Aldus Society Notesaldussociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2016-september.pdf · year. For...
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Aldus Society Notes September 2016 Volume 16, No. 3 September 8, 2016: Sid Berger Our September speaker is eminent paper historian Sid Berger who will speak about paper and his collection. Books have been bound in paper covers for at least 5 centuries, and many of the papers on them have been adorned in one way or another with decorations. Artists and bookbinders (sometimes one and the same person) have come up with amazingly innovative ways of decorating paper. ere are paste papers and marbles, block printed sheets, suminagashi, stencil patterns, and decoration done in the pulp--with inclusions or with regulating the thickness of the fibers making the sheet. In this last method, a thinned-out part of the paper will allow more light to shine through than will come through at the rest of the sheet, creating a watermark. ere are at least four kinds of watermarks. e range of decoration possibilities is astonishing. Even in this method, the range of decorations is mind- boggling. For instance, the Japanese have created a paper called Chiyogami, originally created from woodblocks, but from the last third of the 19th century created from katazome- -stencils that are hand cut. Some of the chiyogami papers has as many as 25 colors on them, each color imparted by its own stencil. One sample book alone, from a company selling chiyogami papers, contains more than 1200 sheets. And that was only one of their sample books. e papers were produced by dozens of companies, all with a like range of papers. So one kind of paper decoration alone has many thousands of unique sheets. Likewise, no two marbled sheets are alike since the process creates papers one pattern at a time. e possibilities are endless. Aldus Society Meetings Regular meetings of the Aldus Society are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second ursday of the month between September and May. Meetings are held at urber Center, 91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. Socializing at 7:00 p.m. Free parking behind urber House and at State Auto rear parking lot (between 11th St. and Washington) Read some of Sid’s short pieces about paper on the Peabody Essex Museum blog http://www.pem.org/ library/blog/?s=berger Sidney Berger and his wife, Michele Cloonan, have been collecting decorated paper for 45 years. eir collection of more than 18,000 pieces may be the largest in the United States. He will talk about paper decoration in its many manifestations, discussing the techniques and showing what these techniques produce. Some papers are of extraordinary beauty. Some are pedestrian patterns reproduced over several centuries. But even the pedestrian ones can be lovely, and they have been in use on books and for many other purposes for hundreds of years. Sidney Berger is the Director Emeritus of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum, a library he headed for 8 years. He has also been Head of Special Collections and University Archivist at the University of California, Riverside; Curator of Printed Books and then Curator of Manuscripts at the American Antiquarian Society; and Director of the California Center for the Book, a statewide literacy program for children and adults, affiliated with the Library of Congress Center for the Book. His Ph.D. from the University of Iowa is in Medieval English Literature and Bibliography and Book History. He has taught for the last half century at various colleges and universities, including UC Davis, UC Riverside, UCLA, the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, and Simmons College. He is widely published on literary and library issues, and his most recent book, Rare Books and Special Collections won the ABC CLIO-American Library Association Award for 2015 as e Best Book in Library Literature. He has published 5 books and more than 40 articles on paper--its manufacture and decoration; and his next book, A Dictionary of Book Terminology, is at press with Rowman and Littlefield.
Transcript of Aldus Society Notesaldussociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2016-september.pdf · year. For...
Aldus Society NotesSeptember 2016 Volume 16, No. 3
September 8, 2016: Sid Berger OurSeptemberspeakeriseminentpaperhistorianSidBergerwhowillspeakaboutpaperandhiscollection. Bookshavebeenboundinpapercoversforatleast5centuries,andmanyofthepapersonthemhavebeenadornedinonewayoranotherwithdecorations.Artistsandbookbinders(sometimesoneandthesameperson)havecomeupwithamazinglyinnovativewaysofdecoratingpaper.Therearepastepapersandmarbles,blockprintedsheets,suminagashi,stencilpatterns,anddecorationdoneinthepulp--withinclusionsorwithregulatingthethicknessofthefibersmakingthesheet.Inthislastmethod,athinned-outpartofthepaperwillallowmorelighttoshinethroughthan
willcomethroughattherestofthesheet,creatingawatermark. Thereareatleastfourkindsofwatermarks.Therangeofdecorationpossibilitiesisastonishing.Eveninthismethod,therangeofdecorationsismind-
boggling.Forinstance,theJapanesehavecreatedapapercalledChiyogami,originallycreatedfromwoodblocks,butfromthelastthirdofthe19thcenturycreatedfromkatazome--stencilsthatarehandcut.Someofthechiyogamipapershasasmanyas25colorsonthem,eachcolorimpartedbyitsownstencil.Onesamplebookalone,fromacompanysellingchiyogamipapers,containsmorethan1200sheets.Andthatwasonlyoneoftheirsamplebooks.Thepaperswereproducedbydozensofcompanies,allwithalikerangeofpapers.Soonekindofpaperdecorationalonehasmanythousandsofuniquesheets.Likewise,notwomarbledsheetsarealikesincetheprocesscreatespapersonepatternatatime.Thepossibilitiesareendless.
Aldus Society MeetingsRegular meetings of the Aldus Society are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month between September and May.
Meetings are held at Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. Socializing at 7:00 p.m.Free parking behind Thurber House and at State Auto rear parking lot (between 11th St. and Washington)
ReadsomeofSid’sshortpiecesaboutpaperonthePeabodyEssexMuseumbloghttp://www.pem.org/library/blog/?s=berger SidneyBergerandhiswife,MicheleCloonan,havebeencollectingdecoratedpaperfor45years.Theircollectionofmorethan18,000piecesmaybethelargestintheUnitedStates.Hewilltalkaboutpaperdecorationinitsmanymanifestations,discussingthetechniquesandshowingwhatthesetechniquesproduce.Somepapersareofextraordinarybeauty.Somearepedestrianpatternsreproducedoverseveralcenturies.Buteventhepedestrianonescanbelovely,andtheyhavebeeninuseonbooksandformanyotherpurposesforhundredsofyears. SidneyBergeristheDirectorEmeritusofthePhillipsLibraryatthePeabodyEssexMuseum,alibraryheheadedfor8years.HehasalsobeenHeadofSpecialCollectionsandUniversityArchivistattheUniversityofCalifornia,Riverside;CuratorofPrintedBooksandthenCuratorofManuscriptsattheAmericanAntiquarianSociety;andDirectoroftheCaliforniaCenterfortheBook,astatewideliteracyprogramforchildrenandadults,affiliatedwiththeLibraryofCongressCenterfortheBook.HisPh.D.fromtheUniversityofIowaisinMedievalEnglishLiteratureandBibliographyandBookHistory.Hehastaughtforthelasthalfcenturyatvariouscollegesanduniversities,includingUCDavis,UCRiverside,UCLA,theUniversityofIllinois,Urbana/Champaign,andSimmonsCollege.Heiswidelypublishedonliteraryandlibraryissues,andhismostrecentbook,Rare Books and Special CollectionswontheABCCLIO-AmericanLibraryAssociationAwardfor2015asTheBestBookinLibraryLiterature.Hehaspublished5booksandmorethan40articlesonpaper--itsmanufactureanddecoration;andhisnextbook,A Dictionary of Book Terminology,isatpresswithRowmanandLittlefield.
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The Aldus Society
Board of TrusteesDebraJul—PresidentMarySaup—Secretary
ScottWilliams—TreasurerLeahKalasky—Membership
GeoffSmith—ProgramTomThacker—Publicity
DonRice—ArchivistJ.WesleyBaker
AmyBosticCraigJohnson
PatriciaGroseck
Photographer at LargeGeorgeCowmeadowBauman
WebmistressLauraMasonbrink
AldusSocietyNewsletterispublishedthreetimesayear.Forarticleideasandsubmissionscontactthe
NewsletterEditor,[email protected],
or614-239-8977.
NewsletterdeadlinesareAugust1,December15,
andApril1.
Contact InformationThe Aldus SocietyP.O. Box 1150
Worthington, OH [email protected]
Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA
AldusSocietyNotes,Volume16,No.3waspublishedinSeptemberof2016.BodycopyissetinGaramond,andheadlinesaresetinFranklinGothic.
Bythetimeyoureadthis,wewillhavealreadyenjoyedJayandHarry’sspecialprogram,“WhoWroteShakespeare?”Theyputalotofworkintotheplanningoftheeventwithalmostadozen“BardBriefs”postedtotheAldusFacebookpagetoprovidethebackgroundwe’dneedtobeamoreinformedaudienceonthesubject.Theyspenthoursontheirpresentationsandmetmultipletimes,includingmeetingwithErikontheprogramtimingandsequence.Jayevenprintedbusiness-sizedpromotionalcardsthatwereeasytodistributeinrestaurants,libraries,andbookstores.Thiswasaperfectkickoffforour2016/2017programyearandIcan’tthankthemenoughfortheirpassionandeffortinputtingtogethersuchanintriguingandinformativeprogram. AndhowaboutthatJunepicnic?PatGroseck’sSouthernLiteraturethemewasalotoffun,withreadingsbyBillEvans,ErikJulandRogerJerome.NancyCampbell’s“WithGodasmywitnessI’llneverbehungryagain”carrotcakewontheBestNameforaDishcontest.Thefoodwasgreatandthebreezeontheverandawasdelightful.Patthrowsagreatparty.Manythanks,Pat! IattendedameetingoftheProgramCommitteethissummer.Nowthatour2016/2017programdocketisset,Geoff’scommitteeisscoutingspeakersforour2017/2018schedule.We’llalwayshavegreatprogramminglinedupwellinadvance,soI’dsayyou’resafeinmarkingyourcalendarsnowforsecondThursdaysthroughthenextmillennium.You’llfindthelistofprogramsforthisyearinthisissueofthenewsletter. Don’tforgetthatwe’rebringingbacktheSilentAuctionatthisyear’sHolidayPartyonDecember15.ErikJulandhiscommitteewillbesendingmoreinformationaboutthatonthememberlistserv.
Best Wishes, Debra
Inanoutpouringofsubmissions,thenewsletterisburstingwithnewsandarticles.Inresponsetomyrequestfor“whereItraveledthissummer,”Ireceivedtwotravelogues,onefromourtreasurerScottWilliamsandthesecondforveterantravelerDonRice.LaralyngraciouslyreportedontheFABS2016BookTourinCalifornia,whichdefinitelyfitsinthe“summertravels”category. BillRichreturnswithBookHuntingNo.32wherehedescribesDickens’firsteditions.Nottobeoutdone,GeorgeBauman’sBookStore-yisabouthistravelstobookstoresinScotland.Hevisitedsomanyplaces,wehavetowaituntilJanuarytoreadthesecondinstallment.WereceivedpermissiontoreprintDavidW.Smith’sarticleonbooksandestatesthatappearsinThe Pulpster (July2016). IncludedinthesummerrecapistheMaytalkbyRichardRingandareviewofhiswonderfulbookbyGeoffSmith,thesummerpicniccompletewithrecipes,andtheBookLoft–SchillerParkpicnicandplay.There’salsoarecapoftheGreatShakespeareDebateinAugustandalistofbooksaboutShakespeareyoumightperuse. Thankstoallourregularandfirsttimecontributors.AspecialthankstoDonRicewholooksformis-placedcommas,periods,andoddlyphrasedsentences. Didyoutravelsomewhereexcitingthissummerviabookorroad?I’dlovetoprintmoretraveloguesandbookreviewsthiswinter.E-mailmeatmbkcons@gmail.comifyouhaveanideaandwe’llsitdownforteaorcoffee.Yourcontributionsmakethisnewslettergreat,sokeepthearticlescoming.
