SilverCrow Creations - Books

SilverCrow Creations Books

Vintage Flash World Library Book: Hairdressing at Home from Shampoo to Comb-Up

Books like these are now a bit smaller and found at the check-out lanes at the grocery. We're not sure where this book was first sold, but we are sure that it's quite interesting - and, believe it or not, still informative. Some of the older techniques are quite useful today - especially the "setting your hair" portion, which has some clever tricks to add body to lifeless locks.

The back reads:

It is a dream to think that you could always have a good coiffure. Well, not, it's a reality, since you can use curling irons, blow combs postiches and wigs. Also it is not difficult for you to learn the technique of setting the hair and the art of the comb-up. Then you will always look impeccable, as if you have just come out of the hairdresser's, thanks to...

FLASH WORLD LIBRARY FOR MODERN LIVING

Book F39F in the library, Hairdressing at Home from Shampoo to Comb-Up, was published in 1970, so we're not guaranteeing any the techniques that are offered, but it is like any other self-help book - it's up tot he reader to decide.

This 4 inch by 4-1/2 inch by 1/4 softbound book is in pretty good condition for its age. Some of the binding adhesive is loose and the original 50¢ price has been altered to .25. These are old, unsold store stock that we found in Cleveland, Ohio.

There are some interesting illustrations and references to other books from the Flash World Library. With over 150 pages of advice, and tons of illustrations typical to the 1960s and 1970s, we're sure you'll enjoy this.

Some of the chapters are:

Make a Check-Up of Your Hair and Avoid Damage
Make Sure You Know How to Choose Shampoo, Conditioner, Lacquer
Your Own Coiffure
The Right Accessories
Cheating a Little with Wigs & Hairpieces & Tricks
Thinking About Others

Books from this era of this type were expected to be tossed out after use, so they are few and far between, especially in this fine condition!

Printed in Belgium

20July2011

Vintage Item, Limited Availability

Price: $4.50 each

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Don't: A Manual of Mistakes & Improprieties more or less prevalent in Conduct & Speech à La 1880

More Reproduction Documents

Subtitled: Improprieties more or less prevalent in Conduct & Speech, this delightful 112-page paperback was originally published in 1880. It is reproduced in authentic style, and is in its 15th printing - although as it is a facsimile reproduction, its cover tells us it is the 2nd edition. Over 150,000 copies sold!

The instructions within are such as:

Don't decorate your shirt front with egg or coffee deposits.

Don't drink from your saucer.

Don't play the accordion ... to excess.

Don't forget to raise your hat to every lady acquaintance you meet.

Don't fail to heed all the Don'ts in this little book.

Perhaps you think the injunctions are not needed in your care. This is true of many of them no doubt; but the rest of us are not perfect in manners any more than anything else.

Printed in England

SilverCrow Classic, Updated 17August2011

Price: $12.75 each

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The Favourite book of Fables

First published in 1890 the fascinating collection of 117 fables from The Wolf And The Lamb to The Archer And The Lion. Each story is quite short - ready for bedtime reading. And many of the stories are illustrated with fine line drawings. Each fable, of course, ends with its own moral. One of our favorites:

Necessity is the mother of invention.

This lovely 128-page hardback volume is truly a keepsake. It measures 19.0 x 13.5 cm, with 51 illustrations. You'll want one for yourself as well as for any child you know!

Printed in England

SilverCrow Classic

Out of Stock

Price: $18.50 each

Book: Union Pacific Railroad: Across the Continent West from Omaha, Nebraska. 1868.

More Travel & Transportation

More Reproductions

This report was originally published in 1868 on the progress of the Pacific Union Rail Road, west from Omaha, Nebraska. It lists everything from the officers of the company through the costs, the benefits and the connecting roads. There are some really great timely illustrations and the chapter titles feature beautiful calligraphy of the times.

On the back, it features an advertisement for the purchase of their mortgage bonds at $1,000 each - imagine! That would be approximately $15,800 each in 2010 dollars!

There are clear and concise descriptions of the difficulties encountered during the construction and their are accounts from many sources from company men to reporters.

Though its aim was to raise mortgage bonds for the company, it reflects the vitality and drive typical of the American spirit, where anything is possible.

This facsimile reproduction is in paperback form, printed clearly on its 48 pages. The book measures 8-1/4 inches by 5-7/8 inches

Printed in England

11July2011

Price: $9.50 each

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Struwwelpeter in English Translation

More Stuff for Kids

More German Items

First published in 1845, Struwwelpeter (variously translated as "slovenly" or "shock-headed" Peter) has become widely recognized as one of the most popular and influential children's books ever written. Heinrich Hoffmann was a Frankfurt physician. Unhappy with the dry and pedagogic books available for children at the time, he wrote and illustrated Struwwelpeter as a Christmas present for his 3-year-old son. The book relates in verse and pictures the often gruesome consequences that befall children who torment animals, play with matches, suck their thumbs, refuse to eat, fidget at meals, etc.

Written in rhyming couplets and illustrated by the author, the book was an immediate success. It has since gone through hundreds of editions and been published in almost every European language. The present volume reprints 25 color plates from a German edition (including a bonus plate done for the 100th edition in 1876) with the reset text of a standard English translation. Also included are the full German text and an afterword with a brief biography of the author and note on how the book came to be written.

Children, bibliophiles, antiquarians - any lover of time-honored tales for children - will welcome this new edition of the classic German story.

This 1995 republication of 25 color plates from Der Struwwelpeter oder lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder für Kinder von 3-6 Jahren (328th printing) plus reset text from Struwwelpeter. There are 32 pages in this large soft back book with tremendous color illustrations!

Printed in USA

15March2010

Out of Stock

Price: $6.95 Each

History of the American Steam Fire-Engine

More Firefighting

More Historical Reproduction Documents

The steam-powered pumps first brought into use on fire engines in the early 19th century seemed like miracles of modern technology. Before that, the pumps had been operated by hand - yielding such weak streams of water that sometimes the engines were destroyed by fire because their short range made it necessary to move them close t the flames. No wonder that steam fire engines - when they began to be supplanted by newer technology at the century's end - were referred to by firefighters as "good and faithful servants."

This volume, first published over a century ago, includes more than 100 rare illustrations of 70 of these antique fire fighting vehicles - beginning with the very first steam fire engine, the "Novelty," built by George Braithwaite in London in 1829. Other intriguing, picturesque machines include Braithwaite's "Comet," built for the King of Prussia in 1832; the Manhattan No. 8 of New York City, built by Lee & Larned; the Hurricane No. 13 of Philadelphia, by Chapman; the Northern Liberty No. 8 of Boston, by Jucket & Freeman; and many more.

Detailed descriptions include information on const, construction, water capacity, and other data for each engine. The result is a fascinating chronicle that will delight transportation and fire fighting buffs and will be invaluable to artists and craftspeople in need of authentic, copyright-free period illustrations.

This is an unabridged republication of the edition published by the author in 1896. Over 100 black-and-white illustrations.

Printed in USA

10May2011

Price: $14.95 Each

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Great Speeches of the 20th Century

More Famous People

A great speech can stir the soul - and move a nation. This compact and affordable anthology gathers complete speeches and selected excerpts from some of the twentieth century's most memorable addresses. Writers and speakers in search of memorable quotations will appreciate this collection, as will any reader seeking historical wisdom and inspiration.

Featured speakers include Winston Churchill, rousing the British to defend their lives and homes against the Nazis; Mohandas Gandhi, advocating non-violent resistance to deplorable living conditions; and FDR, calming the nation's fears during the Great Depression. Additional orations include those of Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Regan, Elie Wiesel, Emma Goldman, the Dalai Lama, César Chávez, Harvey Milk, Ralph Nader, Mother Teresa and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

There are 43 entries from the 20th century and an appendix with 2 from the 21st century.

Printed in USA

12February2011

Out of Stock

Price: $3.50 Each

Weird & Wonderful: Discoveries from the Mysterious World of Forgotten Children's Books

More Stuff for & about Kids

Tom Robbins (Even Cowgirls get the Blues) exclaimed,

Thanks to Weird & Wonderful, I now know what one book I would take with me to a desert island.

The delightful result of many hours spent looking through old children's books, Weird & Wonderful is a collection of images that are eccentric and puzzling, that both baffle and charm the viewer. Biographical details are included where available, as is source material for each image. The whole is a visual treat and loving tribute to the art of the old-fashioned picture book!

A few, outside the field of the picture book, who embody the spirit of Weird & Wonderful are:

Preston Sturges * Glen Baxter * The Leningrad Cowboys
Salvador Dalí * Mark Fidrych * Alexander Scriabin * Prince
William Blake * Quentin Crisp * Zandra Rhodes * The Sitwell Family
Nikola Tesla * Oscar Wilde * Björk * Howard Huges * Frank Zappa
Philip Treacy * Tim Burton * Hieronymus Bosch * Erik Satie

You'll have hours and hours of fun with this book. There are little pieces of stories and stories that are pictures and pictures that are stories.

Compiled, edited, treasured and touched by the famed pseudonymic Welleran Poltarnees, this tremendous little softcover book will pay for itself over and again. Welleran Poltarnees characterizes himself as "a normal, perhaps boring, member of the human race." Most would not agree with his assessment. Poltarnees spends his life searching for the memorable image. This search leads him to a relentless siege of garage sales, auctions, libraries, flea markets and antique stores. He has collected thousands of picture books, old and new. Poltarnees collects useful elephant objects, plastic charms, Jai-alaina, wooden rulers, cloth animals, children's card games and more. He has seven children, each with an exotic name. He is more comfortable in a suit than in casual dress. He loves the rain, usually wears a fedora, and attends more than one hundred classical music concerts a year!

Printed in China

28August2010

Price: $19.95 Each

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The Jumping Frog by Mark Twain (The Revenge Edition)

The full name of this fun reproduction book is:

THE JUMPING FROG
In English,
Then in French, then
Clawed back into
Civilized
Language Once
More by Patient
Unremunerated
Toil

"Smiley was surprised and disgusted, but he not himself doubted not of the turn being intended. The individual empocketed the silver, himself with it went, and of it himself in going is it that he no gives not a jerk of thumb over the shoulder - like that - at the poor Daniel, in saying with his air deliberate -
"'Eh bien! I no see not that that frog has nothing of better than another.'"

You would probably be hard-pressed to identify the author of the above passage as Mark Twain. And no wonder: this little bit of Twain's wit is part of a translation he made from a French translation of his celebrated Frog tale. The French translation was published in the Revue des Deux Mondes, the Review of Some Two Worlds, as Twain styled it. The re-translation Twain made into English was supposed bo be a clear demonstration of the French translator's incompetence. In any case, Twain, trusty tongue in cheek, obviously felt his re-translation to be the only suitable response to the ?French rendering of his inimitable tale. Certainly, the subtleties (such as they are) of the new English version will delight any language student.

But -alas and alack - imagine Twain's consternation (after having given his pitiable French imitator his just deserts) upon learning that the Calaveras County incident had been recorded in Greece two thousand years earlier. Can the reader believe it? do not confuse this book with the original story alone. It contains the original, the French "traduction," Twain's re-translation, and a wealth of reflection by Twain. It is the only "complete" Jumping Frog.

Unaltered and unabridged, this republication is of the original 1903 Harper & Brothers edition. There are 12 delightful illustrations by F. Strothmann in this 66 page 5-3/8 by 8 inch paperbound tome.

Printed in USA

19August2010

Out of Stock

Price: $4.95 Each

Æsop's Fables, Illustrated by Arthur Rackham (The Green Edition)

More Green Products

Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, an don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!

These simple allegories - abounding in paradoxes, ambiguities and ironies - embody great truths. Attributed to a legendary storyteller of ancient Greece, they speak to readers and listeners of all ages and cultures.

