Exceptional Literary Works from Whitmore Rare Books

- by Michael Stillman

In 1954, the writer and war correspondent John Hersey wrote a piece for Life Magazine on why children were having so much trouble learning to read. His conclusion was that the boring material they were given to read in school was the major problem. That article inspired Theodor Geisel to write a book that children would want to read. Of course, we know Geisel better by his pen name, Dr. Seuss, and the book he wrote in response to the challenge was The Cat in the Hat. The book (and movie) are still entertaining kids more than half a century after it was published in 1957. Item 27 is a first edition of the classic, and this copy in near fine condition with a very good+ dust jacket is particularly uncommon, what with the way most children's books were handled. $3,250.

In the darkest of times there are usually a few good people, and one such person was Irene Harand. An Austrian, and devout Catholic, she was appalled by the antisemitism and Nazism that arose in her country during the 1930s. For her, it was an insult to her faith. She published a newspaper decrying the rising hate, published a pamphlet, and then wrote a book. She could not find a publisher, so in 1935, she published it herself. It was entitled Sein Kampf, “His Struggle,” an answer to Hitler's Mein Kampf, “My Struggle.” It was a vigorous defense of Jews, an answer to the hate of her opponents. It landed Harand on the Nazis' list of people to be dealt with in the way Nazis dealt with those they did not like once they took over Austria. A price was placed on her head. In 1938, the Nazis invaded Austria, and sadly, despite Harand's brave efforts, they were warmly welcomed by many if not most Austrians. Fortunately, Irene Harand and her husband were in Britain at that moment, and so instead of being dragged off to a concentration camp, they were able to emigrate to America. She lived there the remainder of her life. Item 33 is a first American edition of her book, His Struggle: An Answer to Hitler, published in 1937. $750.

Whitmore Rare Books may be reached at 626-297-7700 or info@whitmorerarebooks.com. Their website is