Ray Boas, Bookseller

1939 – THE IMPENETRABLE SECRET – MISCELLANEOUS ANTIQUITIES – NUMBER FIFTEEN

THE IMPENETRABLE SECRET – PROBABLY INVENTED BY HORACE WALPOLE – AN EXPLANATION OF THE SECRET. WITH A NOTE ON THE ORIGINAL BY W. S. LEWIS

Privately Printed, Farmington, CT, 1939 – “One hundred copies were printed for Wilmarth Sheldon Lewis in November, 1939, by Edmund Thompson at Hawthorne House, Windham, CT” 16 page booklet measuring about 3 1/4 inches by about 5 1/4 inches – the postscript pages 13-16 are laid in. In broken slipcase (only front and rear boards remain), but with the fold-over case, included are the ten cards printed on both sides (one side black the other red) with poems of wisdom. UNCOMMON.

SORRY – SOLD
Ordering Information

1882 – SOUVENIR OF WHITE MOUNTAINS – ACCORDION FOLD-OUT 15 IMAGES

Published by Chishold Bros., of Portland, Maine, this pocket souvenir measures about 5 3/4 inches by about 4 inches with embossed covers. The print pages are about 5 1/4 by about 3 9/16 inches. The sepia toned prints include the cut at Crawford Notch, Franconia Notch, Frankenstein Trestle; Profile House; Fabian House; Cog Railway; and more. Again, please note that this edition contains 15 images. Having just gotten back again from the Mt. Washington Hotel (built after this folder was published), I found this in one of my collection cartons, and it is a duplicate for me.

Price – $50 (order number 72751)
Ordering Information

COIN SILVER – IS IT A VERMONT MARK? A COLLECTOR’S DILEMMA – DAVID PERRIN

Published by the author, David Perrin, Charlotte, VT, 2005. Hardcover measuring about 8 1/2 by 11 inches with 204 pages, mainly color illustrations (just a couple black and white). Fine copy with dust jacket, taken out of original shrink-wrap to catalogue — UNCOMMON and essential for your coin silver collection and identification of pieces.

and, some sample pages (some glare on glossy paper from my photo lights)

PRICE — $135
ORDERING INFORMATION

1899 to 1904 – EIGHTEEN (18) THOS. COOK & SON TRAVEL TOUR BOOKLETS

I do not know how long I have had this collection, but I just cannot break it up, so am offering this collection of Thos. Cook & Son, London (established 1841), Tour Guide promotional booklets as a lot to join the next vintage travel collection. Long titles on each including places visited, and itineraries inside along with maps, pictures and rail and steamer connections as applicable. Too much here to detail. These booklets each measure about 5 1/2 inches by about 8 1/2 inches.

Here is a list by trip year of what is included:
1899 – August 12-October 15 – Art Tour to Flemish Cities – 12 pages
1900 – Christmas Eve in Bethlehem Leaving London Dec. 11th, 1900 – short escorted tour to Egypt and the Holy Land – 8 pages
1901-1902 – Cook’s Tours in Morocco – 12 pages
1901 – Programme of a New Year’s Tour to Spain leaving London January 17th, 1901 – 12 pages
1902 – Selected Conducted Tours in Sicily – Season 1902 – 16 pages
1902 – Easter at Seville – Programme of s Select Conducted Tour to Spain leaving London Tuesday, March 18th, 12 pages
1902 – Programme of a Spring Tour to Spain leaving London April 18, 1902 – 12 pages
1902 – Christmas in Rome – Italy & the South of France leaving London Dec. 16, 1902 – 12 pages
1903 – Cook’s Circular Tours for Independent Travelers in Central France; Pyrenees, South of France, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Tunis, Morocco – with breaks of Journey at all places of interest – 16 pages
1903 – Conducted Tours to the Continent Season 1903 in Connection with Select Parties from America – 20 pages
1903 – Through Mediaeval France – Autumn Tours 1903 – Select Conducted Parties to South Western France leaving London Sept 16th, Oct. 7th & 28th – 8 pages
1903 – Carnival at Rome – Select Conducted Tour to the South of France and Italy leaving London February 6th and 12th, 1903 – 12 pages
1903 – Cook’s Tours though Scotland and Ireland Under Personal Escort – Season 1903 – 24 pages
1903 – “Sunny Algeria” Programme of Select Escorted Tours to Algeria, Tunis, &c. leaving London February 11th, March 19th and April 22nd, 1903 – 16 pages
1903 – Dauphiny and Savoy – Programme of a Select Party to South-Eastern France, leaving London September 10th, 1903 – 8 pages
1903 – Cook’s Autumn Tours – Italy and the Riviera – Programme of a Select Conducted Tour Leaving London October 14, 1903 – 16 pages
1904 – A New Year’s Tour to Spain – leaving London January 14, 1904 – 12 pages
1904 – Carnival at Seville – Programme of a Select Conducted Tour to Spain leaving London February 5, 1904 – 12 pages

