Born Emanuel Julius in Philadelphia in 1889 of Jewish immigrants, he adopted his first wife's name (Haldeman) as part of his own. His career began as a newspaperman but his biggest impact on society came as a publisher of“Little Blue Books” and “Big Blue Books” from his home in Girard, KS. Published in cheap format at cheap prices (five cents for many years), the books included classics of literature (e.g., “Rubáiyat of Omar Khayyam,” “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”), socialist tracts, self-education books (e.g., “Chemistry Self-Taught,” “Italian Self-Taught,” “Sociology Self-Taught”), works of philosophy and and religion, and solicited pieces by Will Durant, Clarence Darrow, Margaret Sanger, and others.

“Within [his first] ten years [as a publisher] Haldeman-Julius had sold 150 million copies of 1,500 different titles; at his death in 1951, he had sold 500 million copies” (ODAB).

This first installment of his memoirs is full of reminiscences of people he knew, worked with, and aided: Carl Sandburg, Oscar Ameringer, Jack Johnson (the boxer), Jack London, Clarence Darrow, and others. All. yes indeed, before his 26th birthday.

In the series: Big blue book no. B-788.

•  Publisher's wrappers (stapled), as issued. Fine.  (35445)

Born Emanuel Julius in Philadelphia in 1889 of Jewish immigrants, he adopted his first wife's name (Haldeman) as part of his own. His career began as a newspaperman but his biggest impact on society came as a publisher of“Little Blue Books” and “Big Blue Books” from his home in Girard, KS. Published in cheap format at cheap prices (five cents for many years), the books included classics of literature (e.g., “Rubáiyat of Omar Khayyam,” “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”), socialist tracts, self-education books (e.g., “Chemistry Self-Taught,” “Italian Self-Taught,” “Sociology Self-Taught”), works of philosophy and and religion, and solicited pieces by Will Durant, Clarence Darrow, Margaret Sanger, and others.

“Within [his first] ten years [as a publisher] Haldeman-Julius had sold 150 million copies of 1,500 different titles; at his death in 1951, he had sold 500 million copies” (ODAB).

This second installment of the memoirs is replete with bibliographical information on the publication dates and print runs of the Big and Little Blue Books and personal information about authors Haldeman-Julius knew and worked with.

In the series: Big blue book no. B-814.

•  Publisher's wrappers (stapled), as issued. Fine.  (35446)

With the present letter, Hale notifies an unidentified recipient of a planned meeting for an Ithaca church subscription committee, by way of a clearly written note on his Roxbury, MA, letterhead. This very nice example of his signature (here, “Edw. E. Hale”) on his stationery is also a pleasing reminder of the great author's commitment to good works throughout his life.

•  Creased along original folds, one lower corner creased acriss. Excellent bit of Hale memorabilia.  (36715)

Provenance:  Ink signature of Minnie L. Fitcham dated August 1899 on front endpaper.

•  American Travellers Abroad H13.   Bound as above, spine lightly faded, slight rubbing on corners and edges. One leaf with bit of lower corner torn away, not approaching text; one gathering (only) gently age-toned. A sweeping 19th-century European and North African travelogue, engagingly bound.  (35951)

“Your Brother has just called with this album, in which, he tells me, it is your wish that I should write something.

I am so much flattered by your request that I lose no time in complying with it: but I am much at a loss what to say that shall deserve a place in so gay a book — & in such good Company.

But as it becomes every well bred lion to roar for the entertainment of the company when he is bid — whether he be in a growling mood or not — I take up my pen accordingly.

Yet I daresay you will often have the mortification of hearing the visitors to this your 'menagerie' exclaim — 'Well! I am sure I never saw such a stupid wild beast before — I dont [sic] believe he is a real lion after all — I have heard many a donkey make quite as good an exhibition!'”

Hall (1788–1844) was a Scot, a naval officer, and author of several accounts of voyages and travels including Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea and the Great Loo-Choo Island in the Japan Sea (1818), Extracts from a Journal Written on the Coasts of Chili, Peru, and Mexico in the years 1820, 1821, 1822 (1824), and Travels in North America in 1827–28 (1829). Miss Walsh (b 8 July 1812) was the daughter of Robert Walsh (Philadelphia lawyer and abolitionist) and Anna Maria Moylan Walsh (who died in 1826).