Happy reading, Miriam
President’s Words
Notes from the Editor
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October 13, 2016: Ulises Juan Zevallos-Aguilar presents: A Renaissance of Andean Quechua Literature in the XXIst Century
QuechuaisthemajorindigenouslanguageoftheAndeanregion,stillspokenwidelytoday,whereitisthefirst,andoftentheonly,languageforaverylargepopulation.Zevallos-
AguilarwilldiscussQuechuaasawrittenlanguagefromcolonialtimestothepresent,andthecontemporarydevelopmentofanewliteratureinthatlanguage,whichisbeingpublishedaspartofanexcitingrenaissanceinQuechuaculture.IntheyearsaftertheSpanishconquest,anumberofmajordocumentswerewritteninQuechua,usingtheromanalphabet,chroniclinglifeinthePre-ColumbianAndes.These
texts,andthenewbooksbeingwrittentoday,testifytothe
depthandstrengthofaculturethathassurvivedandadaptedthroughoutitsthousandsofyearsofhistory. UlisesJuanZevallos-AguilarisanAssociateProfessor,LiteraturesandCulturesofLatinAmericaatOhioStateUniversity.HeistheauthorofLas provincias contraatacan. Regionalismo y anticentralismo en la literatura peruana del siglo XX.Lima:EdicionesdelVicerrectoradodelaUniversidadNacionalMayordeSanMarcos,2009,co-editorofEnsayos de cultura virreinal latinoamericana.Lima:FondoEditorialdelaFacultaddeCienciasSocialesdelaUniversidadNacionalMayordeSanMarcos,2006.HiscurrentresearchprojectsincludeModernAlternativesintheCentralAndesandAndeanTransnationalism.UlisesJuanZevallos-Aguilar’sareasofexpertiseareAndean,AmazonianandTransnationalStudies,Ethnicity,GenderandRaceintheAmericas,andNonVisualCulturesandIntermedialities.HeholdsaPh.D.inLatinAmericanLiteratures,UniversityofPittsburgh(1996),anM.A.inHispanicLanguagesandLiteratures,UniversityofPittsburgh(1991),andaB.A.inLiteraturesinSpanish,UniversidadNacionalMayordeSanMarcos(1987).
November 10, 2016 features Dr. Ronald Smeltzer
Emilie Du Châtelet (1706–1749): Scientific Publications, Love Affairs, Conflicts with the French Academy,...the Tragic Ending. Gabrielle-EmilieleTonnelierdeBreteuil,MarquiseDuChâtelet,isbestknownfromthemanybooksaboutherlifeandloveaffairwithVoltaire.Veryrecently,scholarshiphasfinallycaughtupwiththetruesignificanceofherlifeduringthetimesheandVoltairelivedtogether.Her450-pagebookpublishedin1740wasthefirstnewtheoreticalphysicsbooktoappearinFranceforseventyyears.ShewasprobablythefirstwomantohaveamajoressayappearinapublicationoftheFrenchAcademyofSciences.Tothisday,hertranslationfromtheLatinintoFrenchofNewton’sPrincipiaremainstheonlyeditioninFrench.ShewasthemajorauthorofabookwithVoltaire’snameasauthoronthetitlepage.ShesuccessfullyengagedinascientificargumentviaapamphletwarwiththesecretaryoftheFrenchAcademyofSciences.BaseduponherpublicationsandMSS.fromthespeaker’scollection,thepresentationweavesastoryofdeephumaninterestwithahistoryofan18th-centurywoman’sstruggletobeacceptedinthescientificcommunity. Dr.Smeltzerisaretiredscientistwithpublicationsandpatentsinsemiconductorelectronics.Morerecentlyhehaspresentedandpublishedpapersinbibliography,color
illustrationinthesciences,andthehistoryofscience.Hedoesbibliographicalresearchfocusedonthehistoryofscienceandongraphicillustrationinthesciences.Heholdsa1970Ph.D.inElectricalEngineering,fromNorthwesternUniversity,andisamemberoftheHistoryofScienceSociety,theScientificInstrumentSociety,TheGrolierClub,CaxtonClub,DelawareBibliophiles,PhilobiblonClub,WashingtonRareBookGroup,andPrincetonBibliophilesandCollectors,andSecretaryoftheFellowshipofAmericanBibliophilicSocieties.Dr.SmelzerhascuratedexhibitionsattheGrolierClubentitled“ExtraordinaryWomeninScience&Medicine:FourCenturiesofAchievement”(September18,2013–November22,2013)and“FourCenturiesofGraphicDesignforScience”(November17,2004–January14,2005).
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May Recap RichardRingspoketoanintenseAldusaudienceabouthisworkwithundergraduatesandfacultyatTrinityCollegeinHartford,Connecticut.UsingtheextensivecollectionsattheatWatkinsonLibrary,hetaughtstudentstoanalyzeprimarysources,workwithhistoricrecords,andappreciatethetreasuresthat
areacquired,accumulated,andcuratedinspecialcollections. Asatreat,healsospokeabouthisrecentbookonLawrenceC.WrothentitledNotes for Bibliophiles in the New York Herald-Tribune,1937-1947.ThisbookincludesaconcisebiographyofWrothandmanyofhisinformativecolumnsinthenewspaper.GeoffSmithagreedtoreviewRick’sbook.
Lawrence C. Wroth’s Notes for Bibliophiles in the New York Herald-Tribune, 1937–1947. Selected,Compiled,andIntroducedbyRichardJ.Ring.[SouthFreeport,Maine]:TheAscensiusPress,2016.ReviewedbyGeoffreyD.Smith
Therewasatime,primarilybeforeWorldWarII,whenmanymetropolitandailynewspapersregularlycoveredthebookworld:notbookreviews,butbookauctions,bookartanddesign,bookcollectors,andbookrepositories.AmongthemwastheNew York Herald-Tribunewhose“NotesforBibliophiles”(NFB),ranfrom1924until1947.LeonardL.Mackallfoundedthebookcolumnandprovidedweeklybooknewsuntil1937,whenLawrenceC.Wrothsucceededhimandcontinuedabi-weeklycolumnuntilNFB’scessation.
RichardRing,CuratoroftheWatkinsonLibraryatTrinityCollegeinHartford,Connecticut(andanAldusSocietyspeakerinMay2016)hasassembledajudiciousselectionofWroth’sarticlesthat,thoughnostalgictoacertainextent,stillextoltheappealofincisiveanalysisofthebookworldbyaneruditeandcatholicobserver. AsRichardRingnotesinhisusefulintroduction,LawrenceC.Wroth(1884-1970)wasborn
toaclericalfamilyinBaltimore,Maryland,whereheattendedpublicandprivateschoolsandreceivedascholarshiptoJohnsHopkinsUniversity.Followingaseriesoflibrarypositionsafterhisgraduationasahistorymajor,WrothwasappointedheadoftheJohnCarterBrownLibrary(BrownUniversity)in1923andservedthereuntilhisretirementin1957.Ascholar-librarian,Wrothcapitalizedonhispositionandaccesstogreat
collectionsofAmericanaattheJohnCarterBrownLibraryandotherprominentcollectionstoproduceacorpusofstandardAmericanresourcesstillpertinenttoday,particularlyThe History of Printing in Colonial Maryland, 1686 -1776andThe Colonial Printer. UponassumingtheeditorshipofNFB,Wrothgeneratedaseriesofessentialarticlespromotingthecurrentbibliophilicscene.ThebookisdividedintofourpartsthatcovertheprincipalareasofWroth’sinterests:people,exhibitions,institutions,andpublications.“PartI,People”isaprécisofthegreatAmericanbibliographycommunityofthetime.Includedaretributestothosegiantswhohadpassedon:WilberforceEames,D.B.Updike,DouglasC.McMurtrie,andtheincomparableA.W.S.Rosenbach.“PartII,Exhibitions”isofspecialinterestbecauseexhibitsareephemeral.Wroth’sdescriptionsaretherarerecordsofphysicalexhibitionsthatservedtheirtimeuntiltheyweredisassembledanddispersed:prominently,atwo-partseries,The Sesquicentennial of the Northwest Territory,andathree-partseries,The Press in the United States: An Ideal Tercentenary Exhibition.Inthisseries,thefirstpartofwhichwaspublishedonAugust13,1939,WrothallowshimselftheenjoymentofcuratinganexhibitthatwouldbeabibliophilicdreamforanyoneinterestedinearlyAmericanprinting:
ManylibrarieshavebeenputtingonexhibitionsthisyeartocelebratethetercentenaryoftheestablishmentofprintingintheUnitedStatesatCambridge,Massachusetts,in1639.Nolibraryinexistencehasallthethingsneededtomakeacompleteshowing
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Book Loft & Play at Schiller ParkOnJuly17,intrepidAldusSocietymembersscouredtheBookLoftofGermanVillage’s32roomsforbooksandothertreasurestoaddtotheircollections.Eachleftwithagemortwo.ThankyoutotheBookLoftforanicediscountontheentirepurchasehttp://www.bookloft.com/.ThenofftodinnerorpicnicinSchillerParkfollowedbyatwilightproductionof The Mistress of Monte Cristo.Whileasmallcrowd,allwhoattendedlovedtheoutingandtheopportunitytoconversewithAldines.
offirstprintingsineachoftheoriginalcoloniesbutitispossibletohaveagooddealoffunconstructingimaginativelythebestpossibleexhibitionand,stillintherealmoffancy,borrowingforituniquetitlesfromtheirowners.Suchanexhibitioncouldbeheldanywherethefancysuggests,butbecauseoftheassociationbetweenthefirstCambridgepressandthe“College,”wemightplantosetitupintheTreasureRoomoftheHarvardCollegeLibrary.(https://pplspcoll.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/the-press-in-the-united-states-part-1)
Hethengoesontodescribenotonlythehistoricalpublicationsthatshouldbeincluded,butalsothosethatcan’tbebecausetherearenoextantcopies,suchas“theveryfirstthingprintedbyStephenDayonhispressinCambridge,thatis,the“OathofaFree-man,”thecelebratedformularyusedbytheMassachusettsgovernmentwhich,thoughasimplebroadside,hadimplicationsofconsiderableimportanceinthepoliticallifeofthecountry.”Beforeyou’rethroughreadingthisyou’llhavelearnedagooddealmorethanyoupreviouslyknewaboutearlyprintinginAmerica. Inthefinaltwosectionsofthebook,“PartIII,Institutions”and“PartIV,Publications”WrothrecountsthewealthofAmericanresourcesandthedepthofAmericanbibliographicresearch:TheHoughtonLibraryatHarvard,TheFolgerShakespeareLibraryandtheWilliamL.ClementsLibraryatMichigan;“IndianTreatiesPrintedbyFranklin,”“PrintingComestoAmerica:ThePressinMexico,1559,”and“TheCottonMatherBibliography”(compiledbyThomasJ.Holmes,whosepapersontheMatherbibliographyareavailableintheRareBooksandManuscriptsLibraryatThe
OhioStateUniversity).InhisOctober6,1940columnWrothwroteofthiswork:
Initshighestemployment,bibliographyisnotamerelistinganddescribingoftitles,butaprocessinthestudyoftexts.Itinvolvesconsiderationofthehistoryofthosetextsasexpressionsofthehumanspirit,andcallsfortheminuteexaminationoftheformsinwhichthetextshavebeentransmitted.InpurposeandaccomplishmenttheMatherbibliographiesfulfilltherequirementsofthisdefinitiontoanextentthatputsthemclosetothetopinthelistofAmericanessaysinliteraryhistory.(https://pplspcoll.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/the-mathers-of-new-england/)
DecidingwhichofWroth’sarticlestoincludemusthavebeenachallenge,andthosechosenarecertainlydeserving.Still,thepiecesomitted(andtheirallureisirresistible)areappendedatthebook’sendinaChecklistofLawrenceWroth’sNFB.Asafinalnote,LawrenceWrothwrotealmostexclusivelyaboutAmericanainafieldthathadforalongtimebeendeferentialtoEuropeanbibliography.RichardRing’scompilationofWroth’sNFBarticlesisanengagingbookthatrewardsanddelightswhileitepitomizesabygonebookera.
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Laughter, Drama, Great Food Mark Aldus Annual Picnic
Morethan50Aldusmembersandguestsshareddrama,music,
laughter,andcleverly-nameddeliciousdishesatthesociety’sOld-
FashionedSouthernPicnic,June12,attheThurberCenter.
Asmallhordeofvolunteerssetupandsetthestagewithchecked
tableclothstoppedwithSpanishmossuponwhichAldus“chefs”set
theirrenditionsoffavoriteSouthernrecipes.
