Illustrated - Art, Photography, Architecture, Rare Books
The Weird and the Wonderful: Metropolitan Opera Fine Art
Less a book than a portfolio of rare art prints, this collection of limited edition poster prints–each one of just 25–displays the innovative poster art created for the Metropolitan Opera…. Read more
Polar, Travel
Ernest Shackleton: Mr. Popularity (Part II)
When we left off last, Ernest Shackleton had just returned to England in the wake of his Nimrod expedition (1907-1909). He was hailed as a hero and showered in attendant… Read More
American Revolution, History
Forgotten Founders: George Mason, Part 2-1787
In Part 1, I introduced you to George Mason and his 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights and Virginia Constitution, and their extraordinary influence on the Declaration of Independence and the… Read More
19th Century, Literature
Twenty Thousands Leagues Under the Sea: The Influences of Jules Verne
We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones. It is a great irony of 19th century literature that Jules Verne owed the inspiration for his first success… Read More
Illustrated - Art, Photography, Architecture, Rare Books 101
COLLECTING IN 3D: Stereoscopes and Stereoscopic Images
The Stereoscope, first invented in the 1830s, allows the illusion of two very slightly different images to appear as one. Producing Stereoscopes and Stereoscopic Images was good business, and quite… Read More
Children's Lit
Five Facts About The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
1. Frank L. Baum worked in many trades before he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, including publisher, poultry breeder, door-to-door salesman and newspaper editor. 2. He also… Read More
Polar, Travel
Ernest Shackleton: Mr. Popularity (Part I)
When it comes to polar explorers, the first thing to know is that they were all maniacs. The second thing to know is that they were all maniacs. … Read More
American Revolution, History
Forgotten Founders: George Mason, Part 1- 1776
George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton… These are the big six, the famous names we immediately think of as America’s Founding Fathers. They were… Read More
Literature, Moderns
The Story Behind Lolita By Vladimir Nabokov
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap,… Read More
Illustrated - Art, Photography, Architecture, Rare Books 101
Made to Measure: Rare and Collectable Swatch Books
Like great beauty, some of our books excel in that touch of the unexpected. These are books that shroud themselves in mystery by the very nature of their unrevealing bindings,… Read More
Travel
Lewis and Clark’s Account of their Expedition
In the decade following the winning of independence, there were four American plans to explore the West. President Thomas Jefferson was the instigator of three of them. Perhaps the most… Read More