some duplicates), and a small booklet (about 2 5/8 inches by 4 inches) WHAT MEN KNOW ABOUT WOMEN. You need to buy this auction just to learn that SECRET.

and, finally below is the BLOCK PUZZLE, another sealed HORSE AND RIDER PUZZLE, and a Brain Teaser card.

I do hope this treasure trove of Dell items finds a new magical home.

$295 for the entire collection  — SOLD

WHITE TRIANGLE NEWS – HUDSON-ESSEX TERRAPLANE CLUB PUBLICATION – 28 ISSUES AND MORE

The official publication of the Hudson-Essex Terraplane Club, Inc., offered as a lot I have 28 issues of the automobile club magazine (glossy covers and plain cover) along with six items of supplemental material, classifieds and membership list. If you have and enjoy a Hudson, Essex, or Terraplane antique automobile, you will want to add this archive of issues from 1974 to 1979 to your collection for enjoyment and reference.

Briefly, include in this collection are: December 1974 to December 1975 (lacking November 1975)

and, with glossy covers:
1976 – January, March, May, October, December
1977- April,June,September,October,November/December
1978-March/April,May/June,July/August,September/October,November/December
1979-January/February,September/October

Order No. 72937 — $125 for the entire collection
Shipping – $7.95 packaged in cardboard, insured and with tracking

Click on this LINK to Order From:

RAY BOAS, BOOKSELLER
Walpole, New Hampshire

HOW MOLLY MADE GOOD – 1915 SILENT FILM HOLLYWOOD MOVIE POSTER

Twenty plus years ago while doing a show in Pennsylvania, my late-wife wanted HOW MOLLY MADE GOOD, the 1915 poster that a paper dealer had, and he wanted a set of books I had. They traded. It has been hanging in my bookshop since, but it is time to move many items to the next homes for custodianship.

As we obtained the poster (measures about 42 inches by 80 inches) it had been laid on cardboard and covered with a protective wrap – thus the glare in these images. I do not believe it was attached to the cardboard, but I have never popped the covering.

From Wikipedia – How Molly Made Good (aka: How Molly Malone Made Good) is a 1915 silent drama film which is one of the first films to feature cameo appearances by major celebrities. It survives in the Library of Congress and is available on DVD. The writer of the film, Burns Mantle, may have been influenced by the globe-trotting adventure of Nellie Bly in 1889, when the reporter circumnavigated the globe in a specified amount of time using several means of conveyance and visiting as many famous cities as possible.

Recently I saw a HERITAGE AUCTIONS ad seeking consignments for an upcoming Vintage Poster Auction. I sent an email to Grey Smith, Director Poster Auctions, and immediately received his courteous reply copied below.

This is a nice poster. I suggest a value of 1000-2000. We ask for a minimum aggregate value of $5000 for a consignment to our vintage poster auction. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the nice collectable item you have would meet that, in my opinion. If there were additional posters we could help you with, we could consider this.

Sincerely, Grey Smith – Director of Vintage Poster Auctions – Heritage Auctions

This is my only movie poster, so am offering it here. Please note below, no shipping due to size, but I am happy to have you pick it up following payment, or meet you within a 100 mile radius. Here are more images, remember there is glare from the lights in my bookshop. And, as mounted on the stair landing, it is hard to get good straight-0n shots. If you wish to inspect it before bidding, that could be arranged.

Order Number – eb925
$650

PICKUP – ONLY – But following payment happy to meet buyer within a 100 mile radius – Covers range to Hartford, Connecticut; Maine; Stockbridge, Massachusetts; almost to Boston – let’s talk