Yeats Winner

Winner of the Yeats first edition was Liz Konold, who entered on Facebook.

Thanks everyone! Keep an eye out for the "Old Man and the Sea" giveaway.

Giveaway: Yeats First Edition - entries closed

Giveaway - first edition of W.B. Yeats' "The Cutting of an Agate." Published by Macmillan, 1912.

Spine a bit damaged and there is some cover soil, but the textblock is clean. Binding is holding tight.

Comment to enter, accepting entries from here, Facebook and Twitter.
Winner picked at random at 3:00 PM EST today (July 30th)
Contest open to everyone - good luck!

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A Woman's Life

Clipping from an advertisement published by the General Cigar Company in 1933. Features George Burns, Gracie Allen and Guy Lombardo.

Found in "A Woman's Life" by Guy de Maupassant. Published by the Heritage Press in 1942.

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Wrath Of The Gods

Photo, looks like one of the Mexican pyramids. No date or writing.

Found in "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. Published by The Viking Press, 1967.
Note: "Grapes" is today's bookperdiem.

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Sox

Two tickets for a Boston Red Sox / Chicago White Sox game, July 22, 1988.

I'm always interested to see what happened, so here's the box score.

Found in "Facing the Music" by Larry Brown. Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1988.



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As Ever

I wanted to try something new, so talked to a few writers and asked them to come up with a short piece to accompany a forgotten bookmark. The first in this series is by A. R. Teschner:

"As Ever"

Ruth could see Harry's silhouette. He was reading the Times by the light flowing in through the lemon-yellow curtains, his silence inviting her to speak.

"What should I make for her today?" Ruth said, staring at the cupboards as if she could see through them, "It should be something better than the usual. I have to get her guard down."

"You're not going to bring this up now, are you? Do you realize how long ago she sent it?"

The postcard lay on the kitchen counter, its postmark burning her like a brand. The contradictions were all there in Hazel's handwriting, plain enough to Ruth when she had discovered it lying at the bottom of one of her boxes.

"She lied to us, Harry. What's the point in having friends if they can't be straight with you?"

As Hazel's car pulled up, Ruth straightened her house dress as if it were her uniform, then tucked the postcard into her sash. She pushed a smile through despite her heartbeat feeling sickly and slow.

Hazel still wore her office clothes; she covered her lap in napkins to ward off potential spills from the shepherd's pie.

"How was work?" Ruth asked, starting the decompression ritual, nodding and asking sympathetic questions. When they'd moved on to the strawberries and cream, she pulled out the postcard.

"Remember this?"

"Oh!" Hazel forgot to wipe her hands as she took it, "Quiz Kids! You still have it!"

"Where was it you said you saw the show?"

"Chicago, I think. You hear they're bringing it back? On television I mean."

Ruth turned the card over, "Says you were in New York City, here. Remember on Wednesday you rushed out because you said you'd won tickets? And here, it shows you sent it from Wisconsin. On a Saturday."

"You remember which DAY?"

"Looked it up in one of my calendars."

Hazel glared at all the unopened boxes still stacked up in the living room. "Christ, Ruth. Why does everything need to be an argument? Why does it matter?"

"You lied. You always presented a nice face but you never really had time for us."

"You two were the only people I bothered writing to on that trip! We only knew about Quiz Kids because you two were such big fans. You remember how Harry used to go on about how nice it'd be to have a kid that smart? I hated how those poor kids were pressured, but we listened every week just to have something we could talk about."

Ruth tried to imagine Harry rustling his newspaper in the kitchen, but couldn't. She looked down at her faded dress, her arthritic hands knotted like oaks.

"I thought we had forever, Ruth. All of us. When I wrote 'here we are' it was like I was saying WE were those little kids. I didn't think the draft lottery applied to us-- You know, you've been a big help, pitching in. We get along OK. Don't let this ruin it."

Ruth closed her eyes for a long moment, "Keep it. As a reminder of Burt." She imagined Harry's approval, and felt the sick feeling flow away. The card was a reminder to Hazel, though, of all the boxes her roommate had brought with her, many of which Ruth would never manage to sort through.

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Recipe For Disaster

Recipe:

1/2 pint turpentine
1 oz. camphor gum
2 oz. sassafras
2 oz. ammonia
2 oz. olive oil

I had no idea what the awful concoction might create, so I looked around a bit. Turns out it is a rheumatic liniment.

Found in "4 Against the Mob" by Oscar Fraley. Published by Popular, 1961.


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The Arrow And The Song

Handwritten copy of a Longfellow poem:

I shot an arrow into the air
It fell to earth I know not where,
For so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breath'd a Song into the air
It fell to earth, I know not where.
For who has sight so keen and strong
That it can follow the flight of a song?

Long, long afterward in an oak
I found the Arrow still unbroke;
And the Song from beginning to end

I found again in the heart of a friend.

Found in "Pierre M. Irving and Washington Irving: A Collaboration in Life and Letters" by Wayne R. Kime. Published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1977.