Provenance:  The Walsh album sold at Anderson Galleries 28 Nov. 1921 (sale 1609) as lot 60. Later in the Allyn K. Ford Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, recently deaccessioned.

•  Very good condition.  (34491)

As Hall writes that he will be easy to find because he is “about as well known here — though I hope in a different spirit — as in Yankee Land,” we date the letter to some time shortly enough after publication of Travels in North America for oblique reference to its angry reception there to be both natural and “fresh”; and, indeed, we wonder if his correspondent is American?

Provenance:  Ex–Allyn K. Ford Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, recently deaccessioned.

•  Very good condition. Old folds, a few spots of pale tea-colored stains. Written in a pale ink that is yet quite legible.  (33346)

•  Publisher's paper boards. Covers rubbed and soiled, spine chipped. Light foxing. Complete.  (6087)

•  Contemporary speckled sheep, spine with gilt-stamped leather title label; spine and edges lightly rubbed. Occasional pencilled marginalia and emphasis marks, confined to the first half of the work. (12103)

•  Richmond, Shaker Literature, I, 764; McKinstry, Andrews Shaker Collection, 261.   Evenly age-toned; corners bumped and lightly soiled.  (27502)

Binding:  Blue publisher's cloth, spine stamped in gilt with fancified title and partly arabesque design, covers decoratively framed in blind.

•  Not in Faxon, nor Thompson, American Literary Annuals & Gift Books; for another year, see Tepper, American Gift Books & Literary Annuals. (Second edition), p. 100.   Bound as above, recently well rebacked with original spine laid on and new endpapers, gently rubbed, small sticker on spine. Light age-toning and foxing (especially around the frontispiece as usual), with occasional other spotting or staining (some perhaps in press); a sound copy representingan interesting phenomenon in marketing.  (37262)

Provenance:  Inscribed to a Philadelphia social club “from the President & Fellows of Harvard University,” signed by Josiah Quincy.

•  American Imprints 1772 & 7465; Sabin 30729 (vols. 1–3) & 30730 (maps).   Publisher's quarter cloth and tan paper–covered sides, spines with printed paper labels; worn and soiled/stained but sound, with spines sunned and front lower outer corner of vol. I chipped. Ex–social club library: 19th-century bookplates, endpapers with call number, rubber-stamp on title-pages and a few others, no other markings. Front free endpaper of vol. I with inked inscription as above.  (26904)

During the heyday of the fine press movement in America, theGrabhorns printed this handsome edition in 240 copies with illustration and title-page vignette drawn and then hand-colored by the indefatigableValenti Angelo.

•  Heller & Magee, Grabhorn, 93; BAL 7720; Clark A18.31.   Publisher's quarter vellum with gold and blue patterned paper sides. In its slipcase, a bit darkened at edges. Unopened copy save one fold to show illustration; a fine copy.  (33532)

•  BAL 7841.   Publisher's tan cloth, front cover with affixed color-printed paper illustration; binding somewhat darkened (especially spine), corners and spine extremities rubbed, a few small spots of discoloration to front and back covers. Front pastedown with pencilled gift inscription, front free endpaper with bookseller's small ticket. Pages clean. A very nice book. (20839)

The text was edited by Caroline Ticknor and the volume wasdesigned by Bruce Rogers.

Issued in an edition of 440 copies, 400 of which were for sale. This is copy 158: It retains the prospectus and the spare label.

•  Work of Bruce Rogers 199; Warde 102.   Publisher's brown paper–covered boards. A fine copy, uncut and unopened.  (31244)

Thomas's monograph describes earwigs, cockroaches, devils-horses, walking-sticks, grasshoppers (this category including locusts), and crickets, and is illustrated with a few in-text wood engravings in addition to the lithographed plate (done by W.H. Holmes) showing 17 different U.S. insects. This copy is uncut and unopened.