This enchanting edition of Aesop's morality tales features illustrations by one of our favorites, Arthur Rackham. His 13 full-color and 53 black-and-white images lend a perfect blend of humor and romanticism to the timeless fables.

An illuminating Introduction by G. K. Chesterton complements V. S. Vernon Jones' sprightly, concise and idiomatic translation.

This is a paperback unabridged republication of the edition published originally by William Heinemann, London, and Doubleday, Page & Co., New York in 1917.

This book is created as planet-friendly publishing: printed on recycled paper (text 10% and the cover 10%). This publication saved 15 trees; eliminated 1,437 pounds of air emissions; 6,925 gallons of water; and 421 pounds of solid waste eliminated.

Printed in USA

19August2010

Price: $17.99 Each

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Self-Working Rope Magic

For centuries, rope tricks have been the staples of the magician's repertoire. Surprisingly, many of the best ones are "self-working," meaning they do not require unusual dexterity or long hours of practice. This excellent guidebook, written by one of today's foremost authorities on magic, presents 70 of the best, most amazing self-working rope tricks ever devised - tricks that amateur magicians can master in a short time.

After a brief introduction and a section devoted to acquiring and preparing the proper ropes, Karl Fulves begins the book by introducing rope tricks based on simple overhand knots, slip knots and square knots. These are followed by such tricks as the Vishnu Rope Mystery and the Hindu Turban Mystery in the chapter entitled Cut-and-Restored Rope. In Ropes That Think, he demonstrates such fascinating maneuvers as Liar's Ropes and Séance. You'll also learn how to do a one-hand figure eight, perform a double-ring ceremony and present each routine with a professional flourish.

This fun publication is easy to read and follow and is loaded with illustrations (423 in all) by Joseph K Schmidt. It is a paperbound book with 160 pages, measuring 5-3/8 by 8-1/2 inches.

Printed in USA

1August2010

Price: $6.95 Each

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The Dance of Death with 41 Woodcuts - Reprint of the Unabridged 1538 Edition

More Day of the Dead Sundries

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

More Reprints & Reproduction Facsimiles

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543), best known now for his insightful portrait paintings, was better known in his own time for his varied and extensive graphic works, the most celebrated of them all was this - The Dance of Death. This work, from the woodblocks of collaborator Hans Lützelburger, was first published in book form in 1538.

We were stunned by the connection of such an old work and the works featuring the Days of the Dead today. We're also taken by the similarities between this theme and the themes in Alan Lightman's Einstein's Dreams.

The theme of the dance of death was a popular one of the 16th century. Holbein captured the feeling of death, the leveler, in its attack on all classes, both sexes and all ages. A stylized skeleton snatches the child from his mother's breast. The skeleton snatches, plays, tugs and cavorts throughout the rest of the book. The King, the Emperor, the Pope, the Cardinal must cease from their functions. The skull is thrust into the face of the astrologer. The hourglass runs out on the floor. Countess, Nun, Sailor, Pedlar, Senator are all stopped by the common force. 41 finely cut, highly detailed woodcuts capture the one motif - Memento mori - "Remember, you will die." Although the them is common, the variety of expressions, social groups, backgrounds, styles of dress, and architecture and calls to death are so varied that each one is unique in its power.

This edition is a reprinting of the unabridged 1538 edition. Besides the woodcuts, the book contains a prefatory letter y Jean de Vauzèle and various quotations, depictions and meditations on death, deaths of men and the necessity of death. A repeated series of the 41 woodblocks follows the reprinted work and contains English translations of the quotations and verses. Art historians and social historians will find this to be one of the best depictions of class life caught at its fateful moment. The collector will find this to be the finest reproduction of one of Holbein's major works.

Unabridged, unaltered reproduction of the 1538 edition of Les simulachres & historiees faces de la mort. The introduction is by W. L. Gundersheimer and English translations have also been added to this wonderful paperbound volume of 146 pages. It measures 5-3/8 by 8-1/2 inches.

Printed in USA

1August2010

Out of Stock

Price: $9.95 Each

Fables of Aesop with 50 Drawings by Alexander Calder

More Stuff for Kids

This wonderful volume brings into general circulation for the first time a rare edition of Aesop's Fables issued in Paris in 1931 and limited to only 665 copies. The book combines the 1692 translation of the Fables by English journalist Sir Roger L'Estrange with 50 drawings created especially as illustration for the tales by famed American sculptor, painter and illustrator Alexander Calder.

L'Estrange's 17th-century rendering of the fables is a delight to read, judged by The Cambridge History of English Literature "the best that we have." Calder's art needs no special introduction: his widely displayed "mobiles" and "stabiles" have won him international popularity. The drawings Calder executed for this book rank among his most imaginative creations.

Two hundred and one of the traditional fables are narrated here, including such all-time favorites as:

A Hare and a Tortoise
A Fox and Grapes
A Lyoness and a Fox
A City Mouse and a Country Mouse
A Swallow and a Crow (our favorite, of course)
A Fox and a Raven (another favorite)

and more

An entertaining volume for general readers, prized by literature students and art lovers alike, this is a book that should appeal to practically everybody.

This is an unabridged, unaltered republication of the first (1931) edition. There is a new publisher's note. The 124 pages boast 50 drawings by Alexander Calder. It measures 6-1/2 by 9-1/4 inches.

Printed in USA

29July2010

Out of Stock

Price: $8.95 Each

This is My Wish for You

Frequently one wishes to say to another, "I wish you the best of everything." This book delivers this message with power and sincerity. Welleran Poltarnees has taken Charles Snell's text and selected a painting or illustration for each wish, giving additional life to an already marvelous text.

We assert, without exaggeration, that this is the nearly perfect gift book. It is the smaller hardcover version of a book with the same title, measuring 4-1/2 by 6-1/2 inches.

This is a book created to be given. At its center is a poem by Charles Snell which was written for, and published in, 1914 as a small gift book. In it the giver, in a series of concrete images, extends the recipient many good wishes.

In the 48-page volume, Snell's words are presented within borders made by Daniel Maclise for a book entitled Moore's Irish Melodies, published in 1846. Selected images accompany each wish. These are made by a great variety of painters and illustrators, and range over more than 150 years.

This Is My Wish for You is in the tradition of ancient blessings, in which one tries, through the power of language, to throw a mantle of protection and beneficence over the receiver.

Printed in USA or Imported

30January2007

Price: $8.95 Each

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Inside Sample Close-Up

The twelve Terrors of Christmas by John Updike & Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey’s off-kilter depictions of Yuletide mayhem and John Updike’s wryly jaundiced text examine a dozen Christmas traditions with a decidedly wheezy ho-ho-ho.

1. Santa: The Man
Loose-fitting nylon beard, fake optical twinkle, cheap red suit, funny rummy smell when you sit on his lap. If he’s such a big shot, why is he drawing unemployment for eleven months of the year? Something scary and off-key about him, like one of those Stephen King clowns . . .

This long out-of-print classic is the perfect stocking-stuffer for any bah humbug. It is 32 pages, smyth-sewn casebound (hardcover) book, with jacket. Size: 4-1/4 by 5-3/4 inches- the perfect stocking-stuffer size for any scrooge (or Gorey fan!)

Printed in USA

18August2006

Out of Stock

Price: $9.95 each

Model Men - A Facsimile Reproduction of the Original 1847 Volume

More Reproductions

First published in 1847, this fun book will entertain and inform. If proof were needed that human nature remains constant the content of the book would be enough. As you might expect Model Men will appeal particularly to women starting with, The Model Husband. Here are the last few lines:

He lets the family go out of town once every year, whilst he remains at home with one knife and fork, sits on a brown holland chair, sleeps on a curtainless bed, and has a charwoman to wait on him. He goes down on Saturday and comes up on the Monday, taking with him the clean linen, and bringing back the dirty clothes. He checks the washing bills. He pays the housekeeping money without suspicion, and shuts his eyes to the "Sundries". He is very easy and affectionate, keeping the wedding anniversary punctually, never complaining if the dinner is not ready; making the breakfast himself if no one else is down; letting his wife waltz, and drink porter before company. He runs all her errands, pays all her bills, and cries like a child at her death.

The other model men covered in this charming little reproduction are: the model Bachelor, Son, Policeman, Waiter, Magistrate, Labourer, Agitator, MP (parliamentary minister), Debtor, the Friend, Fast Man, Clerks, Gentleman, Irish Speaker, Banker, Sponge, Lodger, Beadle, Omnibus Conductor, and a few others added at the end.

This little paper back book is a facsimile reproduction of the original. Its 50 pages are loaded with advertisements, black and white illustrations and lots of laughs!

Printed in England

01June2010

Out of Stock

Price: $14.50 each

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Thrift Edition)

One of the most popular and most quoted books in English, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was the creations of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), a distinguished scholar, mathematician and author who wrote under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Written for young readers buy enjoyed equally by adults, the wonderfully fantastic tale is credited with revolutionizing children's literature and liberating it form didactic constraints.

The story is deeply but gently satiric, enlivened with an imaginative plot and brilliant use of nonsense, as it relates Alice's adventures in a bizarre topsy-turvy land underground. There she encounters a cast of strange characters and fanciful beasts, including the White Rabbit, March Hare, Mad Hatter, the sleepy Dormouse and grinning Cheshire Cat, the Mock Turtle, the dreadful Queen of Hearts and a host of other unusual creatures.

Sir John Tenniel's complete original illustrations bring the story and all the characters to life in this beloved classic that has delighted readers and listeners since its first publication in 1865.

This unabridged paperbound edition is a republication of the edition published by the Macmillan Company, New York in 1898. There is a new introductory note and the 96 pages are loaded 42 wonderful black-and-white illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. The book measures 5-3/16 by 8-1/4 inches.

Printed in USA

29May1010

Price: $2.00 each

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Icon Revelation - Explanation & Understanding Icons

This gorgeous booklet is printed on high quality coated paper and is filled with stunning images of religious icons. The author, Sister Marie-Paul Farran, O.S.B., writes from the iconographer’s viewpoint about the spiritual and theological basis for the preparation of icons.

The volume offers you a better understanding of this ancient art form and its symbolic content. You will also be enriched by the deep personal spirituality that the author shares with her readers. This booklet has been published by Conception Abbey and features a double cover with seven full color reproductions of Sister Marie-Paul’s icons.

The original artwork is in the Monastère des Bénédictines du Mont des Oliviers in Jerusalem. The original was written in French and has been translated by Sister Matilda Handl, O.S.B.

Each booklet contains 24 pages and measures 5-3/4 by 8-1/4 inches.

Printed in USA

28May2010

Price: $4.25 Each

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Lyrics - Pathetic & Humorous from A to Z by Edmund Dulac

A treasure for readers and book lovers of all ages, this dazzling children's alphabet is graced by the work of Edmund Dulac, a preeminent twentieth-century illustrator. Dulac provides a limerick for each letter of the alphabet, in addition to twenty-four related illustrations of people and animals in whimsical situations.

Dulac possessed an endearing gift for caricature, and his use of jewel-toned, glowing colors adds vivid life to these fantasy images. A facsimile of an extremely valuable 1906 edition that was published by Frederick Warne & Co. of London, this volume faithfully re-creates the original publication's luminous splendor.

Although this was published after the Victorian Era officially ended with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, it retains some of the feel and sensibilities of the times.

This soft cover book measures 8-1/4 by 11 inches and boast 64 wonderful pages with wondrous illustrations.

Some entries are politically incorrect and may be offensive to some people. This is an exact facsimile of the original.

Printed in USA

27May2010

Price: $12.99 Each

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The Self-Destruction Handbook

This clever little paperback handbook (160 pages) is a tongue-in-cheek, very satirical little look at life from an author who describes himself as a Scotch-swilling, Marlboro-smoking, relationship-sabotaging MWM. He enjoys walks on the beach, literature and good food. He is looking for: a small but vehement cult following (Adam Wasson). His co-writer, Jessica Stamen is an SWF with a kind heart, questionable morals, and a history of Oprah-esque weight fluctuation. She is looking for: a man.