ErikJuldeliveredapoignantpassagefrom“TheBear,”fromthe
shortstorycollection“GoDown,Moses”byWilliamFaulkner.Erik
assumedthecharacterofIsaac,ayoungmanwhojoinsseasoned
huntersdeterminedtobringdownalegendaryoldbearinthedeep
forestsoftheoldsouth—andhadusrootingforthebear.
SelectionsfromPulitzerPrizewinningpoetandcivilrightsactivist
RobertPennWarrenwerereadbyBillEvans.Theseeminglyreserved
Billchangedtempo,leadingusthroughThePatConroyCookbook
toalivelysonganddance(yes,really)finaleof“WhatIlikeaboutthe
South”byPhilHarris,thatbroughtdownthehouse.
RogerJeromeastoundedeveryonebyslippingintotheroleof
BlancheDuBoiswithaspellbindingperformanceexposingher
despair,fearandlonelinessinhisselectedpassagefromTennessee
Williams“StreetcarNamedDesire.”Theprofessionalactorthendida
360,wrappingupwith“DeepThoughts”byJackHandeyandhisown
scriptof“DickensinOhio.”
Aftertoughdeliberation,JudgeLeahKalaskynamedNancy
Campbell’s“I’llNeverGoHungryAgainCarrotCake”thewinner
oftheName-the-DishContestfeaturingnamesbasedonSouthern
literature.Thebeautifulwhite-icedcakehadrealcarrotheadswith
somewhatwar-tornwiltedgreentopspeekingupthroughtheicing.
NancywonabagofSpanishmoss.
Leahcommendedmembersfortheircreativenameentrieswhich
alsoincludedBr’erRabbit’sBriarPatchBlueberryBuckle,Susan
Johnson;CarsonMcCuller’sSadCafeCarrot-RaisinSalad,Lois
Smith;andSweetWalnutatorPie,CatherineBennett.
Thankstoallwhomadethepicnicasuccess.Nextyear’stheme?
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IvisitedBorneoandYementhissummerwithauthorEricHansen.Beingacontrariancollectorandreaderoftravel,I’veavoidedsomeofthisgenre’sbestknownworksforfearofnotbetterenjoyingtheobscurewritersandstoriesthatIseekout.OnoccasionIrelentandtacklesomegreatstories.Thus,EricHansen. Stranger in the Forest: On Foot Across BorneoisHansen’sdebutnarrative(HoughtonMifflin,1988).Itiswidelyacclaimed.Itfallsintoacategoryoftravelnarrativethatattractsme—personswhogoindeepandwithluckreturnalivetotelltheirstory. Agoodlaughcamefromthefollowingaccount.DescribinghownomadicnativesfromtheinteriorofBorneogotothecoasttobringbackmoderntechnology,headdshowtheyalsoreturnwithstatusitemslikeplastictoyswhichbecomeritualobjects.“Ioncesawaluridpinkplasticsuitcaseusedasaportableshrine.Insteadofneatlyfoldedclothesandashavingkit,thesuitcasecontainedfreshpigliversfordiviningthefuture.…Wemightlaughatthenotion…butitisatime-honoredritualforWesterntravelerstocollectpre-industrialartifactstouseashomedecorations.…Possessionofprimitiveartifactssuggestsworldlyknowledge.…Funnythinghowtravelcannarrowthemind.” Motoring With Mohammed: Journeys to Yemen and the Red Sea(HoughtonMifflin,1991)isHansen’ssecondnarrative,alsowidelyappreciated.Furthermore,itfeaturesaplotwithalife-lessonforHansen. LikethosefierceAfghanis,YemenisareoneofthefewpeoplesthatstooduptoEuropeancolonizing.Hencewegettoengagewithaclosed,butsophisticatedcultureemergingfrom“medieval”times.UponhisfirstarrivalinthecapitalSan’a,Hansenasksdirectionstoanauthenticrestaurant.“Adozendisheveledmenweresuddenlydisgorgedfromthe[restaurant]doorway,thewaitingcrowdsurgedforward,andIwascarriedintodarknessbythemomentum.…Blindedbytherisingheatandsmokebillowingupthestairway,Idescendedslick,foot-worn
stepsandenteredaninferno.…Followingtheexampleofthosearoundme,IclimbedoverthetablesandsteamingceramicdishesuntilfinallyImanagedtowedgemyselfbetweentwoheavilyarmedstrangers.…Therewasn’troomforeveryonetobeseated,andmanymenweresquattingonthetablesastheyhelpedthemselvesfromlarge,steamingcommunalpots.”Amidstthepandemonium,Hansenthoroughlyenjoystheonlydishavailable—Saltah,aspicypotato,garlic,andmuttonstewcoveredinagreenfrothcalledHulba,asaucemadefromwhippedfenugreekpaste.“IwaschargedwithenergybythetimeIfinished,”Hansenstates.Andafterbeing“…carriedbytherisingtideofbodiesupthestairsandbacktodaylight,air,andtherelativecalmofthetraffic-jammedstreets,”Hansentellshimself,“IfthatwasatypicalYemenimeal,Icouldwellunderstandwhypeoplechewedqatintheafternoon.” Authorsofgreattravelliterature,likeEricHansen,haveaknackformeetinguniquecharacterswithunlikelystoriesthatenrichtheirnarrative.Oneofhistitles,The Bird Man and the Lap Dancer: Close Encounters with Strangers,fitsthismold.ItincludesanunworldlyshortstoryabouthisforcedreturntriptoBorneo.Forthosewholoveflowers,HansenpaysanothervisittoBorneoinOrchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy,whichisalsoagreatpieceofinvestigativejournalism.
We have two submissions from my request for “Where I traveled this summer with the aid of a book, articles about virtual, armchair travels, travels following a book, or travels where you went to see books.” Scott Williams below and Don Rice’s article follows. Enjoy!
by Scott WilliamsSummer Armchair Travel Report
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Literary Jaunts
James Joyce’s Towerby Donald Tunnicliff Rice
Ifyou’replanningtoatriptoDublin,consideravisittowhatispopularlycalledJoyce’sTower.Thiswasthesettingfor
theopeningchapterofUlysses,thefamousfirstlineofwhichreads,“Stately,plumpBuckMulligancamefromthestairhead,bearingabowloflatheronwhichamirrorandarazorlaycrossed.”
Don’tletittroubleyouthatyou’veneverreadthebook;I’mnotconvincedanyonehas–andnothavingreaditwon’tspoilanything. Alittlebackground:inthesixteenthcentury,anItalianmilitaryengineernamedGiovanGiacomoPaleariFratino (1520–1586)designedaninnovativefortifiedtower,thefirstofwhichwasconstructedin1565onPuntaMortella(MyrtlePoint)ontheislandofCorsica.Itseight-foot-thickstonewallsandroundshape,adeparturefromtherectangularmilitarytowersoftheday,causedcannonballstoglanceharmlesslyoffitssurface.Onthetopofthetowerwerecannonthatfiredmuchmoreaccuratelythanthoseonanyattackingships. Soimpressedwerethemilitaryofothernations,thatMartello(astheymisspelledit)Towerswerebuiltaroundtheworld,TheywereparticularlyfavoredbytheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandIreland,theperiodwhenmostofthemwereconstructed.IfirstnoticedoneyearsagowhiletravelingalongtheKentishcoastandeventuallydiscoveredtheirnameandoriginalpurpose,namely,toprovideadefenseagainstNapoleon’sinvadingnavy,whichneverhappenedtoarrive.Intime,themilitaryplannersdecidedthetowersweren’tworththeupkeepandstartedleasingthemtoindividualsandorganizations. That’show,in1904,JamesJoycecametospendsixnightsintheMartelloTowerthatnowbearshisname.Itwasbeingleasedbyafriend,OliverSt.JohnGogarty,whoinvitedJoycetostaytherewithhim.Gogartylatertoldsomeonehe’dleasedthetowerfortheexpresspurposeofprovidingtheimpecuniousJoycewithaplacewherehemightwrite.Gogartywasa
delightfullyeccentriccharacterinhisday–writerofbawdyverse,novelist,surgeon,wit,aviator,foundingmemberofSinnFéin,driverofabuttercup-coloredRollsRoyce,cricketplayer,lecturer,jokester,and,eventually,aU.S.citizenlivinginNewYorkCity,wherehecouldbefoundinlateryearstoastingfriendsinbarsalongThirdAvenue.ItwashewhoinspiredthecharacterofBuckMulligan. OnthesixthnightofJoyce’sstayinthetower,anotherguest,SamuelChenevixTrench,apparentlyhadabaddreaminvolvingablackpanther,whichheattemptedtoshootwitharevolver.Gogartythenpickeduptherevolverandyelled,“Leavehimtome,”andshotthepotsandpansofftheshelfaboveJoyce’sbed.Theincidentmighthavebeenmerelyastagedantic,butitwastoomuchforJoyce,wholeftthenextmorningandlaterimmortalizedhisversionofeventsinUlysses. AtypicalMartelloTower,ofwhichthereweresomefiftybuiltinIreland,isaroundfortyfeethighandhastwostories.Thegroundfloorwasusedforthestorageofammunitionandfood.Theupperfloorservedasquartersforthesoldiers.AreceptionareaandexhibitionhallhasbeenaddedtotheJoyceTower,whichcontainsanenviablecollectionofJoyciania.Thereis,ofcourse,afirsteditionofUlysses,publishedbyShakespeareandCompanyin1922.Moreitems,includingJoyce’shuntingwaistcoat,hisguitar,andtwoeeriedeathmasks,
An outside view gives no clue to what’s to be found inside.
He certainly seems at peace.
Picture Joyce lying in the bed while shots were being fired at the items
on the shelf.
13
I suppose a Leopold and Molly Bloom cutout was
inevitable.
Oneofthethingsthatmakeourmonthlyprogramssohospitabletovisitorsandmembersisourwineandappetizertable.We’vebeenfortunatetohavememberswhodedicatedyearstoservingasourofficial“Knosh-Meisters”andwe’dliketomakeiteasierformorepeopletosharethisresponsibility.We’vedividedtheyearintotwo,four-programperiodssothatvolunteersdon’thavetocommitforanentireyear.
Responsibilities•Replenishinventoryofwine,snacks,andservingnecessities•Arriveateachmonthlyprogramat6:45pmtosetupandsetoutdonationbasket•PutawaywineandgivedonationstotheTreasurerwhenthespeakerbeginsat7:30pm•Cleanupsnackareaaftertheprogram•Toteleftovershome.(Perishablesareforyourownenjoyment;storableitemscanbere-usedatthenextprogram)•Refillprovisionsforthenextmeeting,savingreceiptsfortheTreasurerforreimbursement
Budget:Weaskthatyoukeepmonthlypurchasestoaround$25.00.(Donationsnevercoverthefullcostofthisservice,soAldussubsidizesthisprogrambonus.)
