the live dolls' house party

this book is one in a series. the author has written other books such as, the story of live dolls and so on (* see list below). it's a lovely book...with beautiful and under-stated illustrations by virginia keep.

the live dolls' house party by josephine scribner gates
first edition, 1906, the bobbs-merrill company, indianapolis
illustrated by virginia keep

*
the story of live dolls
more about live dolls
the doll that was lost and found
the story of the lost doll
the story of the three dolls
the live dolls' house party
the live dolls' busy days
the live dolls' play days
the april fool doll
the secret of the live dolls
the live dolls' party days
the book of live dolls
the live dolls' in fairyland
the live dolls' in wonderland

the bear facts

i picked up this book thinking it was a children's book full of facts about bears...what i got what a clever not-so-subtle "fable" all about cold war politics! this is such a very interesting book.

the illustrations are so well done in a painterly/comic book style by paul fennell.

the author's statement,
any resemblance in this fable to any person, place or thing is purely coincidental and just the result of your imagination. and mine!
...as well as, her dedication,
this book is dedicated to all alert air-minded americans to all the men who build our planes and all the flyers who man them and particularly to the rawest recruit of them all, my son, roger conant culbertson
are poignant and really show her passion on the subject.
political books aren't very interesting to me, partly because, politics aren't that interesting to me...but i do find this book a valuable bit of americana.

the bear facts by polly culbertson
first edition, 1948, the john c. winston co., philadelphia
illustrated by paul j. fennell

take a peek at another interesting political book (with a totally different viewpoint) posed as children's book here.

typewriter town

this is a rare children's book all written and illustrated using a typewriter. it's an analog celebration!

typewriter town: the nonsense of nonsense by william jay smith
first edition, 1960, e.p. dutton & co.

collections

i've been getting emails asking if i sell books...and the answer is "i do!" i don't usually sell the books that i feature here on rad library because i don't want this to be a commerce blog, but rather an expression of my love for these books. i will be featuring from time to time though, books that i sell, although primarily because i sell books that i think are beautiful or wonderful in some such way. these collections are an example of that.

i've seen very few book covers as beautiful as great pictures described by great writers...the design is just fabulous, and with very little fading too. one of the pleasures of collecting and resourcing books is the little gems that are sometimes tucked within, such as this pressed plant. it's fun to imagine how it found its home here, on a walk in a park, maybe a gift from a friend.
both of these books are rare and great references for the cerebrally inclined. last image is the second book.

great pictures: as seen and described by great writers
edited and translated by esther singleton
rare and letterpress printed, 1901, dodd, mead and co., new york

lectures on the history of english literature by professor william marvel nevin, ll.d.
edited by rev. theodore appel, d.d.
a memorial volume, 1895, intelligencer printing office, lancaster, pa
rare and letterpress printed

uncle tom's cabin

rare edition of harriet beecher stowe's uncle tom's cabin: or life among the lowly...

uncle tom's cabin by harriet beecher stowe
1893, f.t. neely, chicago