•  Schmeckebier, Catalogue & Index of the Publications of the Hayden, King, Powell, & Wheeler Surveys, 21.   Period-style quarter tan cloth with light blue paper–covered boards, spine with printed paper label. Title-page institutionally rubber-stamped; title-page and half-title with outer margins repaired. Page edges untrimmed, signatures unopened. Spots of staining to outer margins of a few leaves. In fact a nice copy.  (25282)

•  Publisher’s cloth, covers framed in blind, spine with gilt-stamped title; front cover with discoloration to upper edge and small bump to outer edge, cloth rubbed along edges and joints, spine scuffed. Front pastedown institutionally rubber-stamped. Pages and plates clean, and the large volume quite solid.  (19652)

Binding:  Publisher's very bright blue cloth, front cover with overall oak-and-acorn and geometric pattern stamped in gilt and black, with decorative title and sun vignette, spine similar. All edges gilt.

•  Binding as above, slightly cocked, extremities lightly rubbed; sewing of first signature loosening. Four leaves with short tear in upper margin, not touching text; several more creased across one corner; one page with light smudges, pages otherwise clean. A simultaneously disturbing and amusing look at quack medicine of the 19th century.  (35120)

Present here is an early U.S. edition of the first series; two series were published, the first in 1847–49 and the second in 1859. Much of the second volume of this series is dedicated to the question of slavery.

•  Allibone 818. On Helps, see: Dictionary of National Biography online.   Publisher's blind-stamped brown cloth, spines with gilt-stamped title; moderate rubbing most noticeable at vol. I spine head, and vol. II with strip of dark cloth tape at head of spine extending onto sides. Ex–social club library: front pastedowns with 19th-century bookplate and call-number sticker, front free endpapers lacking, title-pages pressure-stamped, no other markings. Pages age-toned, with intermittent spots of staining and light pencilled bracketing.  (26412)

•  Original paper-covered boards, spine reinforced with cloth tape, front and back covers faintly pressure-stamped by a now-defunct library, spine with inked title and paper shelving label. Front pastedown with bookplate; title-page and several others perforation-stamped. A rough copy that's definitely been tumbled — very interesting contents, however! (3939)

•  Laced together with a silk ribbon. Some browning, especially adjacent to ribbon and wafer; and a few tiny tears in edges. Short closed tears along the folds, without loss.  (8635)

•  Laced together with a silk ribbon. Some browning, especially adjacent to ribbon and wafer.  (8634)

Many of the 52 lithographed plates are in duotone; some were done by Ackerman Lithography and some by P.S. Duval & Co., after views of scenery, buildings, and natives drawn by Lieut. Gibbon.

Two volumes of maps, not present here, were issued separately.

•  Sabin 31524; Palau 113897. Publisher’s textured cloth, covers blind-stamped, spine with gilt-stamped title; vol. I with spine sunned and cloth chipped at spine extremities; vol. II with corners bumped, cloth peeling away from spine and chipped at spine extremities, spine with gilt dimmed and small area of unobtrusive discoloration from now-absent label. Front pastedowns each with pencilled owner’s name and institutional rubber stamp (no other markings); front free endpaper of vol. II starting to tear along inner margin. Mild to moderate foxing and spotting; a few text gatherings unopened. One plate in vol. I with short tear from outer margin, turning into a narrow scrape extending about halfway into the upper portion of the image; one leaf in vol. II with tiny portion (less than one word) affixed to opposing plate. Not a perfect set, but a perfectly fascinating one.

Provenance:  Ex–Franklin Institute Library (its on-site sale 1986) with its bookplate, lending rules, and stamps.

•  Publisher's pebbled brown cloth, stamped in blind and gilt on front cover and gilt on spine; top of spine pulled with a chip. Fore-, top, and bottom edges of book and all odd-numbered pages with the library's stamp, and even-numbered pages with offset from the stamps; titIe-page and one other leaf with a perforation-stamp.A testament to why 19th-century librarians were so often called enemies of books.  (35448)

Provenance: Front pastedown with bookplate of Burton W.F. Trafton, Jr.’s library at Old Fields in South Berwick, ME; pastedown also with binder’s ticket from Crawford & Stockbridge of Concord, NH. Front fly-leaf with inked gift inscription dated Christmas, 1887.