Thanks to our new knosh volunteers Janet Ravneberg and Willkie Cirker (September, October, November, January) and Susan Reed (February, March, April, May).
canbefoundintheformergunpowdermagazine. Thecircularstaircasetotheupperfloorisbarelywideenoughforagrownperson.Theymusthavedevisedacleversystemforgettingcannonballsupthere.Youemergeintoawell-lightedairyspacefurnishedtoappearthewayitmighthavebeenwhenJoycevisited.Therearechairsandaplaintablethatprobablyhadtobetakenaparttogetitupthestairwell.Potsandpansandotheritemsoccupyashelfoverabed.Ididn’tnoticeit,butI’msurethatsomewheretherewasabowl,acrackedmirror,andastraightrazor.Theoneseeminglyincongruousitemisanearlylife-sizeceramicblackpanther,butweknowwhythat’sthere. Thestairwellcontinuestotheroof,wherethereremainsevidenceofthetrackonwhichamoveablecannononcesatandcommandedafan-shapedportionofDublinBay.InthedistantIrishSeayoucanusuallyseelargeshipsandferries.ThedayIwastherethewaterwasanythingbut“snotgreen,”nearerPayne’sgray,Iwouldthink.ButperhapsBuckMulliganwasn’treferringtothatwateranyway. Ifyoudecidetogothere,thebestwaytotravelisonDART(DublinAreaRapidTransit),thelightrailsystemwithwhichthecityisblessed.I’drecommendleavingfromeithertheTaraStreetorPearsestationstoavoidchangingtrains,butanystationwouldwork.TelltheticketselleryouwanttogotoSandycove,andyou’llgetyourticketandalltheinstructionyou’llneed.It’sapleasantridesoutheastfromthecitycenter,someofitalongDublinBay. OnceinSandycoveit’sabitofawalk,withfewsignstoassistyou,butallyouhavetorememberisright,left,right.Turnrightwhenyouexitthestation,takeanyleft-handturnyoucometo(thefirstwillbeIslingtonAvenue),andbeforelong
you’llbumpintotheshoreline.Turnrightandyou’llbeheadedtowardsthetower,discernableinthedistance. Todayit’sownedbytheFriendsofJoyceTower,whosemembersvolunteeraswelcominghostsanddocents.Thesepeoplearegreat.Andquiteknowledgeable.They’remostlyretiredfolksandlovetotalkaboutanythingrelatedtoJamesJoyce.Thebesttimetovisit?Anydayyouwant.Thetowerisopen365daysayearandthere’snocharge.Ifyouwanttospendsometimeexaminingeverythingandaskingquestionsofthegreeters,I’davoidbeingthereonBloomsday,June16;however,ifyouenjoyparticipatinginagood-natured,ifcrowded,celebration,that’sthebestdaytobethere.Andifyou’reacommittedenthusiast,bringyourMollyBloomorJamesJoycecostume.BetteryetwouldbeaLeopoldBloomcostume,whichonerarelyseeseventhoughthedayisnamedforhim. InsteadofreturningfromtheSandycovestation,takethepleasantmile-and-a-halfseawalkalongtheshorelinetoDunLaoghaire,thenexttownnorth.YoucanvisitandhavelunchintheNationalMaritimeMuseumofIreland(€5.00).ThereturnportionofyourDARTfarewillallowyoutoboardthetrainatthelocalstation.
14
InJune,theFellowshipofAmericanBibliophilicSocieties(FABS)2016TourandSymposiumrockedSanFrancisco,withfourAldusSocietymembersimmersing
themselvesinrarebooks,manuscripts,andprivatepressesofseismicproportions.BillandMarciaEvans,GrazynaGrauer,andLaralynDearingjoinedfortyotherbibliophiles–manyfromOhio–forfourdaysofpubliclibraries,privatecollectionsandexcitingeffortstopreservebookartsandignitethenextgeneration’sbookpassion. TourhostBookClubofCalifornia,foundedin1912,isdedicatedtopreservingthehistoryofbooksandbookartsofCaliforniaandtheWestbypublishinglimitededitioncollectiblesandmaintainingalibraryofnoteworthyfinepress
booksandephemerafromtheregion.AnneW.Smith,formerBCCpresidentandaleaderinSanFrancisco’sbookcommunity,personallyorganizedandledmostofthetour,beginningwithaneveningreceptiononJune15atBCC’ssplendidoffices,neartheHotelG,temporaryhomeformosttourattendees. OnJune16,thebibliophilicbuffetbeganattheUniversityofCaliforniainBerkeley’sBancroftLibrary,
whichhousesoneofthelargestandmostheavilyusedcollectionsofmanuscripts,rarebooks,anduniquematerialsinthecountry.PassionateyoungcuratorsattheBancroftwereparticularlyanimatedwhenshowingsamples
ofpapyri,anoversizedilluminatedgospelusedforsermons,andearlylettersandadaguerreotypeofMarkTwain.
AcrossthequadwenttheFABStouriststotheC.V.StarrEastAsianLibraryandChang-LinTienCenterforEastAsianStudies,whichkeeps900,000volumesofChinese,JapaneseandKoreanmaterialsdatingbacktowoodblockprintsandraremaps.CuratorDeborahRudolphsharedatablenearlyrepletewithscrolls,prints,andbookstoillustrateherwhirlwindoverviewofthehistoryofAsianprinting. BeforereturningtoSanFrancisco,thegrouppausedforlunchhostedbyanotherlocalFABSmember,theColophonClub.BobHirst,DirectoroftheMarkTwainProject,spokeofhisforty-nineyearsworkingwiththefamousauthor’spapers.Well-nourishedinmindandbody,thebibliophilicbustourstoppedattheamazingSanFranciscoCenterfortheBook(SFCB). Anon-profitorganizationthatfostersthejoyofbooks,SFCBoffers400-plusworkshopsonthebookartsforbothbeginnersandadvancedpractitioners,aswellasfreeprograms,exhibits,andeventslikeitsPunctuationParty.ThedatesoftheFABSTourhappenedtoincludeJune16,famousthroughouttheliteraryworldas“Bloomsday.”ThisisthedateonwhichtheeventsinJamesJoyce’sUlyssesoccurred.Tocelebratethathappycoincidence,akeepsakeforattendeeswasdesignedand
Report and Photographs By Laralyn DearingFABS Tourists Shake Up San Francisco
15
printedbySFCB.AsanhomagetoShakespeare&Co.,publishersofthefirstedition,SFCBresetthefirstandlastsevenlinesofJoyce’smasterpiece. Inadditiontowhatcameoffthehandpress,tour-goerswere
delightedbyhugelinoleumblockprintscreatedduringadozenannual“Roadworks:ASteamrollerPrintingFestival.”Theprintsarecreatedbyplacingthree-foot-squarelinoleumblocksinthestreet,inkingthem,coveringthemwithblankpaper,toppingthemoffwithafinallayerofcarpetandblankets,andthenrunningoverthemwithathree-tonsteamroller.Since2003,thefestivalhasfocusedpublicattentiononallsortsofbookarts,withartistsinvitedtoprovidelinoleumblocksfortheresultinggallery-qualityprints.RikOlson,thegrandsonofasteamrolleroperator,hascontributedlinoleumblockseveryyearsincethefestivalbegan. ThetourdaywoundthroughtheCaliforniaHistoricalSociety’s“ExperimentsInEnvironments:TheHalprinWorkshops1966-1971”exhibitandendedatareceptionhostedbyneighboringantiquariandealers,BrickRowBookShopandJohnWindleAntiquarianBooksellers.
Bothdealersthrewopenrowsofglass-frontedbookcases,patientlyansweringquestionsaboutthepreciousitemsandevenmakingasaleortwo. TheseconddayofstudybeganattheCommonwealthClubwithreminiscencesbyDr.CatherineWilliamson,theDirectoroftheFineBooksandManuscriptsandEntertainmentMemorabiliaatBonhamsinLosAngeles.Anappraiseron“AntiquesRoadshow,”shecaptivatedtheaudiencewithherpersonalstories,alsobroadcastaspartoftheClub’sculturaltopicsseries.
AshortwalktoTheAsianArtMuseumandtheSanFranciscoPublicLibrary’sBookArts&SpecialCollectionsCenterfoundanotherpairofknowledgeableandenthusiasticcuratorstoengagethetravelingbibliophiles. BeforewanderingthroughoneofthemostcomprehensivecollectionsofAsianartintheworld–spanningover6,000years—attendeesbrowsedattheC.LaanChunLibraryCenterattheAsianArtMuseum,examiningtablescoveredbyscrollsandearlyprintedsamplesofliteraryartifacts.MuseumLibrarianJohnStuckygenerouslysharedantiquarianpublicationsonjadeandsilk,historiesofIndia,prayerbooks,andotherillustratedcollectibles. Likewise,theSanFranciscoPublicLibrary’sMarjorieG.&CarlW.SternBookArts&SpecialCollectionsCenterofferedexceptionalcopiesofuniqueworksfromnumeroustimeperiods.AndreaGrimes,SpecialCollectionLibrarian,sharedhighlightsofCaliforniabookartists,finepresseditionsandotherhighspots. OfspecialinterestwastheAldinePresspublicationofabookinGreekwithpencilednotationsthatscholarshaveconcludedwereeditorialcorrectionswritteninthemarginbyAldusManutiushimself!Andyes,allfourAldusSocietymemberstouchedthebookonbehalfofourAldinefriends! TheRoxburgheClub,BookClubofCalifornia,andSacramentoBookCollectorsClubjointlyhostedtheFABS2016GALAdinner.SurroundedbytheArtDeco-infusedCityClubofSanFrancisco,authorGeorgeHammondreassuredtheaudiencethatbookswillcontinuetobecherishedintothefuture,asmuchfortheirintellectualandemotionalsubstanceasfortheartandcraftofbookmakingitself. ThefinalfulldayofbibliophilicwondersbeganwiththeFABSsymposiumtitled“DilemmasandDelightsofBookCollectors,DealersandLibrarians.”Thepanel,hostedbyBCC,wascomprisedofSusanAllen,DirectorofCaliforniaRareBookSchoolatUCLA;GaryKurutz,ExecutiveDirectorofCaliforniaStateLibraryFoundation;KenKarmiole,LosAngelesbookseller/collector;andSanFranciscocollectorsDavidLevyandAndrewNadell.RandallTarpey-Schwedledtheexpertsthroughtheirlessonslearned.
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Forthefinalafternoon,thebiblio-nomadsstormedThePresidio,formerlyamilitarypostandnowpartoftheNationalParkService,foraglimpseofitsmanynonprofitorganizations,museums,andhistoricalsites,beginningwiththeArionPress,whichstillproducesfinepresscollectiblelimitededition
letterpressbookswithoriginalart,designedandpublishedbyAndrewHoyem. FormerlyapartnershipwithGrabhornPress,whichspecializedintypographicaldesign,fineprinting,and
thepublicationoflimitededitionssuchasthe1971“Howl”byAllenGinsberg,theArionPressisco-locatedwithM&H(Mackenzie&Harris)Type,theoldestandlargestfoundryproducinghotmetaltypeforletterpressprintersintheU.S.Designatedan“irreplaceableculturaltreasure”bytheNationalTrustforHistoricPreservation,M&H’sMonotypemachinesfromthe1915PanamaPacificInternationalExposition’sPalaceofMinistrystilloperateandcreatekeepsakesforthecentennialoftheExposition.FABStouristswerehonoredtocarryawayafewofthosekeepsakemetaltypecharacters. APresidioneighbor,theSocietyofCaliforniaPioneers,showcasedkeybooksandephemerarelatedtotheCaliforniaGoldRush.JohnSutter’sjournal—goldwasdiscoveredatSutter’sMill—andearlyForty-Ninermapsand
diariesweretimecapsulesofanotherage,especiallyviewedinthathistoricsetting.FoundedbyCalifornia’spre-1850settlers,theSocietythrivesunderleadershipofitsdirectdescendants,anditsAlicePhelanSullivanLibraryarchivesthestate’searliestrecordsofsettlement,EarthquakeandFireof1906and,ofcourse,theGoldRush. AdifferentsortofpioneerwascelebratedafewdoorsdowntheblockattheWaltDisneyFamilyMuseum,featuringstate-of-the-art,interactiveexhibitswhereearlydrawings,cartoons,filmsandmusicweredisplayed,alongwithawallofOscartrophies,magazinecoversandpersonalmementoes.TheworldofDisneywasafittingendtothebibliophilicfun-filled,roller-coaster-ridetourofSanFrancisco’sbookinghotspots,andonlythefinalmorning’sprivatevisitstocollectors’homescouldcapsuchaphenomenalFABSevent. Ofcourse,nobibliophile’striptotheCitybytheBaywouldbecompletewithoutastopattheiconicCityLightsBookstoretohonorLawrenceFerlinghetti(age97)andhisbandofBeatGenerationwriters.RoundingouttheexperiencewereharrowingcablecarridesfortheEvanses,auniquefabricshopforGrazyna,firstsequoiasightingsforLaralyn,andrepeatedsamplingoftheseason’sDungenesscrab.AllAldusmembersreturnedsafelytoColumbus,readytoplanfutureFABStours.