Welcome to the first book designed to help you not help yourself. Chapters include: • 12 Steps to a Drinking “Problem” • How to Lose Way Too Much Weight in 90 Days • Why Smoking is Cool -- And more!

As you travel down the road to self-destruction, let this hedonistic handbook be your guide. It may steer you wrong—in fact, it’s sure to do so—but when being wrong is this much fun, who wants to be right? You'll probably need a therapist if you follow any instructions in here!

Made in Asia

Retail: $12.00 Our Price: $10.00

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Small Facsimile Reproduction Book: The Language of Flowers

More Reproduction Documents & Facsimile Reproductions

First published in 1865 when flowers and their symbolic meanings played a more important part in life than they do today. The Victorians can teach us a lot about civility, beauty and manner and this little book is a great example of Victorian sensibility.

Most people know that a gift of red roses is a sign of love. But what about all of the other flowers, ferns, and other leafy living things?

The first section of this gives the names of over 680 flowers along with their meanings. Some examples:

Honeysuckle..........Generous & Devoted Affection
Endive..........Frugality
Peach..........Your qualities, like your charms, are unequalled

The second part associates the flowers to certain words, phrases and saying - over 550 of them, such as,

Maternal Love..........Moss
Curiosity..........Sycamore
I desire a return of affection..........Jonquil

Although this was originally produced in a larger format, every effort has been made to retain the charm of the original book, together with all the stains and blemishes of the 139 years it has survived.

The little book measures 4-5/16 inches by 3-1/16 inch and is filled with 104 pages that are loaded with illustrations. There is a 4-color paperback cover and frontispiece.

This just delightful book is perfect for a party favor at your next tea.

Printed in England

11March2010

Price: $11.25 Each

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The Inconvenience of Being Born by Amy Arbus

You'll buy this book for a gift for a new Mother or Mother-to-Be, and you'll reorder for yourself. This hardcover volume by Amy Arbus (daughter of photographer Diane Arbus) is an absolute delight.

In Amy Airbus's (sic) unlikely babies, something new has entered the world with the irreversible impact of raw feeling made visible. -Richard Avedon

This is not merely a book of baby pictures. the 49 tritone images in this 64-page hardcover represent the tincture of all life and more - joy, trauma, exhilaration, curiosity, torpor, love.

printed in USA

SilverCrow Classic, Updated 26October2011

Price: $24.95 Each

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The Black Cat Book

This delightful tome is masterpiece of design and cat humor by one of the greatest of book illustrators. Originally published in 1905, this is a book of great and nonsensical fun, full of cavorting (black) cats. Artist Charles Robinson shows what a master can do with black and red. And Walter Copeland's rhymes are sweet descriptions of ebony felines:

AS we think black cats better far
Than any other kind,
We've got together lots of them,
Which in this book you'll find.

This 48-page tall hardback book is loaded with illustrations and poetry and is a reprint of the 1905 original.

Printed in USA

6October2006, Re-Added 21February2010

Limited Availability - Out of Print

Price: $22.50 each

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Book: Spot the Differences - Art Masterpiece Mysteries - Book 1

How well do you truly know the great masterpieces of fine art?

In this book of 25 famous paintings, you will find anywhere from 6 to 14 changes that were made to the originals -from some very obvious differences all the way down to the tiniest little detail. The original painting and the one in which we have made changes are side by side, so you must inspect them both ever so carefully!

Just remember: the original work of art ALWAYS appears on the LEFT side! Use your keen observation skills to compare the two pages, and see if you can detect all the differences that appear on the right side of the page. As you discover the differences, remember to keep score by checking the boxes provided on each puzzle page.

Once you have finished strolling through this outstanding gallery of images, you may go to the end of the book to check your answers to the puzzles. Try not to peek, though, until you have tried your best to find all the changes! As you go along through the book, you'll learn exciting facts about each painting and its artist. This book is a wonderful and fun introduction to some of the world's greatest works of art.

Some of the artists included are Leonardo Da Vinci, Gustave Caillebotte, Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Albrecht Dürer, Jan van Eyck, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Martin Johnson Heade, Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, and more.

Made in USA

27January2010

Price: $9.99 each

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Reproduction Children's Book: Old Aunt Elspa's ABC

More Reproduction Documents & Books

We are quite taken with facsimile editions of books and documents. Such fun they are allowing us to pretend that we lived in a different time. And this charming Abecedarium is just so much fun. Originally published in 1884 in London and it's loaded with poems, ABC words and pictures that are quite eccentric:

Then: -
A For an Artist a
and
Alphabet too.

B For Birch-rod, b
a Bad Boy, and
Boo-hoo!

You need'nt look saucy
And shake up your curls,
For some o' these B's
Do as well for the Girls.

The tons of woodcuts are by Joseph Craw hall (1821-1896). His thick limed woodcut style was in stark contrast to contemporary printers of the time.

This stapled booklet is printed on 24 pages of tannish paper that makes it look old. This load of fun measures 8-1/4 by 7-3/4 inches.

Made in Peru

11January2010

Price: $7.85 Each

Qty:

The Book of Secrets

More Magic & the Metaphysical

You'll be amazed and in awe of this reprint of a remarkable book by Walter B. Gibson from about 1930. It unravels ancient mysteries and diagrams stage illusion so that you might repeat them yourself - indeed! It was written for the magic fancier of any age - and includes the added bonus of how-to chapters on card and sleight of hand tricks, but this master of the craft. From the preface of the book:

"The secrets of ancient miracles and modern magic have been thoroughly explained ... the reader is initiated in to the secrets of antiquity. He is told the methods of medieval wizards; and the secrets of modern wonders are disclosed to him ... In addition, instruction is furnished in sleight-of-hand and magic tricks are outlined so clearly that anyone may learn them."

It is loaded with wonderful full-page black and white illustrations - both charming and instructive - accompanying every trick.

Here's a short sampling of the tricks revealed:

The Talking Idol - The Electric Girl - The Indian Rope Trick
The Human Fly - Knife Throwing - Catching a Cannonball
The Ladder of Swords - The Bullet-Proof Man - Table Lifting
Snake Charming & much, much more....

This hardbound volume features metallic gold lettering on its cover and boasts 160 pages. It measures 7-3/4 by 10 inches.

Imported

24December2009

Limited Availability - Out of Print

Price: $24.95 each

Qty:

Pollock's Britannia Toy Theatre

Teatro de Mexico Also Available

This toy theatre was originally created for the children of 1836! This true-to-form reproduction has been recreated in the same manner today. It is easy to assemble and has a dialogue based on Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves for the cardboard characters to act out. The action takes place in ancient Baghdad. This toy theatre gives parents an opportunity to help their children understand the world as it was and how things have changed.

Playing with the characters and acting out the play can provide an unequaled learning experience for the kids and should give them as much pleasure as it did their great-great-great grandparents.

Printed in England

29October2006

Price: $16.75 Per Theater

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The Butter Battle Book

More Peaceful Products

This book was and is a favorite of our grandson, Grayson's - in fact, he needed several copies: one for home, one for here and one for somewhere else! Indeed, it is a favorite of ours as well.

First told by Dr. Seuss way back in 1984, the story of the Butter Battle is still an appropriate cautionary tale - a good lesson for every day life as well as for countries throughout the world. The story is told by a Yook grandfather, explaining why the Zooks are so terrible:

It seems that,

It's high time that you knew
of the terribly horrible thing that Zooks do.
In every Zook house and every Zook town
every Zook eats his bread with the butter side down!

The tale is told in cleverly cunning rhyme with that cadence we all love. And the young Yook child learns about hate and intolerance and reciprocal violence. Such a message is universal and for all time.

Printed in USA

09November2009

Price: $14.95 each

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The Lorax

More Green Products

Dr. Seuss first published The Lorax in 1971. Ahead of its time, the ecological warnings are still right on target over 35 years later. Helping children of all ages understand how dangerous it is to disregard our environment, The Lorax uses the mesmerizing poetry for which Dr. Seuss is so well known to hit an important subject head on. Despite the desolation that exists in the book, true to all of the good doctor's stories, there remains hope in the end.

This library bound hardback book has 72 pages full of classic Seuss illustrations.

Printed in USA

02November2009

Was: $14.95 Now: $12.00 each

Qty:

The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full Color Illustrations

This stunning treasury features full-page plates of the finest works by the famed English artist, Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). A leading figure in the early twentieth century's Golden Age of Illustration, Rackham interpreted scenes from such diverse material as fairy tales, Wagnerian opera and Shakespearean comedy. His memorable images, which combine whimsy, romance and sophistication, continue to enchant children and adults alike.

Magnificently reprinted from more than 25 rare early editions, these 86 illustrations were selected from hundreds of possibilities and include many plates that have not been reproduced in decades. They span Rackham's career from his landmark 1905 edition of Rip Van Winkle to masterworks such as Undine and A Midsummer Night's Dream and his final publication, Wind in the Willows in 1939. Most popular now are the illustrations from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland books.

Art lovers, book collectors and anyone with an appreciation for imaginative visual storytelling will prize this marvelous treasury.

There are 86 full-color plates from early editions in this gorgeous 96-page soft cover book.

Printed in USA

27May2010

Out of Stock

Price: 12.95 Each

Posada's Popular Mexican Prints

More Latino & Hispanic Selections

More Day of the Dead Sundries

Mexico's Festival of Communion with the Departed - Los Dias de Muertos, un Festival de Comunion con los Muertos en Mexico.

José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) was Mexico's illustrious graphic artist. For over forty years, he worked tirelessly as an incorruptible and truly popular artist, illustrating cookbooks and fortune-telling books, collections of songs and riddles, periodicals and newspapers, children's books and novels and most of all- the famous broadsides that were distributed throughout the country. After his death he was venerated by the new generation of artists -- Rivera, Orozco and many others, who realized that he had both saved and renewed the art of engraving in Mexico and who incorporated much of his imagery into their own work.

There are 273 reproductions of Posada's best engravings - all done for the printer & publisher A. Vanegas Arroyo in Mexico City. Along with the prints, you'll find explanatory notes and commentary, often with topical meaning to what otherwise appears vague or allegorical.

This softbound book is 156 pages and measures 8-3/8 by 11-1/4 inches

Printed in USA

SilverCrow Classic

Out of Stock

Price: $14.95 each

If You're Afraid of the Dark... - Two Books in One! by Cooper Edens

f You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow. If You're Afraid of the Dark, Add One More Star to the Night. Just the titles of these two books conjure dreams that come to young and old and fears divided.

If tomorrow morning the sky falls . . . have clouds for breakfast.
If you have butterflies in your stomach . . . ask them into your heart.

If your world has come undone . . . fasten it securely to the horizon.
If you're at the end of your rope . . . untie the knot in your heart.

Clouds for breakfast and butterflies in your heart—these are the unconventional solutions to life's problems offered in Cooper Edens' classic tale If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow and its long-awaited follow-up, If You're Afraid of the Dark, Add One More Star to the Night. This new edition combines both books into a single volume.

The magical words and pictures in this whimsical book still have the power to reveal the unexpected silver lining glistening in every gloomy cloud.

Manufactured in China

30October2009

Price: $14.95 Each

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William Blake: Songs of Innocence - Color Facsimile of the 1st Edition

More Reproduction Documents & Facsimiles

Songs of Experience by William Blake

William Blake's innovations in engraving techniques brought about his brilliant synthesis of visual and poetic art and signaled the beginning of his famous Illuminated Book, of which the Songs of Innocence was the first and most popular. Unfortunately, Blake's vision is generally known to the world in amputated form: because of the difficulty and expense of reproducing his original conception, most editions of Blake's work offer only the printed text with no trace of the visual counterpart so essential to his "system."