PRICE for the lot – $280 when ordered directly from our shop
Ordering Information

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT’S COPY
HAWKERS & WALKERS IN EARLY AMERICA

“Strolling Peddlers, Preachers, Lawyers, Doctors, Players, and Others, from the Beginning to the Civil War”

By Richardson Wright (editor of House and Garden), J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1927 Second Edition, 317 pages, very good with sections of original dust jacket laid in.
INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR:
For Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt – Richardson Wright – 6 April 1933

Laid in is the mailing label to Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, The White House, Washington, DC — from S. Reading Bertron – Bertron, Griscom & Co., Inc. 40 Wall Street, New York

Samuel Reading Bertron  (1865-1838) was a senior member of the banking house of Bertron, Griscom and Co.  Educated at Yale, he was a member of Skull and Bones.  In 1912, he helped peace negotiations between Italy and Turkey. In 1917, he was appointed to join the Root commission to Russia, led by Elihu Root. In addition, Bertron was a Vice-President of the War Relief Clearing House for France and her Allies. Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor’s first cousin, from 1912-1914 was a bond salesman at Bertron, Griscom and Co. Possibly that was the connection between Bertron and FDR’s wife.

I have had the good fortune to make three visits so far to the Roosevelt properties in Hyde Park, New York. It will take me two more visits to accomplish the entire museum however. I also spent an afternoon exploring Eleanor’s home Val-Kill. I found it extremely interesting. As a bookseller, I was fascinated with the books in Eleanor’s study. Based upon photographs, the National Park Service was able to recreate what was on each shelf. I searched on line, and found the inventory that was made of her possessions upon her death in the home.  HAWKERS & WALKERS is not among the listings, BUT, I do not think this book was ever there. This book was in a dealer’s collection that I purchased. The majority of his collection was built when he resided in Washington, DC, and was buying well-healed collections and estates. The chances of this book of Mrs. Roosevelt ever being in Val-Kill are slim.

Below is the inscription form Richardson Wright to Mrs. Roosevelt on the front free endpaper. Note that there are some old tape repairs to this page.

here is the book as it is opened up to the inscription

and, two views of the book itself

and, finally the remnants of the dust jacket that have been tucked into the back of the book.

A fantastic addition to your FDR collection, First Lady Collection, or Eleanor Roosevelt collection. This book may have been in the Val-Kill Library.

PRICE – $150
Ordering Information

1923 – WONDER MOVIES by VICTOR M. EARLE – TRANSFORMATION BOOK Illustrated by Benjamin Seielstad

Hardcover, measuring about 8 by 13 inches, pictorial boards. Published by Doubleday, Page & Company, New York. Please note that years ago there was so insect nibbling on the boards and a preliminary and rear page. None of this impacting on the desirability of this unusual book that can fetch up to $400 in the extremely rare dust jacket.

Uncommon novelty book with interactive transforming pages that a child (or adult) would fold and unfold unfold prefolded pages to simulate movie like action following the text. Twenty-six alternating pages, some with panels designed to be successively folded back by the reader, to create a “movie” effect and read the story. 

looking at the sample images while creating this listing I see that I did not properly fold the panels to tell the story, but you get the idea how the picture changes (moves) as you fold the panels back to read more of the tale.

PRICE — $115 – (Order Number 72977)
ORDERING INFORMATION

1828 – LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD – FIRST US APPEARANCE
THE ATLANTIC SOUVENIR

The Atlantic Souvenir; A Christmas and New Year’s Offering. Philadelphia, Carey, Lea & Carey 1828. Green printed boards, book block measures about 3 3/8 inches by about 5 1/2 inches. Boards detached, spine back gone and separations to book block in several locations as a result. Contains all plates as called for. BAL 843.

The Atlantic Souvenir, as the first American annual of literature, was first published in 1826. This 1828 edition contains the first appearance of James N. Barker’s famous version of Little Red Riding Hood (p. 97-101). This version helped spread this tale to a wide American audience. This story is illustrated with a full page engraving from a painting by Sir T. Lawrence engraved by J. B. Longacre. The anthology also includes first printings of H. W. Longfellow (THE SPIRIT OF POETRY page 38) and Washington Irving (THE DULL LECTURE, page 294).

