Diggin’ Deco-

Art Deco Shipping (Luggage?) Label for the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen Line. Paris: 1930s. 

A label issued by the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen Line and featuring three of their star ships- the Bremen, Europa, and Columbus. The Norddeutscher Lloyd was a German shipping company founded Bremen in 1857. It became one of the most important German shipping companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, competing with the English liners for the North American trade. All post-World War One liners, these three ships met ignominious fates: Columbus was launched in 1924, and scuttled by her crew off the coast of Virginia in 1939; Bremen was launched in 1929 and burned at her dock in 1941. Europa was launched in 1928 and scrapped by the Allies in 1945.

 4.25"x6". Tape repair. [39943] $35-

From the new Bookin'! - Peace? Ptui!!

Mose Skinner's Grand Peace Jubilee and Jewsharp Oratorio. 

Boston; New England News Company: 1869. 

A biting satire of Boston's famous National Peace Jubilee, which was organized by Patrick Gilmore and took place in Boston on June 15, 1869. The Jubilee was by all accounts a complete success, with more than 11,000 performers, including 100 choral groups, an orchestra of 525 musicians, and a 486-piece wind band. The Jubilee, in fact, became the "high-water mark in the influence of the band in American life" (Crawford, America's Musical Life: A History).

But before any of this took place the size and scope, as well as the concept of celebrating peace with Southerners (with whom there had been some recent "unpleasantness"), created doubters. An excellent example is this satirical booklet by James E. Brown, writing under the name Mose Skinner, the text of which first appeared as a series of columns in the Wide World news paper. Aside from his obvious doubts about the possibility that such a grand undertaking could ever succeed, one sees doubts about whether it even -should- succeed, the Jubilee being only a few years removed from the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. 

For instance- "In order to promote kind feelings toward the South, and create a feeling of confidence, Confederate scrip will be considered legal tender, on the five days of the Festival, - and any person passing a greenback (on the sidewalk) will be subject to arrest. One-armed and one-legged soldiers are requested to retire into the country, in order that their presence may not cause any unpleasant recollections to arise in the minds of our Southern friends". Ouch.

Softcover. 4.5"x7.5", 21 pages, plus several pages of advertisements. Front cover damaged, with a small hole, and general wear and soil, creases, etc. [39932] $100 

Read the new Bookin'! here.

Our Latest Catalog-

January is really the cruelest month- there are only few actual holidays for the Book Elves to celebrate, so they fall back on “second-tier” celebrations, for better or (usually) worse. One “holiday” they are especially fond of is January 3rd's Fruitcake Toss Day which coincides (coincidentally?) with Humiliation Day. We have barely recovered from Bean Day on the 6th before it's time for Bubble Bath Day on the 8th. Play God Day (January 9) has been permanently banned in the Cataloging Cave, but the 10th's Peculiar People Day is always a good time. The less said about Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day on the 12th the better, likewise the 14th’s Dress Up Your Pet Day -that may be the next day we have to ban. National Popcorn Day (19th) and National Pie Day (23rd) seem to lead naturally into National Kazoo Day, January 28th. 
Be sure to join us.

Bring a bib. And ear plugs.

You can see our new Bookin'! #8 right here !