This new, facsimile edition of the Songs of Innocence reproduces Blake's color plates in a fashion which the artist himself would have approved. The 31 plates - printed on facing pages which are the same size as those of Blake's own first edition - offer one of the more brightly colored versions of this significant volume, no tow copies of which are the same. As a special aid to readers. a typographical reprint of the text of the poems follows the plates. Such classic songs as The Lamb and The Chimney Sweeper are now accessible to all in the symbiotic union of poem and picture that is crucial to a total understanding of Blake's mind and art.

There are 31 color plates and the complete printed text of the pomes in this 64-pge paperbound book that measures 5-1/14 by 7 inches.

Printed in USA

5April2009

Out of Stock

Price: $6.95 each

Miracle Juices™ Hangover Cures

Headache, feeling sick & shaking? Settle your stomach and rehydrate your body through the natural power of juices.

These remedies are fast and simple to prepare; they boost your health and vitality and they are tasty and nutritious. Recipes and pictures are included.

WARNING: If you think you may be an alcoholic, then the remedies in Hangover Cures will not be able to help you. Please seek help immediately. Alcoholics Anonymous has helped many people throughout the years. Please find an AA Meeting near you.

SAFETY NOTICE: Hangover Cures should not be considered a replacement for professional medical treatment; a physician should be consulted on all matters relating to health. While the advice and information in this book is believed to be accurate, the publisher and bookseller cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any injury or illness sustained while following the advice in this book. Worryingly, alcoholism affects one in ten people in the Western world. Those who drink to excess are putting themselves at risk from many conditions, including the following: stomach ulcers, colitis, decreased energy, liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal problems and short-term memory loss.

Printed in China

SilverCrow Classic

Price: $7.95

Qty:

Coin Divination

More Magic & Metaphysical

Now you can read fortunes anytime, anywhere - all you need are the coins in your pocket!

From the simplest single coin toss to the more complicated I Ching and tarot readings, you can use coin divination to answer any question or shed light on any dilemma, whether it involves career, love, family, money or health.

Practical and easy to use, Coin Divination includes many techniques for you to try:

Toss a single coin, two, three, or more
Use a coin as the planchette of a talking board
Work with five coins for numerology readings
Add an interesting twist to your readings by combining the coins with astrology, taro, dominoes or the I Ching

For reading fortunes anytime and anywhere, this handy pocket-book (measuring 6 by 5-3/8 inches, about 5/8 inch thick) is right on the money!

Author Raymond Buckland is a Romany Gypsy and a leading authority on the Old Knowledge. He is the author of many best selling books on fortune telling and rituals.

Printed in USA

22March2009

Out of Print, Limited Availability

Was: $9.95 Now: $8.00 Each

Qty:

Behind the Doors of San Miguel de Allende

More Latino & Hispanic Items

More House & Home

Robert de Gast crosses the thresholds of homes in San Miguel de Allende to create this gorgeous book of interiors of homes this historic Mexican town. He has also discovered their remarkable outdoor paradises - sunstruck, lushly colored courtyards, patios, and breezeways - that lay beyond the entry.

Come with de Gast as he guides you to parts of San Miguel visitors seldom see and offers glimpses into the daily lives and traditions of those who live in this unique place. Established in the sixteenth century as a Franciscan mission, the lovely town of San Miguel de Allende has been an art and artisanal center for nearly two centuries. Its cool summers and mild winters have more recently made it a popular destination for vacationers from North America and Europe.

A part-time resident of San Miguel since 1991, Robert de Gast is an award-winning photographer and a widely published writer. His avocations include hot-air ballooning, which he pursues in Mexico, and sailing, which he does for part of the year on the East Coast of the United States.

This lovely 96-page book measures 6-1/4 by 8-1/4 inches with 96 stunning full-color photographs. IT is a casebound book with a dust jacket.

Imported

25January2009

Price: $19.95 each

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The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain: A Book of Quotations

Renowned as a novelist, journalist and humorist, Mark Twain is not only one of the most most widely read and admired American writers, he is also among the most quoted. Wit and repartee permeate his work - from the short, light pieces to his great novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and even later, in dark meditations on the human condition where his humor takes on a cynical, satirical twist.

This remarkably inexpensive volume gathers together hundreds of Twain's most memorable quips and comments on life, love, history, culture, travel and a diversity of other topics that occupied his thoughts over 50 years of writing and lecturing. Among the quotations included here:

Barring that natural expression of villainy which we all have, the man looked honest enough.

He is now fast rising from affluence to poverty.

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

More than one cigar at a time is excessive smoking.

An invaluable, ready reference for writers, speakers and others in search of amusing and insightful quotes, this entertaining and thought-provoking compilation is also an ideal introduction to Twain's inimitable style and thought.

This wonderful paperbound volume measures 5-3/16 by 8-14/ inches and boasts hundreds of Mark Twainisms on its 64 pages.

Printed in USA

8January2009

Out of Stock

Price: $2.50 Each

The Truth About Easter Rabbits

More Easter & Spring

This very special pastel flavored book describes the many Easter Rabbits that live all around the world, their family life, the decorating of eggs in preparation for Easter and the methods they use to deliver them as gifts to the world’s children.

Illustrated with a rich abundance of imagery from old children’s picture books and Easter postcards, The Truth About Easter Rabbits is sure to delight all children and the many adults who appreciate the simple pleasures and customs of the Easter season.

From the beginning:

Clyde Bunn, an English rabbit, is a doctor.

Ernesto is a professional juggler who makes a living entertaining in parks.

Jeanette is a milliner who sells hats to fine lady rabbits.

These are the bunnies who bring Easter to us all! Although intended for children from 4 to 8 years, we suspect that children from 1 to 100 will be delighted with this 36-page hard cover volume. It measures just over 7 by 11 inches.

Printed in USA or Imported

6January2009

Was: $17.95 Now: $12.50 each

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Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

Indeed one of our favorite books, Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman is at once provocative and thought-provoking! We've bought so many of these as gifts, we thought we ought to start selling them ourselves! So, we are.

"Suppose time is a circle, bending back on itself..."

A modern classic, Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, when he worked in a patent office in Switzerland. As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds.

In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over. In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar.

Now translated into thirty languages, Einstein’s Dreams has inspired playwrights, dancers, musicians, and painters all over the world. In poetic vignettes, it explores the connections between science and art, the process of creativity, and ultimately the fragility of human existence. You must read this!

Printed in USA or Imported

Retail Price: $12.00 our price: $10.00 each

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Labour Saving Hints and Ideas for the Home

More House & Home

This delightful book was originally published in 1924 - combining more than 1,300 hints and ideas that were selected from over 30,000 entries that were submitted to a competition run in the early 1920s. Today the information can be regarded as informative, amusing and even just plain useful.

Do you know how to salvage burnt cakes, clean stained paintwork or sweeten a smoky atmosphere? Well look no further than this fascinating book originally printed in 1924 . . . full of very useful advice.
- Ideal Home

This is a great gift for a housewarming or for someone who has everything (almost)!

Now, we don't recommend any of these solutions ourselves, but some just might be worth trying:

After Peeling Onions. - A little mustard well rubbed into the hands will remove the odour.
Rusty Pen Nibs. - If pens are stuck into a potato when not in use, the nibs will not rust and the pens will always be in good condition.
Sewing Machine Hint. - When about to machine muslin or lace, tack a piece of tissue paper over it and then machine. The paper is easily torn away, and the machine needle will not catch in the muslin or lace.

This great little hardcover book measures 7-1/2 by 5-1/16 inches and boasts 258 pages.

Printed in England

18November2008

Price: $21.75 each

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The Eclectic Abecedarium, a Miniature Book by Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey’s first miniature book, The Eclectic Abecedarium is an illustrated adventure through the English alphabet, accompanied by rhyming couplets penned by the master Gorey, who described his creations as “literary nonsense.” Inspired by popular moral primers for children, Gorey created an updated version of Isaac Watts’ alphabetic aphorisms. Part sweet songs of unseen birds and part cautionary tales, this abecedarium fully lives up to the epithet “eclectic.”

Originally published as a miniature, limited edition book, The Eclectic Abecedarium has now been published for the first time as a trade book. There are 56 wonderful pages with 28 terrific color illustrations. This lovely little (4 by 5 inches) hardcase book arrives with a jacket.

Printed in China

14November2008

Out of Stock

Price: $9.95 each

What is it?

How's your eye for detail? In What is it? Ditz, a popular painter and photographer, presents a varied selection of her photography from around the world. You are first shown a carefully cropped-out section of each picture which will leave you guessing what it could possibly be.

Once you've thought about it you turn the page to see the whole image and find out if you were right. The photographs have been taken by Ditz both at home in England, and on her travels in USA and Europe.

This clever and quirky puzzler demands concentration and imagination, as the more than 200 photographs are designed to keep the guesses flying! The photographs gently remind us to take a new and closer look at everyday objects and celebrate the wonder and beauty that surrounds us.

We've seen lots of puzzles like this before, but this book is loaded with very special ones - what fun!!

This really thick soft cover book measures 6-1/2 by 6-3/4 and is loaded with pictures on its 416 pages. The printing is superb!

Printed in Malaysia

13October2008

Out of Stock

Price: $9.95 each

Cats - A Facsimile Reproduction book

First published in New York in 1909 this extraordinary book will delight all cat lovers with it's particular insight into the cat world. The amusing way it is written together with the superb illustrations make this a fascinating book to own or bestow upon a feline fancying friend.

This superbly produced trade-sized paperback contains 48 pages of stories, poems and even words composed of cat-letters!

Deadication:
To all the Cats that ever meowed
On this or any other Sphere,-
From the beginning of all time
Unto this present year;
...

Printed in England

Price: $11.75

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Tiny Bible Key Chain

More Shrine Supplies

More Key Chains

While we have not turned nor red every single page of this sweet little Bible, it seems that all, or at least most, of the Old Testament is really inside its diminutive covers. Not including the key chain itself, the little holy book measures about 1-3/4 inch high by 1-1/4 inch wide and barely 3/8 inch thick. There is a nice little self strap attached to the plastic cover. This holds the book closed when not in use.

Amazingly enough, the print inside is extremely clear, although we needed a pair of magnifying glasses and a pretty strong magnifying glass to read the contents.

You can remove the key chain and just keep the little Bible, if you prefer.

Imported

12September2008

Price: $3.25 each

Qty:

Fortune Telling Birthday Book with Classic Illustrations

More Fortune Telling & Metaphysical

Forget fortune cookies and crystal balls—this little book alone can predict the future for you and everyone you love! Harkening back to the 1930s, the nostalgic illustrations in the Fortune-Telling Birthday Book accompany a perennial calendar for you to keep track of (and interpret) the birthdays of your friends and family. Other traditions and folklore are also included - birthstones and their meanings, astrological signs, ideal mates, flowers of the month and anniversary symbols.

This lovely little book is covered in leatherette and includes a self-bookmark made of ribbon. The little hardcover measures 3-5/8 by 4-3/4 inches and includes 204 pp and loads of old-style 2-color illustrations.

Manufactured in China

9July2009

Out of Stock

Price: $9.95 Each

Fortune-Telling Book of Dreams

More Fortune Telling, Tarot, etc.

Aunt Sally's Policy Players Dream Book

Inspired by a vintage book, this delightful guide deciphers dreams to predict the future. It compiles over 1,000 dream symbols and reveals what they portend for the dreamer.

This gilded, faux-leather book is irresistible to pick up; its content is so compelling, it's impossible to put down. A blue silken ribbon, matching the cover, serves as a self-bookmark. Each alphabetic section is begun with a retro illustration that may even act as inspiration for future dreams.

