Friday Giveaway: Moby Dick (contest closed)

After last week's big giveaway, I thought I would keep it simple today. I'm giving away just one book, but it's a beauty - a 1977 Easton Press leatherbound collector's edition of Herman Melville's "Moby Dick." From the description:

This gift-quality decorator edition of Melville's classic is bound in dark blue leather boards, with allover gilt decoration and gilt lettering. The cover has a stylized gilt illustration of a whale. All page edges are gilt; a ribbon bookmark is bound into the book. Endpapers are watered silk. Color and black-and-white illustrations by Boardman Robinson appear throughout. Introduction by Clifford Fadiman. 

Contest now closed, winner will be announced shortly.

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The Cape

Several newspaper clippings featuring author Joseph C. Lincoln and a postcard, dated July 24, 1941, with Lincoln's summer home in Chatham, MA on the front.

Here's the back of the postcard:

Monday evening
Dennis Port, Mass

Came out with Bessie + Milton. Bud comes out weekends. Bessie has another boy - David, 1 yr old. Did not come tho as Mother stayed home with him. Bud has new position at Texaco Research Labs at Glenham near Beacon. Loves his work not really happy now. We get to Church every Sun. now and enjoy living again. I've been under the weather for some time now so am here trying to rest and get well.

Love,
Mary

Found in "Cape Cod Ballads" by Joseph C. Lincoln. Published by Albert Brandt, 1902.

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Pleasant Winter Evenings

Inscription, dated September 27, 1915:

With the wish that this historic tale of a remote portion of our United States may while away some pleasant winter evenings, this book is inscribed to Cousin Florence Thompson from her affectionate Cousin,

Ruth Thompson

Written in "The Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and Clark" by Eva Emery Dye. Published by A.C. McClurg, 1912.

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How It's Made

Page three of someone's report on... some precious stone.

...the grease. The screens are then taken away. Then the sparkling stones are separated. The rough stones are put in iron cars and escorted from the guard to the general office, they are cleaned and assorted as to size, color and purity. They are then sold to the local buyers at Antwerp and Amsterdam where they are cut in shapes.

Found in "Birds in Their Homes" by Addison Webb. Published by Garden City Books, 1947.

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Cookbooks giveaway winner

Sheesh, there were a lot of entries to go through! I eventually got em square and then off to random.org to pick a winner. The cookbooks go to Pierce, who entered right here. I'll be sending you an email shortly to arrange shipping on this gigantic pile. Thanks to all who entered!

Friday Giveaway: The Cookbook Collection (contest closed)

I haven't had a 'big' giveaway in a while, thought I would offer these up this week:

Yep, that's a lot of cookbooks.

I counted close to 150 books. Might as well throw in another one, a signed copy of my book "Handwritten Recipes" -

Now, keep in mind that when these ship it will be at least six very large and heavy boxes. If you plan on entering, you may have to plan ahead.

Contest now closed, will announce the winner shortly.

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Giving Thanks

If you're celebrating Thanksgiving today, don't eat too much!

If you're not, you still might enjoy these vintage postcards:

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Prune Meringue Pie

I had to throw in a pie recipe before Thanksgiving.

This one also comes from Handwritten Recipes.

Prune Meringue Pie

1 ½ cups cooked prunes, cut up
1 cup liquid from prunes
1 cup crushed pineapple
¼ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 pie shell

Combine prunes, liquid and pineapple over heat. Blend sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir into hot fruit.
Cook until mixture is clear.
Beat egg yolks. Stir a little hot fruit mixture into egg. Stir egg slowly into remaining fruit. Cook for 3
or 4 minutes longer over low heat.
Pour into pie shell. Put meringue on top and brown in oven, 325 degrees, for 15 to 20 minutes.

Found in “The Mystery Chef’s Never Fail Cook Book.” Published by Perma Giants, 1949.

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My End Is Fine, Thanks For Asking

Postcard, dated October 7, 1985:

Dear Aunt Ike:

Sorry I missed a couple of days, they've been keeping me pretty busy.

Look at the wrinkles on this poor animal, I hope I don't have that many when I get old. Hope you're having a better day today.

Love,
???

Found in "Bright Captivity" by Eugenia Price. Published by Doubleday, 1991.

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Cranberry Salad

I know many of you readers here in the States are getting ready for Thanksgiving, so I thought I would post this recipe for cranberry salad that appears in my book "Handwritten Recipes." I haven't tried it myself, so I make no promises:

Cranberry Salad


1 cup cranberries (cut or ground)
1 cup sugar
1 small package of lemon Jell-O
1 cup hot water
1 cup pineapple juice

Combine and chill in bowl until syrupy.

Add:

1 cup chopped celery
1 cup pineapple, drained
½ cup chopped nuts

Pour into mold and serve.

Found in "How I Cook It" by Virginia McDonald. Published by Frank Glenn Publishing, 1949.