•  Publisher’s brown cloth, front cover with gilt-stamped title and dark brown–stamped decorative bands, bottom band labelled “Christmas 1887"; corners and spine extremities rubbed, binding showing very little wear otherwise. First two signatures with sewing loosening; pages very slightly age-toned but otherwise clean.  (13883)

Neat gift inscription on front free endpaper: “Mollie, with Ada's love. 898.”

•  Publisher's light blue cloth, front cover stamped in silver with images of the Washington Monument and the Capitol; author's name and title of work stamped in in gold within silver cartouches. Light wear to edges of boards and a little spotting; a Very Good copy.  (37010)

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Signatures separating; very lightly age-toned; quite clean.  (8861)

Provenance: With a tipped-in, printed slip reading “With the kind regards of The Author.”

•  Publisher's purple cloth, front cover and spine gilt-stamped; spine and edges sunned, back cover with its double layer of cloth partially torn through the top layer (interesting, as to binding structure). Front pastedown with institutional bookplate, preliminary leaf with early inked ownership inscription and pressure-stamp of a religious institution, title-page with small rubber-stamp. Pages clean.  (20829)

SPECIAL INTEREST SPOILER ALERT! One character here is revealed as having what we would now call agambling addiction, the presented details of which are timeless . . .

Provenance:  Front free endpaper with inked ownership inscription: “George G. Jayne [/] 1906.”

Binding:  Publisher's straight-grained green cloth, front cover with gilt-stamped title and decorative stylized iris motif, spine similarly gilt-stamped, back cover with blind-stamped publisher's mark.

•  BAL 8694 (state 1).   Binding as above, slightly cocked, mildly rubbed; without the d/j. Inscription as above. Two pages with spots of light staining. A nice copy of an (unusually!) bank-related love story.  (35377)

Presentation copy: This copy inscribed “To Sister Mary Jane / Best wishes / J. Edgar Hoover / Xmas 1958.”

•  Publisher's cloth, dust jacket in protective sleeve taped to covers; dust jacket with minor scuffing at corners and spine extremities, one crease to back, price clipped. Front pastedown with institutional bookplate; endpapers with offsetting from tape. Pages clean.  (24821)

Despite Hope's having been English and even knighted, this work was apparently never printed in England.

Binding:  Publisher's red cloth, front cover with gilt-stamped title and blind-stamped garden design, spine with gilt-stamped title. Signed binding: Front cover with monogram of a J crowned with E (unidentified designer).

•  Binding as above, cocked, with minimal rubbing to extremities. Front free endpaper with inked gift inscription dated Christmas 1904. A few corners bumped, one torn away. Pages very clean. A bright, pretty copy.  (29132)

Horden's approach here is rooted in descriptive grammar and is expressed in terms of classic Latin-based structure. He urges his language-learning students to begin with his grammar, but to “use the living voice of the Indians as much as possible” as their guide (p. vi).

•  Pilling, Algonquian, 237; Newberry Library, Ayer Indians, Cree-73 (giving incorrect page count); Pilling, Proof-Sheets, 1853; Evans 090; Banks p. 40; NSTC 0353034. Not in Vancil, Cordell Collection.   Publisher's green cloth with modest decoration and “Cree Grammar” stamped in black; dark grey discoloration (smoke?) to spine and adjoining one inch on each cover. Text block edges darkened, discoloration to endpapers, fly-leaves, and occasionally another page, with a slim crescent of grey to top of title page. Otherwise, occasional foxing only and a good, sound copy.  (34349)

•  BAL 9401. Green publisher's cloth, front cover stamped in white and gilt, spine with gilt-stamped title; clean and solid, with only very slight traces of wear to extremities. Front free endpaper with inked owner's name.  (16665)

•  Two cards with upper right corners chewed, by something very small; six others with barely perceptible damage to same area; all is otherwise clean and crisp. A charming and attractive set of dire warnings.  (36716)

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Sewing holes in inner margins.  (156)