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Book Hunting notes 32A Little Dickens
by Bill Rich HuntingforDickens’sbooksinfirsteditionsissomethingofabookcollectingcliché.Immenselypopularinhisday,therewere(usually)ratherlargeprintingsofeventhefirsteditions.Theycanbefoundnowontheshelvesofantiquariandealers,Dickensremainingaculturalicon.Atthisdate,however,somehavebecometrulyscarce.For
theDickenslover,therearemanyalternatives—beautifullyprintedlatereditions,sumptuouslyboundsets,endlessbooksaboutDickensandhiscircle,andsoon.TherearealsothefirstAmericanprintings–butthesehavealsobecomecollectors’quarry,andareratherhardtofindthemselves. Inthecourseofcollectingnineteenth-centuryfiction,IhaveencounteredmanyofDickens’sfirsteditions.And,Icherishhiswritings.Thetemptationtoaddthesetomycollection,especially
whenthepriceseemedadvantageous,hasbeeninescapableovertheyears.(Therelationtovariousotherformsofaddictivebehaviorwillbedulynoted.)SohereisasurveyofsomeofmyDickensfirsteditions.
Boz AsayoungmanDickensworkedasapoliticalandcourtreporter,andtraveledfairlywidelyinthesejobs.Hisfirstpublicationswere“sketches”ofvariousaspectsofLondonandEnglishlife,whichappearedinperiodicals.Theyappearedunderthepseudonym“Boz,”acorruptionofachildhoodfamilyname,andwerecollectedintwovolumespublishedin1836.These,Ithink,areindeedscarce.ThebestIcoulddoisaverygoodcopyinoriginalclothofvolume2,thevignettetitlepagebeingshowninFig.1.
Pickwick and Parts SuccesscametoDickenswiththepublicationofThe Posthumous PapersofthePickwickClub,
appearinginnineteenpaper-wrapperedmonthlypartsin1836–1837(Fig.2).PickwickoriginallywasdesignedaroundaseriesofcomicetchingsbyRobertSeymour;Dickenswashiredtoprovidesomesketchestoaccompanytheetchings.Seymourkilledhimselfaftertwopartswerepublished,andwaseventuallyreplacedbythefamous“Phiz”(HablotBrowne)whobecameoneofDickens’spremierillustrators.Theseriescaughtonafterthefourthnumber,inwhichDickensintroducedtheCockneycharacterSamWeller.Withthefinalpart,40,000copieshadtobeprinted.Thiswasatremendousaccomplishment;thebookwasimmediatelypiratedandwidelysoldinAmerica. AfterPickwick,printinginthesemonthlypartsbecameafavoredpublishingmethodforthemostpopularVictorianauthors.Dickensledtheway,withtheblue-greencoversquicklyidentifyinghislatestwork.Eachpartsoldforashilling;thetwentypartsofthecompletenovelamountedto£1.Thiswassomethinglikeaweek’swagesforaworkingman.Spreadingthepainoverayearandahalfcertainlyincreasedsales,and,ofcourse,folkseagerlyawaitedthenextinstallmentofthenovel. CollectingDickensinpartsposesseveralproblems,bothpracticalandphilosophical.Agoodsetofpartsischarmingtolookat;ithasthefirstversionofthenovel,theoriginalillustrations,and,likemodernmagazines,alotofadvertising
matter.Theadvertisementsareawonderfulreflectionofthetimes.Fig.3showsoneofmyfavorites,fromPickwick,showinganadvancedmethodforcuringtoothaches.Surprisingly,thiswasnotamethodrecommendedduringmylastvisittotheOSUDentalClinic.Ontheotherhand,thepartsarefragile.Theywereneverdesignedforyearsofreading.Tofoldbackthecoversandreadeachpartpagebypage
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
Fig. 3
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Fig. 4
“David Copperfield”, Parts Issue
Fig. 5
“David Copperfield” in Contemporary Leather
Bindings, Left First U.S.; Right First English
Fig. 6
Title Pages of “David Copperfield”; Left English First; Right American First
Fig. 7
“Bleak House” in Parts
isofferinginsulttoatreasure.Iknowofmorethanonecollectorwhoclaimstoreadtheparts,butmethinkstheseguysareblowhardsattheDonaldTrumplevel. Itshouldbenotedthateverysetofpartsofaparticularnovelisnotequal.Pickwickisaprimeexample.Thefirstpartshadverylimitedprintings;but,aswehavenoted,bythelastissue,40,000copieswereneededtomeetdemand.Readerswhobecamehookedonthelaterpartsofcoursewantedtobuytheearlierpartstocatchup,andthepublishersatisfiedthisdemand,printingadditionalissuesoftheseparts.Also,theadsaresometimesremovedorchanged,havingbecomeoutofdatefortheselaterissues.So,asetof“PrimePickwickinParts”witheachparttheearliestissuewithallthefirstadsintact,isverymuchabibliographicholygrail,andnotusuallyobtainable.Forthecopyshownin
Fig.2,Ihavetriedtodomybest,applyingstandardsIhaveusedforallofmyDickenspartscollection.Thismeans(usually)bright,intactcoverswithminimalrepairs,and
minimumfoxingofthepictorialengravings. Whycollectthenovelsinpartsatall?Well,theusualcollector’sacquisitiveinstincts,forsure.Bynow,thishasled
metoacquireallofthenovelsinparts.Itisapleasuretohavethesebeautifulthings,andtoshowthemtoknowledgeablebibliophilicfriends;andtowriteaboutthem,ashere.Aswithallrarebooks,wearebuttheircustodiansforalittlewhile.
Leather and Cloth Binding Havingsaidthis,thereareotherwaystoreadDickens’snovelsinfirsteditions.Fig.4showsDavid Copperfieldinparts,whichwerepublishedin1849-1850.Butmany
readershadtheirsetofpartsboundinleather,shortlyafterpublication.Fig.5showsthefirstAmericanandthefirstEnglisheditionsinthisform.Theleatherbindingsareattractiveontheshelf,andsturdyenoughforagoodread.ThecopyontheleftistheboundAmericanparts,printedbyJohnWileyinNewYorkassoonaseachEnglishpartcameofftheboat.Fig.6showsthetitlepagesofboththeseeditions.TheengravingoftheAmericantitlehasbeencopiedfromtheEnglish.ThesefirsteditionsboundincontemporaryleatherarethemostcommonformofDickensfirstsonthemarkettoday,andaremuchcheaperthantheoriginalpartsthemselves. Nextto“Haveyoureadthemall?”themostcommonquestionaskedis“Whichisyourfavorite?”Theanswertothefirstquestionis“notquiteall”;theanswertothesecondisdefinitely“Bleak House.”Thisgreatnovel,amongmuchelse,tellsastoryofinheritancelitigation,theinfamouscaseof“Jarndycevs.Jarndyce”that,overmanyyears,exhaustedtheresourcesofmorethanonegenerationofthelitigants,andenrichedonlythelawyers.Fig.7showstheoriginalparts.AndhereisanotherformofDickens’firsteditions:immediatelyafterthelastpartwasproduced,itwasthepracticeofthepublisherstobindthepartsincloth,andissuethenovelinbookform.Justastheblue-greencoversidentifiedDickens’sparts,greenclothidentifiedhisbookissues.Thisisproblematicalforthecollector,asproducing
19
Fig. 8
“Bleak House” in Original Cloth. First American on the left, first
English on the right.
Fig. 9
Novels First Published in Cloth: Left to Right: “Great Expectations”,
“Oliver Twist”, and “Tale of Two Cities”.
Fig. 10
“A Christmas Carol”
thewholenovelinonevolume,eveniftheadswereremoved,astheywere,stillmadeahugebook,reallytoobigfortheclothbinding.Inaddition,thegreenclothisseverely
pronetofading.SoDickensintheoriginalclothbindingsisnowashardtoacquireastheparts,andmaycostevenmore.ShowninFig.8is“BleakHouse”inoriginalclothbindings;thefirstAmericanontheleft,thefirstEnglishontheright.ItcanbeseenthatthegreenbindingontheEnglishfirsthasfadedtobrown;thisistypical–thegreenremainsonthefrontandbackcovers.The
bindingisalsofragile.TheAmericanpublisherhadthesensetobindthismassivenovelintwovolumes. CertainlyallDickens’sbookswerenotpublishedinparts.Fig.9showsthreeofhismostfamousnovelsastheyfirstappearedinoriginalclothbindings.Great Expectations,ontheleft,wasfirstpublishedasaserialinAll the Year Round,theweeklymagazineeditedbyDickens.Severalofthebooksappearedasserialsinmagazines.Theseareactuallythefirstpublicationofthenovels.Suchistheabsurdvanityofthebookcollectingworldthatthesefirstpublicationshavenothingliketheesteemofthefirstbookeditions,andare
muchlowerpriced.ThisisthecasewithGreat Expectations.Thethree-deckernovelshownisdifficulttoacquire.ItappearedrightaftertheTale of Two Cities,whichwasnotimmediatelypopular—readersdidnotflocktoahistoricalnovel,anunexpectedmétierforDickens.So,thepublishers
issuedthebookinaratherlimitedthree-deckerform,notthemselveshavingany“greatexpectations.”Thebookappearedintwoessentiallyidenticalissues–thefirstof1,000printingsandthesecondof750.Mostofthefirstandalmosthalfthesecondprinting(nearly1400copiesinall)wereboughtbyMudie’scirculatinglibrary,andwerelikelyreadtodeathbythesubscribers.ThefirstissueistheultimateDickensrarity.Thecopyshownisthesecondissue,andwasfoundinawonderfuloldbookstore,TheErieBookStoreinErie,Pa.,thirty-fiveyearsago.Iboughtthebookrightaway,andknowIwillnotseeitslikeagain. ThatsameyearIwasinHaslam’sBookstoreinSt.Petersburg,Fla.Myfolkshadretiredthere,andoneachvisittothemIalsovisitedHaslam’s,alargestoresellingbothnewandusedbooks.WhiletheErieBookstorefinallyfoldedin2013,Haslam’sisstillgoingstrong,andisnowthelargestbookshopinFlorida.ThereIfoundtheOliver Twistthree-deckershown.This,too,isalaterissueofthesameyear.Inthisissue,thename“Boz”wasfinallyreplacedby“CharlesDickens”onthetitlepages.Again,it’salmostimpossibletofindthesedaysintheoriginalcloth.Maybeapartialcompensationforbeingsuchanoldbookhunter. ThelastbookinFig.9isA Tale of Two Cities.ThiswasbeingpublishedinserialforminoneofDickens’smagazines,andwasalsobeingpublishedinseparateparts.However,theclothissuewasthefirstcompleteeditiononthemarket,orverynearlyso.Thisisashortnovel—butagreatone—theopeningandendinglinesarememorable. Finally,theChristmasbooks.Therearefiveofthesesmallbooks,eachwithaChristmasstory.AtChristmastime,theywerepublishedinredbindings.ThemostfamousisofcourseA Christmas Carol,thefirstintheseries.Itwasinitiallyproducedinabrownbinding,thelaterissuesintheredwithgoldstamping,astheothers.Dickensinsistedontheelegance,tothepublisher’sdismay.Thesearerelativelyeasytofindand,nottoocostly,exceptforChristmas Carol,whichhasahugefollowing.Overtheyears,Ihavemanagedtogatheracompletesetinoriginalcloth.Theyareallfirstprintings,withtheexceptionofChristmas Carol,which,alas,isasecond,stillinthebrownbinding,fromthesameyear.ThetitlepageofthisoneisshowninFig.10.
20
Fig. 11
“American Notes”, 1st English and Harpers Edition of First American
Fig. 12
The “New World” and “Brother Jonathan” Editions of “American Notes”.
