A Stamp Collector's Dream

I walked through the aisles of a nearby Antique shop in search of a nice copy of Little Women for a customer.

There on the table sat this book. Postage Stamps and Their Collection.  It had the familiar cover that can only belong to a book from the late 1800's.

I scanned the shelves of the bookcases looking for Little Women, but this book kept drawing my attention.

Finally I picked it up and I just couldn't leave it there, I had to bring it home.

I imagined some stamp collector out there embracing the pages of this book, the way I would holding a Louisa May Alcott treasure.

When I returned home I began my research about the book.

According to The Association of British Philatelic Societies, Ltd. the Who Was Who in Philately is listed on their web site.

Who Was Who in Philately, was Mr. Oliver Firth, who wrote the book Postage Stamps and Their Collection:

"Oliver d.1913 age 52. Resided at Baildon, Yorks. Author of 'Postage Stamps and their Collection' [1897]. President Leeds P.S. and Bradford P.S."

When I found this book, published in 1897, I thought it so rare and unusual.  

At the time Oliver Firth was President of the Bradford Philatelic Society.  Past President of the Leeds Philatelic Society, Member of the Philatelic Society of London.

The book begins with a brief history of Philately, and goes on to describe within it's chapters all things related to the collection of stamps.

The front and back of the book are filled with graphics belonging to advertising at that time.

The book is covered in a hardcover leather maroon with gold leafing letters in script with the title Postage Stamps and their Collection.

The book has been lovingly worn and obviously used by it's previous owner.  Yet it is in beautiful condition.

I am sure the avid stamp collector would swoon over this wonderful old book.

The book measures 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches and 184 pages, with the Do's and Don'ts of stamp collection, as well as an Index to Advertisers.  A detailed listing of practical handbooks available at that time is found on the last few pages of this interesting volume.

Amazing!

I am sure the avid stamp collector would swoon over this wonderful old book.  Just listed in my etsy shop, For The Love of Old Books

There on a shelf in the middle of Vintage ribbons...

There on a shelf in the middle of Vintage ribbons and notions,



I spotted it.



The cover was amazing, and when I saw that it was published in 1892,



I knew it was a treasure and a rare find.



I carefully opened up the book to see the amazing illustrations. One after another, illustrated by illustrators of the time,



like Tally, Garrett, Rodfish, Bridgman and others.

Happy Hearts, stories and poems by

Katharine B. Foot, Henry Bacon, Oscar Fay Adams, George Whyte and other famous authors

Published 1892 by D. Lothrop Company, Boston

The front and back cover illustrations 








are enough to make you swoon.





Wonderful stories, like an old fashioned witch story.





The Hasty-Pudding Party at the Windmill...





What a delightful illustration of the Windmill and celebration.





Stories of Vacation days...





A true Victoria treasure filled with wonderful stories, and the likes of illustrations that only the artists of the 1800's could have produced.





I just placed this in my etsy shop For The Love of Old Books.





What I love about finding a treasure like this one is that I just know it was meant for someone who also has a Happy Heart.


The song for this post is 1986, isn't it lovely?

Can you believe this?

Can you believe this? I had so many people wanting this edition that I have been searching high and low to find another one. I did, I found another one just like the one most recently sold. Only the front cover is in even cleaner and in better condition than the first one I found.

Everyone knows how much I adore everything that Louisa May Alcott has written.



I have come across many different versions of Little Women,



but this one is a sure rare find. Published in 1947, the illustrations in this book are gorgeous.



The quality in the papers that they used in this book let you know this edition was something really special. Now this new edition that I found has one page that is slightly wrinkled and has a tare on that page, page 65. Here is what it looks like. If you click on the photo you can have a better look.

Illustrated by Louis Jambor, this book has the most incredible illustrations, and ones that I have not seen before.



"The special contents of this edition are copyrighted, 1947 by Gorsset & Dunlap, Inc. printed by Kingsport press. Inc., Kingsport, Tennessee."



I placed it in my Etsy Shop For The Love of Old Books today. I am so excited that I found another one of these editions. There's a little extra bonus, a book sleeve which was responsible for keeping the cover of the book so clean.

For your listening pleasure, here is the radio program of Harriet Reisen being interviewed. Her latest book The Women Behind LIttle Women is wonderful. I met Harriet at a book signing in Concord last year, and she shares my passion for Little Women.