New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1894. first edition. Two volumes, large octavo, (25cm x 17cm), xii, (4), 400; xii, 397 pages. This detailed pair of volumes called on experts in many fields to include 18 chapters, which include William Stoddard on Women in Their Business Affairs, Lillian Betts on the Principles of Housekeeping, Constance Cary Harrison on Society and Social Usages, P.G. Hubert on Occupations for Women, Kate Douglas Wiggin on the Training of children, Elizabeth Bisland, who raced Nellie Bly around the world for their publications post-Jules Verne, Thomas Wentworth Higginson on Books and reading, Samuel Parsons Jr. on the Home Grounds, and Helen Churchill Candee on House Building. There are 400 illustrations, including a dozen color chromolithographs, plus myriad drawings and photographs in black and white. The books are in extremely good condition. Most of the color plates retain their laid-in tissue guards, which have left left acidic stains on facing pages, and there are a few sprinkles of foxing on the endpapers, and a narrow paper split at the gutter margin threads on page 161. Otherwise,there is not a mark or dog-ear or stain in the pair of books, which is one of the most interesting Victorian... More

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964. Joseph Schindelman. First edition. Octavo, 161 pages, with profuse black and white drawings by Joseph Schindelman. This is the true first edition (the English edition was not published until 1967), and is the first issue, with six lines of printing information on the last page, a price of $3.95 on the dustjacket, mustard endpapers, and no ISBN on the rear dustjacket panel. As called for in the first issue, the Oompa-Loompas are black, not orange or white. This copy is internally fine, without names, inscriptions or marks of any kind. It is bound in burgundy cloth with a title medallion stamped in blind on the front panel and a spine title in gilt. The top edge is stained pale plum. There is possibly a hint of fingerprints on the rear panel near the outside margin. Two dustjackets are included, the original and a facsimile. The original dustjacket is complete and without tears or nicks, though there is a crease at the top of one flap and light wear to spine ends. However, the jacket shows considerable soil and foxing on both front and back. The facsimile dustjacket is new and perfect. An extremely good copy. More

Paris: Chez Duchesne, 1755. 16mo. Two volumes: cxxiv, 283, errata; 407, (5)pp. Volume I contains " Description de la Germanie et des Moeurs des ses Habitans", in French, paired with the text in Latin: "De Situ Moribus et Populis Germaniae". Volume II, in the same vein, contains "Vie de Julius Agricola", in French, followed by "Julii Agricolae Vita Scriptore Tacito", in Latin. The books are bound in mottled calf with paneled spines,and with oval leather inserts in both front and rear boards (probably replacing long-gone portrait cameos). These were made by bookbinder Joanna Bliss of Connecticut in 1981, who restored the bindings. All edges are stained red and there are ribbon markers in each volume. Endpapers are marbled paper of the period, and the books retain their half-titles. Faint waterstain to the bottom margin up to page 6 of volume 2, and minor wear to spine ends, else very good. An attractive pair, particularly with the leather inserts on the covers. The bottom half of the front board of the second volume is darkened, (and is visible on one of the accompanying photographs). Two volumes:. More

New York: copyright 1847. Published by J.S. Redfield, Clinton Hall, 136 Nassau Street, New York. This a set of wooden alphabet blocks, covered with paper on which alphabets, words and small engravings are printed. The blocks are in their original cardboard carton, worn but nearly intact and with a couple of corners mended long ago with thread. On the cover, texts on the borders read: "Amusements that interest but never tire", "Mind is developed by its own action", "Home toys to promote home joys" and "Educate and restrain by pleasing employments". The boxtop lining reads "The Parents' and Children's Guide to a pleasing and beneficial use of these blocks, designed for children from two to eight years old", with instructions for use. Wickham was an educator, and a member of the New York State Teacher's Association, He published a previous set, called "Alphabet on Blocks", in Sag Harbor, NY, about 1839, of which the OCLC records a single set, at Yale. The Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal owns a similar but slightly larger copy dated two years earlier. This set seems to be unrecorded. It consists of 21 large wooden blocks (2 3/4" x 1 5/16" x 5/8"), covered... More