Some sample interpretations:

AVOCADO
Expect your love life to ignite if you dream of this tasty green fruit.

DREAM
To dream in a dream is a sign of better times to come.

LIME
Troubled times are ahead if you dream of eating a lime.

PINECONE
Expect news of a birth if you dream of pinecones.

Even the descriptions are written in an old-fashioned style in this 204-page book, which measures 4-3/4 by 3-3/4 inches.

Imported

23April2008

Price: $9.95 each

Qty:

First French Reader: A Beginner's Dual Language Book

More Things French

This excellent anthology offers the beginning French-language student a first taste of some of the world's most significant prose. Chosen for both their eloquence and ease of reading, excerpts are from such masterpieces as:

Les Misérables
The Read and the Black
Madame Bovary
Carmen
The Three Musketeers
Descartes' The Discourse on Method

These readings - a total of 50 in all - will open new worlds for linguists. Readers will savor the words of fifty great writers of multiple genres from the 17th through the 20th centuries, including Voltaire, Rousseau, Balzac, Baudelaire, Dumas, Proust and other literary virtuosos.

Lucid and accessible, the unabridged English translations by Stanley Appelbaum appear on pages that face the original French text. Literature lovers, French-language students, and other readers will find this volume a fascinating exploration of French literature...and an invaluable aid to mastering one of the world's most romantic languages.

This wonderful paperbound publication includes an introduction and notes. It measures 5-3/8 by 8-1/2 inches with 240 pages.

Printed in USA

22April2008

Price: $11.95 each

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Do's and Don'ts of Yesteryear

A delightful mixture of early American know-how and good old-fashioned gentility, Eric Sloane's Do's and Don'ts captures the spirit of bygone America in words and pictures. Combining two of the beloved folk historian's nostalgic how-to guides, this collection offers vintage, homespun advice that recalls "the joy of doing things not just the old-fashioned way, but plainly the right way."

A shining historical gem, this little book of American lore recalls a more kindly, less hurried time. Lovingly gathered by "Mr. Americana" himself from colonial-era almanacs and diaries, hundreds of brief reflections spread time-honored wisdom on everything from curing hiccups, lighting a proper fire, and mending clothing and furniture, to predicting the weather, making soap and getting rid of ants, bees, swallows - and boring houseguests! Sloane's evocative drawings add the perfect finishing touch.

Here are a few examples from the book:

Do hammer a squared peg into a round hole when you wish a wood joint to stay. A hardwood stick, if partly squared, will soon "weld" itself in a round-holed softwood piece and stay tight throughout the years.

Do make a simple soap by using potatoes three-fourths boiled and then mashed. This not only cleans hands but also prevents winter chap.

Do roll newspapers into rolls by wrapping them with string. A Stack of these "logs" will do almost as well in your fireplace as real wood.

Don't contradict. Difference of opinion is no cause of offense, but downright contradiction is a violation of canons of good society.

Don't lean or rest your elbows upon the dinner table.

Don't be in haste to introduce. Be sure that it is mutually desired before presenting any one person to another.

This unabridged hardback book with dustcover is a republication of the editions published by Walker and Company, New York, 1968 and 1972. There are 144 pages in this 4-1/2 by 7 inch book.

Printed in USA

09April2008

Price: $9.95 each

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The Devil's Dictionary (Unabridged)

Born in Ohio in 1842, journalist, short-story writer and critic Ambrose Bierce developed into one of this country's most celebrated and cynical wits - a merciless "American Swift" whose literary barbs were aimed at folly, self-delusion, politics, business, religion, literature and the arts. In this splendid "dictionary" of epigrams, essays, verses and vignettes, you'll find over 1,000 pointed definitions. For example:

Congratulation - The civility of envy.
Coward - One who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs.
Historian - A broad-gauge gossip.
Me - The objectionable case of I.

Anyone who likes to laugh will love The Devil's Dictionary. Anyone looking for a bon mot to enliven their next speech, paper or conversation will have a field day thumbing through what HL Mencken called "some of the most gorgeous witticisms in the English language.

This unabridged book is a republication of the edition published by the Neale Publishing Company in 1911. There are 144 pages in this 5-3/16 by 8-1/4 inch paperback.

Cover design may vary.

Printed in USA

27March2008

Price: $3.50 each

Qty:

&

A French Alphabet Book of 1814

More Things French

The complete title reads:

A FRENCH ALPHABET BOOK OF 1814
for Alfred Bourdier de Beauregard
created by his uncle Arnaud
at the Château de Beaumont de Beauregard

This charming primer on the alphabet captures the essence of everyday life among the French aristocracy in 1814 in a uniquely detailed series of watercolor drawings made as an alphabet book for a young French aristocrat by his uncle.

The drawings give fascinating views of the family chateau and its grounds, its elegantly appointed interiors, the private chapel, as well as the kitchen, workshops, and stables. The boy's clothing and pastimes are all minutely illustrated as are his instruction in polite manners, music, and the arts. The pages are full of amusing puns and now obscured meanings-the French captions translated into the English of the period-preserving a life of enchantment and privilege which has long since vanished.

Charles Plante, who arranged this collection, is the director of Charles Plante Fine Arts, one of the leading British antique galleries specializing in watercolors, drawings and the decorative arts of the neoclassical period (1760-1840).

Made in Hungary

22March2008

Price: $24.95 each

Qty:

Toodles and Her Friends Book

More Puppies & Dogs

More Bunnies & Rabbits

More Kitties & Cats

Toodles, a tiny kitten and her bunny and puppy friends tell as story with a classically important lesson for us all.

Toodles wants a new jump-rope and learns that she won't appreciate it unless she earns it herself. On the way, she meets lots of friends, earns money, learns new tasks and helps some animal friends who need help.

The dedication:

Dedicated to all the little

kittens, puppies and bunnies who posed

for the pictures in this book.

The unusual nostalgic black and white photos of real kittens, puppies and bunnies were made possible only by patient unfailing kindness on the part of the photographer, Harry Whittier Frees, at all times.

If you plan on getting this for a youngster in your life, you might want to buy an additional one for yourself.

printed in China

SilverCrow Classic

Price: $7.50 Each

Qty:

The Male and Female Figure in Motion by Eadweard Muybridge

More of the Risqué and Taboo

Now artists, illustrators, photographers and scientists can have Eadweard Muybridge's rare, unparalleled true action photographs in an inexpensive paperbound edition. Sixty classic photographic sequences of the mail and female figure in motion, selected from the monumental original collection of 781, have been painstakingly reproduced on fine coated stock for clarity. These photos are taken from the original Animal Locomotion published in 1887. Most figures are nude.

Taken at speeds ranging up to 1/6000th of a second, incredibly precise images show undraped subjects against ruled backgrounds in countless actions, most from three angles: front, rear and three-quarter view. You'll find men boxing, hammering, heaving a rock, walking, running, leaping, climbing steps, carrying weights and playing baseball, cricket and football. Dozens of stopped-action photographs show women walking, turning kneeling, jumping, bending, dancing and dressing. and several sequences illustrate children in various typical activities.

No more complete study of the human body in action has ever been done. Countless split-second motions involved in even the simplest movements - the curling of toes, the shift of gravity centers, the tightening and relaxing of muscles - a myriad of subtle details that make drawings, paintings and animations come to life - are captured in these historic photographs.

Eadweard Muybridge's 19th-century masterpiece remains one of the greatest achievements of art and photography. Now this edition, unprecedented in publishing brings a superb selection of classic action photographs within reach of everyone.

This wonderful softbound book measures 8-1/2 by 11 inches and has 121 pages, almost all with illustrations.

Printed in USA

26February2008

was: $12.95 now: $11.99 each

Qty:

Hand Shadows - Book One

Most of us will remember something about hand shadows from our childhood. Today this delightful, amusing and educational pastime is sadly neglected. But in this fascinating Victorian facsimile book, the subject is explored in full with charming good size illustrations. It was first published in 1860, but still holds its own today. For children and adults of all ages, here is the perfect antidote to today's rush and bustle.

This paperback is a facsimile reproduction of the original Victorian instruction book. It measures 24 by 19 cm, with 48 pages and lots of illustrations.

Printed in England

20February2008

Price: $12.55 each

Qty:

Four Little Bunnies Story Book

by the Same Author, Toodles and Her Friends

by the Same Author, Four Little Puppies

The stars of this cute little reproduction of an antique original are Fluff, Puff, Muff and Algernon. They live with Mother Bunn and Father Bunn.

This sweet little tail tale follows them through preparations for Easter.

The dedication:

Dedicated to all the little bunnies who posed for the pictures in this book.

The unusual nostalgic black and white photos of real bunnies were made possible only by patient unfailing kindness on the part of the photographer, Harry Whittier Frees, at all times.

If you plan on getting this for a youngster in your life, you might want to buy an additional one for yourself.

Printed in China

13February2008

Price: $7.50 Each

Qty:

The Everyman Book of Nonsense Verse

More Kids' Stuff

This hilariously readable collection of classic nonsense poetry, delightfully illustrated throughout, is a showcase of comic talent and sheer silliness.

The Everyman Book of Nonsense Verse features an eclectic spectrum of contributors ranging wildly from Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll to Hilaire Belloc, Ted Hughes, Ogden Nash, and Shakespeare, with illustrations by Mervyn Peake, Quentin Blake, Emma Chichester Clark, Spike Milligan, and the deliciously sinister Edward Gorey.

Such old favorites as The Owl and the Pussycat are accompanied by Macavity: The Mystery Cat and Jabberwocky, while Ted Hughes’s Wodwo sits alone by the bank of a stream in a state of innocence and curiosity that mirrors a child’s sense of wonder at the universe. Whether sweetly funny or deliciously naughty, these masterpieces of the art of the absurd will charm readers both young and old.

The fine cloth binding is accompanied by a silken ribbon self-bookmark, making it look like it costs substantially more - so perfect when gift-giving! This classic measures 8-3/10 by 6-1/5 inches, with 256 pages and a substantial number of black and white illustrations.

Printed and Bound in Germany

01June2007

Price: $15.95 each

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Blacky the Crow

If you love crows, you'll love this wonderful tale of Blacky the Crow, who has very sharp eyes and who is often getting into trouble because he sees things he shouldn't. One day Blacky notices two fresh eggs in a nest belonging to Hooty the Owl and Mrs. Hooty. The eggs are a price too delicious to pass up and Blacky devises a plan to snatch them. But does he succeed?

Originally published in 1922, this Dover Classic Paperback edition is a complete reproduction in association with the Thornton W Burgess Museum and the Green Briar Center.

Printed in USA

Price: $1.50 each

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The Constitution of the United States of America

In 1787, Americans given the right to practice the religion of choice; given the right to say whatever without persecution. In 1787, it was written that house and property were secure from unreasonable search and seizure and that each an every one was given the right to a public trial.

Fifty-five men sat in a sweltering hot room as they fought and argued for all Americans. They created the document that gave rights to all citizens of the United States of America.

The Constitution of The United States of America, inscribed and illustrated by the master calligrapher Sam Fink, brings to life the issues underlying the triumphs of this abiding document. Originally published in pen and ink in 1987, Sam has, at the request of Welcome Books, gone back to the original black-and-white art and painted it entirely, creating a full-color masterpiece.

Each amendment, each article, each word so thoughtfully placed in the Constitution has been given Sam’s profound touch. With a powerful intelligence and a wonderful sense of humor, he has provided us with an entry point, allowing us to read this essential document better, more clearly.

The Constitution of The United States of America is the document ach American must read again and again. There is no more important document in our country. It is the document we must have an intimate knowledge of. It is the document that we must never forget. In 1787, Americans were entrusted with a living document. Have we kept it safe? To begin, we must read it. This, Sam, in his direct and unadorned way, respectful and loving, helps us do.

