Season's Greetings

I thought I'd throw together some of my favorite yuletide finds:

Found photo of Christmas morning.

Christmas bookmark.

Vintage Christmas card.

Merry Christmas to Jean

Noel

Dr. Seuss and Christmas

And how!

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Giveaway winner

This week's winner was Dianna Gabbard, who entered via email. Thanks to all who entered and a personal thank you to all of you who make this site what it is. I will see you all in the New Year. Perhaps a bit earlier. Happy holidays.

Friday Giveaway: Robinson Crusoe - contest closed

Giving away this terribly handsome edition of Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" published by The Easton Press, 1976. It's part of their "100 Greatest Books" series, and features illustrations by Edward A. Wilson. The book is bound in genuine leather, with four raised bands, gilt all edges, silk ribbon bookmark, the works. Just lovely.

Contest now closed, winner announced shortly.

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Hello World

Computer program, a "good old 'Paper-Rock-Scissors' game," handwritten and photocopied. Author is the mysterious Zoltán M.

Found in "Pogo Re-Runs: Some Reflections on Elections" by Walk Kelly. Published by Fireside, 1974.

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Sure Sign The Holidays Are Here

This recipe for fruit cake was featured in my book Handwritten Recipes:

¾ pound shortening
3 eggs
1 pound brown sugar
½ pint molasses
2 cups coffee
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pound raisins
1 pound currants
¼ pound citron, lemon and orange peel
1 pound nuts
2 teaspoons each of all kinds spices, extracts (the ones you like best) little salt
6 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

 Use 5 cups (flour) first and try out. This is a large rule I often cut it down. Do not bake fast. I use 2 or 3 kinds of extracts.

Found in “The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book” by Fannie Merritt Farmer. Published by Little, Brown and Co., 1928.

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American Gentlemen

Silk ribbon with the lettering "American Gentlemen." Could be a promotional item from the old men's magazine of the same name.

Found in "The Complete Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson" published by Crowell, 1885.

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Last Chance

All sold! Thank you! You can still purchase a copy here of course, but they might not make it in time for Christmas.

An X-ercise In Typing

A sailboat made of Xs, my guess is that it was typed up as a school assignment for keyboarding class or something similar.

Found in "Japanese Garden and Floral Art" by Mrs. Paul Kincaid. Published by Hearthside, 1966.

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Dickens winner

This week's winner was Holly Lynn Bruyette, who entered over on Facebook.

Friday Giveaway: Dickens Collection (Contest closed)

Giving away this collection of eight matching volumes by Charles Dickens.

Contest now closed, back with a winner shortly.

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Not Forgotten - Part V

Here are parts one, two, three and four of this ongoing series where I feature some of the items I find that aren't quite good enough for their own post.

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Lunch Is On Me

Found twenty bucks!

The book was brought in by a regular, however, so my wealth will be short-lived.

Found in "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. Published by Harper, 2009.

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The Second Front

Typed letter on General Electric stationery:

Ft. Wayne, September 25, 1943

Mr. W.K. Williams
Bldg 4-6

The accompanying copy of "Punch In, Susie!" is presented to you with the compliments of the General Electric Company. Written in an honest and straightforward manner, it gives an interesting picture of the reactions of a newcomer in our organization.

The author, Nell Giles, is a staff writer on the "Boston Globe" who took a "job" at our West Lynn plant for the sole purpose of "writing the glamour of our women in war." Her day-to-day experiences while at work in our plant were published in Miss Giles' column in the "Globe" and attracted the attention of thousands of readers.

It is an amusing story, but despite its humor it contains a wealth of material that should prove to be of considerable value in enabling us better to understand the reactions and problems confronting our arm of new employees.

LC Swager
Personnel Division
Bldg. 18-2

Found in "Punch In, Susie" by Nell Giles. Published by Harper and Brother, 1943.

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The History Of A Book

I like knowing where a book came from:

Inscription:

Purchased for 25 cents from Bill Nash (Wilman) at this porch sale June 16, 1973 after his mother passed away and he sold his homeon 15 W. Main St, Sidney NY

Purchased gold plated umbrella handle also, which belonged to Mrs. Irwin W. Nash (Bill Nash's grandmother)

Found written in "Spare Moments: A Collection of Articles on Everyday Subjects Written During the Years 1922-1923 for the 'Commonwealth-Atlantic News." Published by McGrath-Sherril, 1924.

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Giveaway winner

This week's winner was @RMGarman, who entered on Twitter.

Friday Giveaway: Double Dickens: CONTEST CLOSED

Last week's giveaway of the collector's edition of "Moby Dick" went so well, I decided to double down and offer two lovely editions of Dickens:

"Barnaby Rudge" published by The Folio Society, 1987. Illustrations by Charles Keeping.

"David Copperfield" published the Franklin Library, 1980. Illustrations by Paul Degen. Gilt all edges, raised bands.

Contest now closed, back with a winner in a moment.

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Be Patient

Note:

Let's think of a solution.

Next: Don't let his gloom rub off on you.

Finally - be patient (that's putting off til tomorrow what you'd mess up by doing today)

Found in "The Fountain Overflows" by Rebecca West. Published by Penguin, 1985.

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The Richest Girl In The World

Three scraps of paper, each with the phrase "The Richest Girl in the World" written on it in a different design.

Found in "The Enjoyment and Use of Color" by Walter Sargent. Published by Dover, 1964.

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Baby It's Cold Outside

Two pages from an old photo album, four photos total. No markings or writing that I can find.

Found in "For Whose Sake" by Mrs. Southworth. Published by A.L. Burt, 1884.

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Simón

It's no secret that I love inscriptions. Found this one in the first volume of a two volume set, "Selected Writings of Bolívar" complied by Vicente Lecuna. Published by Banco de Venezeula as part of the Colonial Press, 1951:

Caracas, March 15, 1987

Dear Dr. Thomas

When my father, Eduardo Sosa, Eduardo's grandfather, was president of Banco de Venezuela he promoted "Bolívarianism."

Vicente Lacuna was a previous president of the bank and also a noted historian. Banco de Venezuela published several collections of Simón Bolívar's, letters and tactics as well as Napoleon Bonaparte's inspirational seeds in the mind and heart of our Bolívar. In 1951 the bank published in English these "Selected Writings of Bolívar" for a few customers and friends. I am sure you will find them of value.

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Moby Dick winner

This week's winner was Carol-Ann Belzil Normand, who entered over on Facebook. Thank you all for entering!