Published with a cloth backstrip (lacking here), this could be easily repaired by a book binder. Also, originally published in a slipcase with green labels matching the boards of the book itself. A copy was auctioned at Swann Gallery in 2006 for $2160. Another copy was in a Children’s Book specialist’s catalogue a number of years ago for $850 (now deceased and business closed). And, recently another copy sold at auction at the bargain price of $650. 

Price – $430 shipping in the US – you will have to sign for this package
Ordering Information

In the early to mid-1980s I collected and put away as many Mr. Peanut souvenirs and collectibles as I could. At that time I was going to my kid’s school fairs with my original Bartholomew Peanut roaster and dispensing popcorn — you may wish to see my page of my popcorn machine fun at POPCORNMAN RAY.

Going through a box in storage recently I found these Mr. Peanut items that should go to new homes to be loved and enjoyed. So take a look at the images, and details underneath each.

Burlap tote bag (I have two) – the bag measures about 13 inches by about 18 inches with about a 4 inch drop on the handle. As with all these items, I do not believe they have ever been used – $15 each – One SOLD – One left.

This is an uncommon 5 pound burlap bag that you could have purchased full on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City, or a rural general store. Measures about 12 inches by about 19 inches. Nice, appears never used – $11 — SORRY SOLD

In my research the 2 pound burlap bag appears to be uncommon, and seldom seen. Note there are differences, albeit slight, to the two bags. They measure about 8 inches by 15 1/2 inches. $12.50 each One SOLD – One on the left above still available.

I like this draw string canvas tote. The image is printed on both sides – perfect for the beach or a school bag – BUT I would like to think you will display it on the wall with other Mr. Peanut goodies. Measures about 12 inches by about 18 inches (not including the sewn portion for the draw string). – SORRY SOLD

On the left is a paper bag for the purchase of 3 pounds of peanuts – printed one side only. Unused, and protected in a plastic display bag (I must have found it that way) – measures about 7 1/8 inches by about 13 3/4 inches.
On on the right is an oven mitt – the back side is blue with a small extension for your thumb to hold the pot/pan — SORRY SOLD

The two towels on the right did not survive well and have some discoloration and disintegration – mainly the one underneath. I debated, but someone will want these – at least the one on top which only has some fraying at the fold in the center. Measure about 15 inches by about 12 inches, the image you see is the same on the top side so the towel when on a towel rack will appear the same from both sides. SORRY SOLD

email me what you would like, and your zip code, and I will provide a shipping quote – thank you, RAY — ORDERING INFORMATION

COLLECTION OF 8 (Eight) – “LITTLE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS” – MINIATURE BOOKS

I had a very large lot of 28 titles of the “LITTLE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK” series that I sold in November of 2018 on eBay. In searching in my “stash” of miniature books I just found eight more of these books that measure about 2 3/4 inches square. Offered as a lot are six different titles along with two duplicates. Lots of fun to read with a little one, or to decorate your doll house, and a nice addition for your miniature book or children’s book collection.

Included are:
Number 11 – WE HELP MOMMY
Number 12 – BABY FARM ANIMALS – with some wear
Number 17 – THE VERY BEST HOME FOR ME!
Number 18 – LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Number 22 – THE THREE BEARS
Number 24 – JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
DUPLICATES – to share
Number 18 – LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Number 22 – THE THREE BEARS

and the duplicates

PRICE – $15 for the Eight — SORRY SOLD

ORDERING INFORMATION

1940-1948 AMERICAN COLLECTOR MAGAZINE – NINE YEARS 107 ISSUES

I have a run from 1940 through 1948, but with only the April 1946 missing. Nine years complete except for the one issue – thus a total of 107 issues. Edited by Thomas H. Ormsbee (he wrote American furniture books) and later on by Malcolm Vaughan, and with Ruth Webb Lee (glass authority) consulting. Published monthly by Collectors Publishing Company in New York City. Spot checking the issues run from about 20-28 pages each. Articles on all aspects of early American antiques, great ads, and wonderful reference material.

The earlier issues measure about 10 1/4 by 12 3/4 inches, and then it went to about 9 1/4 by 12 inches. PLEASE NOTE – From storage there is a faint “musty odor” which you can occasionally note fanning pages. This is typical of the type of paper used when stored over time – but not bad – my late-bride taught me to be super sensitive, and I prefer to make note for the next owner. Each pile below is a year of the magazine.

PRICE – $775 — SORRY SOLD SEPTEMBER 2024
Order Number – 73981
ORDERING INFORMATION