This wonderful jacketed hardbound book measures 15 by 10-3/4 inches and 136 pages loaded with illustrations.

Made In USA

25November2007

Price: $34.95 each

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Poe Illustrated: Art by Doré, Dulac, Rackham and Others

More Edgar Allan Poe

More Hallowe'en

In his brief and troubled life, Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) was as haunted by tragedy and loss as he was plagued by poverty, illness and alcoholism. Poe's personal misfortunes doubtless influenced the dark romanticism of his work. Obsessed with death, decay and the madness, he created compelling narratives of characters trapped in perverse situations. The profound influence of his stories and poetry extends not only to world literature but also to the visual arts.

This outstanding collection, selected and edited by Jeff A Menges, features scores of memorable moments from Poe's writings recaptured in gripping images of eerie beauty by the author's most acclaimed interpreters.

More than 100 illustrations, reproduced in brilliant color and crisp black-and-white, include hard-to-find images from private collections as well as those from sought-after rare editions. Poe Illustrated features scenes from such popular tales as The Fall of the Hose of User, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Gold-Bug, The Black Cat and The Cask of Amontillado as well as The Bells and other poems. Spanning a fifty-year period, they range from Édouard Manet's 1875 lithographs for a French edition of The Raven to the 1935 illustrations of Arthur Rackham for The Tell-Tale Heart and other stories. Additional contributors include Arthur E Becher, W Heath Robinson, Byam Shaw and Harry Clarke, among others. The editor provides an informative overview, as well as brief introductions to each of the artists and captions for their images.

The authors start by stressing the balance of complementary opposites—left brain/right brain, challenge/comfort, practicality/the sacred—as crucial to beginning the journey. Then through guided imagery, they lead readers through subconscious realms to connect with archetypal sources of inner wisdom. This process frees the creative and healing spirit, connecting explorers with the body's instinctive intelligence, which expresses itself through the creation of art.

This wonderful softbound book measures 8-1/2 by 11 inches and has 81 pages, almost all with illustrations.

Printed in USA

23October2007

Price: $15.95 each

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Teatro de México: A Folk Art Toy Theater

Pollock's Britannia Toy Theatre Also Available

Bienvenido to the Teatro de Mexico, where a troupe of spirited players perform on three beautiful stages. Drawing on the exuberant iconography of the skeleton in Mexican culture, Bunny Pierce Huffman has created whimsical, multidimensional scenes of Mexican life circa 1900, enacted by skeleton figures similar to those in Day of the Dead tableaux and in Mexican folk art, satire, and drama.

The sturdy, foldout sets--complete with eighteen die cut, scored, stand-up props and figures--are easily assembled with just a little tape; the sets can be fastened together to form a hexagonal theater or mounted as three separate stages. A unique diversion for all ages, this toy theater can also be used as a festive tabletop decoration for parties or as part of a personalized Day of the Dead altar. A six-page bilingual booklet provides assembly instructions and an explanation of the customs that have inspired this theater.

Your own theatre comes to you in cigar box-style packaging (8-3/8 x 9-3/4 x 1-1/4 inches) with three foldout stage sets (El Salón, La Cochina, y El Cementerio) , each measuring 16 x 9-3/4 inches. You can add your own actors and actress and props to the included 18 punch-out props and figures.

Printed in China

Price: $25.00 Per Theater

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The Codex Borgia: A Full-Color Restoration

More Hispanic & Latino

Considered by many scholars the finest extant Mexican codes and one of the most important original sources for the study of pre-Columbian religion, the Codex Borgia is a work of profond beauty, filled with strange and evocative images related to calendrical, cosmological, ritual and divinatory matters. Generally similar in style to such Mixtec manuscripts as the Codex Nuttall, the Codes Borgia is thought to have had its origin (ca. 1400 ad) in the south central highlands of Mexico. It is most probably a religious document that once belonged to a temple or sacred shrine.

One use of the Codex may have been to divine the future, for it includes ritual 260-day calendars, material on aspects of the planet Venus and a sort of numerological prognostication of the lives of wedded couples. Another section concerns various regions of the world and the supernatural characters and attributes of those regions. Also described are the characteristics of a number of deities, while still other passages may relate to installation ceremonies of rulers in pre-Columbian kingdoms.

Until this publication, the Codex Borgia has been largely inaccessible to the general public. The priceless original is in the Vatican Library and previous photographic facsimiles are very rare and/or very expensive. Moreover, the original Codex has been damaged over the centuries, resulting in the obscuration and loss of many images. In order to recapture the beauty and grandeur of the original, Gisele Díaz and Alan Rodgers have painstakingly restored the Codex by hand - a seven-year project - employing the most scrupulous research and restoration techniques. The result is 76 large full-color plates of vibrant, striking depictions of gods, kings, warriors, mythical creatures and mysterious abstract designs - a vivid panorama that offers profound insights into pre-Columbian Mexican myth and ritual. Now students, anthropologists, lovers of fine art and rare books - anyone interested in the art and culture of ancient Mexico - can study the Codex Borgia in this inexpensive, accurate, well-made edition. An informative introduction by noted anthropologist Bruce E. Byland places the Codex in its historical context and helps elucidated its meaning and significance.

This trade paperback measures 9 by 12 inches with 112 pages, including 76 full-color plates.

Printed in USA

11April2007

Price: $20.95 Each

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Songs of Experience - Facsimile Reproduction

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry? . . .

One of Blake's most inspired creations, The Tyger mingles the lyric and mystical in an exquisite union. Now you can experience the beauty of this and other poems the way Blake intended them - with his own hand-colored illustrations giving them visual form.

This facsimile edition of one of Blake's celebrated Illuminated Books reproduces a collection of calligraphed poems, each enclosed in a masterful full-color illustration. Twenty-six plates reprinted from a rare 1826 etched edition include "London," " A Little Boy Lost," "Holy Thursday," "The Voice of the Ancient Bard" and other immortal verse. To enhance reading, the texts of all the poems are transcribed separately, following the plates.

Dynamic designs and simplicity of language convey Blake's vision of mankind and his condemnation of a wealthy society insensitive to poverty and unhappiness. Moreover, its universal themes make Songs of Experience just as poignant and profound today. Lovers of literature and fine art will want to add this faithful, inexpensive facsimile of an immortal classic to their libraries.

This charming softbound book measures 5-1/4 by 7 inches and has 48 pages, including the facsimile republication of 26 color plates from Songs of Innocence and of Experience, 1826, and a complete printed text of the poems.

Printed in USA

5March2008

Price: $5.95 each

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Lewis Carroll's Games and Puzzles

More Toys, Games & Puzzles

Widely known as the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and other books for children, Lewis Carroll (Charles L. Dodgson) also excelled as a mathematician and inventor of puzzles. Toward the end of his life, Carroll worked on a book of mathematical puzzles and games but died before it was completed. This book is a new compilation of Carroll's surviving puzzles and games, assembled and edited by Edward Wakeling, a Lewis Carroll scholar and writer on mathematics. Included are a substantial number of problems that Carroll had intended for his collection.

Among the problems - many published here for the first time - are these (and 24 more) baffling brainteasers:

Cakes in a Row	Looking-Glass Time	Hidden Names
Diverse Doublets	Arithmetical Croquet	A Sticky Problem
Painting Cubes	An Amazing Maze	Alice's Multiplication Tables
Four Brothers and a Monkey	Handicaps	Mischmasch
Square Numbers	Wise Eyes	Two Clocks
The Number Forty-Two	An Enigma	A Riddle

In addition to Carroll's original mathematical inventions and games, the editor has supplied a few original problems of his own. Some hints and solutions are also provided. Enhanced with some of John Tenniel's famous illustrations, this volume is a delightful double treat for any puzzle enthusiast or lover of the Alice books.

This trade paperback measures 5-3/8 by 8-1/2 inches, contains xii + 80 pages and includes a foreword by the Earl of Stockton.

Printed in USA

28July2007

Price: $5.95 each

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My Puppy's Record Book & Special Enameled Puppy Medal

Alexandra Day, the creator of the popular Good Dog, Carl series, has turned her creative talents towards a favorite subject – dogs – and the result is a delightful book which will be appreciated by anyone who has recently acquired a dog.

What a wonderful gift for a new puppy owner!

My Puppy’s Record Book is fashioned after a baby record book, in which you can record all the milestones of the new family member. Categories include: favorite games and toys, friends and family, the process of choosing a name, how the puppy arrived, and education.

There is ample space for photographs, too. Some more dog-specific entries are least favorite people (such as the mail-carrier) and tricks learned. Alexandra Day’s charming illustrations, in which dogs of all ages and breeds - and even a few cats and other animals – are depicted in her unique style, and occur on nearly every page.

Each book includes a die cut cardboard puppy (it looks like Carl) and a medal on a ribbon. The medal is enameled in 3 colors with the words “Good Dog.”

Printed in USA

19July2006

Price: $17.95

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English as She is Spoke (or, A Jest in Sober Earnest)

Originally published 1885, and reproduced in inimitable style, we have a rich selection from one of the funniest books in the English language - in fact one of the funniest books about the English language!

English as She is Spoke derives from Pedro Carolino's Guide to the Conversation in Portuguese and English published in 1869. It seems that Carolino's knowledge of English was little more than that furnished by a French-English dictionary and was a greater contribution to humour than to conversational linguistics.

This is an especially appropriate gift for librarians and teachers of English!

Printed in England

Price: $10.25 each

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Annie Oakley & Buffalo Bill's Wild West

More Rodeo & The American West

Queen Victoria said of her, "You are a very, very clever little girl."

Her life was the stuff of legend - from humble Quaker origins, Annie Oakley rose to the height of renown as a world-famous entertainer and featured performer with Buffalo Bill's Wild West extravaganza.

Her friends knew her always as a generous and gentle woman. She excelled in a man's world at a man's sport, never losing her feminine appeal.

This 96-page text is an insider's look at Annie's life from childhood on. It is richly illustrated in black and white with photographs and poster art.

Printed in USA

SilverCrow Classic

Was: $9.95 Now: $7.95 Each

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Glitter Artistry

Glitter is not just for children anymore! Now glitter is a sophisticated, high-quality product available in hundreds of sparkling shades, sizes, and styles. Barbara Trombley — the owner of Art Glitter, Inc. — has pioneered the field, creating unique colors and designing her own magnificent line of cards. So, who better to explain the entire dazzling process?

She discusses the difference between opaque and transparent glitters; the diverse sizes, from chunky to ultra fine; the categories of sheen, from neon to pearlescent; the all-important adhesives; and a variety of exciting techniques.

What will really thrill crafters are the shimmering bag, tag, and card projects—some travel and vintage inspired, others seasonally themed, and still more for celebrations such as birthdays, graduations, and weddings.

This fun 128-page jacketed hardcover measures about 10-1/5 by 8-3/4 inches.

Printed in China

14May2007

List Price: $24.95 SilverCrow Price: $19.95 each

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The Giving Tree

More Generosity

'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.'

So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

Meant for children of any age, this is truly one of our most favorite books, and has been for years.

The hard-covered book is slip covered and contains 64 pages that are wonderfully illustrated.

Printed in USA or Imported

30March2007

Price: $16.99 Each

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Dollar Bill Origami

Giving a cash gift? What better way than to produce an origami model from USA currency or other currencies and papers with the same dimensions. And what a better excuse to hold onto that cash - now it's art - and you can't spend that!

Step-by-step instructions and clear diagrams show paper folders at all levels of expertise how to fashion everything from common objects such as a house with a chimney to inspired plants, birds and other animals. Projects range from those easy for beginners to intermediate folds to some that will even entertain a professional!