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Treasure This Letter

Letter, with envelope:

No. 18 Treasury Department

January 31, 1901 

Mrs. Geo. D. Sidway

433 Main Street

Canandaugua New York

Dear Madam:

I enclose herewith draft on New York for $20 in payment for board for Mrs. Clark during the month of January 1901. Please acknowledge receipt. We are having quite a little snow fall here but it is no good, it doesn't stay on the pavement more than a day or two, some cutters were out yesterday but to day's sun will melt the snow before night. We are all pretty well for us and hope this will find you the same.

Yours truly

E.B. Daskam

Found in "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell. Published by W.B. Conkey, no date, circa 1900.


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Bookworm Winner

Sorry about the delay, folks. My old pal Internet decided he didn't want to work today.

He's back, and so I'm happy to announce that the winner is Lynda Elkin, who entered right here on the site.

Lynda, I'll try and contact you - but email me if you read this so we can arrange shipping:

fb@forgottenbookmarks.com

Thanks everyone!

Bookworm and Giveaway: Contest closed

"Bookworm" bookmark.

Found in "Sharpe's Triumph" by Bernard Cornwell. Published by HarperPerennial, 2000.

By the way, win this book five other Cornwell books:

I'll even throw in the bookworm.

Comment to enter. Winner picked at random at 5:00 PM EST today.

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Daddy Said

Poem (could be lyrics):

Daddy said that I might tell you,
Just what he told to me.
But he said I must be careful
Just as careful as could be.

First of all he called him Santa,
Said he's jolly round and fat
Wears a bright red leather waistcoat,
And a big white fuzzy hat.

And Daddy said that he could tell
If all the long year through,
You have been a good or naughty child
Or faithful, kind and true.

Found in "Elizabeth and her German Garden" by Countess Elizabeth Von Arnim Russell. Published by Macmillan, 1900.

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You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

I know I don't normally post on Sundays, I'm usually too busy eating waffles and catching up with paperwork here at the store. I recently learned, however, that a friend of this blog has moved away from this little burg to the bright lights of New York. Not having a chance to say goodbye and good luck (technically, not having a chance to formally meet) I thought I would take this opportunity to say Good bye! Good luck! Central New York is suddenly much less cool.

The ladies and gents of the Barn send along their best wishes as well.

Take care, Brit.

On to today's bookmark -

Photo (of course it had to be a photo) from a family reunion.


Marked at bottom: "Lull Reunion - Aug. 26 '93."

Found in "The History of England: Volume IV" by David Hume and William Cooke Stafford." Published by the London Printing Company, circa 1868.



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Great Day For A Parade

Memo to employees of Bresee's Department Store, no date:

ATTENTION STORE EMPLOYEES...

Saturday at 1:30pm you will be permitted to leave the store and see the Parade. At this time the Store will be closed until 3:15. However you are requested to ring back in at 3:10 and be in your departments ready to serve the customers at 3:15 sharp. All lunch periods will begin at 1:30 and end at 3:10. There will be no Health Bar or Rest periods throughout the day.

Everyone must enter the store by the way of Wall Street so as not block up the Main Street entrance.

the Firm

Found in "The Key to the Great Gate" by Hinko Gottlieb. Published by Simon and Schuster, 1957.

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Rice Dainty: Update - Buy this book

Recipe for "Rice Dainty (pudding)" -

3/4 c. cooked rice
3/4 c. fruit - chopped
1/2 c. honey
3/4 c. cream - whipped

Mix rice, fruit + honey.

Fold in whipped cream + chill well.

Found in "Sixty-five Delicious Dishes Made with Bread" by Marion Harris Neil. Published by The Fleischmann Co., 1919.

UPDATE: This book is today's bookperdiem.

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Old and Older

Just wanted to let you all know about two book auctions I have running on eBay:

Asimov's "The Stars, Like Dust" from 1952

Simson's "Elements of Euclid" from 1794

All proceeds are going to a good cause, an old friend was diagnosed with cancer and I'm hoping this little bit can help.

Thanks for looking - back to bookmarks later on today.

Québec, 1977

Page from a travel diary:

9-6-77

Quebec - Tuesday

We had dinner - fruit cup, rolls, white wine, creamed salmon, potatoes, broccoli, and go to the dessert table and pick out what you wanted. Lee had cake (light in color) and I had chocolate. All had coffee - Vera and Ruth had the same - they asked us to sit with them. All was excellent and good view if you got a table by the window which we did not. Back and packed and ready for 8:00 AM pick-up tomorrow and departure by 9:00 after breakfast here first.

Found in "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. Published by Norton, 1963.

Help Me Help You: UPDATE

Good morning folks - there will be a real post later on today, but I wanted to chat with you all for a moment.

If you have any comments, questions, criticisms - anything to say about the site at all, I would love to hear them.

If there's a feature you'd like to see, let me know.

Want to see more of something in particular? I'm all ears.