Dickens in America DickensfirstvisitedtheU.S.in1842,heandhiswifetravelingbysteamertoBoston.Itisfairtosayhewentwith“greatexpectations.”Hewasdisappointedinmorethanoneway.Bythistime,hewasanAmericanhero,withpublicationofPickwick,Oliver Twist,andtheserialproductionofThe Old Curiosity Shop,whichhadhadhundredswaitingonthedockforthenextsteamerfromEngland,tofindoutifLittleNellhaddied.Butseveralthingsdisappointed.LeavingtheculturalcentersoftheEastCoast,thegeneraluncouthmannersoftheWesternersshocked:thewidespreadtobaccochewing,andtheexpectorationofthetobaccojuiceonthecarpetsofeventhegrandesthotelsandsteamships;thelackofevenelementarytablemanners(herecountedoneloutlickingthecommunalbutterknifeinasteamshiprestaurant);thepeeringintothestateroomwindowwhileheandhiswifewerepreparingforbed,etc.(IamoldenoughtorememberwheninmostbarbershopsandsomehotellobbiesspittoonswerestillwidelyinplaceintheU.S.South—well,wehadprogressedtousingspittoons—butfolkssometimesmissed). MoreseriousmattersincludedDickensgivingtalksinwhichheobjectedtothepiratingofhisworksinAmerica.HehadneverreceivedacentforanyofhisworksfromtheU.S.,despitethewidespreadsales,exceedingthoseinGreatBritain.Americanswereappalledbyagreatwriter,anartist,beingsocrassastowantmoney;editorialsintheAmericanpressdeploredhisavarice. AmericanslaverywasabhorredbyDickens.HenotedhundredsofadstryingtorecoverrunawayslavesinmanyMidwesternandSouthernnewspapers,someofwhichhequotedinhissubsequentbookonhisvisit:
“Detainedatthepolicejail,thenegrowenchMyra.HasseveralmarksofLASHING,andhasironsonherfeet.”“Ranaway,anegrowomanandtwochildren;afewdaysbeforeshewentoff,Iburntherwithahotiron,ontheleftsideofherface.ItriedtomaketheletterM.”“Ranaway,anegromannamedHenry;somescarsfromadirkonandunderhisleftarm,andmuchscarredwiththewhip.”
SomuchforAmericanexceptionalism. UponhisreturntoEngland,hewroteAmerican Notes,sub-titled:For General Circulation.Thesub-titleindicatedthatDickenshadnoillusionsthattheAmericanswouldimmediatelypiratethebook,whichiswhatofcourse
happened.Fig.11showsthefirstEnglisheditionofthisintwovolumes,andtheHarper’spiracyinpaperwrappers.SincethebookwasfreeforanyoneintheU.S.topublish,itwas,withinaweek,printedintwomorepiracies,whichareshowninFig.12.Indeed,itisnotknownwhichofthethreeAmericanpiraciesshownisthetruefirstU.S.edition.TheprintinginthenewspaperformatofFig.12madethebookcheapertodistributeviathemails—anythinginthenewspaperformathadaspecialcheaprateatthetime.AllthreeoftheAmericaneditionsareveryephemeralandhardtocomeby—thesewerefoundonebyoneovermanyyearsofwatchingandwaiting.
His Last Novel InJune,1870,Dickenswas58yearsold.Allday,hehadbeenworkingonhislatestnovel,The Mystery of Edwin Drood,whenhehadastrokeathisdeskanddied.Thenovelwasbeingpublishedinthetraditionalparts,andpromisedtobeanotherbestseller.Athisdeath,onlythreepartshadbeenpublished,butheleftenoughmaterialforanotherthreeparts,whichdulyappeared.Talkaboutcliffhangers—thenovelwashisfirstattemptatapuremysterystory,andremainedtotallyunresolved.Presumably,itwouldhaveconsumedthetraditionaltwentyparts.Therehavebeencountlessattemptstoreconstructthewholenovel,some
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Fig. 13
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” in Parts.
Fig. 14
July, 2016 Jarndyce Dickens Catalog
2016 PulpFestEven if you don’t collect or read “pulp” this national event held each summer in Columbus may catch your interest!
PulpFest 2016paidtributetothehistoryofthepulpsbysalutingthe150thanniversaryofthebirthofH.G.Wells;the120thanniversaryofthedebutofthefirstpulpmagazine,THE ARGOSY;the100thanniversaryofthegenrepulpssuchasDETECTIVE STORYandLOVE STORY;theninetiethanniversaryofthecreationofthefirstsciencefictionmagazine,AMAZING STORIES;the80thanniversariesofthepremieresoftwoexcitingheropulps,THE SKIPPERandTHE WHISPERER;andthetenthanniversaryofSanctumBooks,wellknownfortheirreprintsofTHE SHADOW, DOC SAVAGE, THE SPIDER,andotherheropulps.OurGuestofHonorwasauthor,editor,andpulpfanTedWhite,themanwhousheredintheGoldenAgeofAMAZING STORIESandFANTASTICduringthe1970s.WhitealsowrotetheCaptainAmericanovelTHE GREAT GOLD STEALandmanyotherbooks.PulpFestalsohostedfriendsfromFarmerCon XI,theconventionwithinaconventionthathonorsthememoryofthatGrandMasterofScienceFiction,PhilipJoséFarmer.
FormoreinformationaboutPulpFest,checkouttheirwebsiteathttp://www.pulpfest.com.
basedonthecovervignettepictures,whichDickenssuggested—thesewereseentogiveacluetotheendingheintended. ThepopularityofDickensensuredthatthereweremanycopiesoftheexistingparts.Withthis,andgiventhatitisanunfinishednovel,
DroodisthecheapestDickensinparts.Theywerecertainlythefirstsetofpartsacquiredinmycollecting(Fig.13).
A Summary for Collectors Inmylifetime,pricesofmanythingsIhavecollectedhavedriftedupward,outoftherangeoftheordinarybear.ThishashappenedtomanyDickensitems.However,ifoneisdeterminedtocollectatthetopofthescale,therearemagnificentbibliographiesavailableasguides.Andtopmaterialisstillavailable.IfIwereaskedwhotheleadingdealerinDickensmaterialis,theanswerwouldcertainlybeJarndyceAntiquarianBooksellersinLondon(notethenametakenfromBleak House).Everysecondyearorso,theyissueacatalogdevotedtoDickensmaterialonly.Fig.14isthecoveroftheJuly,2016catalog.Thisthick,book-
likecataloglists1,528separateitems—fromfirsteditionstolaterpublications,Dickensianaofalltypesinabundance,evensomeholographwritings,bibliographies,biographies,andsoon.Pricesrangefrom£5tomanythousands.And,particularlywiththefallofthepoundaftertheBrexitfolly,therearebargainstobehad.Justforfun,Ilookedforlistingsofthenovelsinparts.Thecatalogstillhaseveryone,exceptforPickwick.Thismakessense—afterall,Londoniswherethenovelsoriginated150yearsagoandmore,eventhoughthebookcollectingadageof“localscarcity”or“localabundance”maynotreallyapplytoDickensfirsts,whicharetradedsowidelyintheEnglish-speakingworld.Pricesrangedfrom£650forDroodtoatrulystratospheric£12,500foraverygoodsetofDavid Copperfield,lackingonlyacoupleadsandwithminorrepairs.Oneoftheminor,butstillexquisite,pleasuresofbookcollectingisseeingbooksonealreadyownsatveryelevatedpricesinnewcatalogs.But,again,collectingisnotwhatwedoforinvestment—that’sforsure.
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Article reprinted with permission from The Pulpster, Number 25, July 21-24 2016
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ThetitleofthisarticleisprovidedbyScottishwriterRobertLouisStevenson,whoalsowrote,“Ikeptalwaystwobooksinmypocket,onetoread,onetowritein.”Amen,brother!
Idon’tknowofanytartanforourCowmeadowclan,butforyearsI’vebeenfascinatedbyScotland’shistoryandculture–justasIhavewithBritishroyalty,thoughthey’ve mistreatedtheScotsforcenturies. MycopiesofScottish Lifemagazinehavebeendog-earedthroughoutmytenyears’subscription,markingplacesofinterestthatonedaywemightvisit.AlexanderMcCallSmithhasenthralledmewithhisseriesofnovelssetinEdinburgh.1AndforthepasttwelveDecembers,I’vereadRosamundPilcher’sWinter Solstice. Thosewhohavetraveledthere—includingAldineDonRice,JamesBoswell,andDr.SamuelJohnson—havecomebackwithinterestingstoriesoftheruggedlandanditspeople. Plus,IenjoyScotchwhisky. Reasonsenoughforustogo! LindaandItraveledtotheLandoftheThistleinJuly2016.WewalkedupanddownthesteepcobblestonedstreetsofoldEdinburgh,anddroveonhorrifyinglydangerous,narrowroadsfromEdinburghtothebeautifulislesofMullandSkye,wherewhatroadstherearearemostlywhattheycall“one-track,”meaningonelaneforbothdirections.Ifyoumeethead-onbetweenpassingareas,onedriverhastobackupintotheclosestone.Waytoothrillingtobecomfortable,butwemadeit,drivingthroughtheruggedmountainoushighlandsaroundthehistoricGlencoevalley,thenbackacrossthewildremotemoorstoEdinburghagain.Itwasaglorioussixteendays. Welookforliteraryconnectionswhereverwetravel.I’mluckytotravelwithsomeonewhosharesmyenthusiasmforbooks.ThequestforbooknessinScotlandwasfruitfulinmanyways.Andinoneunusualway:Ifoundmyfirsttombstonehonoringabookseller.JohnBell,booksellerofEdinburgh,diedin1806attheageofsixty-nine,andwasinterredinGreyfriarsKirkyard,theoldest
knowncemeteryinEdinburgh. PerhapsthemostdramatichonoringofScottishliteratureistheimposingGothicmonumenttoSirWalterScott,thelargeststructuretohonoranywriter,anywhere. TheScottmonument(1844)featuresthegreatwritersittinglarger-than-lifeonthebaseofthemonument,overwhichthespirerisesto197feet.Thereare287stepsleadingtoseveralviewingplatforms,whichprovidebreathtaking360-degreeviewsovertheoldcityandacrosstheFirthofForthtotheKingdomofFife. Theprofessorandbookdealerclimbedthestrenuous,tight,narrow,windingstonesteps,ubiquitousinEdinburgh’sbuildings,manyofthem
centuriesoldwhenthecityhadlittleroomtoexpandexceptup.Myfearofheightskeptusatthefirstobservationlevel,whichgaveaseagull’sviewofEdinburgh.Wewerehighabovetheswarmingtouristsintownfortheworld-famoustwenty-four-day-longEdinburghFringeFestival.WewouldhavepreferredtoattendtheInternationalBookFestivallaterin
themonth,butthankstoOSU’sswitchingtosemestersafewyearsago,wehadtobebackinBuckeyeBurghinearlyAugustforLintoresumeteaching. SirWalterScottispartoftheholyliterarytrinityinScotlandalongwithRobertBurnsandRobertLouisStevenson. IwassurprisedanddisappointedthatnoT-shirtswiththeirimageswereavailable,thoughweoftensawtheirlikenessesinportraitandsculpture. Wediscoveredtheofficialcelebrationofthosemenatthewell-doneWriters’Museum.Approachingthemuseum,thevisitorstepsoverengravedstoneswithquotesfromvariousScottishwritersandpoetsetched
Text and Photos by George Cowmeadow Bauman
Stories Are My Refuge or Booking in Scotland
1Forthoseofyouinterestedinreadingalongwithme,thetwoseriesbyAlexanderMcCallSmithareThe Sunday Philosophy Club:BookoneintheIsabelDalhousieseries(NY:AlfredKnopf,2004)and44ScotlandStreet:Bookoneinthe44 Scotland Street series(Edinburgh:Polygon,AnImprintofBirlinnLimited,2005).
