Products
Vincent in Arles: Four Letters to Theo
Velp, Netherlands: Catharijne Press, 2003. Approximately 1 7/8 x 2 1/2 ". 59 pp. DELUXE LIMITED EDITION of 20 copies (I - XX), this being #IV. Blue cloth slipcase containing a 5 euro coin showing van Gogh's portrait made up of the letters of his name; the coin was issued in 2003 by the Royal Dutch Mint in honor of the 150th birthday of Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890). Tan cloth over boards, blue endpapers, tipped in frontispiece and tipped in illustrations (color plates), printed in 6 point Swift font, in fine condition.
According to the publisher's introduction, "This miniature book is a tribute to the remarkable artist, reviled during his life, celebrated after his death." Even though Van Gogh wrote over 200 letters while staying in Arles, these 4 letters to his brother Theo give us some insight into his thought processes during this zenith of his career.
Vinegar Valentine
n.p.: n.p., ca 1900. 7 x 9 1/2". Single sheet, lightly toned, minor tears to edges, creased where folded, most likely printed in the United States, stipple engraving, in very good condition.
A common practice in the U.K. and the United States from about 1840 to 1940, these "Vinegar Valentines" were known for their caricatures and insulting poems. Rather rare today since many of these were thrown out by their horrified recipients. The "H." initial might possibly indicate it was created by cartoonist Charles Howard who worked for printer John McLoughlin. The subject of this one is "Your Affinity", about a Broadway stage actor.
Vinegar Valentine
n.p.: n.p., ca 1900. 10 x 13 1/2". Single sheet, lightly toned, minor chip to edge, printed in the United States, stipple engraving, bold colors, in very good condition.
A common practice in the U.K. and the United States from about 1840 to 1940, these "Vinegar Valentines" were known for their caricatures and insulting poems. Rather rare today since many of these were thrown out by their horrified recipients. The "H." initial might possibly indicate it was created by cartoonist Charles Howard who worked for printer John McLoughlin. This is an uncommonly large example of the genre. The subject of this one is "A Professional Scandal Monger".
Vintage Art Drawn Colour Picture Post Card
London: S. Hildesheimer & Co., [1906]. 3 1/2 x 5 1/2". Illustrated stiff post card, author signed "M. Stocks", minor rubbing, very good condition.
Series No. 5217 of cards, variously found dated 1905 - 1908. This card depicting two kittens drinking milk from a bowl.
Vintage Tri-Fold Hand-Held Fan
Paris, IL: U.O. Colson Co., [ca. 1930]. 5 x 7". Cardboard tri-fold fan, US Patent 1655229 indicates year of 1927 or later, slight stain to top corner, some wear to tabs, otherwise very good condition.
Beautiful ca 1930's fan which folds out to homestead scene, signed by artist "Stadland". Advertiser on back cover is Osti's Landscape Nursery in Sierra Madred, CA.
Visions of Barsoom: 100 Years of John Carter (TM)
[Pasadena, CA]: Robert B. Zeuschner, 2012. 12 1/2 x 18". First edition. Outer orange envelope, slightly creased and marked, title and illustration in black, signed by artist Thomas Yeates, in very good + condition. Inside the envelope are 25 lithographed images printed on slick paper, some of them quite rare, celebrating Edgar Rice Burroughs' famed swordsman who traveled from Earth to Mars, sizes of image vary, 3 plates are signed by artist Thomas Yeates, stiff cardboard keeps plates in place, one page folded pamphlet describes the production and plates in detail, signed by the compiler, all in fine condition.
This portfolio was published for the Edgar Rice Burroughs convention in Woodland Hills, California. The compiler, Robert Zeuschner) has published a scholarly book on Burroughs and has been the assistant editor of the Burroughs Bulletin. Most of the original images are the property of Edgar Rice Burrous, Inc. The plates range from 1913 to 2011. The art on the envelope is by Thomas Yeates and appears on page 69 of the combined volume, "John Carter of Mars", Fall River Press, 2009. It depicts a scene found in chapter 10 of A Princess of Mars: "Springing upward, I struck him full in the face as he turned at my warning cry, and then as he drew his short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous chest." (from the pamphlet inside)
Wallace Stegner: A Descriptive Bibliography
Lewiston, ID: Confluence Press, Inc., 1990. First Edition. No dust jacket, as issued. Green cloth over boards with crisp gilt design on cover and lettering on spine, signed by Stegner and the author on the title page, limited to 1,000 copies, no edge wear and looks unread, really minor foxing to top page edges, otherwise in near fine condition.
Wallace Earle Stegner (1909 - 1993) was an American novelist and short story writer. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for "Angle of Repose" and the National Book Award for "The Spectator Bird" in 1977. He won numerous other awards and his legacy lives on in many parts of the United States and Canada, with a Stegner Fellowship program in creative writing at Stanford University being one of the highlights. This is a must-have for any Stegner collector.
Water
New Britain, CT: REM Miniatures, 2003. 2 1/4 x 1 5/8". (vi), 4 pp, (1) page. LIMITED EDITION of 100 copies. Black buckram with hand-colored paper label on upper cover , cover label & frontispiece by Seth Massmann, hand coloring by Eloise & Robert Massmann. A fine copy in stiff gray paper publisher's sleeve.
From the proceedings of the Company of Amateur Brewers, 1932.
Westwind Songs
Minneapolis: Edmund D. Brooks, 1902. 99 pp + advertisements. 4 x 5 3/4"; First Edition. Gray paper over boards, red title on cover and spine, spine edge chipped at bottom and starting to peel away from cover, slight rubbing to top edges of covers, otherwise in very good condition.
Arthur Upson (1877 - 1908) was an American poet with Minnesota roots. He was at the University of Minnesota and was the editor of the Minnesota Daily, the campus newspaper. He reworked the song "Hail! Minnesota" which later became the state song. He died at the young age of 31. He was compared to Kets or Chatterton by Sinclair Lewis, who wrote an editorial obituary. This is Upson's fourth book.
When Molly Was in the Hospital
Rayve 1994 first hardcover printing. Nice to have a book inscribed by both author and illustrator. Book is tight and square. No dust jacket. Cover is bright, with minimal edge wear and corner bumping. Interior is clean, no bookstore stamps or writing.