Printed in USA

Price: $14.95

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Little Nemo in the Palace of Ice and Further Adventures

More Little Nemo
More Books

More Stuff for Kids

These strange and marvelously drafted cartoons recount the continuing dreams of Little Nemo, a small boy transported nightly into such fantastic worlds as the Palace of Ice, a pirate ship on the high seas and a miniature city - where time and again his adventures get him deep in trouble and nothing can possibly save him. . .except. . .waking up!

The masterpiece of Windsor McCay, the American cartoonist is an incredible succession of fantasies done in watercolor-like circus colors and with McCay's free-wheeling mastery of perspective drawing. The showmanship of these cartoons is matched by their psychological weirdness - and rightness - in which students of dreams have found the full catalogue of classic dream imagery: falls, flights, wild beasts in the forest and more!

McCay, who once shared a vaudeville stage with W.C. Fields and Houdini, was equally the comedian and the master of illusions!

This reprinting of 31 full-color pages from the Sunday comic section of The New York Herald, selected from the best numbers of the original 1907 series. It is to our knowledge the only bookful of Nemo strips reproduced in their original colors directly from the pages of the Herald. Children and adult comic readers, cartoonists and other artists and those interested in the history of this popular art will find Little Nemo one of the most astonishing and wildly entertaining comic strips ever created.

The reproduction includes strips from January 20, 1907 through April 28, 1907 and June 9, 1907 through September 22, 2007.

This trade paperback measures 10-1/4 by 14-1/4 inches with 32 pages of supremely reproduced illustrations.

Printed in USA

22March2007

Price: $14.95 Each

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Vere Foster's Copy Book No. 10

The pleasures and practicalities of hand lettering as practiced in Victorian times - in the workplace, in school and at home- were aided by Vere Foster's Copy Books. This, the tenth of eighteen titles originally offered, provides wonderful examples with 31 carefully-prepared variations of the alphabet.

Originally published in 1890, it still addresses the fact that

"Writing is almost as important as speaking."

Each page offers the examples with directional arrows on some, as well as lightly-lined areas for your practice. Or, indeed, use this as a unique journal.

Just like the copy books of old, it is paperback and contains 24 pages (measuring 16 by 21 centimeters).

Printed in England

SilverCrow Classic

Out of Stock

Price: $7.75 each

Drawing Outdoors

Want to start a travel journal? Can't draw? Drawing Outdoors can help you change that!

This comprehensive guide by the well-known artist, author and educator, Henry C Pitz, demonstrates how to draw every major outdoor subject in all of the principal drawing media. Step by step, it shows how to delineate the land, greenery, skies, buildings, people, cities and more in pencil, pen-and-ink, brush-and-ink, felt-tip pen, charcoal, pastel, wash and mixed media.

Pitz begins with the basics and builds on each step until the student can work toward truly ambitious drawing. With 120 drawings of his own and those of past and modern masters (Rembrandt, van Gogh, Hopper, etc.), if you decide you'll never be able to draw, then you can cut up the book and use it for a great collage!.

Printed in USA

Price: $8.95

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Rainbow Crow

More Crows, Ravens & Other Birds

The earth's first snow is falling, and as it grows deeper the animals are disappearing beneath it. Cold and worried, they argue who should ask the Great Sky Spirit for help. Then the sweet voice of Rainbow Crow rings out" "I will go. I will stop the snow." How brave Crow is given the means to save the woodland - and how the powerful gift changes him forever - makes a eloquent ending to this Lenape Indian legend.

This beautiful children's book is a lesson retold by Nancy Van Lann and illustrated wonderfully by Beatriz Vidal. This 40-page soft-cover book measures 10-1/2 by 8-1/2 inches.

Printed in USA

25February2007

Price: $6.99 Each

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The Underachiever's Manifesto: The Guide to Accomplishing Little and Feeling Great

Lower the bar. Turn it down a notch. Get off that Stairmaster. The Underachiever's Manifesto is the playfully persuasive pocket guide to living life to the least and loving it.

With sharp humor and genuine wisdom, this welcome little book extols the fabulous benefits of underachievement in our overextended society. A witty introduction makes the case for the right amount of effort—a lot less than we've been led to believe.

Ten principles of underachievement establish the basics:

(#8: The tallest blade of grass is the surest to be cut)

And practical applications show how mediocrity is the key to happiness at work, in relationships, dieting, exercise, investment, and more. Devilishly enlisting examples from philosophy, economics, science, and good common sense, The Underachiever's Manifesto is a lighthearted, life-changing rallying call for those who dare to do less and enjoy more.

Ray Bennett is a medical specialist in the Seattle area who is still guilty of overachievement in treating his patients. This is his first book.

This little (4 by 6 inches) hardback book is 96 pages with twelve black and white illustrations. And, we just love that the title was hyphenated - not enough planning - or, does it even matter?

imported

18March2007

Price: $9.95 Each

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American Circus Posters

More Carnivals, Circuses & Clowns

Here collected together for the first time are 48 large, full-color, rare circus posters. Culled from authentic circus advertisements from the 1890s through the 1940s, these are so superbly reproduced, you'll think they are brand-new originals.

Because they are printed in extra large format (10-1/4 x 14-1/4 inches), you'll clearly be able to see even the smallest of details. These amazing posters features many of the greats of the American circus: acrobats, clowns, Gargantua, etc., from Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey, Sparks, and more!

They create a delightfully visual circus history and are fine examples of poster art rarely seen today. You might want to buy two copies - one for framing and one to keep! Softcover.

Printed in USA

SilverCrow Classic

Price: $15.95 each

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Tattoo: Secrets of a Strange Art

More Tattoo
Temporary Tattoos

Scientific American called this classic work, "A milestone in the general literature of tattooing."

This paperback reproduction of the Simon and Schuster 1933 original contains 27 color and black and white illustrations: the story behind a counterculture phenomenon gone mainstream!

Hailed as a landmark work on body art, Albert Parry's book explores tattooing from a variety of perspectives--artistic, semiotic, psychological/behavioral, sociological and cultural. Also featured are fascinating studies of common tattoo art themes, the social milieu of tattoo aficionados and profiles of the great tattoo artists of the early twentieth century.

printed in China

31January2007

Price: $9.95 Each

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Four Little Puppies Story Book

by the Same Author, Toodles and Her Friends

by the Same Author, Four Little Bunnies

The stars of this cute little reproduction of an antique original are Wags, Tags, Rags and Obadiah. They live with their Uncle Oscar and Aunt Abbie.

This sweet little tail tale follow them through a typical day of chores and antics and naps.

The dedication:

Dedicated to all the little puppies who posed for the pictures in this book.

The unusual nostalgic black and white photos of real puppies were made possible only by patient unfailing kindness on the part of the photographer, Harry Whittier Frees, at all times.

If you plan on getting this for a youngster in your life, you might want to buy an additional one for yourself.

printed in China

29January2007

Price: $7.50 Each

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Milagros - A Book of Miracles

Shrines & Shrine Supplies

Milagros & Medals

Let the ancient power of milagros work miracles for you! Based on traditional Latin American talismans, these tiny silver charms are reminders that a miracle can fit in the palm of your hand. Throughout Latin America and the American Southwest, milagros are offered at shrines and sacred sites by believers as requests for divine assistance, or as thanks for blessings received.

Modern day milagros may be carried in a pocket to protect from illness or harm, kept in the office to insure success, or placed in the car to avoid accidents--whenever you need a little magic in your life.

Milagros: A Book of Miracles is a wonderful introduction to this ancient tradition. Filled with beautiful milagro-inspired imagery, thoughtful meditations and reflections to enhance your daily life, and inspiring true stories of real people who have been touched by the magic of these ancient charms, this book proves that miracle do happen!

IF YOU BELIEVE ...

A young newlywed pins a milagro to a statue of St. Francis after her husband suffers a near-fatal accident. After his miraculous full recovery, she returns every year to give thanks. A heartbroken man carries a heart-shaped milagro in his pocket after losing the love of his life-shortly after, they are reunited. A surgery patient fastens a milagro above his heart and is restored to better health than his doctors ever anticipated.

Milagros--Spanish for miracles--come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Since before recorded history, these offerings to the gods have been an essential part of Latin American culture. More than just symbolic gifts, milagros are thought to be magical: if you believe and make your desire known with good faith, the milagro may work its wondrous power. This book is an inspiring introduction to the beauty and divine blessings of these ancient talismans.

This little hard-back book is just wonderful. It's 95 pages are a delight to read and filled with inspiration.

Printed in England

19January2006

Out of Stock

Price: $16.95 each

Chain Mail Jewelry

Thanks to its exquisite, easily mastered techniques and elegant lines, chain mail - the classic art of linking metal rings - is enjoying a creative resurgence among jewelry makers.

Once used to create protective garments, chain mail techniques and patterns have now been adapted for contemporary jewelry making. With just a few tools and simple components, you'll be able to create stunning necklaces, bracelets and more!

This attractive resource is the first full-color book on the market to help beginners and intermediates get in on the craze. With computer-generated illustrations that show every step, it thoroughly introduces all the key construction procedures, including the proper methods of winding, opening, and closing the metal rings.

The 30 projects include a simple pendant encasing a large semiprecious stone and a flat chain-mail neckpiece that colorfully combines copper and blue titanium rings. Plus, there’s advice on polishing the pieces, tips on adding pearls or beads, and a gallery of works by professional jewelers.

Printed in China

30November2006

Price: $24.95 each

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Pop-Up Phobias Book

Fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of flying, fear of death, fear of clowns--everyone is afraid of something. And these pop-ups place you in the hot seat--whether it's the dentist's chair as the drill comes spinning toward you; looking over the edge of a skyscraper whose sheer face plummets thousands of feet to the sidewalk far below; or the window seat of a plane as the oxygen mask deploys, your drink spills, and the horizon line shifts to an angle that is suddenly, terribly wrong…

Brought to life by outrageously macabre artwork and startlingly innovative pop-ups, The Pop-up Book of Phobias by Gary Greenberg is an engineering marvel and cult classic in the making--an offbeat treasure for your coffee table or for a gift (especially for a therapist friend)!

Printed in China

SilverCrow Classic

Out of Stock

Price $29.95 each

Aunt Sally's Policy Players Dream Book (Facsimile reprint)

More Metaphysical

This great little reprint is a curiosity for believers an naught alike. Created initially as a system to understand your dreams and apply the meanings to your gambling for luck, Aunt Aunt Sally's Policy Players Dream Book holds nine alphabetical lists of objects, people and situations that might comprise, or indeed, invade, your dreams. These are accompanied by interpretations and associated lucky numbers for playing policy.

Policy was an illegal (and now obsolete) lottery once popular in the African American community, although certainly many others played as well! The reference was also used for playing the numbers as well, a similar illegal betting game. The cover of the book features a certainly politically incorrect illustration, but it is true to the original.

Also included is a reprint of a 19th century French divination system called the Oraculum (or Napoleon's) Book of Fate, based on an old Arabic system of sand-divination commonly called geomancy. You'll also be able to find your own personal lucky (and unlucky) numbers.

This very useful little reference was first published in the 1890s. Ours is a facsimile reprint of a 1920s edition. The 122 pages are both informative and fun.

Printed in USA

26November2006

Price: $7.50 each

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Simple Soldered Jewelry & Accessories

If you love the soldered jewelry you see at the finest boutiques on ground and on the internet, then why not try it yourself. This wonderful step-by-step guide will help you to design your own personal wearable art jewelry! This unique approach will help you transform ordinary household objects into striking and exquisite jewelry.

The stunning home accessories and jewelry in this collection are unusual and exciting projects for the novice as well as the experienced artisan. Their focal points are miniature metal frames - each displaying a small work of art - such as a scarp of decorative paper and a photograph - between small panels of glass.

As you'll see, the materials and tools you'll use are readily available. The techniques, including assembling the designs, cutting glass, wrapping the edges of your piece with copper foil tape, applying solder to the edges and adding jump rings are fully described inside.