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deeplyintothem.They’recalledMakar’sStones,andareanongoingnationalliterarymonument. AMakarisaScottishpoet,andtwelvesuchversersarecelebratedbyhavingalineortwooftheirsetchedintheflagstones.Hereareafew:J.K.Annand:
“SingitainceforpleasureSingittwiceforjoy”
JohnMuir: “Icaretoliveonlytoenticepeople tolookatNature’sloveliness.”JamesBoswell: “Irattleddownthehighstreet inhighelevatedspirits”.WalterScott: “Thisismyown,mynativeland.” ThemuseumishousedinLadyStair’sHouse,builtforanEdinburghmerchantin1622,andreferredtoin
itsheydayas“oneofthegrandestmansionsinOldTown.”Theinformationsheetcautions,“becauseoftheageofthebuilding,therearesomeunevenstairsandlowdoor-ways.”Mindyourhead! Andhow.NarrowtwistingstairsleaddowntotheStevensonroomanduptotheBurnsandScottrooms,
withthemainfloorusedforaverynicegiftshop,onethatfeaturesbooksandproductscelebratingreadingandwriting. WedescendedtovisitwithStevensonfirst.LastyearIreadtheoutstandingbook,The Lighthouse Stevensons: The Extraordinary Story of the Building of the Scottish Lighthouses by the Ancestors of Robert Louis Stevenson.IwaslookingforwardtocheckingoutthepresentationofthelifeofthewriterwhodefiedfamilyexpectationstojointhecelebratedStevensonengineeringfirm,whoseinnovative,dangerous-to-buildlighthousessavedmanyshippers’cargoesandsailors’lives. Whoamongushasn’tread,oratleastisfamiliarwith,Stevenson’sKidnapped,The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,Treasure Island,andthechildren’sclassic,A Child’s Garden of Verses? ThedisplaysinthetwoStevensonroomswereremarkable. JustbeforecomingtoScotland,IhadreadMatthewPearl’sfictionalThe Last Bookaneer,asdidMiriamKahn,Aldusnewslettereditor,andwe’dchattedaboutthebook,
comparingnotes.Thebookdescribestwo“bookaneers”whotravelledtoVailima,Stevenson’shomeinWesternSamoa,wherehesettledin1890andlivedoutthelastyearsofhislife.ThebookaneerscompetedtostealthemanuscriptStevensonwasworkingonashewasdying. OnthewallsinStevenson’smuseumroomwereabouttwentyblack-and-whitephotographsofRLSinVailima.Iwasamazed,andstudiedeachone,manyshowingthesicklywriterreceivinglocalsandEnglishtravelerswhilelyinginbed.PlatesandglassesfromVailimawerealsoondisplay,andyoucouldimagine“VelvetCoat”–ashewasnicknamed–sittingaroundwithhisEnglishvisitorsand
Samoanfriends,diningincomfort,followedbyabitofintoxicatingkava,poundedinthelargewoodenbowlthatalsowasunderglass.Hewascalled“Tusitala,”meaning“telleroftales”bytheSamoans.
Aquoteabovethedisplayread,“WesternSamoawasStevenson’sparadise.Islandlifesuitednotonlyhishealthbuthispersonality.” AllthisbroughtPearl’sbookbacktolifeforme. AlsoondisplaywereRLS’sfishingrod,cap,longMeerschaumpipe,ridingboots,andmanymoreartifacts,includingasmall,one-foot-cubedVictorianprintingpress,whichhecarriedfirsttoSwitzerland,thentoSanFrancisco,andontoSamoa,printingcardsandannouncements,aswellashisandfriends’poetry. NowtoBurns.
He’severywhereinEdinburgh.Whereafewbooksaregatheredfordisplayorsale,hiswillbeforemostamongthem.His“AuldLangSyne”’spopularityissuchthatit’ssungaroundtheglobeonNewYear’sEve.HeisthesoulofScottishliterature. Wefoundtributestohiminmanyplaces,includingastreetplaque,andintheWhiteHartInn,theoldestpubinEdinburgh,founded
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in1561.Burnsstayedtherein1791onhislasttriptoEdinburgh,whichbookendsthesetwophotos–Burns’firstandlastEdinburghstays.Hisquotesarepaintedontheraftersabovethebar. PubsarenamedforBurnsandIevenfoundaRobertBurns
SingleMaltWhisky.Iconfesstobuyingamini-bottleofit,nottodrink,buttoputondisplayatthebookshop. AttheWritersMuseum,theBurnsroomsupstairsfeaturedhiswritingdesk,acoupforthemuseum.Withthehelpofanaudiocircuitfillingthespacewithoneofhissongs,itwaseasytoimaginehimsittingthere,workingonhispoetryandballads.Hissilverdrinkingcup(quaich)isunderglass,andIhadtowonderhowmanyweedramsweresippedfromthatvesselforinspiration. Burns’sworkisn’tasaccessibletonon-ScotsasStevenson’sorScott’s,buttotartan-wearers,RabbieBurnsispartoftheirnationalsoul.HisimageisontheScottish£10bill;thelargerosewindowinSt.Giles,
thehighkirkofScotland,iscalledtheBurnswindow. In1814,WalterScottpublishedWaverley,hisfirstbook,anonymouslyinthreevolumes.Acopywasontheprintingpressdisplayedwiththerarebooks.Inthemuseum,eachof
thewriterswasrepresentedbyverycollectibleeditionsofafewoftheirbooks.Booklustcreptintomysoul. ThemuseumhadScott’schildhoodrockinghorse,whichfascinatedtwoyounggirlswhenIwasthere.Theirmotherpulledthembackasonewasabouttothrowalegoverthewell-wornwoodensaddle.Hispersonalchesssetwasreadytoreceivemoves,andhisdiningtablewasladenwithmemories. Allthreewriterswererepresentedbytheirwalkingsticks,amustforthewell-appointedgentleman.Afewoftheirletterswereshownaswell,somethingIwouldhaveenjoyedreading. Thetriptothemuseumwouldn’tbecompleteuntilIcheckedoutthetemptinggiftshop.Weburnedupabitofplasticattheregister,selectingitemsthatwouldn’tweighdownsuitcasesorgetbrokenintransit. Thebookseller-du-jourwasAllison,apleasantwomanwhowasveryenthusiasticaboutthewriters,especially
Stevenson.Sherecommendedabookabouthiswidow,FannyOsbourne.“It’srathercontroversial,foritcoverstheunusualrelationshipthatFannyhadwithherdaughter—theysharedthesamelover!”ShesuggestedwecheckoutFanny’sportraitdownintheRLSroom,sowedutifullymindedthestepsandourheadstocheckherout.“Iwanttoreadthatbook!”exclaimedLinda. Asthemuseum’swebsitestates,“Youdon’tneedtohavereadthesewriters’workstoenjoythefascinatinglifestoriestoldintheWriters’Museum.” WetriedtovisittheScottishPoetryLibrary,butit’sclosedonSundaysandMondays,thetwodayswehadavailable.ThefolksattheWritersMuseumspokehighlyoftheLibrary.
TherearemanymoreScottishwritersofnotebeyondthosecelebratedinthemuseum,includingfamedbiographerJamesBoswell.Ashortlistwouldinclude:IanBanks,IanRankin,IrvingWelsh,MurielSpark,ArthurConanDoyle,GeorgeMacDonald,M.C.Beaton,andJohnBuchan,afavoriteofAldusmemberAnnSaup.JohnMuir,heofYosemitefamewithhiswritingsonconservationandwilderness,wasaScot.AddDavidHumeandAdamSmithfromtheEnlightenment.ThereisalargestatueofaseatedHumeontheRoyalMile,andSmith’sgravestoneinagatedenclosureisatreasureforcemeterywanderersofCanongateKirkyard. Perhapsthebest-knowncurrentScottishwriterisAlexanderMcCallSmith,creatorofthe
#1 Ladies Detective Agencyseries,imaginativelysetinBotswana.He’safavoriteofmine.InourroomattheLochLevenHotelinBallachullish,overlookingthenarrowsbetweenLochLevenandLochLinnhe,acopyofMcCall
Smith’sbook,Love Over Scotland,waswaitingforusononeofthebedstands.OtherthantheGideonBible,we’dneverexperiencedanybookbeingsetoutspecificallyforourreadingpleasureonourtravels.Verynicetouchofferedbythehotel,self-describedonthewebsiteas“quirky.” Thehotel,runbyaverygigglyfamilyrightoutof
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in MeMoriuM
ReginaBouleySweetenandDarlingLilywillheadtotheirnewhomeinNewMexico.DavidwentoutearliertostarthisnewteachingjobatEasternNewMexicoUniversity.
Aldusmember,BrendanWare,diedFriday,June24,2016.Hewasdiagnosedwithstomachcancerjustafewweeksago,shortlyafterreturningfromavisittohisnativeIrelandandvarioussitesinEurope.IfyouwishtosendcondolencestoJane,whoisalsoamemberofAldus,heraddressis:
JaneWare1000UrlinAve.#1505
GrandviewHeights,OH43212
“FawltyTowers,”featureda“ScottishLiteratureLounge,”soweknewwe’denjoyourvisitthere,evenapartfromhavingaroomoverlookingaloch.Fourlargebookcaseswerearrangedaroundthesmalllibrary,featuringbooks
exclusivelybyScots,especiallysuchwell-knownwritersasIanRankin,IanBanks,PeterMayandMcCallSmith,plusmanyotherswewereunfamiliarwith.Anelaboratechessboardwassetupforplaybetweentwocomfortableleatherchairsbyawindow.Onthemantlewasasmallframedquote,whichIloved:“Theworldisabook,andthosethatdonottravelreadonlyonepage.” TurnsoutthebooksarethecollectionofCraig,theadultsonofthehotel’sowners.“Iranoutofroomforbooksinmyflat,”headviseduswhileheandhisaffable,laughingparentsscuttledinandout,appearinganddisappearingthroughvariousdoorstoprepareforaweddingreceptionforeightthatevening.“SoIdecidedweshouldhavearoominthehotelcelebratingthewritersofScotland.”Webrowsedthroughthemandnotedseveral
bookstolookupwhenwegothome. ThelochforwhichthehotelisnamedwasakeylocationinKidnapped,asthefictionalDavidBalfourrowedacrossLochLeven.Literaturewashauntingusregardlessofwherewewent.
Staytunedforthesecondpartofthisstory,tobepublishedinthenextissueofAldus Notes.LindaandIleaveEdinburghandtravelthedangerous,narrow,twistyroadsofScotlandtotheislandsandhighlands,enjoyingbookingadventuresalongwiththefantasticsceneryofthatwild,history-haunted,loch-dottedland.
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The Great Shakespeare Debate August 18, 2016Harry Campbell vs Jay Hoster
Aldusfriends, Itwaswonderfultoseeeveryonehavingagoodtime. ErikJulservedasmoderatorintroducingourdebaters.Eachwasallottedthirtyminuteswithextremelyflexiblerules.JayHosterpresentedtheStratfordianviewandpumpeduptheShakespeareindustry
whileHarryCampbell,whospokefirst,hasmanydoubtsaboutWilliamShakespeare.HarrygraciouslycededfiveminutestoRogerJeromewhoprovidedhisperspectiveandrhymingtales. Harry,thedoubter,theanti-Stratfordian,questionsShakespeare’sauthorshipandauthority.Throughouthispresentation,healternatedbetweenidentifyingtheauthorasShake-SpearandShakespeare.Withdatesaplentyinterspersedinhistalk,Harrypointedtotheelevenprimarysources,milestonesinShakespeare’slife.Mostoftheevidenceprovidedwasvisual,irregularspelling,scrapsofdocuments,andbarelyaportrait.AccordingtoHarry,thisevidenceisshakywhencomparedwithhiscontemporaryBenJonsonandtheprolificwritingshelefttoposterity.Intheend,Harry’swasa“DeclarationofReasonableDoubt.” Intheremainingfiveminutesofanti-Stratfordianevidence,RogerJeromedeclaimedaboutsimilarplays,language,contemporaryauthors,andmore.Roger’sperformancewasdramaticandriveting,andoh,sopersuasive. EnterJayHosterandhiscelebrationofallthings
Shakespeare,hiscelebrationofheroesandcitationofroyalprivilege.Hisevidence?TheLordChamberlain’sMen,theRoyalPlayers,and1623FirstFoliowithKingJamesIimprimatur.Stratfordiantotheend,heapplaudedHemingsandCondellasthe“GoodGuysofHistory.”