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Giveaway winner

This week's winner was Gretchen, who entered right here on the site. I see your email in your blogger profile, so I will send you a message shortly. As always, thanks to everyone who entered.

Friday Giveaway - 14 Vintage Children's Books - contest closed

It's that time again - this week I am giving away these 14 vintage and antiquarian children's books.

Contest now closed, winner announced shortly


Good luck!

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An Honest Day's Work

A page from a work journal or diary:

Tuesday Dec. 26

Helped Father draw some wood from stump(?) lot - 2 in of snow

Wednesday Dec. 27

Went to mill in AM - cold

Thursday Dec. 28

Helped Dell Boutwell saw wood PM

Friday Dec. 29

Worked for Dell PM

Saturday Dec. 30

Coldest day of the season so far, went over to saw for Dell but ??? did dont come

Sunday Dec 31

Continued cold, Bert U and wife went to Mom's

Found in today's bookperdiem, "The Poetical Works of Victor Hugo" published by Hurst and Co., circa 1890.

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Intrigue

I am fascinated with this bookmark. I want the full story.

It looks like a photocopy of a typed letter on stationery from "The Lake To..." company," designers and builders.... submarine...." - I am guessing that it's The Lake Torpedo Boat Company of Connecticut.

The letter is addressed to the Hon. J.R. Burton, Washington D.C. - (could it be this Burton?)

The letter:

Dear Sir:

The submarine boat question in...
attention by all the principal Government...
We are sending you under sepa...
Torpedo Boats, and also a paper on "The...
These papers contain a very c...

No writing on reverse nor any other pieces of the letter found in the book, which is "The Chief of the Ranges" by H.A. Cody, published by Hodder and Stoughton, 1913.

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The Glass of Fashion

I found this amusing but informative booklet inside a Winslow Homer art book. It's titled "How To Be Best Dressed Anywhere" and it was put out by The News Corp. sometime in the 1950s, I would guess. Take a look:

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Companion

Trade card, "Compliments of Stephens and Beetem" of Carlisle, PA.

Found in "The French Companion" by Mr. De Rouillion. Published by D & J Sadlier, 1839.

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Giveaway winner

This week's winner was Paolina Barker, who entered on Facebook.

Friday Giveaway - 17 Vintage and Classic Books - contest closed

Giving away these 17 books, fairy tales to Sherlock Holmes.

Contest now closed, winner announced shortly.

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Stuff It Buddy

Forgotten Bookmarks was mentioned in this New York Times article on Thanksgiving stuffing (page two). If you're curious about the two recipes, here they are:

Poultry Stuffing

Six slabs bacon cut into small pieces
1 c. onions, chopped well
1 c. celery, chopped well
1 c. fine bread crumbs (smash with plate if too big)
4 c. cooked corn niblets
1/2 tea poultry seasoning
1 tea salt
1/4 tea black pepper
1/8 tea paprika
1/4 tea Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup milk (evaporated if you have it)


Cook bacon and dry on cheese cloth. Add onions and celery to bacon fat, cook until very lightly browned and tender. Stir in remaining ingredients and cook for 2-3 minutes more on medium.


Avocado Stuffing

1/4 c. clarified butter
2 table flour
1/2 c. lemon juice
1/2 beef stock (not broth!)
1 tea poppyseeds
2 egg yolks
1/2 c. mushrooms chopped semi-fine, if you like chunky go ahead and leave it
1 table chives, chopped fine
1 avocado, mashed
2 table pimiento chopped fine (feel free to substitute, I hate pims)

Warm up butter in sauce pan and add chives and mushrooms increase heat and cook until tender. Add the avocado, pims or substitute and flour and mix mix mix. Reduce heat to low. Stir occasionaly for three mins then add lemon juice stock and poppyseeds. Should be thickening by now. Still stirring occasionally, cook for 8-10 minutes. Add the eggs very slowly and when you do, be sure to pick up the stirring pace. Done when your desired thickness is achieved.

Found in "Gone With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. Published by Macmillan, 1938.

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Actually, A Scone Sounds Pretty Good

Recipe for "English Scones" -

2 c sifted flour
1/4 ts salt
2 tbs sugar
4 ts B.P.
1 c milk, sweet or sour

Turn onto floured board, roll to 1/2 inch ???

Cut in rounds.

Bake on top of stone or griddle or stove ? oven 275 degrees

ungreased pan

25-30 min

Found in "Aunt Sammy's Radio Recipes Revised" published by the US Government Printing Office, 1931.


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On The Fringe

Two negative strips (actually, they are 'positives,' when I scanned them in as negatives the colors were all inverted. Perhaps these were part of a slide system?). Strips appear to be images from microscope slides.

Found in "Fringe Medicine" by Brian Inglis. Published by Reader's Union, 1965.

Here are the scans:

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