The first several projects, which range from a pretty pendant to festive holiday ornaments, use simple microscope slides as the foundation of the frames. The focus then shifts to working with glass in various small, round and odd shapes. These designs include a coordinated necklace and pair of earrings that reflect nature's beauty in silver and topaz, fun chokers with pendants that showcase porcelain shards and a neck cuff and ring featuring turquoise cabochons. Other projects are enhanced with everything from beads to hand-formed metal embellishments, including a pendant that's decorated with ornate bars from disassembled toggle clasps.

Find out how easy it is to make interesting and more complex pieces of jewelry by combining individual soldered pieces.

Finally, let your creativity shine by altering existing home accent, whether it's transforming oversized paperclips to distinctive bookmarks or giving candle holders and votives dazzling makeovers. With a little imagination, the creative possibilities of the craft are endless!

This 144-page jacketed hardcover book even contains patterns, templates and clip-art!

Printed in USA

23July2007

List Price: $24.95 SilverCrow Price: $20.00 each

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Categorey: fifty drawings by Edward Gorey

Finally, back in print! Edward Gorey’s CATEGORY (aka, CateGOREY) was first published in 1974. The English language edition has been out of print for decades.

One of Gorey’s most beloved books, CATEGORY collects a series of fifty cat vignettes, originally created by the artist as accompaniments to a limited edition of his book Amphigorey. Gorey once said,

I can’t conceive of a life without cats.

Now Gorey fans and cat lovers alike won’t have to conceive of a world without CATEGOREY.

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) may be best known for his mildly unsettling illustrated tales and cautionary alphabets—The Deranged Cousins, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, and The Doubtful Guest, among many others. He was also a playwright, an award-winning set and costume designer, and the creator of the animated introductions to the PBS series Mystery!

This categorically wonderful hardcover (smyth-sewn casebound) tome (with jacket) is 112 pages with 50 gently colorful drawings. It measures 5-1/2 inches square.

Printed in China

30October2006

Price: $14.95 each

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Why Not eat insects? - A Facsimile Reproduction Book

Originally printed in 1885, this delightful little tome now boasts a 1988 introduction by Laurence Mound, the then Keeper of Entomology at the British Museum of Natural History.

Author Vincent Holt reminds us that "there are insects and insects." He provides us with stories, recipes and philosophy regarding his beloved subject. Consider slug soup or moths on toast for your next friendly get together

'Them insecs (sic) eat up every blessed green thing that do grow and us farmers starves'

'Well eat them, and grow fat!' '

Printed in England

SilverCrow Classic

Was: $10.00 Now: $8.00 Each

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How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers

More Crows, Ravens & Other Blackbirds

For those of you who have difficulties in determining birds from flowers, this book will be invaluable. For those of you who do not have a problem in this respect, you will find the verses most amusing

Of course we had to offer you a book that has a crow on the cover, even if it might be occasionally confused with a crocus! This sweet paperback is a facsimile reproduction of a 1907 American printing.

Each animal-vegetable set is addressed in verse with delightful pen-and-ink drawings of the subjects to accompany the little poems.

Printed in England

SilverCrow Classic, Updated 7april2009

Was: $12.25 Now: $9.95 each

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The Natural History of Stuck-up People

We are about to expose, as simply and truthfully as we can, the foolish conventionalities of a large proportion of the middle classes of the present day, who believe that position is attained by climbing up a staircase of money-bags.

This delightfully illustrated book will make a great gift (if you dare!) for each of your stuck-up friends.

Albert Smith was one of the greatest showmen of the 19th century. His entertainment's were as popular a feature of the capital as Madame Tussaud's and the Tower of London. This book was one of a series of fictionalized accounts that were very popular with Victorians.

Printed in England

11June2006

Limited Availability - Awaiting Reprint

Price: $12.75 each

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The Natural History of the Flirt

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning of the word flirt as 'to play at courtship.' Perhaps some will regard it as a more frivolous past-time, though George Elliot put it rather well 'every man likes to flirt with a pretty girl and every girl likes to be flirted with.'

This little 108-page book measures 10.5 by 13 cm and is loaded with delight from cover to cover. It was first published in 1848. This facsimile reproduction brings the original work to life as it was originally published! The illustrations by Gavarni, Gilbert and Henning are worth the price alone! Full of anecdote, suggestion and song, with tales from notorious flirts, this might also be considered a how-to manual for flirting - not just the history!

Printed in England

17June2006

Limited Availability - Awaiting Reprint

Price: $12.75 each

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Cowboy Roping and Rope Tricks

More American West

We've seen it on America's Got Talent and we've been amazed by it for years - Cowboy Roping! Now this republication of the first (1928) edition, with a Foreword by Will Rogers "Warning!" by Fred Stone; "Advice" by Elsie Janis.

Exhibition rope spinning is a hundred-year-old American sport with strong Mexican roots, born amid the sights, sounds, smells and excitement of the great American West. One of the best of the old-time champion rope spinners was Chester Byers. When he wrote this book, he had behind him twenty years' experience of spinning his rope into rolls, figure 8s and zigzags in stampedes, rodeos, roundups and frontier days all over the United States of America. He has a good way with words, too, and if you'll follow his directions, you'll soon find yourself managing the rope like an old hand.

Besides being a wonderful spectacle, rope spinning makes great exercise, too. Even the first stunts the beginner learns - the Simple Flat Loop, the Vertical Loop and the Wedding Ring - bring into play the muscles of the right and left arms, shoulders, neck, back and legs. More difficult stunts like the Butterfly, Ocean Wave, Zigzag and Roll-over even professional athletes and dancers find real exercise! Practicing these complex stunts will not only keep you in good physical shape, but will sharpen the coordination of hand, eye and body.

In addition to clear written explanations, this book contains plenty of drawings that show you just how to stand, the correct positioning of hands and arms, how to hold the rope and so forth. All the information you'll need to begin rope spinning or improve your skill at it, is here: the best kinds of spinning rope, the type of honda preferable for different stunts, how to overcome typical beginner difficulties such as twists and kinks in the rope, and similar material.

There are photographs of the author, Will Rogers and other great rope spinners; illustrations of the different types of spinning ropes and loads of instructional photos & drawings as well as a list of trick and fancy ropers.

This trade paperback measures 5-3/8 by 8 inches and contains xxiii + 99 pages.

Printed in USA

31August2007

Out of Print - Limited Availability

Price: $5.95 each

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Leonardo on the Human Body

This exceptional volume reproduces more than 1200 of Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings on 215 clearly printed black-and-white plates. The drawings have been arranged in chronological sequence to display Leonardo's development as an anatomist and growth as an artist.

His text, which accompanies the drawings, sometimes, explanatory, sometimes autobiographical and anecdotal, has been translated into English by the distinguished medical professors Drs. O'Malley and Saunders. In their fascinating biographical introduction, the authors evaluate Leonardo's position in the historical development of anatomy and anatomical illustration.

Each plate is is accompanied by explanatory notes, an evaluation of the individual plate and an indication of its relationship to the work as a whole; and a new attempt is made at establishing the dates of the plates on the basis of anatomical content.

Carefully detailed and accurate in their data, beautiful and vibrant in their technique, these drawings remain today - nearly five centuries later - the finest anatomical drawings ever made!

Printed in USA

27May2006

Price: $26.95

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Gay and Lesbian Weddings: Planning the Perfect Same-Sex Ceremony

Comprehensive, fresh, and entertaining, Gay and Lesbian Weddings covers everything you need to know to plan the wedding of your dreams. This 240-page paperback book has been hailed by wedding planners and participants alike

Unlike other wedding planners, this one tackles the issues that heterosexual couples never had to consider. For instance, do you come out to Aunt Gloria before she receives the invitation and the shock of her life? Which father of the bride pays for a lesbian wedding? Who walks down the aisle first? Is it possible for members of the wedding party to be happy with what you force them to wear? (Okay, this is a universal problem.)

Step-by-step and down-to-earth, Gay and Lesbian Weddings includes invaluable advice on

the changing laws regarding gay marriage in the United States and abroad; the differences among domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriage
budget concerns: choosing your ideal wedding size and style
finding gay-friendly printers, photographers, gift registries, caterers, florists (actually, if you find a gay-hostile florist, we’d love to hear about it)
ethnic, theme, and destination weddings
keeping the honey in the honeymoon
sex—including how to keep the heat after the wedding night, as well as the facts on fidelity (can the two be linked?)

Plus: a handy Wedding Countdown Calendar, website resources, and true stories from same-sex couples who’ve gotten hitched without a hitch Gay and Lesbian Weddings gives you straight talk (so to speak) with equal parts information, flair, and fabulousness!

Imported

Regular Price: $16.95 Our Price: $11.25

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Book of the Kiss

The Book of the Kiss is a collection of quotes from various writers from D.H. Lawrence to H.G. Wells relating to the ever-popular kiss. This short book is illustrated with several fine eighteenth century engravings. Printed throughout on recycled paper in three colors, it is finished off with a red satin ribbon tied in a bow on the cover to give that final touch of quality. This delightful 14-page paper book arrives in its specially printed envelope.

There is nothing wrong in kissing once: it's the second time that counts
from The Spanish Jade by Maurice Hewlett

A man may sometimes be forgiven the kiss to which he is not entitled, but never the kiss he has not the initiative to claim.

from The Heart of Marylebone by Handasyde

Printed in England

SilverCrow Classic

Price: $8.75

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French for Cats - All the French Your Cat will Ever Need

What fun! At first this appears to be only a Francophile cat-lover's delight. But, reading further cat lovers and haters alike will enjoy this delightful 96-page hardback language phrase book:

When I meow, it means . . .

Hello • Bonjour

I am hungry • J’ai faim

I want food in my bowl • Je veux qu’on remplisse mon bol

I want food in my bowl now • Je veux qu’on remplisse mon bol tout de suite

Why did you get out the cat carrier? • Pourquoi avez-vous sorti le porte-chat?

I do not want to go to the vet • Je ne veux pas aller chez la vétérinaire

Please kill the dog next door • Je vous en prie, tuez le chien de la maison d’à côté

Imported

Regular Price: $12.95 Our Price: $10.25

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Are You Hungry Tonight? Elvis' Favorite Recipes

This aptly-titled hardbound cookbook helps you make more than 50 of Elvis' favorite recipes. Included are his Mama's recipes for mashed potatoes and lemon meringue pie, peanut butter and 'nana sandwiches and Priscilla's magnificent wedding cake (make the whole thing or only a tier).

With great pictures of Elvis at work and play as well as full-color food photography. There are 70 photos, most of them are in color. The book measures in at 8-1/2 by 11 inches and has 64 yummy pages.

Imported

SilverCrow Classic

Price: $11.95 each

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Reprint of Boy Scouts Handbook: The First Edition, 1911

With 448 pages and including 219 figures and illustrations, this wonderful reprint of the original Boy Scout Manual is a delight for Americana enthusiasts, a treasure for collectors and fun for boys (and girls) of any age!

Rare, original editions sell for more than $1,500. It is no wonder that over 30 million copies have been sold since it was first published. Certainly, one of the most popular books of the past century, the Boy Scout Handbook has been used by generations of American youths.

This complete republication of the first (1911) edition is sure to attract nostalgia buffs, former Scouts, and antiquarians. It retains all the charm and flavor of the original publication. Replete with diagrams, illustrations, and even period advertisements, the manual features information on tying knots, wood crafting, identifying wildlife, overnight camping, sailing, and outdoor games.

The book also includes notes on developing character, self-reliance, and good citizenship. This unabridged republication of Boy Scouts of America: The Official Handbook for Boys is published by Dover Publications. The original was published by Doubleday, Page & Company, Garden City, New York, 1911.

Printed in USA

SilverCrow Classic

Price: 10.95 Each

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