Aftermuchapplause,theaudiencewadedinwithquestionsandopinions.JohnBennetaskedabouttextualandvocabularyanalysisandthedrivetofindconsensus.Harryvociferouslydeniedconsensus.WithaqueryaboutapocryphalShakespeareplays,JaynotedtheadditionofnewplaystotheCompleteShakespearecorpus. Veeringofftopic,questionscontinuedwithreferencestoDavidCrystal’sDictionaryofShakespearianpronunciation,
viewsofShakespeare,andsomeartists’experiments.BillRichwadedinwithquestionsaboutirregularspellingusingfifty-centwordslikefungible.PaulWatkinsremindedAldinestobewareTwain’sopinions,ashewasnotrueauthorityonShakespeare,notlikeourdebaters.JamesHarris,aself-acknowledgedStratfordian,citedShakespeare’sson’snameHamnetandtheplayHamletasproofofauthorship.Wasthisconfusingorwhat?Rogerfrowned,Harrysaid“Perhapsnot!”and,recoveringhissenses,RogersaidShakespearecannotbefalseortherewouldgotheBritisheconomy.Indefenseofhisposition,Jay’srebuttalwasthatpoetsexpressthemselvesevenifplaywrightsarehidingintheirplays. MatthewaskedaboutDeliaBacon’s1857Shakespearean
controversy,whichonlyHarrytriedtoexplain,butperhapshemerelysloggedthroughthescholarshipwhichRogerremindedall,thatscholarshipenhancesthedebate.WhenGeoffaskedabouttheconceptofauthorshipandcollectedworks,hewascomparingJohnsontoShakespeare.Wastheformeraconspiratororasupporter,forJohnson’sworkwascompiledin1611andwas,perhaps,amodelforHemingsandCondell’s1623compilation.When
Marlow’snamewasshoutedout,Jaywaveditawaywithmuchfanfare.Tony’sfinalqueryrevolvedaroundownershipofShakespeare’swords.Wholaysclaimtothemorhastherighttolicensethetexts.Withnoconsensusoragreement,thedebateconcludedtomuchapplauseandbackslappingallaround. PrizesfromLaralyn’simpressivestashwereawardedtoallthreespeakers. Forthosewhomissedthegreatdebate,consulttheAldusSocietyFacebookpagehttps://www.facebook.com/The-Aldus-Society-Columbus-Ohio-144688935628686/andthelistserv.BotharehosttotensetsofcommentsbyHarryandJay. IntheaftermathoftheGreatShakespearedebate,thelistservwashummingwithfollowupincluding: Themovie“Anonymous”releasedin2011.Tofindoutmoreaboutthemovie,checkoutWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(film)orwatchthetraileronYouTubehttps://youtu.be/huP1XHf-bdk.TheYouTubeblurbreadasfollows:“ApoliticalthrilleraboutwhoactuallywrotetheplaysofWilliamShakespeare—EdwardDeVere,EarlofOxford—setagainstthebackdropofthesuccessionofQueenElizabethI,andtheEssexRebellionagainsther.”
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Roger Jerome’s William Shakespeare Reading ListAshebonedupforhisperformance,Rogerreadandreadandread.Herearesomeofthemanybooksheconsulted,somenewandsomeold.There’slotsofreadingtokeepyoubusyfortherestofthe400thanniversaryofShakespeare’sdeath.
Shakespeare By Another NamebyMarkAnderson(GothamBooks,2005)William Shakespeare and Others,collaborativeplayseditedbyJonathanBateandEricRasmussen(Palgrave,2013)Shakespeare’s Lost Kingdom byCharlesBeauclerk(GrovePress,2010)Oxford Dictionary of Original Shakespearean PronunciationbyDavidCrystal(OUP,2016)Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary byDavid&BenCrystal(OUP,2015)The Shakespeare Circle editedbyJonathanBateandEricRasmussen(Palgrave,2013)PlayersbyBertramFields(ReganBooks,2005)Annals of English DramaAlfredHarbage.RevisedbyS.Schoenbaum(UnivofPennsylvaniaPress,1964)Tiger’s Hart byJayHoster(RavineBooks,1993)Shakespeare’s Unorthodox BiographybyDianaPrice(GreenwoodPress,2012)The Truth Will Out: Unmasking the Real Shakespeare byBrendaJamesandWiliamD.Rubenstein(HarperPerennial,2007)I Am ShakespearebyMarkRylance(NickHernBooks,2012)Shakespeare Beyond Doubt? editedbyJohnShahanandAlexanderWaugh(LluminaPress,2013)Contested WillbyJamesShapiro(FaberandFaber,2010)The Year of LearbyJamesShapiro(SimonandSchuster,2015)Shakespeare’s First FoliobyEmmaSmith(OUP,2016)Alias ShakespearebyJosephSobran(TheFreePress,1997)12 Years in the Life of William Shakespeare byHankWhittemore(ForeverPress,2012)Who Wrote Shakespeare?byJohnF.Michell(ThamesandHudson,1996)The Real ShakespearebyEricSams(YaleUnivPress,1995)William Shakespeare Complete WorkseditedbyStanleyWellsandGaryTaylor(OUP,1988)The Story of EnglishbyRobertMcCrum,WilliamCranandRobertMacNeill(VikingPenguin,1986)The First Folio of Shakespeare(facsimile)preparedbyDougMoston(ApplauseBooks,1995)Shakespeare’s Lives bySamuelSchoenbaum(ClarendonPress,1991)The Lodger Shakespeare: His Life on Silver StreetbyCharlesNicholl(Viking,2008)Shakespeare’s Restless WorldbyNeilMacGregor(Viking,2012)Shakespeare For All TimebyStanleyWells(OUP,2003)Shakespeare’s FacebyStephanieNolen(AlfredAKnopfCanada,2002)Shakespeare’s Plays in PerformanceJohnRussellBrown(Applause,1993)Freeing Shakespeare’s VoicebyKristinLinklater(TheatreCommunicationsGroup,1992)Playing ShakespearebyJohnBarton(MethuenDrama,1984)Reinventing ShakespearebyGaryTaylor(OUP,1989)Shakespeare: Staging the World editedbyJonathanBateandDoraThornton(BritishMuseumPress,2012)Shaw On ShakespeareeditedbyEdwinWilson(Applause,1961)Searching For ShakespearebyTarnyaCooper(NationalPortraitGallery,2006)Shakespeare in PerformanceeditedbyKeithParsonsandPamelaMason(SalamanderBooks,1995)William Shakespeare: The Extraordinary Life of the Most Successful Writer of All Time byAndrewGurr(HarperPerennial,1995)Shakespeare : the Life, the Works, the TreasuresbyCatherineM.S.Alexander(SimonandSchuster,2006)
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Ournextbibliographictour,afterourlastverysuccessfulonetotheBayArea,willbetoDallasandAustinintheLoneStarState.OurhostclubwillbetheBookClubofTexas,headquarteredinDallas,andweatFABSareworkingonlocalarrangementswithRussellMartininDallasandStephenEnnissinAustin.Plansaretentativeatthispoint,butwehopetoarrangevisits,inDallas,totheDeGolyerandBridwelllibrariesatSouthernMethodistUniversity,toanimportantprivatecollectionofbooksandmanuscriptsrelatingtoAmericanHistory,andtotheGeorgeW.BushPresidentialLibraryandMuseum.InAustin,wehopetovisittheHarryRansomCenter,theBensonLatinAmericanCollection,andtheLyndonBainesJohnsonPresidentialLibraryandMuseum. The2017FABSbibliographicaltourwillbeinDallasandAustinfromMay31stthroughJune4th.ItwillbegininDallasandendinAustin.AlltransportationwithinandbetweenthesetwocitieswillbearrangedbyFABSincludingtransitbacktotheairport(DFW)inDallas. Wewillvisitseveralstellaruniversitylibraries,twoprivatecollections,andtwopresidentiallibraries. Thesetripsnormallyfillupandthisoneislimitedtofiftyparticipants.Toreserveyourplaceandtoreceivemoreinformationandupdates,pleaseclipthefollowingformandsenditto: BookClubofTexas c/oRussellMartinIII DeGolyerLibrary SouthernMethodistUniversity Dallas,Texas75275 [email protected]. PartiallyrefundabledepositsinanamounttobedeterminedlaterwillbeduebyDecember30,2016.FullpaymentwillbeduebyApril28,2017.Theestimatedcostofthistrip,includinglocaltransportation,groupmealsandreceptions,entryfees,andallincidentals,is$750.Airfareandhotelstaysarenotincludedinthisamountalthoughgroupratesforthehotelswillbearranged. Makingareservationatthistimeentailsnoobligation. Forthefirsttimeweareplanningatripabroad,toMoscowandSt.PetersburginRussia.OurInternationalAffiliatesChair,WilliamButler,iswellconnectedthereandhasworkedhardonthepreliminaryorganizationofthetrip,andifwecansuccessfullycompletetheplanning,wehopetomakearrangementsforaneight-daytourinSeptemberof2017whichwouldbelimitedtotwentypeople.Ourlocalinternationalaffiliate,theNationalUnionofBibliophiles,whichisbasedinMoscow,willhelpuswithlocalarrangements.Asfortheitinerary,wearecurrentlyinvestigatingthepossibilityofvisitingthemajorlibrariesineachcity,atleastonepersonalcollection,museumsdevotedtoindividualRussianauthors,aprivatepressfacility,andpossiblyaschoolofprinting.Thetripwouldbelaunchedbyahalf-daysymposiumintroducingthegrouptotheSlavonicBookandtothehistoryofthebookandofprintinginRussia.
FABS - 2017
Don’t miss the Fall 2016 Thurber House Evenings with Authors!
September 6: Ann HoodThe Book That Matters Most
September 22: Suzanne BerneThe Dogs of Littlefield
October 5: Kate Clifford LarsonRosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
October 26: Glen WeldonThe Caped Crusade
November 3: Craig JohnsonAn Obvious Fact
November 15: Candice MillardHero of the Empire
Visit www.thurberhouse.org for details!
DeceMBer siLent auction anD raffLe returns AfavoriteAldusSocietyfund-raisingeventforyears,theSilentAuctionandRafflereturnsThursday,December15,duringourannualholidaydinner. YoucanhelpsupportyourAldusSocietybydonatingbooksorbook-artitems.Donateanauctionlotortwo--typicallyasetofitemsrelatedbytheme,author,orgenre--ordonateunrelateditemsandwe’llputtogetherauctionlotsfromallthecontributions. Weseekitemsthatyouwouldbeproudtoselltoyourfellowauctionbidders,itemsyouwouldwanttowinandtakehome.Pleasebethoughtfulandgenerousinyourcontributions. PleasebringauctiondonationstofutureAldusmeetings,orcontactErikJulerik_jul@hotmail.comorcall614-668-2038tomakearrangements. TheSilentAuctionandRafflecombinesthebestofgivingandreceiving.Have funselectingyourdonations,andhave even more funbiddingtosupportyourAldusSociety,andthenhave the most fun possiblewhenyouplaceawinningbidandtakehome somefavoriteitems.AllforthegoodofourAldusSociety. ThankyouinadvancefromyourAuctionCommittee. ErikJul,Chair
Aldus Manutius Book
ThismodesttextisacollectionofPsalmsfromtheSeptuagint(theGreektranslationoftheOldTestament),publishedbytheAldinePressin1497-1498.OpentoPsalm72,thetitleinredreferstoasong“OfSalomon”andbegins“Endowthekingwithyourjustice,OGod,theroyalsonwithyourrighteousness.”AskindlytranslatedbyKentState’sJenniferLarson,afellowFABStourist,thelineofpencilededitorialcorrectionsintheuppermarginindicatesthatpartofverse8wasomittedwhenthebookwasprinted.Thewrittenaddition—whichscholarsrecentlyverifiedisthewritingofourveryownAldusManutius!—reads“Mayherulefromseatoseaandfrom”tobeinsertedbefore“theriverstotheendsoftheearth”tocompletetheverse.Inhomage,GrazynaGrauerconnectswiththeAldusManutiusspiritacrossthecenturies.ThistextishousedatSanFranciscoPublicLibrary’sMarjorieG.&CarlW.SternBookArts&SpecialCollectionsCenter,AndreaGrimescurator.
by Laralyn Sasaki Dearing