More giveaway? Sure, who wouldn't want that.

I appreciate anything you have to say, this blog wouldn't be around if it weren't for you readers, and I would like to make it a better place.



Edit - I will stick a link to this post on the sidebar - if you think of something, go ahead and comment.

Model Behavior

 Press release regarding a Heidi Klum book signing and a photo of Ms. Klum.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Thursday, December 2, 2004
Barnes & Noble welcomes Supermodel

Heidi Klum

Thank you for joining us at today's event. To ensure that Ms. Klum has the opportunity to meet everyone, we ask that you note the following guidelines

• Books are available at the first floor cash desk, and must be purchased before joining the signing line.
• Ms. Klum will sign up to 5 books per person
• Due to time constraints, Ms. Klum will not be able to pose for photos, personalize books or sign memorabilia of any kind.

These guidelines are subject to change. Thank you for your cooperation.

Despite the suggestion, former owner took the photo. I guess she didn't technically pose for it.

Found in "Heidi Klum's Body of Knowledge" published by Crown, 2004. Yes, it is signed.

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Making A List

Shopping list on an index card:

Buy

Sweet wine
Small chain with a padlock & key

cumin seed

Bottom of plant holder

4 pieces of parchment

50 new pins, black bottle

Found in "The Complete Novels of Jane Austen." Published by Modern Library, circa 1937.

EDIT: @mistressmousey tells me it's "Chain" not Chair."

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Byron winner

Ok, the winner of the 5 Byron books was Tara Rose Stromberg, who entered right here on the site.

Thanks to everyone for entering. As always, more giveaways to come.

Works of Byron - Contest has ended.

Contest has ended.

Giving away these five books, volumes 1,2,4,5 and 6 of the 8 volume set "The Works of Lord Byron" from 1825.

Books are in rough shape, leather covers detached, some illustrations missing, but I though they still had a neat shelf look and, well, they are 185 years old.

Comment to enter, I will be taking entries here and on Twitter and Facebook. Winner announced tomorrow at 10:00 AM EST.

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Narc

Business card:

William G. Clark
Narcotics Investigator

Narcotic Control Bureau
Department of Health
State of New York

Found in "Firearms: Pleasures and Treasures" by Howard Ricketts. Published by Putnam, 1962.

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To My Loving Father

Handmade Father's Day card in the shape of a tie (very clever!).

Front:

To My Loving Father
XXXX
OOOO

Inside:

Happy Father's Day!

I hope you have a nice Father's Day I will try to be good

Found in "The Continental Tales of Longfellow" published by The Story Classics, 1948.

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Incomplete

One small portion of a letter, dated 1904:

Walter L. Bevins, President
Charles A. Learned, 1st VP
Phineas T. Ives, 2nd VP
F.L. Burleigh, Rec. Sec.
William M. Quested, Treas'r
E.K. Allen, General Secretary

2, 1904

Religious Work
den some Sunday
o'clock. We
. Beach has
u had found this
ers a month
you direct

Found in "Counterpoint Applied in the Invention, Fugue, Canon and other Polyphonic Forms" by Percy Goetschius. Published by Shirmer, 1902. Reprinted 1930.



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Dear William

Letter, no date.
Thanks to Sara, I can give you the text:

Dear William,
I would like to have a conversation with you but I am so confined at home this winter. I must take this mode to communicate a few thoughts. I am sorrow for that sentiment you uttered that Mr. Robertson objected to at the annual meeting of the congregation.  I have known Mr. Robertson for many years and tho he has some peculiarities of temper yet I think him an honest and I hope a pious man. 

I called on him last Saturday, he was milde and without any irritations and wished me to say to you that he entertained no hard feelings toward you on account of it, and do not wish his name farther used in the matter but still think there would  have been no harm if you had withdrawn the expression for if it meant any thing at all, individual or general it must have some reference to those who have withdrawn from the church and those he referred particularly to and they had withdrawn with a clear santificate and may feel disposed some day soon to join the church again... but if they had any occasion to suppose that the congregation considered them to be drop it would wound their feelings and be discreditable to the church.

I have heard the opinion of two or three of your friends here and they all think its an an unfortunate word; enemies will rejoice and make use of it. I have thought it right to consult with you about the matter. We need your help in the church, and I would be someone to have your influence injured. I do not write officially but as a personal friend. Think over the matter, and let me know your second thoughts as soon as convenient.

Found in "The Holy Bible" published by B. Waugh and T. Mason for the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1834.

Note: some spelling and paragraph breaks added by me for easier reading.





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Chicago In Love

Photo of Chicago skyline from across Lake Michigan.
At least that's what I think. I took a look on Google Maps to see where this picture might have been taken, but couldn't really find anything that fit the bill.



Readers? Any ideas?

UPDATE: Thanks to Tori, we may have found our spot. Here's the pic from Google Maps:

Found in "Women in Love" by D.H. Lawrence. Published by Modern Library, 1950

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